Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The Climate and Environment Advisory Committee endorsed comments made during the Scrutiny and Overview Committee meeting immediately before its own meeting. It strongly supported the net zero carbon measures included in the First Proposals and welcomed comments made during the Scrutiny and Overview Committee meeting about flooding and water resilience.

Councillor Paul Bearpark referred to Section 3.1 of Appendix A (Climate Change) and suggested that the Info Graphic would benefit from citing a source. At Section 3.7 (Infrastructure), Councillor Bearpark referred to Policy I/ST on Sustainable transport and connectivity. He requested that the draft Local Plan should frame the Policy around the spatial configuration of development sites, drawing on innovative design and best practice. Councillor Bridget Smith, in attendance as Leader of the Council, urged the Committee to recognise that sustainable travel, such as cycling, should be available throughout the District, and cycle paths should link all South Cambridgeshire villages together.

Regarding Policy BG/GI (Green Infrastructure), Councillor Dr. Martin Cahn noted that the area specific Strategic Initiatives did not include the Boulder Clay area in the South East of South Cambridgeshire as a location for woodland expansion and wildlife enhancements. In response, officers confirmed that the Green Infrastructure opportunities mapping included several district wide initiatives.

Speaking via video link, Councillor Pippa Heylings referred to Policy BG/EO (Providing and enhancing open spaces). Councillor Heylings suggested that the Local Plan should consider minimum distances people need to travel to access green infrastructure and open space.

Councillor Geoff Harvey stated that Policy GP/CC (Adapting heritage assets to climate change), should not be less enabling for owners of Listed Buildings than the current policy.

The Climate and Environment Advisory Committee recommended that the following changes be made to the First Proposals Plan and supporting documents prior to public consultation:

1.    For the infographic at the start of the Climate Change Theme, consider citing the source of the data; and

2.    For Policy CC/FM: Flooding and integrated water management, strengthen the policy to include additional wording to require that the risk of flooding in the area is not increased because of new development (Councillor Anna Bradnam and Councillor Pippa Heylings to provide proposed wording for consideration).