Agenda, decisions and minutes

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 6^th July 2005 as a correct record.  The draft Minutes have been published on the Website.

The Committee authorised the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 6^th July 2005.

MINDED TO APPROVE

The Committee was MINDED TO APPROVE the application, subject to it being referred to the Secretary of State as a departure from the Development Plan and not being called in by him for determination, for the reasons set out in the report from the Director of Development Services, and subject to the Conditions referred to therein and an additional Condition relating to the placing of appropriate signage.  Members also asked officers to write to the Local Highways Authority, exploring the possibility of placing a mirror opposite the entrance to aid visibility.

Members of Teversham Youth Club attended the meeting for this item.

Councillor Mrs C Hunt declared a personal and prejudicial interest, as Vice Chairman of Teversham Parish Council and Chairman of the Teversham Village Hall Committee, withdrew from the Chamber, did not take part in the debate and did not vote.

APPROVAL

APPROVAL for the reasons set out in the report from the Director of Development Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein.

DEFERRED

DEFERRED to enable the applicants to explore options for relocating the proposed car park within the site, and introducing appropriate landscaping that would minimise the car park’s visual intrusiveness.

DELEGATED APPROVAL

DELEGATED APPROVAL, for the reasons set out in the report from the Director of Development Services, subject to no new material planning considerations arising as a result of consultation, the period for replies to which expires on 4^th August 2005, to the applicants exploring options for minimising the adverse effect of light pollution, to the Conditions referred to in the report, and to an additional Condition requiring that obscure glazing be incorporated into the bathroom window in the west elevation.

Councillors Mrs DP Roberts and NJ Scarr did not attend the site visit on 1^st August 2005 and, not being otherwise familiar with the site, abstained from voting.

APPROVAL

APPROVAL for the reasons set out in the report from the Director of Development Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein. 

MINDED TO APPROVE

The Committee was MINDED TO APPROVE the application, contrary to the recommendation contained in the report from the Director of Development Services, subject to it being advertised as a departure from the Development Plan, referred to the Secretary of State and not being called in by him, and subject also to safeguarding Conditions.  Having visited the site, Members were satisfied that the site was well-screened, would have no adverse impact on neighbours and that the access road was suitable for the number of vehicle movements likely to be generated by the proposed development.

APPROVAL

APPROVAL contrary to the recommendation contained in the report from the Director of Development Services.  Members were satisfied that there existed a clear functional need for the dwelling, and that the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Structure Plan 2003 and South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2004 policies referred to in the report would not be contradicted.   The applicant’s agent had provided additional information addressing the Conservation Manager’s specific concerns about siting of the dwelling and that it should be restricted to a single storey.

Councillor NIC Wright declared a personal interest by virtue of his acquaintance with the applicant.

REFUSED

REFUSED for the reason set out in the report from the Director of Development Services.

Councillor TJ Wotherspoon, not a Member of the committee but in attendance as a local Member for another item on the agenda, declared a prejudicial interest by virtue of the close proximity of his house to the proposed development, withdrew from the Chamber, did not take part in the debate and did not vote.

APPROVAL

APPROVAL of planning consent personal to the applicant only, contrary to the recommendation contained in the report from the Director of Development Services. Members considered that the development did not contravene policies in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Structure Plan 2003 and South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2004, but asked that appropriate safeguarding Conditions be imposed, including ones requiring suitable landscaping (in consultation with local Members) and the ongoing breeding of Suffolk Punch horses.  

Having sought advice from the Head of Legal Services, Councillor Mrs J Dixon declared a personal and prejudicial interest and pre-determination (as having previously signed a petition in support of the application), withdrew from the Chamber, took no part in the debate, and did not vote.

Councillor Mrs DP Roberts voted for refusal of the application.

Mr Robert Clarke of Cottenham Parish Council addressed the meeting.

WITHDRAWN

Members noted that this application had been WITHDRAWN from the agenda pending the receipt of further information and possible arrangement of a site visit. 

