Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, First Floor

Contact: Ian Senior, 03450 450 500 Email: democratic.services@scambs.gov.uk  Members of the public wishing to speak at this meeting are requested to contact the Support Officer by no later than noon on Monday before the meeting. A public speaking protocol applies.

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence from committee members. 

Minutes:

Councillor Sue Ellington sent Apologies for Absence.

2.

Declarations of Interest

 

1.         Disclosable pecuniary interests (“DPI”)

A  DPI is where a committee member or his/her spouse or partner has any kind of beneficial interest in the land under consideration at the meeting.

 

 2.        Non-disclosable pecuniary interests

These are interests that are pecuniary involving a  personal financial benefit or detriment but do not come within the definition of a DPI.  An example would be where a member of their family/close friend (who is not their spouse or partner) has such an interest.

 

3.         Non-pecuniary interests

Where the interest is not one which involves any personal financial benefit or detriment to the Councillor but arises out of a close connection with someone or some  body /association.  An example would be membership of a sports committee/ membership of another council which is involved in the matter under consideration.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

3.

Recorded voting

Minutes:

Upon the proposal of Councillor Brian Milnes,, seconded by Councillor Peter Fane,  the Committee unanimously agreed that all substantive votes at the current Planning Committee meeting should be recorded by name and / or number and name.

4.

Minutes of Previous Meetings

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the Extraordinary meeting held on 24 October 2019 and the meeting held on 15 January 2020 as correct records.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee authorised the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the Extraordinary meeting held on 24 October 2019.

 

The Committee authorised the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2020 subject as follows:

 

Minute 5 – S/4298/18/FL – Willingham

In paragraph 5 replace “The Committee…” with “Councillor Nick Wright…”

5.

Planning Scheme of Delegation pdf icon PDF 228 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Planning Committee considered a report from the Director of Planning and Economic Development and the Monitoring Officer seeking its approval of the updated powers and functions it delegates to officers, as set out in Appendix A to that report.

 

Following a presentation from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, Members engaged in a wide-ranging debate surrounding the options outlined in the report. The principal points raised were as follows:

 

·       The Local Planning Authority should improve public perception that it recognises and respects the concerns and aspirations of Parish Councils and residents

·       Members had had insufficient time in which to consider the options fully, and it was essential that the review should be conducted over such period as to allow an informed decision to be made.

·        The review of delegation had to retain enough flexibility to protect South Cambridgeshire District Council’s five-year housing land supply

·       If applications that Parish Councils want presented to Committee are instead dealt with under delegation, Parish Councils should be told why

 

The Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development highlighted the potentially broad range of material considerations used to consider the basis for referral of applications to the Committee.  He emphasised instead the importance of officers using their professional judgment to assess the relevant factors involved on an application by application basis.

 

Councillor Heather Williams proposed, and Councillor Deborah Roberts seconded, the following amendment to the Recommendation[S1] 

 

“The receipt of a request for call in by a parish council within 21 days, or a member within 28 days, of notification is referred automatically to Committee - where material planning considerations are cited by the parish or member for seeking such a decision

 

This will take place for the next 6 weeks to allow full scrutiny and time to digest a way forward given the short time we have had to assess the options. During this six weeks the committee will sit more often, as often as is necessary, to ensure decisions are not delayed.”

 

Upon a show of hands, this amendment was lost by seven votes to three. Councillors Roberts, Heather Williams and Wright supported the amendment. Councillors John Batchelor, Bradnam, Cahn, Fane, Heylings, Milnes and Rippeth voted to refuse the amendment.

 

Members discussed timescales for receiving back a further report. The Monitoring Officer asked Members instead to consider allowing officers a reasonable length of time to finalise proposals without imposing a deadline on them.

