Agenda item

Adoption of South Cambridgeshire Local Plan (Cabinet - 24 September 2018)

The Cabinet’s meeting will take place after the Council agenda has been despatched.  The recommendations of the Cabinet will therefore be circulated to follow.

 

A copy of the Council report  is enclosed.

 

Appendices 1, 4 and 5 to the report will be printed and circulated separately.  All appendices (including Appendix 2 and 3) have been published on the Council’s website.

Decision:

Council AGREED to

 

1.

Note the Inspectors’ Report containing the Inspectors’ Main Modifications to be made to the submitted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan in order for it to be found sound (Appendix 1); and

 

2.

Note the schedule of Additional Modifications (Appendix 2) to the submitted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan to make minor updates and corrections; and

 

3.

Note the Main Modifications to the submitted Policies Map published alongside the Inspectors’ Report as a reference document to the examination (Appendix 3);

 

4.

Adopt the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018, including both Main and Additional Modifications (Appendix 4);

 

5.

Adopt the South Cambridgeshire Policies Map 2018, including Main Modifications and Additional Modifications (Appendix 5); and

 

6.

Authorise the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire, in liaison with the Deputy Leader, to make minor typographical amendments or updates in preparing the final version of the Adopted Local Plan and Policies Map.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Bridget Smith, the Leader of the Council, in introducing this item, recorded her thanks to all staff involved in working on the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan and noted that she would be writing to thank them for their efforts.

 

Councillor Aidan Van de Weyer, Deputy Leader of the Council proposed the recommendations of Cabinet, at its meeting held on 24 September 2018, regarding adoption of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan.  Councillor Van de Weyer acknowledged that he had previously expressed reservations about the Local Plan process. However, the Inspector’s report had now been received and, subject to incorporating the associated Main Modifications, the Inspector had concluded that the Plan was sound. The only options available to the Council were to adopt or reject the Local Plan. He believed that it was important to act in the best interests of the whole District as failure to adopt the Plan could lead to a return to the problems associated with a lack of five year housing land supply. With the Local Plan in place, the focus should be on how to create superb places for residents to live and to address housing need. Councillor Van de Weyer noted that the Council would almost immediately need to begin developing the next Local Plan.

 

Councillor Deborah Roberts seconded the motion.

 

During discussion upon the motion:-

 

·         Having repeated her thanks to the officers for their work on the Plan, Councillor Dr.Tumi Hawkins observed that her concern had always been about the proposal for Bourn Airfield and that she had represented the views of the residents in her ward on this.  Notwithstanding continuing reservations, Councillor Dr. Hawkins accepted that the best course of action was to adopt and begin to deliver the Plan in order to protect communities, subject to provision of the required infrastructure, particularly along the A428 and A10. In view of her vocal opposition to the Bourn Airfield proposal she planned to abstain on the vote and did not intend to lead the delivery of the Bourn Airfield development as Lead Cabinet Member for Planning. However as ward councillor she would work with the Deputy Leader and Officers to achieve the best outcomes possible, including good quality housing of all types and the right infrastructure.

·         Councillor Peter Topping was concerned that Cabinet had only met to consider the Local Plan on 24 September 2018 given his understanding that it had been received on 31 August 2018 and questioned why the Cabinet had not met earlier on such an important issue. He remarked that he would be supporting the Plan given its importance in protecting green belt and investing in large community development on existing brownfield sites. He was sceptical about whether the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning could fulfil her responsibilities in the light of the position she had expressed.

·         Councillor Mark Howell referred to previous comments and indicated that he would vote against the Local Plan and suggested that the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning should do likewise.  

·         Councillor Sue Ellington indicated her support for the Plan and echoed earlier comments made by Councillor Topping.

·         Councillor Graham Cone confirmed his support for the Local Plan which he regarded as the correct course of action to protect residents and villages and secure desperately needed affordable local housing.

·         Councillor Brian Milnes highlighted earlier references to the role of the Local Plan in protecting green belt and the need for infrastructure to be in place before development took place and made comments regarding voting at a recent Planning Committee.

·         Councillor Peter Topping strongly challenged any suggestion that voting in planning was carried out on a political basis. Following comments by another Member, the Chairman indicated that he would not allow further discussion on this.

·         Councillor Roberts, in seconding the motion, reminded those present that the opposition in the previous Council had expressed reservations about the Local Plan and had voted against it.  She respected the position being adopted by the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning in support of her ward.

·         Councillor Nick Wright indicated his support for the Local Plan which he believed protected the green belt and noted the additional houses to be provided were generally on brownfield sites. He also pointed out that there had been support from some Independent and Labour members for the Local Plan in the previous Council.

·         Councillor Nigel Cathcart stated that he supported the Local Plan on the basis that it tried to address competing requirements and minimise the potential damage.

·         Councillor Van de Weyer, in summing up, responded to Councillor Topping’s question about the timing of the Cabinet meeting, noting that the final decision for adoption was now before the whole Council.  He emphasised the importance of ensuring that infrastructure, most notably along the A428 and A10, was provided in advance of development and expressed the view that by adopting the Local Plan, the Council would be supporting the delivery of the houses, infrastructure and jobs needed by the District.

 

Upon being put to the vote, votes were cast as follows:

 

For (41):

 

Councillors Phillip Allen, Henry Batchelor, John Batchelor, Ruth Betson, Dr. Shrobona Bhattacharya, Anna Bradnam, Tom Bygott, Dr. Martin Cahn, Nigel Cathcart, Sarah Cheung Johnson, Graham Cone, Dr. Claire Daunton, Dr. Douglas de Lacey, Clare Delderfield, Sue Ellington, Peter Fane, Neil Gough, Jose Hales, Bill Handley, Philippa Hart, Geoff Harvey, Pippa Heylings, Steve Hunt, Alex Malyon, Tony Mason, Peter McDonald, Brian Milnes, Dawn Percival, Judith Rippeth, Deborah Roberts, Nick Sample, Bridget Smith, Hazel Smith, Dr. Ian Sollom, Peter Topping, Aidan Van de Weyer, Bunty Waters, Heather Williams, John Williams, Eileen Wilson and Nick Wright

 

Against (1): Mark Howell

 

 

Abstain (1): Dr. Tumi Hawkins

 

Council

 

RESOLVED to:

 

1.    Note the Inspectors’ Report containing the Inspectors’ Main Modifications to be made to the submitted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan in order for it to be found sound (Appendix 1); and

 

2.    Note the schedule of Additional Modifications (Appendix 2) to the submitted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan to make minor updates and corrections; and

 

3.    Note the Main Modifications to the submitted Policies Map published alongside the Inspectors’ Report as a reference document to the examination (Appendix 3);

 

4.    Adopt the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018, including both Main and Additional Modifications (Appendix 4);

 

5.    Adopt the South Cambridgeshire Policies Map 2018, including Main Modifications and Additional Modifications (Appendix 5); and

 

6.    Authorise the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire, in liaison with the Deputy Leader, to make minor typographical amendments or updates in preparing the final version of the Adopted Local Plan and Policies Map.

 

 

Supporting documents: