Issue - meetings

Review of the Design Review Service

Meeting: 14/07/2021 - Weekly Bulletin (Item 8.)

Review of the Design Review Service

Cabinet:

 

a)    Agreed to replace the Design Enabling Panel to create the Greater Cambridge Design Review Panel and approve the Terms of Reference (including charges) set out at Appendix B from 1 January 2022.

b)    Agreed to grant delegated authority to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning Policy and Delivery to make minor changes to the Terms of Reference set out at Appendix B.

c)     Noted the findings and to implement the recommendations from Urban Design Learning set out in Appendix A.

d)    Noted the Milestones for Implementing the GCDRP set out in Appendix D.

 

This decision was first published on 7 July and so the deadline for call-in is 5pm on Wednesday 14 July.


Meeting: 05/07/2021 - Cabinet (Item 13)

13 Review of the Design Review Service pdf icon PDF 394 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Cabinet:

 

a)    Agreed to replace the Design Enabling Panel to create the Greater Cambridge Design Review Panel and approve the Terms of Reference (including charges) set out at Appendix B from 1 January 2022.

b)    Agreed to grant delegated authority to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning Policy and Delivery to make minor changes to the Terms of Reference set out at Appendix B.

c)     Noted the findings and to implement the recommendations from Urban Design Learning set out in Appendix A.

d)    Noted the Milestones for Implementing the GCDRP set out in Appendix D.

Minutes:

Cabinet received the Review of the Design Review Service report.  Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins, Lead Cabinet Member for Planning Policy and Delivery, introduced the report, which was the first time the Design Review Service had undergone a review, and would support improvements to the work of the team.

 

Councillor John Williams, Lead Cabinet Member for Finance, said he hoped the Design Review Service would continue to consider the feedback from the Parish Councils. Councillor Neil Gough, the Deputy Leader, supported the report, requesting the Cabinet should also implement the recommendations from the report. The Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development agreed with the updated recommendation.

 

Councillor John Batchelor, Lead Cabinet Member for Housing, offered praise for the review, but was hopeful the Planning Committee could defer some applicants to the Design Review Service. The Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development responded that the Design Review Service would be part of the process, but further Government legislation would be required for all applications to be deferred.

 

Councillor Dr. Claire Daunton said she was pleased with the report and commended the continuing work of the team but requested the possibility that all developers within South Cambridgeshire be encouraged to use the service. The Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development said he would feed back the Members’ comments to the team.

 

After a short discussion, Councillor Bridget Smith closed the debate, thanked Officers for their ongoing work in the team and commended their award-winning status. Then, Cabinet:

 

a)    Agreed to replace the Design Enabling Panel to create the Greater Cambridge Design Review Panel and approve the Terms of Reference (including charges) set out at Appendix B from 1 January 2022.

b)    Agreed to grant delegated authority to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning Policy and Delivery to make minor changes to the Terms of Reference set out at Appendix B.

c)     Noted the findings and to implement the recommendations from Urban Design Learning set out in Appendix A.

d)    Noted the Milestones for Implementing the GCDRP set out in Appendix D.