Agenda, decisions and minutes

 Councillor SGM Kindersley declared a personal interest as a Cambridgeshire County Councillor, especially in relation to minute numbers 173 (Gamlingay) and 177 (Barrington), which were both parishes within his Electoral Division of Gamlingay, and 178 (Appeals).

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 2008 as a correct record.

The Committee authorised the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 2008.

Approval of both applications, contrary to officer recommendation.  Members considered that Policy HG/6 of the Local Development Framework Development Control Policies Document 2007 would not be compromised, that the extended dwellings would remain of a medium size and in keeping with the character of the neighbourhood and that neighbours’ amenities would not adversely be affected.

Gareth Jones (the first applicant), Julia Allen (the second applicant), and Councillor Tony Orgee (local Member) addressed the Committee.

Prior to considering this application, the Committee attended a site visit on 5 March 2008.  The Committee APPROVED both applications, contrary to the recommendation contained in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities)..  Members agreed the reasons for approval as being that Policy HG/6 of the Local Development Framework Development Control Policies Document 2007 would not be compromised, since the extended dwellings would remain of a medium size and in keeping with the character of the neighbourhood. It was also agreed that an exception could be made to Policy HG/6 in that the existing dwellings lacked essential basic amenities.

Approval as report. 

The Committee APPROVED the application, as amended by letter dated 14^thJanuary 2008 and drawing no. 01B date stamped 21^stJanuary 2008, subject to the Conditions referred to in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities) with Condition 8 being re-worded so as to require a timescale for installing the electricity sub-station.  The Committee noted the effect of Policy CH/4 of the Local Development Framework 2007 in relation to the development’s impact on the character and setting of the Listed Buildings at the corner of Rampton Road and Oakington Road.

Councillor TJ Wotherspoon declared a personal interest as a member of Cottenham Parish Council.

Delegated approval as report upon the Chairman’s casting vote. 

Councillor Mrs Ann Elsby (a local Member) addressed the Committee.

The Committee APPROVED the application upon the Chairman’s casting vote, subject to all matters being reserved, and to safeguarding Conditions, including Conditions requiring protection of the remaining verge and the carrying out of a contaminated land survey.

Application 1068 refused contrary to officer recommendation on the grounds of size, design, being out of keeping with Pepys Way and planning policies.  Application 1125 refused contrary to officer recommendation on the grounds of siting and being out of character with Pepys Way, adverse impact on neighbours’ amenities, and conflict with planning policies, including P1/3 and 5/5 of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Structure Plan 2003 and DP2 and DP3 of the Local Development Framework Development Control Policies Document 2007.

Debra Wilson (objector) addressed the Committee.

Prior to considering this application, the Committee attended a site visit on 5 March 2008.  The Committee

·                             REFUSED application S/1068/07/F contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities) on the grounds of the proposal’s size, design and adverse impact on the character of Pepys Way, and its conflict with policies contained in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Structure Plan 2003 and South Cambridgeshire Local Development Framework 2007. 

·                             REFUSED application S/1125/07/F contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities) on the grounds of siting and the proposal’s adverse impact on the character of Pepys Way, and its conflict with planning policies, including Policy P1/3 of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Structure Plan 2003 and Policies DP/2 and DP/3 of the-South Cambridgeshire Local Development Framework 2007. 

Approval as report. 

Andrew Welsh (ENL), Stuart Kingscott (Guided Bus Design Team, Cambridgeshire County Council), and John Griffiths (Arup) attended the meeting in order to answer technical questions.

The Committee DISCHARGED Condition 3(a)(iii) in view of the amended design (drawing no. CGB-HJY-JNHIS-D-1-001F) of the Station Road, Histon junction, subject to no new material objections being received, within the consultation period, as a result of outstanding consultations, and to final agreement of the detailed signals design by Cambridgeshire County Council’s Signals Team.

Appendix 1 is available online by following the links from www.scambs.gov.uk/meetings  

Deferred for a site visit. 

Deborah O’Brien (objector), Philip Kratz (Agent for the applicant), and Councillor John Batchelor (a local Member) addressed the Committee.

The Committee DEFERRED this application for a site visit.

Refused contrary to officer recommendation on the grounds of mass, siting, size, it being out of keeping with the neighbourhood and adverse impact on the amenity of the gardens to the south east of properties at Orwell Terrace.  Should the Local Highways Authority not be satisfied with the outcome of the speed assessment, that would be a further reason for refusal.

Liz Spencer (objector), Don Proctor (for RPS, Agents for the applicant), and Aiden van de Weyer (Barrington Parish Council member) addressed the Committee.

Prior to considering this application, the Committee attended a site visit on 5 March 2008.  The Committee REFUSED the application, contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities).  Members agreed the reasons for refusal as being the proposal’s mass, siting and size, and its adverse impact on both the character of the surrounding area and on the amenity of the gardens to the south east of properties at Orwell Terrace.  Members also agreed that, should the Local Highways Authority not be satisfied with the outcome of the speed assessment relating to available visibility splays, that would be a further reason for refusal.

Contact officers:

Gareth Jones, Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities)   – 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.