Agenda, decisions and minutes

General declarations include membership of, or other association with, a statutory consultee involved with every application. Declarations in respect of specific items on the agenda should be repeated immediately prior to those items being discussed for the benefit of those not present in the Chamber at 2.00pm.  Where declarations are complex, a written statement on the attached form will ensure that details are reflected accurately in the minutes.

There were no general declarations of interest.

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 July 2008 as a correct record.  These minutes are available online at www.scambs.gov.uk/meetings.

The Committee authorised the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 July 2008.

Refused contrary to report due to the adverse impact on an area of established trees seen as important to the character of the area.

Dominic Plunkett (objector) addressed the meeting.

The Committee REFUSED the application, contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities).  Members agreed the reason as being the adverse impact on an area of established trees seen as important to the character of the area.  Members instructed the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities) to organise a tour of Cambourne so that they could find out how well the community, and such detail as landscaping, was developing.

Withdrawn from the agenda

The Committee noted that this application had been WITHDRAWN from the agenda.  The site visit scheduled for 6 August 2008 was postponed.

Delegated approval as report subject also to the developer agreeing to provide more garden land for each dwelling.  If agreement cannot be reached on the provision of additional garden land, the application will be referred back to Committee for determination. 

Prior to considering this application, the Committee attended a site visit on 6 August 2008.  The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE the application, subject to the Housing and Development Manager supporting the scheme, the resolution of issues relating to access, parking, drainage, ecology and landscaping, safeguarding Conditions, and to the developer agreeing to provide more garden land for each dwelling.  If agreement could not be reached on the provision of additional garden land, the application would be referred back to the Planning Committee for determination. 

Delegated approval as report 

The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE the application, subject to further consideration of the comments from the Conservation Manager and the Environment Agency and to the Conditions set out in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities) (including those requested by the Conservation Manager, Ecology Officer, Local Highways Authority, Environment Agency and the Environmental Protection Team Leader as appropriate for the planning and listed building applications.

Councillor NIC Wright declared a personal and prejudicial interest as the applicant, withdrew from the Chamber and took no part in the debate.  Not being a member of the Planning Committee, Councillor Wright did not have a vote.

Refused contrary to report due to the proposal being seen as inappropriate development, having an adverse impact on the Listed Building, adjacent Conservation Area and amenities of neighbours.

Councillors JA Hockney and P Johnson (local members) addressed the meeting.

Prior to considering this application, the Committee attended a site visit on 6 August 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 inappropriate nature of the development due to its adverse impact on the Listed Building, adjacent Conservation Area and amenities of neighbours.

Refused as report 

Lynn Webb (objector), David Ames (applicant’s agent), and Councillor NN Cathcart (a local member) addressed the meeting.

Prior to considering this application, the Committee attended a site visit on 6 August 2008.  The Committee REFUSED the application on the grounds that the scheme did not fully comply with the criteria set out in Policy HG/5 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Development Framework 2007, neither preserved nor enhanced the character of the Conservation Area, would result in the loss of, or prejudice retention of, important trees within the site, would have an unreasonable adverse impact on neighbour amenity and, in addition, for any material reasons identified by the Local Highways Authority, Anglian Water, Building Control and the Ecology Officer.

Refused contrary to report due to the adverse impact on existing properties and residents, loss of parking, lack of amenity / play areas, and proposed Plot 2 being out of character with the area.  If supported by independent consultation, additional reasons for refusal would be drainage concerns and highway safety.  The Fire Authority will also be asked for their views about access for emergency vehicles and their response may form the basis of another reason for refusal.

Paul Norris (objector), Rick Bristow (Chairman of Cottenham Parish Council, and Councillors Nigel Bolitho and Simon Edwards (local members) addressed the meeting.

Prior to considering this application, the Committee attended a site visit on 6 August 2008.  The Committee REFUSED the application contrary to recommendation in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities).  Members agreed the reasons for refusal as being the adverse impact on existing properties and residents, lack of amenity / play areas, and the proposed Plot 2 being out of character with the area.  If supported by independent consultation, additional reasons for refusal would be drainage concerns and highway safety (including the loss of car parking).  The Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service would be asked for their views about access for emergency vehicles and their response might form the basis of another 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 that a report on Appeals against planning decisions and enforcement action had been published on the Council's website. 

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 that an information report on Appeal statistics had been published on the Council's website. 

To receive the minutes of the meetings held on 3 August 2007, 2 November 2007, 1 February 2008, 4 April 2008 and 12 May 2008.

The Committee received the minutes of the Planning Sub-Committee meetings held on 3 August 2007, 2 November 2007, 1 February 2008, 4 April 2008 and 12 May 2008.