Agenda, decisions and draft 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.

Councillor Philippa Hart declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Minute 9 (S/3418/18/PA - Meldreth (Fenny Lane Farm, Fenny Lane)) as one of the applicants. Following consultation with the Independent person and the Chairman of the Civic Affairs Committee, the Deputy Monitoring Officer had granted Councillor Hart dispensation to address the Planning Committee. After doing so, Councillor Hart withdrew from the Chamber.

Councillor Heather Williams declared a non-pecuniary interest in Minute 12, paragraph 5(f) (Enforcement – 147 St. Neots Road, Hardwick). The landlords of no. 147 are also landlords of the neighbouring property, which is the headquarters building of the political association of which Councillor Williams is Deputy Chairman.

Land to the north of Church Street, Great Eversden (known as OSP148) had been considered by Planning Committee several times in the past. Councillors John Batchelor, Deborah Roberts and Nick Wright declared non-pecuniary interests in Application S/3450/16/FL at Great Eversden (Minute 7) as having been members of Planning Committee on at least one of those occasions. Each of them was considering the matter afresh.

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 December 2018 as a correct record.

The Committee authorised the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 December 20118, subject to the following:

Minute 11 – Enforcement Report

Add the following paragraph

With reference to paragraph 5(a) of the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development (Smithy Fen, Cottenham), Councillor Nick Wright asked that the appropriate Legal Officer should attend Planning Committee to update Members about progress.

The Committee approved the application by ten votes to nil. Councillor Deborah Roberts abstained from voting.

Further to the Planning Committee meeting on 14 November 2018, the Planning Team Leader (West) said that officers had reviewed Members’ decision, at that meeting, that South Cambridgeshire District Council, as Order Making Authority, should refuse the application for the proposed diversion of part of Public Footpath No. 5 in Hauxton because such diversion was not deemed necessary to enable development to be carried out. Officers had concluded that the previous grant of planning permission for a housing development did require the realignment of what now amounted to the assumed route of Public Footpath number 5. There existed case law to substantiate officers’ point of view.  

The Committee approved the application by ten votes to nil. Councillor Deborah Roberts abstained from voting.

16 one-bedroom apartments in one two-storey building and one small office building including car-parking, bike storage, bin storage, garden store, a substation and landscaped open spaces

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

Councillors Cahn, Fane, Milnes and Roberts voted to approve the application. Councillors John Batchelor, Handley, Heylings, Rippeth, Topping, Heather Williams and Wright voted for refusal.

Members visited the site on 15 January 2019.

Jennifer Lipscombe (objector), Robin Hiley (Girton Town Charity) and Councillor Dr. Douglas de Lacey (a local Member) addressed the meeting.

The Lead Urban Design Project Coordinator clarified objections to the proposal, focussing on

·        Scale, form and mass

·        Topography

·        Impact on the local area and particularly number 14 High Street

During the ensuing debate, Members discussed

·        The nature and appearance of the building

·        Density

·        The need for affordable housing and potential input from the Design Enabling Panel

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

Councillors Cahn, Fane,Heylings and Milnes voted to approve the application. Councillors John Batchelor, Handley, Rippeth, Roberts, Topping, Heather Williams and Wright voted for refusal.

Development to provide 10 new affordable homes

By ten votes to one, the Committee deferred the application to give officers time to carry out a further Housing Needs Assessment. Councillor Peter Fane voted against deferral.

Members visited the site on 15 January 2019.

Richard Buxton (representing a group of objectors), Nick Green (applicant’s agent) and Councillor Clive Dalton (The Eversdens Parish Council) addressed the meeting.

The Planning Team Leader (West) emphasised the importance of Members considering the matter afresh on the basis of the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development. He referred to paragraphs 146 and 147 and highlighted the fact that the application represented a departure from the Development Plan.

Members raised concern about the housing needs survey being five years old, and implications for the Council’s Green Belt policies.

By ten votes to one, the Committee deferred the application to give officers time to carry out a further Housing Needs Assessment. Councillor Peter Fane voted against deferral.

Approval of reserved matters for access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale following outline planning permission S/1606/16/OL for the erection of up to 121 dwellings, formation of a new vehicular and pedestrian access onto Oakington Road and associated infrastructure and works

By ten votes to nil (Councillor Deborah Roberts abstained from voting), the Committee approved the application subject to

1.     The Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, the final wording and any minor amendments being delegated to officers in consultation with the Planning Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman; and

2.     An additional Condition requiring the submission by the applicant, to the satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority, of a scheme of maintenance and management of surface water drainage.

Brian Smith (objector), Jon Stokes (applicant’s agent), Councillor Frank Morris (Cottenham Parish Council) and Councillor Eileen Wilson (a local Member) addressed the meeting. Councillor Wilson also read out a statement from Councillor Neil Gough (the other local Member).

The case officer confirmed that a Condition requiring the submission by the applicant, to the satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority, of a scheme of maintenance and management of surface water drainage was not required because this issue had already been addressed as part of the Outline planning application.

By ten votes to nil (Councillor Deborah Roberts abstained from voting), the Committee approved the application subject to

1.      A Condition requiring the construction of a footway / cycleway link from the turning head serving plots 56 and 70-73 to the north boundary of the site; and

2.     the Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, the final wording and any minor amendments being delegated to officers in consultation with the Planning Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman; and

The conversion of a timber barn into 2no. dwellings; the conversion of a brick chitting shed into 1no. dwelling; the conversion of a timber cart shed into 1no. dwelling; the demolition of one redundant barn and some lean to structures to provide parking amenity and car parking space.

By eight votes to one, with two abstentions, the Committee approved the application subject to the Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, the final wording and any minor amendments being delegated to officers in consultation with the Planning Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

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

Members visited the site on 15 January 2019.

It was noted that the fourth line of paragraph 30 of the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development should refer to paragraph 26 not paragraph 27.

Councillor Philippa Hart addressed the meeting in a private capacity as one of the applicants. As a Member, she declared a disclosable pecuniary interest. Following consultation with the Independent person and the Chairman of the Civic Affairs Committee, the Deputy Monitoring Officer had granted Councillor Hart dispensation to address the meeting. After doing so, Councillor Hart withdrew from the Chamber.

In response to Councillor Pippa Heylings’ concern that obstacles should not be put in the way of the inclusion in the scheme of renewable energy, the Planning Team Leader (West) said that Class Q of the Permitted Development Rights only permitted such inclusion where it was deemed necessary.

By eight votes to one, with two abstentions, the Committee approved the application subject to the Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, the final wording and any minor amendments being delegated to officers in consultation with the Planning Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman.

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

The Committee received, noted and discussed the Update on enforcement action.           

With reference to paragraph 5(a) of the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development (Smithy Fen, Cottenham), Councillor Nick Wright again asked that the appropriate Legal Officer should attend Planning Committee to update Members about progress.

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

The Planning Team Leader (West) referred Members to a summary of the decision to dismiss the Appeal in respect of Manor Oak Homes Ltd – Outline planning permission with all matters reserved except for access for the erection of up to 50 dwellings and associated works, including access, cart and cycle parking, open space and landscaping - Land off Beach Road, Cottenham.