Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2009 as a correct record.

The Planning Portfolio Holder and New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2009 were a correct record.

The Planning Portfolio Holder agreed that the following uncommitted grant balances should be carried forward into the 2009-10 financial year:

The Planning Portfolio Holder considered a report seeking his authority to carry forward the uncommitted balance in respect of Heritage Initiative Grants and the total balance on the Historic Buildings Preservation Fund.

The Principal Accountant (General Fund and Costing) said such authority was needed from the Planning Portfolio Holder rather than the Finance Portfolio Holder.  Historically, a long list of uncommitted balances had been taken to Cabinet (or its predecessor body) each year but this list had become shorter and shorter until only two items remained.  These balances were themselves being reduced year on year, but the Conservation Manager had requested that they remain available: The Historic Buildings Preservation Fund contributed to the upkeep of St. Denis Church in East Hatley, for example, and might also help the Council to secure the future of threatened historic buildings.

The Planning Portfolio Holder agreed that the following uncommitted grant balances should be carried forward into the 2009-10 financial year:

Any amendments suggested by Senior Management Team at its meeting on 6 May 2009 will be reported verbally to the Planning and New Communities Portfolio Holders' meeting on 12 May. 

The New Communities Portfolio Holder adopted the New Communities Service Plan 2009-10 to 2011-12 subject to the following

·                     Key Partners to include Cambridgeshire Horizons and Cambridgeshire Together (Section 2(c))

·                     ‘relocation of Cambridge Airport. To become ‘non-relocation of Cambridge Airport (Threat)

·                     Resources levels (Threat) to make specific reference to the number of vacancies at senior officer level

·                     Threats to include specific reference to the uncertainty caused by ongoing delays in the development of Northstowe

·                     Resources (Section 6) to include capital grants

·                     Value for Money overview (Section 7) to become ‘identify revenue ‘core budget’ savings of approximately £225K for 2010/11

·                     Workforce Overview (section 8) to be amended to identify other joint posts within the service including the Community Technical Manager and Affordable Housing Officer

·                     Equalities Overview (section 9) to make specific reference to the delivery of Gypsy and Traveller sites within the growth sites

The New Communities Portfolio Holder considered the New Communities Service Plan for the period from 2009-10 to 2011-12.

Those present discussed a number of aspects of the Service Plan Overview, and the New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed to make a number of amendments as a result.  They focussed on the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats identified in Section 2(d). 

Those present commented on the Operational Plan, Improvement Plan and Council Actions Implementation Plan.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder adopted the New Communities Service Plan 2009-10 to 2011-12 subject to the following

§                Key Partners to include Cambridgeshire Horizons and Cambridgeshire Together (Section 2(c))

§                ‘relocation of Cambridge Airport’. to become ‘non-relocation of Cambridge Airport’ (Threat)

§                Resource levels (Threat) to make specific reference to the number of vacancies at senior officer level

§                Threats to include specific reference to the uncertainty caused by ongoing delays in the development of Northstowe

§                Resources (Section 6) to include capital grants

§                Value for Money overview (Section 7) to become ‘identify revenue ‘core budget’ savings of approximately £225,000 for 2010-11’

§                Workforce Overview (section 8) to be amended to identify other joint posts within the service including the Community Technical Manager and Affordable Housing Officer

§                Equalities Overview (section 9) to make specific reference to the delivery of Gypsy and Traveller sites within the growth sites

The New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed that Costain Skanska Joint Venture be told that South Cambridgeshire District Council’s response to the proposed draft Traffic Order on the A14 loop road at Girton interchange was as follows:

1.         The Council has no objection in principle to the proposal to retain the A14 west bound loop Road at the Girton Interchange subject to a traffic regulation order restricting access to emergency and maintenance vehicles only.

2.            Landscape mitigation should be extended to the whole of the retained area, which is currently:

·                      A mixture of established scrub and low woodland planting to the central area - there should be management of existing woodland, including new planting / glades / establishment of turf margins to and widening of the existing road verges and planting.

·                      New planting to the western mitigation area.

·                      Established scrub and farmed land at the eastern mitigation area.  The ‘existing pond’ to the east seems to have been filled with vegetation and including areas of scrub (probably shrub willow) - there should be management to re-establish the eastern pond or, if retaining willow, establish a new pond in mitigation area currently farmed.

3.                     Planting to ensure strong links between mitigation areas should be a minimum of 20 metres deep.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder considered a report seeking his endorsement of the suggested response contained therein to Costain Skanska Joint Venture’s proposed draft traffic regulation order for the A14 loop road at the Girton interchange.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed that Costain Skanska Joint Venture be told that South Cambridgeshire District Council’s response to the proposed draft Traffic Order on the A14 loop road at Girton interchange was as follows:

1.         The Council has no objection in principle to the proposal to retain the A14 west bound loop Road at the Girton Interchange subject to a traffic regulation order restricting access to emergency and maintenance vehicles only.

2.            Landscape mitigation should be extended to the whole of the retained area, which is currently:

§                A mixture of established scrub and low woodland planting to the central area - there should be management of existing woodland, including new planting / glades / establishment of turf margins to and widening of the existing road verges and planting.