DELEGATED APPROVAL

DELEGATED APPROVAL for the reasons set out in the report from the Director of Development Services, subject to the receipt of amended plans, no objections from the Trees and Landscape Officer, Drainage Manager and Anglian Water, Conditions referred to in the report and an additional Condition requiring nest boxes to be included on site as compensatory habitats for sparrows and starlings which currently nest in the buildings to be demolished.  Members also asked that an additional informative be attached to the Decision Notice, seeking negotiation with the developer over the retention of the pond.

Councillor Mrs JM Healey (local Member) expressed appreciation for the efforts made by officers in processing the application.

APPROVAL

APPROVAL for the reasons set out in the report from the Director of Development Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein. 

APPROVAL

APPROVAL for the reasons set out in the report from the Director of Development Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein, Condition 2 being reworded so as to exclude reference to any specific colour for the window frames. 

REFUSED

REFUSED for the reasons set out in the report from the Director of Development Services.

Councillor HC Hurrell declared a prejudicial interest by virtue of his acquaintance with the applicant, withdrew from the Chamber, took no part in the debate and did not vote.

APPROVAL

APPROVAL for the reasons set out in the report from the Director of Development Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein.

REFUSED

REFUSED for the reason set out in the report from the Director of Development Services.

Councillor JH Stewart declared a personal interest as a member of the South Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust. 

REFUSED

RESOLVEDto issue an Enforcement Notice

REFUSED for the reasons set out in the report from the Director of Development Services.

RESOLVED by 18 votes to two to issue an Enforcement Notice to remove the wall with a three month compliance period. 

REFUSED

REFUSED for the reasons set out in the report from the Director of Development Services. 

DELEGATED APPROVAL

DELEGATED APPROVAL for the reasons set out in the report from the Director of Development Services, subject to concerns relating to flood risk and the footpath being addressed to the satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority, and to the Conditions referred to in the report.

DELEGATED APPROVAL

DELEGATED APPROVAL, as amended by plans dated 18^th July 2005, for the reasons set out in the report from the Director of Development Services, subject to no objections being received from the Local Highways Authority, to the prior completion of a Section 106 Legal Agreement securing affordable housing in accordance with Policy HG7 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2004, and to the Conditions referred to in the report.

MINDED TO APPROVE

The Committee was MINDED TO APPROVE the application, as amended by Transport Assessment Addendum 1 date stamped 16^th March 2005, and Josephine Morrison Landscape Architect’s letter dated 4^th July 2005 and accompanying percentage mixes for the woodland planting schemes, but only after further discussions have taken place in relation to the requirements of the S.106 Agreement.  Members questioned whether a financial contribution towards the provision of a segregated cycleway along the A1307 was the most appropriate requirement.  They felt that a cycleway link to Sawston (via Babraham and/or Pampisford) and the Shelfords and improvements to the A1307, and the Hildersham junction in particular, would be more appropriate.  Members were also concerned that the cycleway along the A1307 might not be implemented even with the £350,000 contribution and questioned how the figure of £350,000 had been arrived at.  Members gave officers delegated powers to approve the application as amended when agreement is reached on the highway requirements of the S.106 Agreement with Councillors Orme, Bard and Batchelor with input from County Councillor Orgee subject to the application being referred to the Secretary of State and not being called in by him, and subject to the prior completion of a Section 106 Legal Agreement to also cover the following

and to the Conditions referred to in the report save that, with reference to recommended Condition 21, in response to the Local Highway Authority’s latest comments that the relocated sign on the north-western arm could block visibility, an amended plan be required showing this sign sited so as not to reduce forward visibility and that Condition 21 be revised to refer to this amended drawing number.

Councillor Dr JPR Orme being the local Member, Councillor NIC Wright took the Chair during the consideration of this item.

APPROVAL

APPROVAL for the reasons set out in the report from the Director of Development Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein. 

DEFERRED

Members noted that this application had been DEFERRED at the applicant’s request. 

