Issue - meetings

To:

a.     Note that the referendum for the Waterbeach Neighbourhood Plan took place on 3 March 2022,

b.     As it was a successful referendum, to ‘make’ (adopt) the Waterbeach Neighbourhood Plan (The made version of the plan is Appendix 1 of this report)

Council Agreed

A)       To Note that the referendum for the Waterbeach Neighbourhood Plan took place on 3 March 2022,

B)       As it was a successful referendum, to ‘make’ (adopt) the Waterbeach Neighbourhood Plan (The made version of the plan is at Appendix 1 of the report)

Brian Williams, Vice Chair of Waterbeach Parish Council, explained that residents, community groups and businesses had been consulted over the last seven years and the evidence gathered had informed Waterbeach Neighbourhood Plan, which had gone through several versions. He thanked the Council’s Senior Planning Policy Officer and Cambridgeshire ACRE for their invaluable advice. He requested that Council adopt the Plan.

Councillor Dr Tumi Hawkins thanked Parish Councillor Brian Williams for his presentation and admired the work of the Waterbeach community in producing an excellent Neighbourhood Plan, which secured a vote of 89.9% in favour in the referendum in early March. She urged Council to support the Plan, which would influence future planning applications affecting the parish.

Councillor Judith Rippeth read out a statement from Councillor Paul Bearpark supporting the Neighbourhood Plan and thanking Parish Councillors Brian Williams, Jane Williams and Jane Williamson for their efforts in keeping residents engaged and the clerk Belinda Westwood for her administrative support. Councillor Judith Rippeth thanked Councillor Paul Bearpark for his role in supporting the Plan. She asked Council to vote in favour of its adoption.

Councillor Heather Williams stated that as a member of the Planning Committee she recognised the significance that the Plan would have on future planning applications. She supported the adoption of the Plan.

The Leader stated that she was impressed with the amount of work that had done into the Neighbourhood Plan and congratulated the working group who had produced it.

Councillor Nigel Cathcart praised the Plan for its detail and recognised its importance in guiding future decisions.

Councillor Henry Batchelor recognised the hard work that had gone into producing the Waterbeach Neighbourhood Plan having worked on the simpler Great Abington Neighbourhood Plan. He expressed his support for the Plan.

The Chair, Councillor Anna Bradnam, praised all those who had ensured the involvement of the whole community in the development of the Waterbeach Neighbourhood Plan.

Councillor Dr Tumi Hawkins proposed and the Chair seconded the recommendation in the agenda. A vote was taken and were recorded as follows:

In favour (30):

Councillors Henry Batchelor, John Batchelor, Dr Shrobona Bhattacharya, Anna Bradnam, Dr Martin Cahn, Nigel Cathcart, Grenville Chamberlain, Graham Cone, Clare Delderfield, Sue Ellington, Peter Fane, Corinne Garvie, Neil Gough, Jose Hales, Bill Handley, Sally Ann Hart, Geoff Harvey, Dr Tumi Hawkins, Pippa Heylings, Alex Malyon, Brian Milnes, Judith Rippeth, Deborah Roberts, Bridget Smith, Dr Ian Sollom, Bunty Waters, Heather Williams, John Williams, Dr Richard Williams and Eileen Wilson.

Against (0)

Abstain (0)

Council

Agreed

A)       To Note that the referendum for the Waterbeach Neighbourhood Plan took place on 3 March 2022;

B)       As it was a successful referendum, to ‘make’ (adopt) the Waterbeach Neighbourhood Plan (The made version of the plan is at Appendix 1 of the report)