Agenda item

The report considered at the Planning Portfolio Holder Meeting on 17 November 2015 is attached.

The Planning Portfolio Holder RECOMMENDED that Council SUPPORTS the proposed changes to the Joint Development Control Committee Terms of Reference, subject to the formal approval of Cambridgeshire County and Cambridge City Councils.

Council SUPPORTED the proposed changes to the Fringes Joint Development Control Committee Terms of Reference, subject to the formal approval of Cambridgeshire County and Cambridge City Councils, and requested that the Joint Development Control Committee, as separate agenda items at one of its meetings within three months from the date of this meeting:

(a)        discusses whether it's name should be changed to a title that:

-       more closely reflects its new terms of reference;

-       is clearer to members of the public

(b)        discusses whether any Members of the Committee who are also Members of the City Deal Executive Board or Joint Assembly, should be able, or should not be able, to vote on “City Deal infrastructure schemes”;

(c)        notes that South Cambridgeshire District Council's current position is that it would not agree to any further "exclusions" of its participation similar to that set out in Clause 4.5 of the proposed amended Terms of Reference.”

Councillor Robert Turner, Portfolio Holder for Planning, presented a report which set out an amended Terms of Reference for the Fringes Joint Development Control Committee to include the determination of City Deal infrastructure schemes.  He proposed that the revised Terms of Reference be approved. 

Councillor David Bard seconded the proposal.

Councillor Francis Burkitt proposed an amendment to add the following words to the motion:

“and requested that the Joint Development Control Committee, as separate agenda items at one of its meetings within three months from the date of this meeting:

(a)        discusses whether it's name should be changed to a title that:

-       more closely reflects its new terms of reference;

-       is clearer to members of the public

(b)        discusses whether any Members of the Committee who are also Members of the City Deal Executive Board or Joint Assembly, should be able, or should not be able, to vote on “City Deal infrastructure schemes”;

(c)        notes that South Cambridgeshire District Council's current position is that it would not agree to any further "exclusions" of its participation similar to that set out in Clause 4.5 of the proposed amended Terms of Reference.”

Councillor Tim Wotherspoon seconded the amendment and the proposer and seconder of the original motion agreed to accept it.

Noting that Cambridgeshire County Council’s Constitution and Ethics Committee had deferred consideration of this issue, a question was raised as to why this Council should not also seek to defer it.  It was confirmed that the County Council’s Committee had only received the report one day prior to the meeting, and that this issue was one of a number of issues related to the City Deal contained within the same report, so the deferral was due to process rather than content. 

A number of Members made the point that the Joint Development Control Committee should be considering and determining strategic sites, and these amendments to the Terms of Reference tidied up that aspect of its remit.

Voting on the substantive motion, with 43 votes in favour, 0 votes against and 8 abstentions, Council SUPPORTED the proposed changes to the Fringes Joint Development Control Committee Terms of Reference, subject to the formal approval of Cambridgeshire County and Cambridge City Councils, and requested that the Joint Development Control Committee, as separate agenda items at one of its meetings within three months from the date of this meeting:

(a)        discusses whether it's name should be changed to a title that:

-       more closely reflects its new terms of reference;

-       is clearer to members of the public

(b)        discusses whether any Members of the Committee who are also Members of the City Deal Executive Board or Joint Assembly, should be able, or should not be able, to vote on “City Deal infrastructure schemes”;

(c)        notes that South Cambridgeshire District Council's current position is that it would not agree to any further "exclusions" of its participation similar to that set out in Clause 4.5 of the proposed amended Terms of Reference.

Enough Members as prescribed in the Council’s Standing Orders requested a recorded vote.  Votes were therefore case as follows:

In favour

Councillors David Bard, Val Barrett, Henry Batchelor, Francis Burkitt, Tom Bygott, Grenville Chamberlain, Graham Cone, Pippa Corney, Christopher Cross, Kevin Cuffley, Neil Davies, Sue Ellington, Andrew Fraser, Jose Hales, Roger Hall, Lynda Harford, Philippa Hart, Roger Hickford, James Hockney, Mark Howell, Caroline Hunt, Sebastian Kindersley, Douglas de Lacey, Janet Lockwood, Mervyn Loynes, Ray Manning, Mick Martin, Raymond Matthews, David McCraith, Charles Nightingale, Des O’Brien, Tony Orgee, Alex Riley, Tim Scott, Ben Shelton, Hazel Smith, Edd Stonham, Richard Turner, Robert Turner, Bunty Waters, Aidan Van de Weyer, Tim Wotherspoon and Nick Wright.

Abstention

Councillors Anna Bradnam, Nigel Cathcart, Tumi Hawkins, Cicley Murfitt, Robin Page, Deborah Roberts, Bridget Smith and John Williams.