Minutes:
Councillor Aidan Van de Weyer moved the following motion:
“Following a reprimand of this Council by the Local Plan Inspectors, this Council apologises on behalf of the Leader, for inter alia, jumping to conclusions and requests that the Chief Executive convey our apology to the Inspectors.”
The motion was seconded by Councillor Sebastian Kindersley.
In moving the motion, Councillor Van de Weyer commented that an email from the Leader had been sent to Members and parishes; that a press release had been issued with regard to the Local Plan status and that email exchanges with the Inspector had been published on the Council’s website. He further referred to a letter which had been received from the Planning Inspector expressing concern about the email and the publication of email exchanges. Councillor Van de Weyer noted that, to date, an apology from the Joint Director of Planning had been sent to the Planning Inspector but expressed the view that the Leader should write to all Parish Councils to apologise and to clarify the position.
During discussion upon the motion:-
• Councillor Bridget Smith observed that the Council had a communications strategy and questioned why the communication had been sent from the Leader. With respect to the Planning Inspector’s letter, she commented on the potential damage to the Council’s relationship with the Planning Inspector. Noting that the response to the Planning Inspector had been sent by officers, she was of the view that that an apology should be sent from the Leader.
• Councillor Deborah Roberts was concerned at the nature of the communication sent out to parishes. With reference to the current position with the Local Plan, she expressed the view that the communication may have raised unrealistic hopes amongst parish councils.
• Councillor Tumi Hawkins felt that the communication had contained inaccurate information and was of the opinion that the Leader should write to parish councils with an apology.
• Councillor Douglas de Lacey commented on potential implications in terms of speculative applications.
• Councillor Philippa Hart commented on a communication issued regarding rural travel hubs which she felt was inaccurate insofar as the reference to a parish in her ward was concerned.
• Councillor Nick Wright disagreed with earlier comments. He noted that the Council had immediately published the Inspector’s letter on the website and that a joint response had been sent from the District and City Councils. Councillor Wright believed that the communication had been issued with the best of intentions to keep parishes informed about the position with the Local Plan.
• The Leader indicated that he did not wish to add significantly to the statement he had made at the beginning of the meeting. He reminded the Council that the South Cambridgeshire draft Local Plan had been submitted to the Secretary of State for examination on 28 March 2014 and noted that information relating to the Local Plan, including correspondence with the Inspector, had been published on the Council’s website and was therefore available for the public to view.
• Councillor Sebastian Kindersley expressed concerns about the email and noting that the response to the Inspector had been sent by officers, was of the opinion that an apology should be sent from the Leader.
Upon the motion being put to the vote, votes were cast as follows:
In favour (13)
Councillors John Batchelor, Anna Bradnam, Doug Cattermole, Philippa Hart, Tumi Hawkins, Sebastian Kindersley, Douglas de Lacey, Janet Lockwood, Deborah Roberts, Bridget Smith, Hazel Smith, Aiden Van de Weyer and John Williams.
Against (29)
Councillors David Bard, Val Barrett, Ruth Betson, Francis Burkitt, Brian Burling, Tom Bygott, Grenville Chamberlain, Graham Cone, Christopher Cross, Kevin Cuffley, Simon Edwards, Sue Ellington, Andrew Fraser, Roger Hall, Lynda Harford, Mark Howell, , Ray Manning, Mick Martin, Raymond Matthews, David McCraith, Charles Nightingale, Tony Orgee, Tim Scott, Peter Topping, Richard Turner, Robert Turner, Bunty Waters, Tim Wotherspoon and Nick Wright.
Abstain (0)
The motion was therefore declared lost.