Agenda and minutes

The Chair made several brief housekeeping announcements.

Councillor Stephen Drew (Chair of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee) and Councillor Pippa Heylings (Chair of the Climate and Environment Advisory Committee) paid tribute to the late Councillor John Loveluck (one of the Members for the Cottenham ward) who had been a member of both committees.

Councillor Libby Earle sent apologies.

Councillor Richard Stobart declared an interest as a Director of both the South Cambridgeshire Investment Partnership and South Cambridgeshire Project.

Councillor Heather Williams declared an interest as a member of the Greater Cambridge Partnership Joint Assembly.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2022 will be presented to a future meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2022 would be presented to the Scrutiny and Overview Committee meeting on 28 February 2023.

If you would like to ask a question or make a statement, then please refer to the

Document called Public Speaking Scheme (Physical Meetings)

and contact the Scrutiny and Governance Adviser in Democratic Services by no later than 11.59pm on Friday 6 January 2023.

Jennie Conroy will ask the following question and supplement:

Question

The GCP Integrated Water Management Study informing the Development Strategy Spatial Options Report Nov 2020 identified that in the case of water supply, over-abstraction of the chalk aquifer is having a detrimental impact on environmental conditions, particularly during dry years and that even without any growth, significant environmental improvements are unlikely to be achievable until major new water supply infrastructure is operational (5.2.25).

Given that AW do not anticipate even their interim measure of transporting water into the region much before 2030 how then can the existing commitments in the Local Plan to 2031 be fulfilled ahead of any further plans for development amongst the key strategic sites identified to take forward in the Development Strategy Update?

Supplementary Question.

Given the sustainable transport initiatives underway led by GCP and the recent announcement in the government’s autumn statement confirming East West Rail, would it not be prudent at this time to include the extension of Cambourne as one of the key strategic sites forming the ‘central building blocks’ of any future strategy for development as identified in the Development Strategy Update and at least quantify the potential allocation of housing numbers that have yet to be specified?

Mr. Daniel Fulton (Fews Lane Consortium)  will make a statement about the Greater Cambridge Local Plan.

Jennie Conroy asked the following question

“The GCP [Greater Cambridge Partnership] Integrated Water Management Study informing the Development Strategy Spatial Options Report Nov 2020 identified that in the case of water supply, over-abstraction of the chalk aquifer is having a detrimental impact on environmental conditions, particularly during dry years and that even without any growth, significant environmental improvements are unlikely to be achievable until major new water supply infrastructure is operational (5.2.25).

Given that AW do not anticipate even their interim measure of transporting water into the region much before 2030 how then can the existing commitments in the Local Plan to 2031 be fulfilled ahead of any further plans for development amongst the key strategic sites identified to take forward in the Development Strategy Update?”

and supplementary question

“Given the sustainable transport initiatives underway led by GCP and the recent announcement in the government’s autumn statement confirming East West Rail, would it not be prudent at this time to include the extension of Cambourne as one of the key strategic sites forming the ‘central building blocks’ of any future strategy for development as identified in the Development Strategy Update and at least quantify the potential allocation of housing numbers that have yet to be specified?”

Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins (Lead Cabinet Member for Planning) was on extended leave of absence. In her place, Councillor Henry Batchelor (Lead Cabinet Member for Environment) gave the following answer to the first question

“Water Resources East and Cambridge Water are planning a range of measures that address both water supply and demand to seek to achieve abstraction reductions to protect the environment whist also accommodating development needs. We are engaging with the water companies and the Environment Agency as consultees in relation to planning for committed development. Planning permissions that have been granted will continue to be implemented and we have been advised that the demand from these permissions is factored into the emerging water resources management plan of Cambridge Water being considered by the EA and DEFRA at the present time prior to publication. We expect to consider that plan further once it has been published for consultation.

In terms of the Greater Cambridge Local Plan and the report on this agenda, we will not confirm a full strategy, including reconfirming delivery timings for existing commitments, until such a point as we have clarity on water supply, as set out in the Development Strategy Update at paragraph 3.11: “Further detail on the quantum of water supply and how that relates to housing and non-domestic growth will be provided in the Water Company WRMPs. These were due to be published around the same time as the Regional Plan but have been delayed. Until such time as they are published and we are able to analyse the detailed proposals it is not clear how water supply will compare with current commitments, the First Proposals growth levels, or the new increased needs for jobs and homes.”

To the supplementary question, Councillor Henry  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Scrutiny and Overview Committee is asked to review the attached draft Cabinet report, to comment upon it, and to make any recommendations that it deems appropriate.

The Scrutiny and Overview Committee reviewed a report?recommending that Cabinet confirms selected elements of the Greater Cambridge Local Plan development strategy via a Development Strategy Update (Regulation 18 Preferred Options) as set out in Appendix A to that report, namely

·       Updated needs for jobs and homes

·       Exploring provision of employment and housing – what is deliverable and how we will determine what is appropriate in terms of environmental, social and economic impacts – in particular water supply

·       Confirming our development strategy

·       Confirming key strategic sites

·       Development strategy next steps

The Scrutiny and Overview Committee Chair specifically invited members of the Climate and Environment Advisory Committee (CEAC) to this meeting.

On the subject of water, Scrutiny and Overview Committee members expressed concern about the challenge of water supply and consequent impacts on the chalk aquifer. They discussed the issues set out in the Development Strategy Update regarding the sequencing and timing of development in relation to water infrastructure, and the connected issue of realistic rates of housing delivery in the period following provision of water supply infrastructure.

Also in relation to water, CEAC members emphasised the importance of the two Councils’ (South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City Council) independent water cycle study exploring all relevant issues in full. They expressed a desire to use all policy levers possible to influence high water efficiency, and carbon, standards in new development. They called on central government to support accelerated delivery of water supply infrastructure.

A concern raised was that South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City Council might be obliged by water constraints to refuse preferred strategic-scale sites while not having the ability to refuse smaller scale development. Dispersal of development to villages would be unacceptable and Councillor Bridget Smith (Leader of the Council) assured those present that South Cambridgeshire District Council was committed to the current spatial strategy. She added that water capacity would determine the extent to which such development could be permitted.

With reference to jobs, those present discussed

·       the robustness of the employment forecasts in relation to the level of scrutiny officers had had regarding the assumptions made

·       specific queries about the forecasting model and methodology

·       the forecasts’ statistical bases

·       commuting patterns; and

·       comparison of the employment forecasts with those for other comparable locations such as Oxford.

Comments from Scrutiny and Overview Committee members included:

·       Concern regarding the impact of proposed national policy changes on the appropriateness of identifying updated needs at this point

·       Question regarding what could be done to encourage the mid-tech sector in Greater Cambridge. Officers confirmed that this was an issue being explored through the plan

Scrutiny and Overview Committee members then considered the development strategy. They said that South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City Council should seek reassurance that, in considering sustainability impacts to identify a development strategy, the environment would be given priority in relation to the three elements of economic, environmental, and social - each of which was dependent on water resources.

They added that consideration was needed of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

During the course of Minute no. 7 (Greater Cambridge Local Plan) and in accordance with Standing Order no. 9, the Chair proposed, Councillor Anna Bradnam seconded, and the Committee agreed by affirmation that the meeting should continue beyond the four-hour mark.

The Work Programme will be considered at the Scrutiny and Overview Committee meeting on 19 January 2023.

Members noted the work programme attached to the agenda.

Thursday 19 January 2023 at 5.20pm.

Members noted that the next Scrutiny and Overview Committee meeting would be on Thursday 19 January 2023.