Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - South Cambs Hall. View directions

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

Councillors Pippa Heylings and Peter Topping have sent Apologies for Absence. To receive apologies for absence from other committee members. 

Minutes:

Councillors Pippa Heylings and Peter Topping sent Apologies for Absence. Councillors Henry Batchelor and Mark Howell were their substitutes respectively.

 

In Councillor Heylings’ absence, the Committee by affirmation appointed Councillor Brian Milnes as Vice-Chairman for the meeting.

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:

In the interests of clarification, Councillor Mark Howell informed those present that he was the Cambridgeshire County Councillor for the Electoral Division of Cambourne.

 

Councillor Nick Wright declared a non-pecuniary interest in Minute 6a (S/2709/18/DC - Cambourne (Land to the west of Cambourne, Cambourne, CB23 6ER) because some of the land within the site of Cambourne West was owned by relatives of his. Councillor Wright said that he would be representing his constituents by contributing to the debate, but would not be voting.

3.

Recorded Voting

Minutes:

Upon the proposal of Councillor Brian Milnes, seconded by Councillor Dr. Martin Cahn, 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.

S/2709/18/DC - Cambourne (land to the West of Cambourne) pdf icon PDF 106 KB

 

Discharge of Condition 8 (Site wide Design Code) of planning permission S/2903/14/OL

 

This item was deferred at the Planning Committee meeting held on 12 June 2019. You can view the report and Appendices by typing the following short URL into a web browser

 

https://bit.ly/2ZzRGtR

 

pressing Enter, and scrolling to Agenda Item 6a (known as Supplement 1).

 

Alternatively, you can also view the Report and Appendices, which have been attached to the online version of this agenda. Because they were first published with the agenda for the meeting on 12 June 2019, they bear that date.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Following limited discussion at the Planning Committee meeting on 12 June 2019 (Minute 7 refers), this application had been deferred to enable officers to brief Members about a few specific details therein, and about the nature of design codes in general.

 

In the interests of clarification, Councillor Mark Howell informed those present that he was the Cambridgeshire County Councillor for the Electoral Division of Cambourne.

 

Councillor Nick Wright declared a non-pecuniary interest because some of the land within the site of Cambourne West was owned by relatives of his. Councillor Wright said that he would be representing his constituents by contributing to the debate but would not be voting.

 

The case officer referred Members to the update report and reminded them that the Design Code did not override the Outline planning application. He emphasised the difference between mandatory elements of the Code (indicated by the use of the word ‘must’) and preferred elements (indicated by the use of the word ‘should’). The case officer explained that the use of ‘should’ was effectively an invitation for applicants to demonstrate to the Planning Committee an intention to innovate and to justify why Members should authorise something above and beyond what had been envisaged.

 

A question was asked about the status of the Gibbet Mound. The case officer undertook to investigate.

 

Danielle Bentley (applicant’s agent) and Councillor Shrobona Bhattacharya (a local Member) addressed the meeting.

 

The Assistant Director (Delivery) confirmed that South Cambridgeshire District Council had fulfilled its legal responsibility in terms of notifying all appropriate parties, including Cambourne Town Council. She read out loud an extract from the Minutes of the Town Council meeting held on 11 June 2019, which the case officer had attended and at which the Design Code had been discussed. She said that the Town Council had been regularly involved in the development of the project as a whole. Although the Town Council had not commented formally, the case officer remained in contact with the Town Clerk.

 

Councillor Bill Handley proposed, seconded by Councillor Brian Milnes, that the meeting move to a vote. However, following advice from the Assistant Director (Delivery) , Councillor Handley withdrew his Motion.

 

Councillor Deborah Roberts expressed grave reservations about how the design code issue had been progressed. She considered it to be unsustainable and that it would deliver a low quality of life for residents.

 

Councillor Nick Wright, observing that the Design Code had been developed while Cambourne was a group of three linked villages, said that it was vital that the principle underlying that Code be reassessed to take account of Cambourne’s new status as a town.

 

Councillor Heather Williams urged officers to ensure effective consultation with parishes neighbouring the site of West Cambourne, including Caxton and Papworth Everard. She also expressed concern about proposed densities and said that sustainability issues must be mandatory. Any departure from the Design Code should be referred to the Planning Committee for determination. The Assistant Director (Delivery) reminded Members about the Scheme of Delegation to officers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.