Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor SGM Kindersley declared a personal interest as a Cambridgeshire County Councillor with regard to all those items on the agenda involving input from that Authority. 

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 November 2006 as a correct record.  A draft of these Minutes was included in the Weekly Bulletin dated 22 November 2006 and is available on the Council’s website.

The Committee authorised the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 1^st November 2006.

Approved as report.

The Committee APPROVED the application for the reason set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein.

Councillor Mrs DP Roberts declared a personal and prejudicial interest as one of the applicants, withdrew from the Chamber, took no part in the debate and did not vote.

Councillor Mrs CAED Murfitt declared a personal interest as an elected colleague of Mrs DP Roberts, one of the applicants.

Councillor NJ Scarr was not present in the Chamber at any stage during the debate, and did not vote.

Approved as report.

The Committee APPROVED the application for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein.

Councillor R Turner declared a personal interest as an owner of property in close proximity to the application site.

Councillors Dr DR Bard, Mrs CAED Murfitt and Mrs DSK Spink did not attend the site visit on 4^th December 2006, took no part in the debate and did not vote.

Councillor Mrs SA Hatton was not present in the Chamber during the first part of the debate, and did not vote.

Approved as amended by letter date stamped 1 November 2006.

The Committee APPROVED the application, as amended by letter and plan date stamped 1 November 2006, for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein.

Councillor Dr DR Bard declared a personal interest because his daughter is a student at Anglia Ruskin University (the applicant).

Delegated approval as report. 

The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE the application, subject to the receipt of amended plans detailing changes required to landscaping of the scheme and to no other material planning issues being raised by consultees yet to respond, the completion of a variation to the Section 106 Legal Agreement to address the provision of affordable housing, and to appropriate safeguarding Conditions.

Approved as report. 

The Committee APPROVED the application for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the Conditions and informatives attached to Application no. S/2156/05/F.

Councillor JH Stewart declared a personal and prejudicial interest by virtue of his friendship with the occupiers of no. 16 Main street, Hardwick, withdrew from the Chamber, took no part in the debate and did not vote.

Delegated Approval / Refusal, subject to an amended plan and expiry of the consultation period.

The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE the application, subject to the receipt of an amended corrected site location plan, for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services and subject to the Conditions referred to therein, Condition 10 being amended to refer to a minimum distance of 10 metres (rather than 15 metres as stated in the report) and to the consideration of any comments received prior to expiry of the consultation period. 

Approved as report. 

The Committee APPROVED the application for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein.

Councillor SGM Kindersley declared a personal interest as Cambridgeshire County Councillor for the Gamlingay Electoral Division, which includes the Parish of Haslingfield.

Delegated approval, subject to comments from the Environment Operations Manager.

The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE the application, for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein and to consideration of any comments received from the Environment Operations Manager and to consideration being given to a 10-year (instead of a five year) landscaping maintenance Condition.  Members also resolved that an informative be attached to the permission stating that any application for development on an adjacent site would be considered together with this development and those approved under references S/1870/05/F and S/1212/06/F in order to establish whether affordable housing, open space, an education contribution and any other obligations should be provided and, if so, to what extent.

Approved as report, consideration being given to a 10-year hedge maintenance Condition. 

The Committee APPROVED the application, as amended by drawings numbered 15A and 16A date stamped 20^th November 2006, for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services and subject to the Conditions referred to therein, consideration being given to a 10-year (instead of a five year) landscaping maintenance Condition.  Members also resolved that an informative be attached to the permission stating that any application for development on an adjacent site would be considered together with this development and those approved under references S/1870/05/F and S/1212/06/F in order to establish whether affordable housing, open space, an education contribution and any other obligations should be provided and, if so, to what extent.

Delegated approval as report, with a specific Condition relating to working hours.

The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE the application subject to the revisions set out in the report, to Conditions that reflect those attached to planning consent S/2069/04/RM,  and  to an additional Condition relating to construction working hours.

Councillor JD Batchelor was not present in the Chamber during the debate, and abstained from voting.

Delegated approval as report, with a specific Condition relating to working hours.

The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE the application subject to the revisions set out in the report, to Conditions that reflect those attached to planning consent S/2069/04/RM,  and  to an additional Condition relating to construction working hours.

Approved as report.

The Committee APPROVED the application unconditionally, for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services.

Refused, contrary to report.  Members agreed the reasons as being the overbearing nature of the extension, given its position and proximity to no. 6 Pearson Close, the adverse effect on neighbours’ amenities and loss of light.  Contrary to Policy HG12 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2004. 

Prior to considering this application, Members attended a site visit on 4^th December 2006.  The Committee REFUSED the application contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Head of Planning Services.  They agreed the reasons for refusal as being the overbearing nature in view of the proposed extension’s position and proximity to no. 6 Pearson Close, with consequent adverse impact on amenities and light enjoyed by the occupiers of this property.  Accordingly, the application was contrary to Policy HG12 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2004.

Councillor Mrs HM Smith declared a personal interest as a member of Milton Parish Council, and that she was considering the matter afresh.

Councillors Dr DR Bard, Mrs SA Hatton, Mrs CAED Murfitt and Mrs DP Roberts did not attend the site visit on 4^th December 2006, took no part in the debate and did not vote.

Approved as report.

Graveley being in the ward represented by the Chairman, Councillor SGM Kindersley took the Chair for this item.

The Committee APPROVED the application for the reason set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein.

Approved subject to parking plan date stamped 23 November 2006. 

