Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The Portfolio Holder is asked to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2013 as a correct record.

The Planning Policy & Localism Portfolio Holder signed, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2013.

The Planning Policy & Localism Portfolio Holder recommended to a Special meeting of Full Council that:

(a)          the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan: Proposed Submission document and Proposed Policies Map be ‘submitted’ for examination in accordance with Regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, together with the sustainability appraisal and associated evidence documents in support of the plan, with proposed Major Modifications (as contained in Appendix A) and proposed Minor Changes (as contained in Appendix B).

(b)          the following updated and additional evidence base documents be submitted with the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan:

·         Key Issues and Assessment (Update to the Audit Trail at Annex A of the Sustainability Appraisal Report) - Appendix C

·         Statement of Consultation Update – Appendix D

·         Duty to Co-operate Statement Update – Appendix E

·         Great and Little Abington Parish Council Proposals: including consultation leaflet and results of consultation – Appendix F

·         Graveley Parish Council Proposals: including consultation leaflet (if supported by local consultation – update to be provided to Council meeting on 13 March 2014) – Appendix G 

·         Sawston Transport Modelling – Appendix H

·         Development Frameworks evidence paper update – Appendix I

·         Sustainability Appraisal – update for Parish Council led proposals for The Abingtons – Appendix J

·         Habitats Regulations Assessment update – Appendix K (to follow).

·         Cambourne Retail and Employment Study- Explores retail and employment development in the village and opportunities to support future development – Appendix L.

·         Strategic Spatial Priorities: Addressing the Duty to Co?operate across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough – Appendix M

·         Services and Facilities Study Update – once finalised.

·         Transport Strategy for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire – to be considered by the County Council’s Cabinet for agreement on 4 March.

(c)          delegated authority be given to the Director of Planning and New Communities to make further additions to the schedules of changes during the course of the examination (except where changes would be of such significance as to substantially alter the meaning of a policy or allocation).The exercise of this delegation to be reported back to Planning Policy and Localism Portfolio Holder through the course of the examination process.

(d)          the Director of Planning and New Communities is authorised to prepare and submit reports, proofs of evidence, technical papers, statements of common ground and other such documents required in the presentation of the local plan through the examination process, reflecting the Council’s agreed position on these matters and to take such other steps as are conducive or incidental to the submission and examination of the local plan.

The Planning Policy & Localism Portfolio Holder considered the responses to consultation on the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan: Proposed Submission 2013, and a covering report from officers proposing that she recommend to a special Council meeting on 13 March 2014 that the Local Plan be submitted to the Secretary of State for public examination.

The Planning and New Communities Director introduced the report as representing a key stage in the Plan-making process.   Consultation had taken place in 2012 and 2013 on two rounds of Issues and Options for the new Local Plan. The Council had received about 30,000 representations to those consultations, informing the preparation of a Proposed Submission Local Plan, which had itself been subjected to consultation between19 July and 14 October 2013.  The Planning Policy Manager referred the Planning Policy & Localism Portfolio Holder and other Members present to paragraph 26 of the report, which gave a high level summary and assessment of the 7,400 representations received as a result of this final consultation.  He said the Council had made sure that it followed due process, and complied with the duty to co-operate imposed on local authorities by the National Planning Policy Framework.

The Local Development Framework Team Leader guided the pplpfh and other Members present through the other elements of the report, namely:

·         How much development?

·         Where should it go?

·         When is it needed?

·         Strategic sites in the Plan

·         Strategic sites not in the Plan

·         Village housing sites in the Plan

·         Parish Council proposals

·         Village sites not in the Plan

·         Climate Change

·         Design

·         Protecting and enhancing the natural and historic environment

·         Housing

·         Building a strong and competitive economy

·         Promoting successful communities

·         Promoting and delivering sustainable transport and infrastructure

How much development?

Those present made the following points:

·         Be clear who the new homes are for, and why

·         Housing needs should be assessed objectively to identify, where possible, how many of the new dwellings in South Cambridgeshire will be for people working within the District and how many will in effect be supporting employment in neighbouring local authority areas

·         The needs of homeless people in South Cambridgeshire should be recognised by stressing the importance of affordable housing

·         Infrastructure to support development should be put in place before that development took place

Officers commented that the Council had followed accepted national practice in developing the Local Plan, and had analysed all appropriate trends and economic models to make sure that it was able to support the continuing success of Cambridge and the surrounding area.  They confirmed that the 22,000 jobs that the Plan had been designed to create were all located within South Cambridgeshire.  The SHMA had been instrumental in determining the extent of housing allocation.  In response to criticism that promises had been made in the past that further development in the District would be less than was now being proposed, officers argued that time moves on and policies had to adapt to take account of changing circumstances. 

Where should it go?

Those present made the following points:

·         Recent events  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

The Planning Policy & Localism Portfolio Holder approved the updated Local Development Scheme attached to the report as Appendix A, and noted

(a)  The inclusion of the revised timetable for the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan, so long as the Special meeting of Council on 13 March 2014 agreed it for submission to the Secretary of State, and

(b)  the preparation, dependent as in (a) above, of Area Action Plans for Cambridge Northern Fringe East (in conjunction with Cambridge City Council), a new town at Waterbeach and a new village at Bourn Airfield. 

The Planning Policy & Localism Portfolio Holder considered a report updating the Local Development Scheme for South Cambridgeshire which sets out the timetable for plan-making within the district.  It included the timetable for the completion of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan and work on new Area Action Plans for major areas of change proposed in the Local Plan.

The Planning Policy & Localism Portfolio Holder approved the updated Local Development Scheme attached to the report as Appendix A, and noted

(a)  The inclusion of the revised timetable for the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan, so long as the Special meeting of Council on 13 March 2014 agreed it for submission to the Secretary of State, and

(b)  the preparation, dependent as in (a) above, of Area Action Plans for Cambridge Northern Fringe East (in conjunction with Cambridge City Council), a new town at Waterbeach and a new village at Bourn Airfield. 

The Planning Policy & Localism Portfolio Holder

(a)          approved the contents of the Annual Monitoring Report 2012-2013 for publication; and

(b)          delegated to the Planning and New Communities Director the responsibility to make any further minor editing changes to the Annual Monitoring Report where they are of a technical nature.

The Planning Policy & Localism Portfolio Holder considered a report about the Local Development Framework Annual Monitoring Report 2012-2013 for publication on the Council’s website.

The Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) included the Council’s updated housing trajectory setting out predicted completions each year up to 2031, and its five-year housing land supply position.

The Planning Policy & Localism Portfolio Holder

(a)          approved the contents of the Annual Monitoring Report 2012-2013 for publication; and

(b)          delegated to the Planning and New Communities Director the responsibility to make any further minor editing changes to the Annual Monitoring Report where they are of a technical nature.

The Portfolio Holder will maintain, for agreement at each meeting, a Work Programme identifying all matters relevant to the Portfolio which it is believed are likely to be the subject of consideration and / or decision by the Portfolio Holder, Cabinet, Council, or any other constituent part of the Council.   The Programme will be updated as necessary following each meeting.  The Portfolio Holder will be responsible for the content and accuracy of the Work Programme.  No Work Programme is currently available.

This item was not considered.

To be confirmed.

This item was not considered.