Agenda item

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.