Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest. 

The Portfolio Holder is asked to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2011 as a correct record.

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder signed, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2011.

The Appendices are available on the Cambridgeshire Horizons website by following the relevant links from www.scambs.gov.uk/meetings 

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder

1.                 endorsed the final Cambridgeshire Green Infrastructure Strategy; and

2.                 instructed officers to submit to his Portfolio Holder meeting on an annual basis a report on progress with the Green Infrastructure Strategy.

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder considered a report updating him on the completion and publication of the Green Infrastructure Strategy and how the delivery of the Strategy would be monitored.

The Conservation Manager said that the Strategy covered a substantial part of South Cambridgeshire and that the intention always had been that district councils could then consider introducing more local, so-called ‘lower level’ plans if they wanted to.

In response to a question, the Conservation Manager undertook to find out how the Green Infrastructure Forum would be open to public scrutiny. 

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder

1. endorsed the final Cambridgeshire Green Infrastructure Strategy; and

2. instructed officers to submit to his Portfolio Holder meeting on an annual basis a report on progress with the Green Infrastructure Strategy.

Appendix B (Inspector Note 2) is available on the Council’s website by following the relevant links from www.scambs.gov.uk/meetings 

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder

1.        Agreed to reaffirm this Council’s support for the site allocation for a HRC to the South of the Addenbrooke’s Access Road to remain in the Site Specific Proposals Plan and to support the comments made by Cambridgeshire County and Peterborough City Councils on this matter.

2.        Asked that the Inspector does not include within his report a request for South Cambridgeshire District Council during the forthcoming review of its Local Development Framework to have to consider removing land from the Green Belt specifically for a HRC to serve the south of Cambridge.

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder considered a report on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Minerals and Waste Site Specific Proposals Plan (SSPP).

Those present stressed the need for a Household Recycling Centre south of Cambridge.

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder

1. Agreed to reaffirm this Council’s support for the site allocation for a HRC to the South of the Addenbrooke’s Access Road to remain in the Site Specific Proposals Plan and to support the comments made by Cambridgeshire County and Peterborough City Councils on this matter.

2. Asked that the Inspector does not include within his report a request for South Cambridgeshire District Council during the forthcoming review of its Local Development Framework to have to consider removing land from the Green Belt specifically for a HRC to serve the south of Cambridge.

Appendices A and B (significant and minor changes) are available on the Council’s website by following the relevant links from www.scambs.gov.uk/meetings 

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed

1)     To support the changes relating to the updating of the information on the A14 improvements

2)     To question why the site allocations for borrowpits are ‘areas of search’ rather than remaining as site allocations

3)     To support the inclusion of borrowpits within the SSPP to provide for any future improvements to the A14 but that a hierarchy of these site should be included in the final SSPP to reflect which should be utilised first in the event that they are not all needed. 

4)     To require that any future use of the identified borrowpits should be restricted to use on A14 improvements.

5)     To support the changes proposed for the Cottenham Site Profile.

6)     To agree the responses to the minor changes as set out in Appendix B.

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder considered a report seeking South Cambridgeshire District Council’s response to the consultation being carried out jointly by Cambridgeshire County and Peterborough City Councils on suggested changes to the Minerals and Waste Site Specific Proposals Plan.  Although the consultation period expired on 19 September, the Inspector had agreed to extend the period for this Council.

A Scrutiny and Overview Committee monitor expressed concern at the potential for increased traffic movements associated with the borrowpits.  The Senior Planning Policy Officer pointed out that the borrowpits would only be used in providing hardcore for the A14.  The Portfolio Holder observed that Cottenham Parish Council had not objected to the proposal.

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed

1. To support the changes relating to the updating of the information on the A14 improvements

2. To question why the site allocations for borrowpits are ‘areas of search’ rather than remaining as site allocations

3. To support the inclusion of borrowpits within the SSPP to provide for any future improvements to the A14 but that a hierarchy of these site should be included in the final SSPP to reflect which should be utilised first in the event that they are not all needed. 