APPROVAL

APPROVAL for the reasons set out in the report from the Director of Development Services, subject to the Condition referred to therein. 

REFUSED

REFUSED contrary to the recommendation contained in the report from the Director of Development Services.  Having visited the site, Members considered that the proposal would be unduly overbearing when viewed from the house and garden at 19 Dukes Meadow, and that the inclusion of part of a field in the Cambridge Green Belt within the curtilage of the proposed dwelling would be harmful to the openness and landscape character of the Green Belt.  This constituted  inappropriate development in the Green Belt, for which no very special justification had been demonstrated.

APPROVAL

APPROVAL for the reasons set out in the report from the Director of Development Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein and an additional Condition requiring the implementation of an appropriate landscaping scheme.

 The Committee NOTED the following from the report prepared by the Director of Development Services:

Members noted that there were no Local Inquiries or Informal Hearings scheduled to take place before the next meeting of the Committee on 7^th September 2005. 

The Deputy Director of Development Services reported verbally that he had just been informed that the Secretary of State had dismissed an Appeal in respect of unlawful development at Moor Drove, Histon.  The Council had been ordered to make a contribution towards the appellant’s costs.  This related to a delay in connection with highway matters.  The Committee endorsed the view of the Deputy Director of Development Services that this contribution to costs should be met by the Local Highways Authority.  Details would be reported to the Development and Conservation Control Committee meeting to be held on 7^th September 2005.

 Members NOTED the latest available performance criteria.

The Deputy Director of Development Services highlighted an error in the first paragraph of the report and informed Members that the fall in the number of planning applications received by South Cambridgeshire District Council was 1.6% and not 12% as stated.  He then referred to ongoing staffing issues in the Development Services Department, to which to some degree the performance criteria could be attributed. 

Members noted these circumstances, and recorded their appreciation for the efforts of all officers in the Development Services Department.

 Members NOTED graphs in respect of:

To respond to consultation by Cambridgeshire County Council. 

RESOLVED that Cambridgeshire County Council be informed that South Cambridgeshire District Council, as a statutory consultee, has no objection to the proposal to divert part of Public Footpath no. 5 in Kingston, as indicated on the plan attached to the report from the Finance and Resources Director.

Members considered a proposal by Cambridgeshire County Council to divert part of Public Footpath no. 5 in Kingston.

The Committee RESOLVED that Cambridgeshire County Council be informed that South Cambridgeshire District Council, as a statutory consultee, has no objection to the proposal to divert part of Public Footpath no. 5 in Kingston, as indicated on the plan attached to the report from the Finance and Resources Director.

To consider confirmation of the Order.   The plan referred to in the report is available only in paper format.

RESOLVED to authorise officers to confirm, without modification, Tree Preservation Order no. 04/05/SC affecting a Blue Cedar at 56 High Street, Teversham.

The Committee considered a report on Tree Preservation Order no .04/05/SC in Teversham, made under delegated powers.

The Committee RESOLVED to authorise officers to confirm, without modification, Tree Preservation Order no. 04/05/SC affecting a Blue Cedar at 56 High Street, Teversham.

RESOLVED that the embargo remain lifted for the time being, and that officers present a further progress report to the meeting of the Development and Conservation Control Committee to be held on 2^nd November 2005.

Members considered a progress report on the  “embargo” on issuing planning permissions for market housing at Cambourne, which they had lifted at the March 2005 meeting.  In May 2005, they had refrained from reinstating the embargo in order for the developers’ consortium to progress the legal matters associated with the provision of the trailer park.

The New Village/Special Projects Officer quoted from a letter received from the developers’ Project Director, indicating that all works relating to the trailer park should be completed within the next couple of months, and that the delay was not all on the part of the developers. 

Members expressed their appreciation for the efforts of officers involved in concluding this matter.

At the recommendation of officers, the Committee RESOLVED that the embargo remain lifted for the time being, and that officers present a further progress report to the meeting of the Development and Conservation Control Committee to be held on 2^nd November 2005.