Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - South Cambs Hall. View directions

Contact: Laurence Damary-Homan 01954 713000 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 4pm two clear working days before the meeting. A public speaking protocol applies.

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Chair's announcements

Minutes:

The Chair announced that he would be withdrawing from the Committee for item 5 (22/04303/REM). As such, he proposed that Councillor Henry Batchelor assume the role of Vice-Chair for item 5 whilst Councillor Geoff Harvey assumed the role of Chair. This was seconded by Councillor Geoff Harvey and approved by affirmation. The Chair made several brief housekeeping announcements.

2.

Apologies

To receive apologies for absence from committee members. 

Minutes:

Apologies for Absence were received from Councillors Dr Tumi Hawkins and William Jackson-Wood. Councillor Dr Lisa Redrup was present as a substitute. Councillor Dr Richard Williams sent apologies for lateness and the Committee was informed that he would be joining the meeting.

3.

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:

With respect to Minute 5, Councillor Peter Fane declared that he had held talks with the applicants regarding the application and would withdraw from the Committee to speak as local Member. Councillor Heather Williams declared that she was a member of the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) who had commented on the application but stated that she had not been involved herself and would be approaching the matter afresh. A declaration for all Members of the Committee was made, stating that Members had been contacted by the applicants but no discussions were held and all those taking part in the discussion of the application were approaching the matter afresh.

 

With respect to Minute 7, Councillor Heather Williams declared she knew a family member of the applicant but had not discussed the application and would be approaching the matter afresh. A declaration for all Members of the Committee was made, stating that Members may know the applicant from her time as a District Councillor at South Cambridgeshire District Council but no discussions had been held regarding the application and all Members would be approaching the matter afresh.

4.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 173 KB

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 18 January 2023 as a correct record.

Minutes:

By affirmation, the Committee authorised the Chair to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2023 as a correct record.

5.

22/04303/REM - Land Between Haverhill Road And Hinton Way, Stapleford pdf icon PDF 575 KB

Reserved matters application for additional access points, layout, scale, landscape and appearance following outline planning permission 20/02929/OUT (Outline planning for the development of land for a retirement care village in Use Class C2 comprising housing with care, communal health, wellbeing and leisure facilities, public open space, landscaping, car parking, access and associated development and public access countryside park with all matters reserved except for access)

Additional documents:

Decision:

By unanimous vote, the Committee approved the application in accordance with the officer’s recommendation, and subject to the conditions, laid out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

Minutes:

As agreed in Minute 1, Councillor Peter Fane withdrew from the Committee with Councillor Geoff Harvey assuming the role of Chair and Councillor Henry Batchelor as Vice-Chair

 

The Principal Planner, Michael Hammond, presented the report. The Committee asked questions of clarity regarding the Deed of Variation to the Section 106 agreement and the management of the country park. Further questions were asked on access to the park, parking provision and electric vehicle charging points; officers provided responses to the questions.

 

The Committee was addressed by the agents of the applicant, Howard Nankivell with support from Matt Hare, and Members asked questions of clarity regarding mobility considerations, parking and the objections to the roof style. Councillor Jenny Flynn spoke on behalf of Stapleford Parish Council who objected to the application. The Committee asked questions of clarity on the soil conditions on site and the proposed roof styles. Councillor Peter Fane spoke as local Member and informed the Committee that he and the other local Member (Councillor William Jackson-Wood) did not object to the application but desired to see the public access benefits of the application, referenced in the appeal decision on the outline consent, were fully realised. Members asked questions of clarity regarding public access and parking. The Principal Planner offered clarity over the considerations regarding access and footpaths.

 

In the debate, further discussion on access was held and officers clarified that access points were agreed as part of the parameter plan for the outline consent. The Committee was satisfied that parking and access concerns had been addressed and that conditions resolved some other concerns. Reservations were still held by Members, and it was stated that further sustainability measures would be welcomed, but on balance they could not see any reasons for refusal.

 

By unanimous vote, the Committee approved the application in accordance with the officer’s recommendation, and subject to the conditions, laid out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

6.

21/04087/FUL - Former Barrington Cement Works, Haslingfield Road, Barrington pdf icon PDF 769 KB

Erection of 113 dwellings (re-plan of northern parcel of development site for an increase of 37 dwellings above approved scheme ref: S/3585/18/RM)

Decision:

The Committee agreed, by affirmation, that if it were minded to approve the following condition regarding cycle storage was to be included:

 

“Prior to first occupation, details of cycle storage facilities shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details and retained thereafter.

 

Reason: To encourage sustainable forms of transport for future occupiers, staff and visitors, as part of the development, in accordance with policies HQ/1 and TI/3 of the South Cambridgeshire District Council Local Plan 2018.”

 

By 7 votes to 1, the Committee approved the application in accordance with the officer’s recommendation and subject to the conditions both added and laid out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

Minutes:

Councillor Heather Williams left the meeting

 

The Principal Planner, Michael Hammond, presented the report. Members asked questions of clarity on the permission history of the site and the S106 contributions tied to the permissions. Clarity was sought on the size of the single car garages and if secure cycle parking had been secured by conditions- the Principal Planner stated that a cycle storage condition could be added. Questions on objections from consultees were raised and Members were informed that the Landscape Officer was content with the application subject to the recommended conditions and that concerns of the Urban Design Team were outweighed by the benefits of the application in the view of officers.