Following the receipt of a parking plan date stamped 23 November 2006, the Committee APPROVED the application for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services and subject to the Conditions referred to therein.

Councillor Dr DR Bard declared a personal interest as a member of Sawston Parish Council, and was considering this application afresh.

Councillor Mrs SA Hatton declared a personal interest as a member of Sawston Parish Council and Chairman of its Planning Committee.  She informed Members that she never exercised her vote as Chairman of the Parish’s Planning Committee, and was considering this application afresh.

Approved as report. 

The Committee APPROVED both applications, as amended by drawings numbered RC_A100c, RC_A101a, RC_A201c and RC_A202c date stamped 25 September 2006 and letter dated 23^rd October 2006, for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services and subject to the Conditions referred to therein.

Councillor Mrs CAED Murfitt did not attend the site visit on 4^th December 2006, took no part in the debate and did not vote.

Delegated approval as report, subject to amended plans date stamped 30 November 2006. 

The Committee gave offices DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE the application, as amended by plans date stamped 30 November 2006 addressing the Conservation and Design Manager’s comments set out in paragraphs 17 and 18 of the report and clarifying the sill height of the windows in bedrooms 4 and 5 of Unit 2, subject to the prior completion of a Section 106 Legal Agreement requiring the payment of a commuted sum in lieu of the provision of affordable housing on-site.

Minded to approve, contrary to report.   Members agreed the reasons as being the absence of an alternative site (despite enquiries), the insignificance of any adverse impact, the part-brownfield nature of the site, the nature of the proposed use and service to be provided, and the lack of any need for additional car parking.

The Committee was MINDED TO APPROVE the application, contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to it being referred to the Secretary of State under the Green Belt Direction 2005, and it not being called in for determination.  Members agreed the reasons for approval as being

·                The absence of a suitable alternative site, despite an extensive search having been made

·                The lack of any significant adverse impact upon the openness of the Green Belt

·                The nature of the site as part-Brownfield

·                The nature of the proposed use and service to be provided

·                The prior existence on site of adequate car parking facilities, thereby not requiring additional car parking in the Green Belt

Councillor CR Nightingale declared a personal interest as Chairman of Great Shelford Parish Council, and that he was considering the matter afresh.

Councillor Mrs DP Roberts declared a personal interest as a customer of Scotsdale Garden Centre.

Councillor Mrs CAED Murfitt did not attend the site visit on 4^th December 2006, took no part in the debate and did not vote.

Refused contrary to report on the grounds of lack of parking and turning on site, and highway safety. 

The Committee REFUSED the application, in line with officers’ amended recommendation.  Members agreed the reasons for refusal as being those recommended by the Local Highways Authority, namely the lack of parking and turning on site, and highway safety. 

Councillor CR Nightingale declared a personal interest as Chairman of Great Shelford Parish Council, and that he was considering the matter afresh.

Approved in accordance with the previous consent. 

The Committee APPROVED the application for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, on exactly the same terms as planning consent no. S/2416/02/F dated 4 February 2003, namely for a temporary period of three years, and subject to the Conditions referred to in the report.

Officers to put Members’ concerns to Cambridgeshire County Council. 

The Committee considered an application by Cambridgeshire County Council to vary  Condition 2 of Planning Permission S/1437/89 relating to the bund so as to allow for an alternative layout and alternative number of pitches at Willingham Travellers Site, Meadow Road. Members’ views were being sought because of Willingham Parish Council’s concerns relating to  traveller-related proposals generally in the Parish.

The Head of Planning Services highlighted the main aspects of a report being presented to the County Council’s Development Control Committee on 11 December 2006.

Councillor RMA Manning (a local Member) conveyed the Parish Council’s concern that the application to vary Condition 2 was a surreptitious attempt to re-open the former County Council-run site.  He made it clear that, at the very least, the Bund should be re-instated following completion of the proposed re-alignment works.

Councillor Mrs DP Roberts shared Councillor Manning’s concern, regretting that the County Council had not seen fit to consult South Cambridgeshire District Council at an earlier stage.  She felt that the apparent disproportionate costs to be incurred could suggest further proposals for the site, as yet unknown. 

Drainage of the site was a further issue.

The Committee INSTRUCTED Officers to forward Members’ concerns to Cambridgeshire County Council with a view to them being presented to the Development Control Committee meeting on 11 December 2006.

Councillor SGM Kindersley declared a personal interest as a member of Cambridgeshire County Council’s Development Control Committee.  The Head of Legal Services had confirmed that, as a “dual hatted” Member, Councillor Kindersley was at liberty to take part in the District Council Planning Committee’s debate on this application.

 Approved as report.

The Committee APPROVED the application for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein.

Delegated approval as report. 

The Committee considered a report on the Cambourne Phase 6 Upper Cambourne Development Briefing Document for Development Control purposes as part of the Cambourne Design Guide.

Councillor E Pateman (a local Member) indicated his approval in principle, but hinted that the intention, referred to in paragraph 11 of the report, that the rural character of the village should be preserved by limiting onward vehicular access to buses only, might lead to him reconsidering that position in the future.

The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE OR REFUSE the Cambourne Phase 6 Upper Cambourne Development Briefing Document subject to progress on amendment and the incorporation of advice on the sustainability policies contained in the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2004 and the Core Strategy of the Local Development Framework.

Summaries of Decisions of interest attached.

Contact officers:

Gareth Jones, Head of Planning  – Tel: 01954 713155

John Koch, Appeals Manager (Special Projects) – Tel: 01954 713268

The Committee noted a report on Appeals against planning decisions and enforcement action.