 

The Planning Committee

 

1.     By five votes to four with one abstention, approved Option 1 in the second agenda supplement namely to amend paragraph 1 in Appendix A to the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development contained in the main agenda (dated 4 February 2020) to read as follows:

 

“A Local Member or Parish Council writes, or emails a request for a particular application to be considered by Planning Committee, and sound planning reasons are given for why this is considered necessary and the request is accepted by the Joint Director of Planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

S/3499/19/RM - Longstanton / Oakington (Phase 2a, Northstowe) pdf icon PDF 944 KB

 

Hybrid planning application comprising;

a) Reserved matters for 406 dwellings including affordable housing provision, non-residential floorspace, landscaping, open space and associated infrastructure (the Reserved Matters include access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale following outline planning permission S/2011/14/OL);

b) Discharge of conditions 9 (Design code), 10 (Fire strategy), 11(Housing (Market mix)), 12 (Housing - Lifetime Homes (Affordable and market dwellings)), 19 (Surface water Drainage), 20 (Foul Water drainage), 23(Landscape and design), 24 (Landscape Management and Maintenance plan), 27 (Ecological Management plan), 31 (Longstanton conservation area), 32 (Low Carbon Strategy), 33 (Energy delivery strategy), 34 (BREEAM Standards), 38 (Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)), 41(External Artificial Lighting), 42 (Operational Noise - Non Residential use classes), 43 (Operational Traffic Noise Mitigation Scheme on-site), 45 (Waste & Recycling Management Strategy), 48 (Transport - Equine, Walking and Cycling Routes), 57(Transport - Cycle parking) and 64 (Self-build and custom build) pursuant to outline planning permission S/2011/14/OL and

c) Full planning permission for the temporary change of use of two dwellings to show homes

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members visited the site on 11 February 2020.

 

Mark Latham (Urban Splash) and Councillor Sarah Cheung Johnson (a local Member) addressed the meeting.

 

The Committee noted that improved delivery times were likely because the nature of the buildings’ construction off site meant that that could take place at the same time as groundwork on site. The Committee also received an assurance that cladding used would be non-flammable. Members noted local concern about the impact on the residents of Rampton Drift of three-storey dwellings proposed for the edge of this development.

 

Further debate focussed on

 

·       The provision of bat boxes, and bird boxes designed to attract a wider variety of birdlife

·       The key importance of both age-restricted accommodation and the modular construction of the housing

·       The need for careful consideration to be given to building heights so as to protect as far as possible the amenity of residents in Rampton Drift

 

A proposal from Councillor Deborah Roberts, seconded by Councillor Heather Williams, to defer making a decision until the issue of building heights had been resolved was lost by six votes to three with one abstention.

 

Planning Committee

 

1.     By seven votes to three approved Part A of the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development - Reserved Matters to Phase 2A of Northstowe subject to conditions outlined in the report and an additional highways condition following receipt of further late comments;

(Councillors John Batchelor, Bradnam, Cahn, Fane, Heylings, Milnes and Rippeth voted for approval. Councillors Roberts, Heather Williams and Wright voted to refuse.)

 

2.     By seven votes to three approved Part B of the report -  Discharge Conditions 9, 10, 11, 12, 19, 20, 23, 24, 27, 31, 32, 33, 34, 38, 41, 42, 43, 45, 48, 57 and 64 of outline planning permission S/2011/14/OL, subject to the implementation of the agreed details; and

(Councillors John Batchelor, Bradnam, Cahn, Fane, Heylings, Milnes and Rippeth voted for approval. Councillors Roberts, Heather Williams and Wright voted to refuse.)

 

3.     Unanimously approved Part C of the report -  Temporary change of use of two dwellings to show homes.

During Item 7 of this agenda (S/2549/19/RM - Cottenham) and in accordance with Standing Orders, the Committee agreed by affirmation that the meeting should continue beyond four hours.

7.

S/2549/19/RM - Cottenham ( Land off Rampton Road) pdf icon PDF 474 KB

 

200 dwellings

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members visited the site on 11 February 2020.

