Agenda item

Appendix A (Part B), and Appendices B, D, E, F, G, H, I and J are available online only by visiting www.scambs.gov.uk, selecting the Council then Councillors, minutes and agendas from where you can follow the links to the electronic version of this agenda.

The Leader of the Council acting on behalf of the Portfolio Holder, AGREED the following recommendations to Full Council:

a)    That the Report on Consultation (Appendix A), the Proposed Modifications (Appendix C) and the supplement to the Sustainability Appraisal Addendum (Appendix E) be submitted for consideration by Full Council on 23 March 2016 and approved for submission to the Inspectors examining the Local Plan;

b)    To agree that the documents attached to the report as Appendices F to J are noted and submitted as part of the evidence base for the Local Plan;

c)    To agree that delegated authority be given to the Director of Planning and New Communities to make any subsequent minor amendments and editing changes, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder.

The Leader of the Council, substituting for the Planning Portfolio Holder, considered a report setting out the results of the consultation on proposed modifications to the Cambridge Local Plan and South Cambridgeshire Local Plan, held between 2 December 2015 and 25 January 2016.

Councillor Aidan Van de Weyer thanked Planning Officers for the work that had been undertaken since the suspension of the Local Plan examination and for having taken Members’ comments into account.

The allocation of land south of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus was discussed with queries regarding the green belt and the definition of urban edges. Members were informed that the Council’s view was that there was no need to allocate further land for employment, however the attractiveness of the edge of Cambridge to businesses was recognised. The Council acknowledged that employment and homes could prompt the need for a review of the green belt, however this would have to be without causing significant harm to the green belt. It was felt that the land to the south of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus would not cause significant harm to the green belt.

Regarding the Cambridge Local Plan, Newbury Farm was discussed. The Leader of the Council and other Members in attendance, expressed support for the proposed new modification regarding Newbury Farm.

Councillor Anna Bradnam queried whether recent planning permission given to the Arthur Rank Hospice near the Cambridge Babraham Road Park and Ride site would impact the green belt. In response to this, Members were informed that the most recent green belt study concluded that land could be released north and south of Worts Causeway, without significant harm to the green belt.

Councillor Bridget Smith queried the reliance on the County Council providing further evidence regarding ‘Nine Wells’. In response to this Members were informed that as the land owner, Cambridgeshire County Council was treated as any other developer submitting a planning application and would therefore provide the extra evidence required. This would be tested to ensure it was robust before any recommendation was made. Before any decision was taken, the assessment of the evidence would be presented to Members at a future Council meeting. Members were assured that there would be no officer conflict of interest.

The Leader of the Council acting on behalf of the Portfolio Holder, AGREED the following recommendations to Full Council:

a)    That the Report on Consultation (Appendix A), the Proposed Modifications (Appendix C) and the supplement to the Sustainability Appraisal Addendum (Appendix E) be submitted for consideration by Full Council on 23 March 2016 and approved for submission to the Inspectors examining the Local Plan;

b)    To agree that the documents attached to the report as Appendices F to J are noted and submitted as part of the evidence base for the Local Plan;

c)    To agree that delegated authority be given to the Director of Planning and New Communities to make any subsequent minor amendments and editing changes, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder.