Issue - meetings

Cabinet:

a)    Agreed the Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council - Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) for Greater Cambridge 2019-2020 (included as Appendix 1) for publication on the Councils’ websites.

b)    Delegated any further minor editing changes to the Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council - AMR for Greater Cambridge 2019-2020 to the Joint Director for Greater Cambridge Shared Planning.

This decision was published on Wednesday 20 January and so the deadline for call-in is 5pm Wednesday 27 January.

Cabinet:

a)    Agreed the Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council - Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) for Greater Cambridge 2019-2020 (included as Appendix 1) for publication on the Councils’ websites.

b)    Delegated any further minor editing changes to the Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council - AMR for Greater Cambridge 2019-2020 to the Joint Director for Greater Cambridge Shared Planning.

Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins, Lead Cabinet Member for Planning and Policy, introduced a report on the Greater Cambridge Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) 2019-20. The report, which covered both Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire, was brought to this meeting following a request made at the Cambridge Planning and Transport Scrutiny Committee meeting in September 2020, to be considered at a meeting rather than being published as a decision outside a meeting.  The AMR was set out as an appendix. Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins referred to the key findings as set out, and thanked Officers for completing the report during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Councillor Anna Bradnam, Vice Chair of the Council, requested clarification of the allocations for gypsy and traveller sites. Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins responded that there was sufficient provision, based on the need identified in the local plan. The Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development said a new needs assessment was being undertaken.

In response to a query from Councillor Dr. Claire Daunton, Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins said that the Council was working with Historic England to amend the advice to owners of historic buildings.

Councillor Dr. Claire Daunton then asked what impact permitted development legislation had on “whole life housing”. The Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development said the recent changes related to room standards, but it should be noted that the report before Members related to the current adopted local plan.

Councillor Heather Williams asked why the Authority had not met the target for the West Cambridge Master Plan, and whether there would be any impact on the Five-Year Land Supply. The Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development responded that this was being led by Cambridge City Council, and no residential development was planned within the West Cambridge Master Plan.

Councillor Geoff Harvey welcomed the comments regarding encouraging fuel efficiency in historic buildings, and on behalf of the Chair of the Climate and Environment Advisory Committee, he asked whether the application of policy would shift from permissive to encouraging efficiency, in view of the climate change situation.

Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins said the authority would make the guidelines as clear as possible within government guidelines and would welcome discussion on a progressive approach.

After a further short discussion, the Leader closed the debate, and Cabinet:

a)    Agreed the Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council - Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) for Greater Cambridge 2019-2020 (included as Appendix 1) for publication on the Councils’ websites.

b)    Delegated any further minor editing changes to the Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council - AMR for Greater Cambridge 2019-2020 to the Joint Director for Greater Cambridge Shared Planning.