 

Michael Brown (objector), John) Dudding (applicant’s agent), Councillor Frank Morris (Cottenham Parish Council) and Councillor Neigh Gough (local Member speaking on behalf of himself and Councillor Eileen Wilson, the other local Member) addressed the meeting.

 

The case officer  updated the Committee. Late representations had already been addressed in the report. The Local Highways Authority had now changed its recommendation to approval.  Ecology and Urban Design Officers were supportive of the application.

 

In response to Members’ concern about ongoing management and maintenance of the drainage system, the Delivery Manager (Strategic Sites) said that these matters were not in the gift of the Local Highways Authority.

 

Councillor Deborah Roberts  said that this application was premature. The proposal was  seconded and, following a short debate, the motion was put to a vote on the basis of the application being against the Village Design Statement, permeability with the adjacent site, layout and the likelihood of the estate roads not being adopted. The vote was five in favour of deferral (Councillors Heylings, Milnes, Rippeth, Roberts and Heather Williams) and five against (Councillors John Batchelor, Bradnam, Cahn, Fane and Wright). The Chairman exercised his casting vote against deferral so the motion was lost. 

By seven votes to three, the Planning Committee resolved to approve the application subject to the Conditions and informatives contained in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development and, by five votes to one with three abstentions, to the addition of the following Condition:

 

“No development shall begin until a surface water drainage scheme for the site, based on sustainable drainage principles, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme shall subsequently be implemented in accordance with the approved details before the relevant part of the

scheme (including all strategic elements which will benefit all dwellings) and that part which is particular to an individual dwelling shall subsequently be implemented in accordance with the approved details before an application is made for a final certificate for building regulation purposes and no dwellings shall be occupied unless the relevant part of the said scheme has been implemented to the reasonable satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority.  The scheme shall be based upon the principles within the agreed Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) prepared by Enzygo (ref: SHF.1132.024.HY.R.001.G dated August 2016 and shall also include: -

i) Full calculations detailing the existing surface water runoff rates for the QBAR, 3.3 % Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) (1 in 30) and 1% AEP (1 in 100) storm events.

ii) Full results of the proposed drainage system modelling in the above-referenced storm events (as well as 1% AEP plus climate change) , inclusive of all collection, conveyance, storage, flow control and disposal elements and including an allowance for urban creep, together with an assessment of system performance.

iii) Detailed drawings of the entire proposed surface water drainage system, including

levels, gradients, dimensions and pipe reference numbers.

iv)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

S/2679/19/RM - Cottenham (Land off Rampton Road) pdf icon PDF 477 KB

 

200 dwellings

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members noted that this was a duplicate application to application reference S/2549/19/RM (Minute 7 of the meeting held on 12 February 2020 refers).

 

By way of confirmation, and by seven votes to three, the Planning Committee resolved to approve the application subject to the Conditions and informatives contained in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development and, by five votes to one with three abstentions, to the addition of the following Condition:

 

“No development shall begin until a surface water drainage scheme for the site, based on sustainable drainage principles, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme shall subsequently be implemented in accordance with the approved details before the relevant part of the

scheme (including all strategic elements which will benefit all dwellings) and that part which is particular to an individual dwelling shall subsequently be implemented in accordance with the approved details before an application is made for a final certificate for building regulation purposes and no dwellings shall be occupied unless the relevant part of the said scheme has been implemented to the reasonable satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority.  The scheme shall be based upon the principles within the agreed Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) prepared by Enzygo (ref: SHF.1132.024.HY.R.001.G dated August 2016 and shall also include: -

i) Full calculations detailing the existing surface water runoff rates for the QBAR, 3.3 % Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) (1 in 30) and 1% AEP (1 in 100) storm events.

ii) Full results of the proposed drainage system modelling in the above-referenced storm events (as well as 1% AEP plus climate change) , inclusive of all collection, conveyance, storage, flow control and disposal elements and including an allowance for urban creep, together with an assessment of system performance.