§                New planting to the western mitigation area.

§                Established scrub and farmed land at the eastern mitigation area.  The ‘existing pond’ to the east seems to have been filled with vegetation and including areas of scrub (probably shrub willow) - there should be management to re-establish the eastern pond or, if retaining willow, establish a new pond in mitigation area currently farmed.

3.                     Planting to ensure strong links between mitigation areas should be a minimum of 20 metres deep.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed that the following response to consultation be sent to Cambridge City Council:

1.         The first sections of the draft Public Art SPD - These are compatible with the contents of the South Cambs SPD.  One of the aims of the City Council’s draft SPD is “ to be consistent with the South Cambridgeshire District Council Public Art SPD, and will provide a sound basis for negotiations between the parties where public art is to be created for cross-boundary developments.”  South Cambs support this aim and welcomes the recognition by the City Council of the need for consistency between the two documents.

2.         Spatial strategy - The prioritizing of funding for public art in the new development areas is to be supported as well as the recognition of the role that public art can have in involving both the new and existing communities in creating quality new communities.

3.            Development Control Guidance – South Cambridgeshire District Council supports the recognition that for the larger growth areas that the contribution from developers for public art will be negotiated on a case by case basis.  However the wording of the Development Guidance 2 indicates that all major developmentwill dedicate 1% of the construction cost. This implies that it will be a requirement rather than be negotiated. In order for this to be compatible with the Public Art SPD adopted by South Cambs the wording of this guidance should be revised to read as follows  – ‘ All major development are encouraged to dedicate up to 1%…’.  The actual percentage will be determined by the implications for the delivery of development of the overall S106 costs of each major development.  

4.           Public Art Funding -– It is not clear whether by including South Cambridgeshire District Council as an additional source of funding in paragraph 10.13 this would be from developers of one of the major developments on the edge of Cambridge or whether there is an expectation of funding directly from South Cambs which does not have a fund for public art.  If the latter is the case then the reference to South Cambs Council should be deleted.  Clarification is needed on this matter.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder considered a report seeking his endorsement of a suggested response contained therein to Cambridge City Council’s consultation about its draft Public Art Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which aims to guide the City Council in creating and providing public art in Cambridge.

He acknowledged the totally inappropriate nature of the implied requirement in Development Guidance 2 that all major developments would dedicate 1% of the construction costs to the provision of public art.   South Cambridgeshire District Council favoured a negotiated approach in order to recognise the conflicting demands being made on available funds, and the New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed that the City Council should be requested to review that aspect of the SPD in order to create greater compatibility with South Cambridgeshire District Council’s own Public Art SPD, and accordingly reduce potential difficulties in developing arts provision in the ‘urban extensions’ around the fringe of Cambridge.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder highlighted the need to concentrate on public art that met with local support and which helped forge community cohesion.  Performance art, for example, might achieve this more readily than ‘physical art’ in some areas.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed that the following response to consultation be sent to Cambridge City Council:

1.         The first sections of the draft Public Art SPD - These are compatible with the contents of the South Cambs SPD.  One of the aims of the City Council’s draft SPD is “ to be consistent with the South Cambridgeshire District Council Public Art SPD, and will provide a sound basis for negotiations between the parties where public art is to be created for cross-boundary developments.”  South Cambs support this aim and welcomes the recognition by the City Council of the need for consistency between the two documents.

2.         Spatial strategy - The prioritizing of funding for public art in the new development areas is to be supported as well as the recognition of the role that public art can have in involving both the new and existing communities in creating quality new communities.

3.            Development Control Guidance – South Cambridgeshire District Council supports the recognition that for the larger growth areas that the contribution from developers for public art will be negotiated on a case by case basis.  However the wording of the Development Guidance 2 indicates that all major developmentwill dedicate 1% of the construction cost. This implies that it will be a requirement rather than be negotiated. In order for this to be compatible with the Public Art SPD adopted by South Cambs the wording of this guidance should be revised to read as follows  – ‘ All major development are encouraged to dedicate up to 1%…’.  The actual percentage will be determined by the implications for the delivery of development of the overall S106 costs of each major development.  

4.           Public Art Funding -– It is not clear whether by including South Cambridgeshire District Council as an additional source of funding in paragraph 10.13 this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

Each Portfolio Holder will maintain, for agreement at each meeting, a Forward Plan identifying all matters relevant to the Portfolio which it is believed are likely to be the subject of consideration and / or decision by the Portfolio Holder, Cabinet, Council, or any other constituent part of the Council.   The plan will be updated as necessary and published on the Council’s website following each meeting. Portfolio Holders will be responsible for the content and accuracy of their forward plans.

The Planning Portfolio Holder noted the Forward Plan for the Planning Portfolio.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder noted the Forward Plan for the New Communities Portfolio. 

The next Planning and New Communities Portfolio Holders' meeting would be a Special meeting at 2.00pm on Friday 19 June 2009 to consider documents for consultation in respect of the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document Issues and Options 2 Site Options.  All members of Council had been invited to this meeting.

The meeting after that would take place at 10.00am on Tuesday 7 July 2009.