4. To require that any future use of the identified borrowpits should be restricted to use on A14 improvements.

5. To support the changes proposed for the Cottenham Site Profile.

6. To agree the responses to the minor changes as set out in Appendix B.

Appendix 3 (response to representations) is available on the Council’s website by following the relevant links from www.scambs.gov.uk/meetings 

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed the responses to the consultation on the SPD as contained within the report and in the more detailed schedule in Appendix 3.

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder considered a report seeking South Cambridgeshire District Council’s response to a consultation currently being carried out by the Cambridgeshire County and Peterborough City Councils. The consultation is on the Recycling in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Partnership’s (RECAP) Waste Management Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

A Scrutiny and Overview Committee monitor said that the methodology for determining financial contributions should be as strong as possible so as to provide clarity and clearly defined parameters for developers.

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed the responses to the consultation on the SPD as contained within the report and in the more detailed schedule in Appendix 3.

Appendix A (draft response) is available on the Council’s website by following the relevant links from www.scambs.gov.uk/meetings 

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed the response to the Government’s consultation on the draft national Planning Policy Statement as set out in Appendix A, reiterating the five principles of sustainable development, namely

Living Within Environmental Limits
 Ensuring a Strong, Healthy and Just Society
 Achieving a Sustainable Economy

Using Sound Science Responsibly
 Promoting Good Governance

Subject to any minor amendments being proposed by the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities) and agreed to by the Portfolio Holder.

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed the response to the Government’s consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Statement as set out in Appendix A, reiterating the five principles of sustainable development, namely

·              Living Within Environmental Limits

·              Ensuring a Strong, Healthy and Just Society

·              Achieving a Sustainable Economy

·              Using Sound Science Responsibly

·              Promoting Good Governance

A Scrutiny and Overview Committee monitor expressed concern about the apparent presumption in favour of sustainable development.  A specific definition of the word ‘sustainability’ was essential, and the Local Development Framework should continue to carry significant weight.  Land supply must be both practical and sustainable.

The Portfolio Holder was supportive of the draft National Planning Policy Statement in principle, but remained mindful of public concerns especially in relation to the possible effect on the countryside.  The quality of life had to be protected.

Subject to any minor amendments being proposed by the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities) and accepted by the Portfolio Holder, the Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed South Cambridgeshire District Council’s response to the Government’s consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Statement as set out in Appendix A.

A link to the Water Cycle Strategy on Cambridgeshire Horizons’ website is available on the Council’s website by following the relevant links from www.scambs.gov.uk/meetings

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder received and noted a report highlighting the completion of the Phase 2 Water Cycle Strategy for the major growth areas in and around Cambridge.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer explained how the Strategy would relate to the South Cambridgeshire Local Development Framework in providing an evidence base for future development proposals.

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder received and noted a report highlighting the progress made by the New Communities and Policy teams during the period from 1 April 2011 to 30 June 2011.  The report compared the actual and committed revenue and capital expenditure for the Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio with the working budget for 2011-12.

The Portfolio Holder said that he was not particularly concerned about variances at this stage so long as they balanced each other out by the end of the municipal year.  The Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities) said that pre-application charging would provide a small but significant income that would help with this process.

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, 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.  The Portfolio Holder will be responsible for the content and accuracy of the forward plan. 

The Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder noted the Portfolio Forward Plan attached to the agenda.

Officers added the following items:

·              Timetable for reviewing Local Development Framework – November 2011

·              Public Art update - January 2012

·              Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document - November 2011

·              Northstowe update – November 2011

There remained uncertainty about the Papworth West Central SPD.  This issue should be listed for January 2012 at the earliest and further slippage might occur.

The next meeting of the Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder has been scheduled for Tuesday 15 November 2011 starting at 2.00pm.

Those present noted that the next meeting of the Northstowe and New Communities Portfolio Holder had been scheduled for Tuesday 15 November 2011 starting at 2.00pm.