Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - South Cambs Hall. View directions

Contact: Jonathan Malton  03450 450 500 Email: democratic.services@scambs.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Announcements

Minutes:

Councillor Bridget Smith, Leader of the Council introduced the meeting, noting this was the first hybrid meeting organised by the Council. Councillor Bill Handley, Lead Cabinet Member for Community Resilience, Health and Wellbeing, was appointed Vice-Chair of the meeting.

2.

Apologies for Absence

To receive Apologies for Absence from Cabinet members. 

Minutes:

Councillor Peter McDonald, Lead Cabinet Member for Business Recovery and Skills, sent apology for absence.

3.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins, Lead Cabinet Member for Planning Policy and Development declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 8, East West Rail Bedford to Cambridge route alignment and stations location consultation response, as the preferred route would pass through Caldecote Highfields, and a Member of the local action group.

4.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 127 KB

To authorise the Leader to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 19 April 2021 as a correct record.

Minutes:

Cabinet authorised the Leader to sign, as a correct record, the public version of the Minutes of the meeting held on Monday, 19 April 2021.

5.

Public Questions pdf icon PDF 260 KB

The deadline for receipt of public questions is noon on Monday, 17 May.

The Council’s scheme for public speaking at remote meetings may be inspected here:

Public Questions at Committee Meetings

 

Minutes:

There were no public questions received ahead of this meeting.

6.

Liaison Meeting Update pdf icon PDF 145 KB

Decision:

Cabinet:

 

Noted the progress of the liaison meetings

Minutes:

Cabinet received the Liaison Meeting Update. Councillor Bill Handley, Lead Cabinet Member for Community Resilience, Health and Wellbeing, introduced the report, noting the importance of listening to villages where more growth has been taking place, and the introduction of liaison meetings in Sawston, Barrington, Hardwick, Swavesey and Caldecote.

 

Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins, Lead Cabinet Member for Planning Policy and Delivery, noted the support within Cottenham, and the continued collaboration with the developers. Councillor Brian Milnes, Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Health and Licencing, believed they had been successful for all parties involved, with Councillor John Williams, Lead Cabinet Member for Finance, said the community involvement led to an improved project once completed.

 

The Chair of the Council asked if the Community Forum would continue during the development of the Waterbeach new Town. Communications and Sustainable Communities Service Manager responded by saying the liaison meeting report covered the villages where more homes were being build. The larger Community Forum for growth sites take place at locations such as the new town north of Waterbeach. The Community Forums are equally vital for local engagement and will continue.

 

Councillor Heather Williams requested clarification of the review of the scheme. Councillor Bill Handley responded that the review would not reduce the number of meetings, and it may be that more wards would be included.

 

Councillor Bridget Smith, thanked Officers for their work on the project, and Cabinet:

 

Noted the progress of the liaison meetings

7.

Pioneer Park Licence Agreement pdf icon PDF 237 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Cabinet:

 

a)    Agreed to accept the Deed of Variation proposed by L&Q, which regularises the licenced area described in the agreement with the actual location of the outdoor gym equipment.

Minutes:

Cabinet received the Pioneer Park Licence Agreement. Councillor Bill Handley, Lead Cabinet Member for Community Resilience, Health and Wellbeing, introduced the report, an update to the licence agreement due to the topography originally defined during installation of the gym equipment, with the Council therefore agreeing a new location with the landowner at that time, with the licence amendment confirming that agreement. It was also mentioned the importance of the project for the residents of Northstowe, noted the projects deferral from April 2020, during the beginning of the first lockdown.

 

Councillor Bridget Smith, Leader of the Council mentioned the written representation from local residents ahead of the meeting, and noted their concerns that had been noted ahead of the final decision being made.

 

Councillor Heather Williams requested the letter from the resident, along with the final cost of the project to be shared with the Group Leaders. Councillor Bill Handley agreed to share the letter with the Group Leaders, and the final cost once the project had been finalised.

 

Councillor Bridget Smith thanked Officers for their work on the project, and Cabinet:

 

a)    Agreed to accept the Deed of Variation proposed by L&Q, which regularises the licenced area described in the agreement with the actual location of the outdoor gym equipment.

8.

East West Rail Bedford to Cambridge route alignments and station locations consultation response pdf icon PDF 344 KB

Decision:

Cabinet:

 

a)    Approved the Council’s response to the East West Rail consultation as set out in Appendix A of the report.

b)    Delegated authority to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development to make further technical comments in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning of South Cambridgeshire District Council.

Minutes:

Cabinet received the East West Rail Bedford to Cambridge route alignment and station location consultation response. Councillor Neil Gough, Deputy Leader, introduced the report, highlighting the Council’s response to the public consultation on the East West Rail project, proposing a railway line between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.

 

Councillor John Williams, Lead Cabinet Member for Finance, was pleased with the Council’s response, but noted the impact on the upgraded railway line in Fulbourn.

 

Councillor Brian Milnes, Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Licencing, mentioned the change the project would bring to the villages to the district, bur was pleased with the response.

 

Councillor Anna Bradnam, Chair of the Council referred to Section 2 of response refers to southern access and requested the following amendments to the consultation document ‘any deviation from the preferred route might impact other Heritage and Landscape sites and we request that if variations are considered, EWR evaluate the potential for other important sites to be impacted’.

 

Councillor Dr. Aidan Van de Weyer mentioned the impact the preferred route would have on the district, and lack of information that the Council had received from East West Rail. There was also concerns of the high embankments that would be required with the current route. The Director of the Shared Planning Service agreed there would be impacts for the District, and this had been reflected in the published response.

 

Councillor Dr. Richard Williams, referred to the tone of the response, and was against the potential severance of local communities through the proposed route. The Director of the Shared Planning Service noted this recommendation and mentioned minor amendments to the tone would be discussed with the deputy leader.

 

Councillor Nick Wright raised concerns of the route allocation, the station proposed in the north of Cambourne and the development impact of the project, including the potential increase of houses. The Deputy Leader responded that the Council was listening to the residents’ concerns and this was reflected within the response and mentioned the increase in houses was part of a previous consultation of the route.

 

Councillor Heather Williams expressed concern for the wider Oxford-Cambridge Arc, requesting further information from the administration regarding this project, and requested the Leader to commit to a route from the previously discussed options. The Leader of the Council responded that she would not be committing to a preferred route, but further information from the Oxford-Cambridge Arc would be shared when required.

 

Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins, Lead Cabinet Member for Planning Policy and Delivery, was pleased with the Council’s response, but also noted the effects the preferred route would have on Highfields Caldecote, the Bourn Airfield development, impacting mixed-use properties, and severing Highfields from Caldecote, and was disappointed with the lack of communications with East West Rail, including the announcement of the station in Cambourne.

 

Councillor Bridget Smith, noted she was pleased with the current response, and ensured the Members that their comments would be reflected in the response.

 

The debate was closed, and Cabinet:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

Members of the press and public are likely to be excluded from the meeting during consideration of item 11. In each case, exclusion will be in accordance with the provisions of Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Act). Paragraph 3 relates to information about the financial or business affairs of any person, including the Authority holding that information.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet agreed by affirmation that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of item 10 in accordance with the provisions of Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) (exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act). Paragraph 3 refers to information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

10.

Minutes from the Previous Meeting - Confidential

Minutes:

Cabinet authorised the Leader to sign, as a correct record, the exempt version of Minute 9 (Potential Property Investment Decision) of the minutes of the meeting held on 19 April 2021, following minor amendments.