iii) Detailed drawings of the entire proposed surface water drainage system, including

levels, gradients, dimensions and pipe reference numbers.

iv) Full details of the proposed attenuation and flow control measures.

v) Site Investigation and test results to confirm infiltration rates.

vi) Details of overland flood flow routes in the event of system exceedance, with demonstration that such flows can be appropriately managed on site without increasing flood risk to occupants.

vii) Full details of the maintenance/adoption of the surface water drainage system.

viii) Measures taken to prevent pollution of the receiving groundwater and/or surface water.

The drainage scheme must adhere to the hierarchy of drainage options as outlined in the NPPF PPG.

(Reason - To ensure a satisfactory method of surface water drainage and to prevent the increased risk of flooding in accordance with Policy CC/8 of the adopted Local Plan 2018.)”

(Councillors John Batchelor, Bradnam, Cahn, Fane, Heylings, Milnes and Rippeth voted in favour. Councillors Roberts, Heather Williams and Wright voted against)

 

Councillor John Batchelor left the meeting. Councillor Pippa Heylings took the Chair for the remainder of the meeting. By affirmation, the Committee appointed Councillor Brian Milnes as Vice-Chairman for the remainder of the meeting.

9.

S/3344/19/FL - Knapwell (12 High Street) pdf icon PDF 315 KB

 

2 Dwellings

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

 

 

 

            Members noted that this application had been withdrawn from the agenda.

 

10.

S/2513/19/FL - Swavesey (White Willows, Hale Rd) pdf icon PDF 169 KB

 

Proposed New Dwelling

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members visited the site on 11 February 2020.

 

Mr. Ratcliffe (applicant) and Councillor Will Wright (Swavesey Parish Council) addressed the meeting. Members also received an e-mail from Henry Doble (applicant’s agent).

 

Councillor Deborah Roberts pointed out the conflict between this application and the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018, The site was outside the Village Framework and the District Council now had a five-year housing land supply.

 

The Committee refused the application for the reasons set out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Econom Development.

 

(Councillor Deborah Roberts paid tribute to Aaron Sands, the case officer, who was leaving South Cambridgeshire District Council to join Huntingdonshire District Council as a Planner. The Committee expressed its appreciation of Aaron Sands’ work for the Planning Committee over the years.)

11.

MS/3732/19/FL - Madingley (Belvoir Cottage, The Avenue) pdf icon PDF 143 KB

 

First floor side extension

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members noted that this application had been withdrawn from the agenda.

12.

S/3798/19/FL - Thriplow (Duxford Service Station, Car Showroom and Garage, Newmarket Road) pdf icon PDF 173 KB

 

Two floodlighting poles on northern perimeter of forecourt (retrospective)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members visited the site on 11 February 2020.

 

The Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development had endorsed referral of this application to the Committee because of its significance in relation to the delegation policy.

 

Councillor Mark Brogan (Thriplow Parish Council) addressed the meeting.

 

Members engaged in a short debate exploring the possibility of installing shielding around the floodlights as a way of minimising the impact on neighbouring residdnts.

 

By six votes to two, with one abstention, the Planning Committee approved the application subject to the Conditions set out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

 

(Councillors Bradnam, Cahn, Fane, Heylings, Milnes and Rippeth voted to approve the application. Councillor Heather Williams and Wright voted to refuse. Councillor Roberts abstained and Councillor John Batchelor was not present.)

13.

Enforcement Report pdf icon PDF 274 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received and noted an Update on enforcement action.    

 

The Delivery ~Manager (Strategic Sites) said that officers were currently preparing a report setting out the current situation at Smithy Fen in Cottenham.

14.

Appeals against Planning Decisions and Enforcement Action pdf icon PDF 130 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report on appeals against planning decisions and enforcement action, and noted that each of those appeals had been dismissed.