Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Monkfield Room, First Floor. View directions

Contact: Ian Senior  03450 450 500

Items
No. Item

58.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Councillor Sebastian Kindersley was unable to attend the meeting as he had intended to do.

59.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

Councillor Bridget Smith declared a personal interest as a former teacher at Gamlingay Village College.  Her husband was currently a Governor at the school.

60.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 45 KB

The Portfolio Holder is asked to sign the Minutes of the meetings held on 8 and 31 March 2011 as a correct record.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The New Communities Portfolio Holder accepted, as correct records, the minutes of the meetings held on 8 March 2011 and 31 March 2011.

61.

FEN DRAYTON: Land Settlement Association (LSA) Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) pdf icon PDF 53 KB

Appendix 2 is available on the Council’s website at www.scambs.gov.uk/meetings

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

The New Communities Portfolio Holder:

  1. agreed the classification of building 97 at 54 Park Lane as non-eligible and the classification of the converted water tank at 33 Cootes Lane as eligible; and
  2. agreed the adoption of the Fen Drayton Former LSA Estate SPD as included in Appendix 2 to the report.

Minutes:

The New Communities Portfolio Holder considered a report summarising the results of further discussions relating to the classification of buildings at 54 Park Lane and 33 Cootes Lane, and seeking adoption of the Fen Drayton Former Land Settlement Association (LSA) Estate Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

 

The Portfolio Holder noted that, once adopted, the SPD would form part of the Local Development Framework and be a material consideration when determining planning applications. 

 

The New Communities Portfolio Holder considered an email from David Mead (Partners in Planning) acting on behalf of the landowner of 54 Park Lane, commenting on the officer conclusions and recommendations in relation to the building at 54 Park Lane.

 

Councillor Nick Wright (a local Member) thanked officers for their recommendation that the converted water tank at 33 Cootes Lane be classified as eligible.  However, he had misgivings about the recommendation that the building at 54 Park Lane be classified as non-eligible.  Councillor Wright based such concern on the perception of fairness, adding that it appeared as though the landowner of 54 Park Lane had been penalised for tidying up his holding even though the land could easily be brought back into agricultural use. 

 

The New Communities Portfolio Holder acknowledged this concern but highlighted that the SPD needed to take a consistent approach and that any case for an exception to the approach would more properly be considered as part of any future planning applications.

 

The New Communities Portfolio Holder:

  1. agreed the classification of building 97 at 54 Park Lane as non-eligible and the classification of the converted water tank at 33 Cootes Lane as eligible; and
  2. agreed the adoption of the Fen Drayton Former LSA Estate SPD as included in Appendix 2 to the report.

62.

GAMLINGAY: Educational provision pdf icon PDF 35 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Emphasising South Cambridgeshire District Council’s principal  interest in protecting and developing the community aspect of Gamlingay Village College, the New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed that the District Council’s response to consultation by Cambridgeshire County Council on the future of Gamlingay Village College should be as follows

1.     Retain the current three-tier structure of Gamlingay First School and Gamlingay Village College, feeding into Stratton Upper School, in Biggleswade.

2.     Establish very close working links between the First School and the Village College for the primary year groups; and with Stratton Upper for the secondary year groups. 

3.     Develop formal federation proposals, aimed at improving educational performance and cost-effectiveness, including the possibility of a hard federation with Stratton Upper School.

Minutes:

The New Communities Portfolio Holder considered a report seeking his formal response to Cambridgeshire County Council’s consultation on the future of Gamlingay Village College.

 

He stressed that South Cambridgeshire District Council’s principal concern related to the established dual-use policy, and the Village College’s value to the local community as a whole.  Educational matters were the responsibility of Cambridgeshire County Council as local Education Authority.

 

Councillor Bridget Smith (a local Member) outlined the factors giving rise to the current consultation exercise, and commented on the differences between the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire educational structures.  She urged the Portfolio Holder to support Cambridgeshire County Council.

 

Councillor Nick Wright also expressed concern and said the main consideration must be to develop facilities that would benefit those living in and around Gamlingay.

 

Those present discussed a number of alternative options for improving the situation.  The Planning Policy Manager said that the robustness of bus routes should be a major consideration.

 

Emphasising South Cambridgeshire District Council’s principal interest in protecting and developing the community aspect of Gamlingay Village College, the New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed that the District Council’s response to consultation by Cambridgeshire County Council on the future of Gamlingay Village College should be as follows

1.                  Retain the current three-tier structure of Gamlingay First School and Gamlingay Village College, feeding into Stratton Upper School, in Biggleswade.

2.                  Establish very close working links between the First School and the Village College for the primary year groups; and with Stratton Upper for the secondary year groups. 

3.                  Develop formal federation proposals, aimed at improving educational performance and cost-effectiveness, including the possibility of a hard federation with Stratton Upper School.

63.

Cambridge Fringes Allotment Policy pdf icon PDF 24 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

The New Communities Portfolio Holder endorsed the Cambridge Allotments Management Policy.

Minutes:

The New Communities Portfolio Holder considered a report seeking his endorsement of the Cambridge Allotments Management Policy, which should be applied to the growth sites along the Southern and North West Fringes of Cambridge.

 

The New Communities Portfolio Holder endorsed the Cambridge Allotments Management Policy.

64.

Minerals & Waste Development Plan - Results of Inquiry pdf icon PDF 105 KB

Appendices 1 and 2 are available on the Council’s website at www.scambs.gov.uk/meetings

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The New communities Portfolio Holder noted a report outlining the outcome of a recent examination into the Core Strategy (CS) of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Minerals and Waste Development Plan Document (MWDPD).  This report highlighted how South Cambridgeshire district might be affected by the changes to the Core Strategy as a result of the inspector’s report. 

65.

Service Improvements & Performance Indicators 2010/11: End of Year pdf icon PDF 43 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The New Communities Portfolio Holder received and noted a report on progress made by the New Communities and Planning Policy teams for the period from 1 January 2011 to 31 March 2011.

66.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 18 KB

The Portfolio Holder will maintain, for agreement at each meeting, a Forward Plan identifying all matters relevant to the Portfolio which it is believed are likely to be the subject of consideration and / or decision by the Portfolio Holder, or recommendation to, or referral by, the Portfolio Holder to Cabinet, Council, or any other constituent part of the Council.   The plan will be updated as necessary.  The Portfolio Holder will be responsible for the content and accuracy of the forward plan. 

Minutes:

Those present noted the Forward Plan attached to the agenda.

 

Councillor David Bard announced that he had decided to stand down as New Communities Portfolio Holder.  Councillor Bridget Smith paid tribute to Councillor Bard and, in particular, to the inclusive manner in which he had conducted his meetings.  Councillor Lynda Harford endorsed these sentiments.

67.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on 28 June 2011 

Minutes:

Those present noted the scheduled date of the next meeting, subject to any changes requested by the new Portfolio Holder.