Committee details

This Committee is a joint committee formed under the provisions of section 101(5) of the Local Government Act 1972.  There are six Members from South Cambridgeshire District Council and four Members from Cambridgeshire County Council.

The Committee has delegated authority for discharging certain functions of the two Councils, including the power to determine planning applications in respect of major developments falling wholly or substantially within the areas shown edged in blue on the Plans and ancillary applications relating to such Major Developments referred to it by the relevant Head of Planning of the Council issuing the consent for the Major Development in question.

‘Major development’ is defined by reference to Article 1 of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 as amended or replaced.   It includes waste development, the provision of dwelling-houses where (a) the number of dwelling-houses to be provided is ten or more or (b) the development is to be carried out on a site having an area of 0.5 hectares or more and it is not known whether the development consists of ten dwellings or more, the provision (generally) of a building or buildings where the floor space to be created by the development is 1,000 square metres or more, and development on a site having an area of one hectare or more.

The Committee’s functions also include the power to approve, authorise and direct the respective Councils to enter into agreements regulating the development or use of land pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and to prepare and review, for approval by each Council, a scheme of delegation to Officers.

The Committee may exercise subsidiary powers authorised by sections 101(2) and 111 of the Local Government Act 1972.

Boundary map as at February 2010

Scheme of Public speaking

Memorandum Of Understanding: Scope Of Responsibility Of the Lead Planning Officer Advising The Northstowe Joint Development Control Committee

A Proposal to form the basis of a Memorandum of Understanding to be entered into by Cambridgeshire County Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council  (“the Councils”)

1.                  In 2007 the Councils delegated their development control functions relating to Northstowe to a Joint Development Control Committee (“JDCC”) since when the Councils have worked collaboratively to implement Major Development proposals in accordance with the Northstowe Area Action Plan. 

2.                  A Joint Planning Director (Growth Areas) was appointed to exercise planning and development control powers delegated under the Scheme of Delegations and to advise the JDCC, to negotiate with Developers and to liaise with Cambridgeshire Horizons and facilitate the release of grant funding. New arrangements need to be put in place as the post of Joint Director of Planning will be discontinued from 31 March 2011.

3.                  It is proposed that after 31 March 2011 the person to whom delegated authority is given under the Scheme of Delegations shall be the Head of New Communities at South Cambridgeshire District Council (“ the Head of New Communities”).

4.                  In the performance of these duties the Head of New Communities shall consult with senior officers from the Councils as appropriate and will advise the JDCC accordingly. In so doing the Head of New Communities will seek to fairly represent the views of each of the Councils to the JDCC but the recommendations to the JDCC will be based on the Head of New Communities’ professional judgement.

5.                  The arrangements proposed in the Memorandum of Understanding will operate with an annual review to determine its effectiveness and whether or not it should be modified or replaced with any other arrangement. If the arrangements are working to the Councils’ satisfaction they shall continue for subsequent years until revoked or modified by the agreement of the Councils.

6.                  Any party to this Memorandum of Understanding no longer wishing to operate under its arrangements may withdraw by giving 7 days written notice to the other Members.

7.                  (For the avoidance of doubt) Major Developments has the same meaning as given in the Terms of Reference for the Joint Development Control Committee Cambridge Fringes (“TOR”) as amended from time to time, Costs Sharing Protocol refers to Annex C of the TOR, and Scheme of Delegations refers to Annex D of the TOR. Senior Officer Board means the overseeing Board of nominated Senior Officers from the three Councils or any successor group performing the same function.

Approved by Council 14 April 2011