Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillors SGM Kindersley and RJ Turner declared personal interests as Cambridgeshire County Councillors especially in connection with Minute no. 44 – Cambridgeshire Guided Busway).

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 August 2008 as a correct record.  The minutes can be read online by visiting www.scambs.gov.uk/meetings and following the appropriate links.

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

Condition 3(a)(i) (Arbury Park North bus stop) - Discharged as report.  Condition 3(a)(iv) (Pedestrian routes Guideway intersection at Arbury Park) – Discharged as report.

Councillor MJ Mason (a local Member for Histon and Impington) addressed the meeting.

The Committee DISCHARGED Condition 3(a)(i) (Arbury Park North bus stop) subject to the concerns of the Landscape Design Officer being addressed in relation to the species of planting and to the inclusion of fixed seats and toughened glass in the shelter.  The Committee DISCHARGED Condition 3(a)(iv) (Pedestrian routes and Guideway intersection at Arbury Park) in relation to design and external appearance of pedestrian routes, subject to the Guideway Team considering a reduction in the height of the lighting columns from eight to six metres.

Councillors SGM Kindersley and RJ Turner declared personal interests as Cambridgeshire County Councillors.

Approved as report. 

The Committee APPROVED the application, as amended on 18^thAugust 2008, for the reasons set out in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities) and subject to the Conditions referred to therein.

Councillor Mrs P Bear declared a personal interest as a user of the car park at South Cambridgeshire Hall.

Councillors Mrs SA Hatton and Mrs DP Roberts voted to refuse the application.

Approved, a revised car parking layout having been received, subject to the Conditions in the report and additional Conditions relating to boundary treatment, signage to the off-street parking area and re-orientation of the disabled drivers’ parking spaces. 

Mrs Bradford (objector) and Jim Hansford (Bourn Parish Council) addressed the meeting.

Prior to considering this application, the Committee attended a site visit on 3 September 2008. The Committee APPROVED the application, a revised car parking layout having been received, subject to the Conditions referred to in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities) and additional Conditions relating to boundary treatment, signage indicating the location of the off-street parking area, and re-orientation of the disabled drivers’ parking spaces therein. 

Councillor M Loynes declared a personal interest as having attended the parish council meeting at which this item had been discussed.  However, he had not contributed to that discussion, and was considering the matter afresh.

Refused contrary to recommendation on the grounds of the continued evidence of noise in this rural location remaining detrimental to neighbours, contrary to policies in the Local Development Framework, including Policies DP/3 and NE/15. 

Graham Taylor (objector), Alison Hutchinson (Agent for the applicant), Rick Bristow (Chairman, Cottenham Parish Council)) and Councillor N Bolitho (a local Member) addressed the meeting.  Councillor Tim Wotherspoon (another local Member) attended the meeting but had to leave before this application was considered.

Prior to considering this application, the Committee attended a site visit on 3 September 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 continued evidence of noise in a rural location and the continuing adverse impact this was having on the occupiers of neighbouring properties, which was contrary to policies in the South Cambridgeshire Local Development Framework 2007, including Policies DP/3, ET/5 and NE/15.

Councillor N Bolitho declared a personal interest because, in June 2007 a director of Whitfield Group (the applicant) had sought his professional advice in relation to a personal financial matter.  Councillor Bolitho chose not to address the Planning Committee when it considered Unit J on 1 August 2007 (Minute 58 refers) but, having consulted the Council’s Legal Service, was satisfied that he could address Members on the basis that he was not a member of the Planning Committee and did not have a vote.

Retrospective approval for a temporary period of three years in respect of the two caravans located towards the rear of the site.  The applicant withdrew the application for a third caravan towards the front of the site, within the perimeter hedgerow.  

Mr Buckley (applicant) and Councillor RMA Manning (a local Member) addressed the meeting.

The Committee APPROVED the retrospective application for a temporary period of three years in respect of the two caravans located towards the rear of the site.  Approval was subject to Conditions relating to measures aimed at addressing the issues of surface and foul water drainage, and surface material of the access road.  The applicant had withdrawn that part of the application relating to a third caravan towards the front of the site.

Summaries of Decisions of interest attached.

Contact officers:

Gareth Jones, Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities)   – Tel: 01954 713155

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

The Committee received a report on Appeals against planning decisions and enforcement action, and a decisions summary relating to

·                Mr and Mrs J Kerley – Extensions and dependant relative accommodation – Thorp’s Farm, Tipplers Road, Swavesey – Appeal allowed.  Appellant’s application for costs dismissed.