 

 

The Committee was addressed by an objector, Rachel Canham on behalf of CEMEX. Members asked questions on the logistics of sound mitigation to solve the concerns around noise from the railway.

 

Councillor Heather Williams rejoined the meeting but would not vote due to not being present for the full discussion of the application

 

The agent of the applicant, Liz Fitzgerald, spoke on the application and answered Members’ questions on noise mitigation and the size of the garages. Councillor Aidan Van de Weyer addressed the Committee as local Member and stated that he supported the principle of the development but desired to see an increased S106 contribution from the developer. Councillor Van de Weyer answered questions on if he thought the benefits of the application outweighed the harm.

 

In the debate, the Committee noted that there were both benefits and harm that came with the proposed scheme and a balance had to be struck. Many felt that the principle of the development had been established in previous permissions and that the increase in affordable housing shifted the balance towards approval. The Committee felt that the noise concerns could be mitigated and that the pro rata S106 contributions were satisfactory. Concerns were raised by the impact of the increased number of dwellings on the sustainability of the site, the impact on local traffic and the provision of amenity facilities to the site.

 

The Committee agreed, by affirmation, that if it were minded to approve, the following condition regarding cycle storage was to be included:

 

“Prior to first occupation, details of cycle storage facilities shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details and retained thereafter.

 

Reason: To encourage sustainable forms of transport for future occupiers, staff and visitors, as part of the development, in accordance with policies HQ/1 and TI/3 of the South Cambridgeshire District Council Local Plan 2018.”

 

By 7 (Councillors Peter Fane, Geoff Harvey, Henry Batchelor, Ariel Cahn, Dr Martin Cahn, Bill Handley and Peter Sandford) votes to 1 (Councillor Dr Lisa Redrup), the Committee approved the application in accordance with the officer’s recommendation and subject to the conditions both added and laid out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

7.

/22/04018/OUT - Fenny Lane Farm, Fenny Lane, Meldreth pdf icon PDF 460 KB

Outline Application with all matters reserved other than access for the erection of nine self-build dwellings

Additional documents:

Decision:

By 6 votes to 0, with 2 abstentions, the Committee refused the application in accordance with the officer’s recommendation, and for the reasons for refusal, laid out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

Minutes:

The Principal Planner, Katie Christodoulides, presented the report and informed the Committee that two additional representations had been received, reiterating some of the Third Party concerns listed in the report. The Committee asked a number of questions of clarity around self-build need and the figures from the District. Officers provided responses and the Performance and Improvement Officer provided clarity around legislation and Government advice on self-build need. Questions around self-build need in the context of appeals and the Council’s status as a vanguard authority were also raised. Officers, including the Senior Planning Lawyer, provided responses and the Committee noted that the officer’s report accounted for the self-build need as a material consideration.

 

Councillor Dr Richard Williams joined the meeting but would not vote due to not being present for the full discussion of the application

 

The Committee was addressed by a resident in opposition to the application, Ian Gibbs, and the Committee asked a question of clarity on the drainage concerns he raised, noting the lack of objection from the Lead Local Flood Authority. The agent of the applicant, David Fletcher, addressed the Committee in support of the application and Councillor Richard Goddin made a representation on behalf of Meldreth Parish Council who objected to the application. Neither were asked questions by Members.

 

Councillor Henry Batchelor left the meeting

 

In the debate, the Committee clarified the location of the site in relation to the Village Development Framework boundary, noting reason for refusal 1. The Committee noted the self-build need in the District and the Council’s targets as set out within the self-build and custom build register. Whilst the District Council had been identified as a vanguard authority for self-build and custom build, the decision was being made as the Local Planning Authority. The vanguard would therefore not be given weight and the application would be assessed on its planning merits. The Interim Delivery Manager clarified the Council’s status as a self-build vanguard authority and confirmed that this status carried no weight in determining the planning application. Members acknowledged that the need for self-build plots was a material planning consideration but stated that the number of dwellings would have a negligible impact on meeting the self-build need in the District and, in considering the planning balance, the harm of the application outweighed the benefits.

 

By 6 (Councillors Geoff Harvey, Ariel Cahn, Dr Martin Cahn, Bill Handley, Dr Lisa Redrup and Peter Sandford) votes to 0, with 2 abstentions (Councillors Peter Fane and Heather Williams), the Committee refused the application in accordance with the officer’s recommendation, and for the reasons for refusal, laid out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

8.

22/04826/HFUL - 77 Church Lane, Girton pdf icon PDF 394 KB

Demolition of a detached garage and construction of a single storey side extension and rear extension and loft extension with rear facing dormer window

Decision:

By unanimous vote, the Committee approved the application in accordance with the officer’s recommendation, and subject to the conditions, laid out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

Minutes:

The Senior Planner presented the report and informed the Committee that the outstanding consultation, the reason for deferral of the application at the previous meeting, had been completed. The Committee was addressed by the applicant, Ammar Alasaad. Members asked no questions of clarity.

 

Members stated that the application was straightforward and noted that the reason for deferral had been resolved.

 

By unanimous vote, the Committee approved the application in accordance with the officer’s recommendation, and subject to the conditions, laid out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

9.

Appeals against Planning Decisions and Enforcement Action pdf icon PDF 27 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Interim Delivery Manager presented the report and provided clarity on the split decision listed in Appendix 1. Members commented on some of the cases in the report.

 

The Committee noted the report.