Agenda, decisions and minutes

Personal declarations of interest were declared as follows:

The Portfolio Holder is asked to sign the Minutes of the Planning and New Communities Portfolio Holders' meeting  held on 20 May 2010 as a correct record.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed that the Minutes of the Planning and New Communities Portfolio Holders' meeting held on 20 May 2010 were a correct record.

Appendices A-E are attached to the electronic version of the agenda. 

The New Communities Portfolio Holder

(a)            approved the draft Options Report on Food Store Provision in North West Cambridge (Appendix A) for public consultation; and

(b)            delegated to the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities), any             technical and / or editorial changes required, including any arising from             Cambridge City Council's Development Plan Scrutiny Sub-Committee             meeting on 13 July 2010, any matters of substance being endorsed by the       New Communities Portfolio Holder.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder considered a report seeking his agreement that the draft Options Report on Food Store Provision in North West Cambridge and its supporting studies should be published for consultation.

Replying to a question from the Portfolio Holder, the Local Development Framework Team Leader said that South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City Council would be considering their joint response to any proposed sale of non-food items in the supermarket or supermarkets.  The New Communities Portfolio Holder reminded those present that, while it was possible (by planning condition) to limit the range of goods sold, commercial uptake of any associated small unit shops was a matter for the market and could not be determined through the planning process.

Replying to concern that the local community must be allowed to express its preference either for supermarkets alone or for a retail mix of only  “local shops”, the Local Development Framework Team Leader said that the consultation exercise would embrace a number of different options, including the sustainability arguments in favour of supermarkets in North West Cambridge. 

Those present discussed the question of retail space in general, considering as an option the impact of online grocery shopping.

Councillor Bridget Smith said that it was important that children and young people be encouraged to participate in the consultation process.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder

(a)            approved the draft Options Report on Food Store Provision in North West Cambridge (Appendix A) for public consultation; and

(b)            delegated to the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities), any             technical and / or editorial changes required, including any arising from             Cambridge City Council's Development Plan Scrutiny Sub-Committee             meeting on 13 July 2010, any matters of substance being endorsed by the       New Communities Portfolio Holder.

Appendices 1-4 are attached to the electronic version of the agenda. 

 The Planning  Portfolio Holder:

(a)        agreed that the Draft Orchard Park Supplementary Planning Document             (Appendix 1, including Annexes) be issued for consultation.

(b)        noted the Sustainability Appraisal Statement (Appendix 2) and Habitat             Regulations Assessment Statement (Appendix 3).

(c)        gave authority to the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities)             to make minor amendments to the above documents, if required.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder considered a report seeking his agreement to  the Orchard Park Supplementary Planning Document being published for consultation.

The New Communities  Portfolio Holder:

(a)             agreed that the Draft Orchard Park Supplementary Planning Document             (Appendix 1, including Annexes) be issued for consultation.

(b)        noted the Sustainability Appraisal Statement (Appendix 2) and Habitat             Regulations Assessment Statement (Appendix 3).

(c)        gave authority to the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities)             to make minor amendments to the above documents, if required.

The New Communities Portfolio Holders endorsed in principle the revised scheme and recommended to Cabinet that the relevant grants be made to both Gamlingay Parish Council and Gamlingay Village College, to further enhance the sports provision for all residents living in and around Gamlingay.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder recommended that the grant be subject to:

(a)               Both parties signing a Dual Use Agreement and complying with conditions.

(b)               Detailed, costed plans for the MUGA being received from GPC by officers for approval, in advance of the building contract being awarded.

(c)               Detailed, costed plans for the fitness suite extension are received from GVC by officers for approval, in advance of building contracts being awarded.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder considered a report on a revision to the Gamlingay Dual Use Sports Facility Scheme.  Cabinet had approved a grant of £200,000 in December 2007, but this revised scheme proposed dividing the funds available as follows:

(a)               A grant of up to £150,000 to Gamlingay Parish Council towards the cost of building a floodlit multiuse games area (MUGA) on land at the recreation ground.

(b)               A grant of up to £50,000 to Gamlingay Village College towards the cost of extending the fitness suite, providing more storage and creating separate toilet and changing facilities for the school and fitness suite.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder noted that Bedfordshire County Council’s proposal to move from a three-tier to a two-tier educational system had been shelved, and that Gamlingay Village College was likely, therefore, to remain a middle school for the foreseeable future.   He also noted that the administration of a dual use scheme by a Parish Council was outside the remit of the original dual use policy and proposed that in view of the increased certainty over the future of Gamlingay Village College, further discussions should take place as to whether Gamlingay Parish Council or Gamlingay Village College, was best placed to construct and administer the Multi-Use Games Area. He reaffirmed his general support for this scheme to enhance further the sports provision for all residents living in and around Gamlingay.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder endorsed in principle the proposal to fund these schemes and recommended to Cabinet that the grant of £50,000 towards the fitness suite be made to Gamlingay Village College.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder received a report comparing the final actual revenue and capital expenditure for the New Communities Portfolio with the final working budget for the year ending 31 March 2010.

The Head of New Communities explained the current situation concerning the availability of funding by the Local Strategic Partnership.

The New Communities Portfolio Holder received a report outlining the progress made by the New Communities and Policy teams during the first period from 1 April 2010 to 30 June 2010.

The 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, or recommendation to, or referral by, the Portfolio Holder to Cabinet, Council, or any other constituent part of the Council.   The plan will be updated as necessary.  The Portfolio Holder will be responsible for the content and accuracy of the forward plan. 

The New Communities Portfolio Holder received and noted the Forward Plan for the Planning Portfolio.

7 October 2010 at 3.15pm or upon completion of the Planning Portfolio Holder meeting (whichever is the later) 

The New Communities Portfolio Holder and those present noted that the next New Communities Portfolio Holder meeting had been scheduled for 7 October 2010, starting at 3.15pm, or upon completion of the Planning Portfolio Holder meeting (whichever is the later).