Decision details

Purpose

The purpose of this decision is to confirm the wording of amendments to the terms of reference for the Joint Local Planning Advisory Group (LPAG), which were discussed by Cabinet on 1^st July 2019.

Background

The LPAG is intended to facilitate a shared policy position that will allow the timely development of the new Greater Cambridge Local Plan, coordinated/integrated with transport policy; and other key planning policy documents within the Greater Cambridge area. Further background is set out in the Cabinet papers of 1^st July identified in the Further Information section below.

Discussion at South Cambridgeshire Cabinet, 1^st July 2019

A number of points were discussed at Cabinet on 1^st July on this item, including:

·         The need to explicitly state that the group will report into the two Councils’ respective decision-making processes

·         The need to be clear that the group’s focus is on the Local Plan, not on transport strategy, and that therefore its name should be reviewed to avoid confusion.

Discussion concluded with general support for the points raised above, however it is now necessary to amend the terms of reference in order to reflect the adjustments to the terms of reference based on discussion in the meeting, and further refinements arising following  subsequent discussion of the same item by Cambridge City Council members.

Discussion at Cambridge Planning & Transport Scrutiny Committee, 16^th July

The same terms of reference was taken to Cambridge Planning & Transport Scrutiny Committee on 16^th July. Ahead of that meeting, a number of questions regarding the terms of reference were asked of the Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy & Open Spaces:

·         Concern that the role of the Advisory Group was unclear in terms of whether or not it would have a decision-making function, or whether any changes were proposed to existing governance processes.

·         Concern that the Winding Up of the Group section was unclear.

To address both the points raised at Cabinet and the questions asked of the Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy & Open Spaces, a supplementary note and revised draft terms of reference were tabled at the Cambridge Planning & Transport Scrutiny Committee on 16^th July. These documents can be viewed via the link in the Further Information section below. This revised draft sought to address both the questions asked of the Executive Councillor for Planning Policy & Open Spaces, and the points discussed at South Cambridgeshire Cabinet on 1^st July. The amendments included in the revised draft were agreed by the Executive Councillor following the recommendation of the Planning & Transport Scrutiny Committee.

Further minor amendment

Further to these amendments, the South Cambridgeshire District Council Lead Cabinet Member for Planning recommended a minor wording change as set out below. Following advice from officers, a slight variation of this proposed amendment was agreed by the South Cambridgeshire District Council Lead Cabinet Member for Planning and the Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy & Open Spaces. This minor amendment was then communicated to the Planning & Transport Scrutiny Committee:

Purpose: last paragraph/sentence: There will be liaison with bordering authorities when appropriate. The word bordering to be changed to "neighbouring authorities and other relevant bodies".

Summary

To summarise, the appended further revised LPAG terms of reference recommended to be agreed by the Leader incorporate:

• the draft terms of reference discussed at Cabinet on 1^st July 2019, plus
• Amendments seeking to address discussion at Cabinet on 1^st July and also addressing concerns raised in advance of Cambridge Planning & Transport Scrutiny Committee on 16^th July. These were tabled at the meeting of Cambridge Planning & Transport Scrutiny Committee on 16^th July.
• A further minor wording change agreed by the South Cambridgeshire District Council Lead Cabinet Member for Planning and the Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy & Open Spaces.

It is recommended that the Leader: approves the amended LPAG terms of reference as set out in appendix 1.

The amendments to the terms of reference in the appended text reflect discussion by Cabinet at its meeting on 1st July and by Cambridge Planning & Transport Scrutiny Committee on 16th July, and are supported by South Cambridgeshire District Council Lead Cabinet Member for Planning and Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy & Open Spaces.

Option 1: Retain the terms of reference as agreed at Cabinet, without making any amendments.

Reason for rejection: This would not reflect the discussion at Cabinet noted above, or discussion by Cambridge members, the subsequent decision of Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy & Open Spaces, or the minor wording change agreed by the South Cambridgeshire District Council Lead Cabinet Member for Planning and the Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy & Open Spaces

Option 2: Make some but not all amendments to the terms of reference agreed at Cabinet.

Reason for rejection: This would not reflect the discussion at Cabinet noted above, or discussion by Cambridge members, the subsequent decision of Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy & Open Spaces, or the minor wording change agreed by the South Cambridgeshire District Council Lead Cabinet Member for Planning and the Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy & Open Spaces.