Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no Apologies for Absence.

1.         Disclosable pecuniary interests (“DPI”)

A  DPI is where a committee member or his/her spouse or partner has any kind of beneficial interest in the land under consideration at the meeting.

 2.        Non-disclosable pecuniary interests

These are interests that are pecuniary involving a  personal financial benefit or detriment but do not come within the definition of a DPI.  An example would be where a member of their family/close friend (who is not their spouse or partner) has such an interest.

3.         Non-pecuniary interests

Where the interest is not one which involves any personal financial benefit or detriment to the Councillor but arises out of a close connection with someone or some  body /association.  An example would be membership of a sports committee/ membership of another council which is involved in the matter under consideration.

Regarding Minute 5 (S/1694/18/FL - Wimpole (Wimpole Hall, Wimpole Park, Wimpole Road)) Councillors

·         John Batchelor

·         Dr. Martin Cahn

·         Peter Fane

·         Bill Handley

·         Judith Rippeth

·         Peter Topping

declared non-pecuniary interests as members of the National Trust.

Regarding Minute 5 (S/1694/18/FL - Wimpole (Wimpole Hall, Wimpole Park, Wimpole Road)) Councillor Heather Williams had attended meetings of Arrington Parish Council about this application.

Regarding Minute 7 (S/4555/17/FL – Fowlmere (The Triangle)), and although it was a matter of general public knowledge, Councillor Peter Topping, in the interests of transparency, declared a non-pecuniary interest as the Cambridgeshire County Councillor for Fowlmere.

Pending the issue of recorded voting at Planning Committee being addressed by the Constitution, Councillor Pippa Heylings proposed that all substantive votes be recorded.

Councillor Peter Fane seconded the proposal and, upon a show of hands, the Committee agreed unanimously that all substantive votes at the current Planning Committee meeting should be recorded by name and / or number and name.

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2018 as a correct record.

The Committee authorised the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2018.

Construction of multi-use trail

By ten votes to one, the Committee gave officers delegated powers to approve the application subject to

1.     The applicant giving a Unilateral Undertaking to fund a Traffic Regulation Order consultation exercise, carried out by the Local Highways Authority, to establish whether the residents of Arrington wanted parking restrictions introduced in the village, paid for by the applicant up to an agreed limit;

2.     The Conditions set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development; and

3.     An additional Condition addressing the issue of a programme of cycle speed restriction measures.

Councillors John Batchelor, Dr. Carn, Fane, Handley, Heylings, Milnes, Rippeth, Roberts, Topping and Wright voted to approve the application. Councillor Heather Williams voted to refuse it.

Members visited the site on 9 October 2018.

Clive Porter (objector), David Hassall (applicant’s agent) and Alex Devon (agent for Arrington Parish Council) addressed the meeting.

Members highlighted the following as matters of concern:

·        Specification of the proposed trail

·        The ongoing ‘no charge’ status of the car park

·        Safety considerations with a multi-use facility

·        Desirability of a Ranger service

·        The impact on Arrington

·        Ecology

By ten votes to one, the Committee gave officers delegated powers to approve the application subject to

1.     The applicant giving a Unilateral Undertaking to fund a Traffic Regulation Order consultation exercise, carried out by the Local Highways Authority, to establish whether the residents of Arrington wanted parking restrictions introduced in the village, paid for by the applicant up to an agreed limit;

2.     The Conditions set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development; and

3.     An additional Condition addressing the issue of a programme of cycle speed restriction measures.

Councillors John Batchelor, Dr. Carn, Fane, Handley, Heylings, Milnes, Rippeth, Roberts, Topping and Wright voted to approve the application. Councillor Heather Williams voted to refuse it.

The erection of 26 dwellings with associated access, car and cycle parking, open space and landscaping

Members noted that this application had been withdrawn from the agenda.

Members noted that this application had been withdrawn from the agenda. However, Members nevertheless visited the site on 9 October 2018.

Erection of 24 dwellings including 10 affordable dwellings, with a new dedicated vehicular access from Fowlmere Road, new pedestrian link, hard and soft landscaping, open space, play area and community orchard

By ten votes to nil, the Committee refused the application for the reasons set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development.

Councillors John Batchelor, Dr. Cahn, Fane, Handley, Heylings, Milnes, Rippeth, Topping, Heather Williams and Wright voted to refuse the application. Councillor Deborah Roberts took no part in the debate, and did not vote.

Members visited the site on 9 October 2018.

Sarah Burge (supporter, Chair of Governors, Fowlmere Primary School), Peter Stocking (applicant’s agent) and Lawrence Wragg (Fowlmere Parish Council) addressed the meeting.

Having taken legal advice, Councillor Deborah Roberts stood down from the Planning Committee for this item, took no part in the debate and did not vote. Councillor Roberts did however address the Planning Committee as the Local member in opposition to the application.

Members received a copy of an Appeal decision dated 25 September 2018. The Senior Planning Lawyer invited them to consider the current application in the light of that decision. Members also spent time examining the implications for the Primary School of the development, and the suggestion that the proposal might secure viability of such facility. However, Members noted that it was not the purpose of a Section 106 Legal Agreement to support existing infrastructure, but rather to mitigate the impact on that infrastructure of future development.

By ten votes to nil, the Committee refused the application for the reasons set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development.

Councillors John Batchelor, Dr. Cahn, Fane, Handley, Heylings, Milnes, Rippeth, Topping, Heather Williams and Wright voted to refuse the application. Councillor Deborah Roberts did not vote.

Two x One-and-a-half storey extensions to front and rear

The Committee unanimously approved the application subject to the Conditions set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development and the following additional Condition:

“No site or plant machinery shall be operated, no works shall be carried out and no construction related deliveries taken or dispatched from the site except between 0800 hours and 1800 hours Mondays to Fridays and between 0800 hours and 1300 hours on Saturdays, and not at any time on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

(Reason - To minimise noise disturbance for adjoining residents in accordance with Policy CC/6 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan, 2018).”

Members visited the site on 9 October 2018.

The Committee unanimously approved the application subject to the Conditions set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development and the following additional Condition:

“No site or plant machinery shall be operated, no works shall be carried out and no construction related deliveries taken or dispatched from the site except between 0800 hours and 1800 hours Mondays to Fridays and between 0800 hours and 1300 hours on Saturdays, and not at any time on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

(Reason - To minimise noise disturbance for adjoining residents in accordance with Policy CC/6 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan, 2018).”

Two storey rear extension and front dormer

The Committee unanimously approved the application subject to the Conditions set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, any amendment in the wording of such Conditions to be approved by the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee prior to issue of the Decision Notice.

Members visited the site on 9 October 2018.

The Committee unanimously approved the application subject to the Conditions set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, any amendment in the wording of such Conditions to be approved by the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee prior to issue of the Decision Notice.

The Committee received and noted an Update on enforcement action.    

Members received and noted a report on Appeals against planning decisions and enforcement action.