Agenda and minutes

In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman will take the Chair for this meeting. Council is asked to appoint a Vice-Chairman for the meeting.

In the absence of the Chairman, Councillor David Bard, Vice-Chairman, became the Acting Chairman. Councillor Robert Turner was nominated by Councillor Richard Barrett and seconded by Councillor Tim Wotherspoon for the position of Vice-Chairman. There being no other nominations Councillor Turner was duly elected as Vice-Chairman for this meeting.

Council agreed to suspend Standing Orders 12.5 and 14.5, regarding the debating of motions, to ensure that debate was not unnecessarily curtailed.

Councillor David Bard declared a personal and prejudicial interest in site 9, land east of Sawston, as it backed onto his premises. He stated that if this site was discussed he would leave the Chamber.

Councillor Tom Bygott declared a personal interest in Issue 13 as the owner of a house opposite the Oakington Guided Busway station, and in Broad Location 6 as a Governor of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Councillor Roger Hall declared a personal interest in sites that could improve transport for those who worked for the NHS.

Councillor James Hockney declared a personal interest as a Board member of the Hundred Housing Society and as a member of the Waterbeach Forward group.

Councillor Mark Howell declared a personal interest in the Papworth Trust, a Registered Social Landlord, and as a volunteer of Papworth Hospital.

Councillor Sebastian Kindersley declared a personal interest as a County Councillor, as part of Trumpington Meadows lay within the Parish of Haslingfield in the Gamlingay Division.

Councillor Mervyn Loynes declared a personal interest in site 17 land west of Cambourne Business Park, as he knew one of the owners of the land in question.

Councillor Mick Martin declared a personal interest as an employee of the Imperial War Museum.

Councillor Cicely Murfitt declared a personal interest in the Bourn airfield site as she knew one of the owners.

Councillor Charlie Nightingale declared a personal interest in site 20, Granta Terrace, Stapleford, as his property adjoins the site.

Councillor David Whiteman Downes declared a personal interest in sites 18: Cambridge Road, Great Shelford; 19: London Road, Great Shelford and 20: Granta Terrace, Great Shelford.

Councillor Nick Wright declared a personal interest as a Governor of Papworth Hospital.

Councillor Pippa Corney, Planning Policy and Localism Portfolio Holder, introduced the Local Plan by explaining that it would be going out to consultation on 12 July and the aim of the meeting was to ensure that the right questions were included in the Plan. It was noted that Council’s recommendations would be considered by the Planning Policy and Localism Portfolio Holder, at a meeting on Tuesday 3 July where the final wording of the Plan would be agreed.

Minor amendments

It was suggested that questions be broken in sub-sections to ensure that issues and questions of the same subject had the same number. It was noted that some question numbers were duplicated and so would have to be renumbered.

VISION

The Planning Policy Manager introduced this topic, which sought to link the Council’s vision statement with the Local Plan.

Members of Council made the following suggestions:

·         The Plan should recognise the importance of those who study in the District.

·         The Plan should recognise the importance of rail travel.

·         The Plan should seek to respond robustly to the challenges of climate change.

It was suggested that the pledge to promote economic growth included in the Council’s vision statement could be construed as encouraging more housing development in the District. However, it was also stated that phrases included in the vision statement should not be viewed in isolation and the targets for housing development were set by the national Government.

Council noted that it had agreed its vision statement less than a year ago and no recommendations were made to amend it. No suggestions were made to amend the questions in the Plan under this section.

DEVELOPMENT NEEDS

The Planning Policy Manager introduced this issue, which sought to ensure that the correct questions were asked in the consultation with regard to ensuring that the Local Plan provides the appropriate levels of employment and housing development in the right locations.

Provision of new houses

Council noted that the figures in question 4b, in relation to medium housing growth, had been amended to 7,300 dwellings, which equated to 1,075 dwellings per year. It was suggested that the majority of new homes would be lived in by commuters to London and what was required was more employment for local people. It was also suggested that a diagram was required to show the jobs/home ratio.

Windfall development

Concern was expressed regarding the accuracy of forecasting new jobs and new dwellings. It was suggested that the Council had underestimated the number of homes built as part of a “windfall development” and that if the current trends continued approximately 4,000 homes could be built this way, which could largely negate the need for new developments. It was also suggested that the village framework was key to number of houses built as part of “windfall developments”. It was further suggested that the words “no limit” for windfall developments in villages be amended to clarify that natural limits to these forms of developments already existed.

Northstowe

It was suggested  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.