Agenda and minutes

Councillor Barry Chapman nominated Councillor Peter Hudson as Vice-Chairman of the Northstowe Joint Development Control Committee. This nomination was seconded by Councillor Alex Riley.

Councillor David Jenkins nominated Councillor Ed Cearns as Vice-Chairman of the Northstowe Joint Development Control Committee. This nomination was seconded by Councillor Hazel Smith.

The Chairman called for a secret ballot to be held. He noted that Councillor Bill Hunt was substituting for Councillor Hudson, and allowed both him and Councillor Cearns to remain in the Chamber and vote.

The result of the ballot was:

Councillor Peter Hudson         7 votes

Councillor Ed Cearns              3 votes

The Northstowe Joint Development Control Committee resolved that Councillor Peter Hudson be appointed as its Vice-Chairman for the remainder of the Civic Year 2014-15, subject to confirmation that he is willing to accept the office.

To receive Apologies for Absence from Committee members. Apologies have been received from County Councillor Peter Hudson and District Councillor Edd Stonham.

Councillors Edd Stonham (South Cambridgeshire District Council) and Peter Hudson (Cambridgeshire County Council) sent apologies. Councillors Douglas de Lacey and Bill Hunt were their respective substitutes.

Councillor Alex Riley reiterated that he had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest by reason of the proximity of his domestic property to Northstowe, but that he had a dispensation allowing him to speak and vote.

Councillor Tim Wotherspoon declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest because he had attended meetings of Oakington & Westwick Parish Council and Rampton Parish Council in order to provide factual information upon request. Councillor Wotherspoon is not an elected or co-opted member of either Parish Council and did not contribute to the debates.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2014 as a correct record. 

The Northstowe Joint Development Control Committee authorised the Chairman to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2014 as a correct record, subject to the following:

Minute 6 - Consideration of the grounds for contesting the Appeal against the local planning authority's failure to determine the section 73 application for the removal of condition 14 of the outline planning permission S/0388/12/OL, within the prescribed time period (application ref S/2097/14/VC)

Delete the following paragraph:

“Councillor David Jenkins noted that the Committee’s desire was that the development should proceed as quickly as possible. He was concerned that the determination of this Appeal, especially by means of a Hearing, might run counter to that aspiration. In reply, the Planning and New Communities Director referred to the benefit of preserving Condition 14 in that such a Condition would help to avoid the construction of small bedrooms, which had been much criticised at Orchard Park. Councillor Jenkins said that Orchard Park had been developed at a time of economic recession in the building industry, whereas the aspiration now was to promote Northstowe as an exemplar New Town.”

With reference to the following paragraph:

“Councillor Riley was minded to support officers in asking for the Appeal to be dealt with at a Hearing. However, he insisted that the overriding issue was the Appeal process must be transparent and open to the public. Officers answered Members’ questions relating to the possible extent of a Costs award against the Council, timescale for the Appeal, and the Appeal’s implications for the commencement of the development. Councillor Riley noted that Phase 1 had lower Dwellings per Hectare density, which suggested that there was no need for smaller rooms.”

Delete the first sentence, and then replace the words. “However he” with the words “Councillor Riley”.

The Northstowe Joint Development Control Committee received and noted a report on consultation responses in relation to the Outline application for Phase 2 of Northstowe, comprising up to 3,500 dwellings together with education and community facilities, road and cycling network, town centre, water and drainage network, sports and public open space, and full application for southern access road West.

The Principal Planning Officer updated the Committee about progress. The key points were:

·         Proposed inclusion of a town centre park

·         Fewer but wider Green Ways

·         Reduction in the height of buildings immediately abutting Rampton Drift

·         Steps to protect Longstanton Conservation Area

·         Redesignation of land to the north and north-west of the Primary School to residential

·         Consideration of 7-storey buildings towards the town centre in order to free up land elsewhere for other purposes

·         Transport related, including inaquedate car parking

County officers would arrange to meet with interested Councillors informally to discuss a number of transport-related topics, including dimensions of roads and cycle paths, and cycle parking.

The Committee Chairman invited Councillor Gill Ashby, Chairman of Longstanton Parish Council, to address the meeting. Gill Ashby made the following statement:

“Having looked at the Phase 2 plans and given our feedback we would like to draw the Committees  attention to the following which we feel is a serious problem.

Longstanton Parish Council take very seriously our  duty of care to Northstowe as it is in our Parish and will continue to be in our Parish. We certainly want the best for Northstowe and to see it become an amazing place to live.

Residents will be paying their precept to Longstanton and we are sure will be expecting something for that money.  The District Councillor and County Councillor for Longstanton will also be the Councillors for Northstowe as it is in Longstanton Parish.

So it was with interest this morning when listening to the Chair on Radio Cambridgeshire that you said, “Throughout the build out of Northstowe we are committed to providing enough facilities to meet the needs of the growing population”

Because we noted that in the Phase 1 section 106 agreement there was nothing included that could help Longstanton provide any community facilities for Northstowe. Phase 1 will have small community facilities within the primary school but these have already been allocated to health services and a possible mother and baby group and are a temporary measure as they will be taken back when the school needs them for its growth. There is no other community facility planned that we can see.  The Sports Centre is also not a social hub  it would appear to be changing rooms, showers and toilets for the sports areas  and is not expected to be built until the final stages.

The needs of Northstowe are much more than this. A community space where people can meet, facilities for older children, teenagers young adults. Older parents, single people, the elderly. What are they all going to be doing? How are they going to build a Community?

Longstanton  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Northstowe Joint Development Control Committee received and noted the Northstowe Risk Register.

Members said that the Risk Register should:

·         In addition, monitor compliance with exemplar targets

·         identify the nature of the Planning Performance Agreement between South Cambridgeshire District Council and the Homes and Communities Agency and, in particular, the risks associated with failing to grant planning permission for Phase 2 by the end of March 2015

·         be linked with the Project Plan

·         be easily accessible and easy to read

·         be kept up to date

·         assess the possible affect the General Election might have on timescales

(During the course of this item, the Committee became inquorate.)

Wednesday 25 February 2015 at 2,00pm in the Council Chamber, South Cambs. Hall, Cambourne

Members noted that the next Northstowe Joint Development Control Committee meeting had been scheduled for Wednesday 25 February 2015, starting at 2.00pm.