Agenda item

The following Appendices are only available online:

·         Appendix F: Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report

·         Appendix G: Sustainability Appraisal of Issues & Options document

·         Appendix H: Habitats Regulations Scoping Report

Those reading a hard copy of the agenda can view them by typing the following short link (case sensitive) into a web browser, pressing Enter and scrolling down to the relevant item:

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Cabinet

a.  Noted the Lessons Learned and Good Practice review (Appendix A);

b.  Noted the Statement of Consultation – Report on Local Plan Workshops (Appendix B – chapters 2-5);

c.  Noted the feedback from the Joint Local Plan Advisory Group (Appendix I);

d.  Approved the Local Plan Issues & Options report text (at Appendix E), supporting documents (at Appendices F, G and H) and consultation process (at Section VIII and Appendix B, chapter 6);

e.  Delegated authority to the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning, in liaison with Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces, and in consultation with members of the Joint Local Planning Advisory Group, to consider and agree, as is consistent with this Council’s corporate objectives, any material changes to the Local Plan Issues & Options report text (at Appendix E) and supporting documents (at Appendices A, B (chapter 6), F, G and H) prior to the commencement of the consultation period, including any proposed by Cambridge City Council, and

f.   Delegated authority to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, in liaison with the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning and Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces, and in consultation with members of the Joint Local Planning Advisory Group, to make editorial changes to the Local Plan Issues & Options report text (at Appendix E) and supporting documents (at Appendices A, B (chapter 6), F, G and H)  prior to the commencement of the consultation period (to comprise minor amendments and factual updates and clarifications).

g.  Delegates authority to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, in liaison with the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning and Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces, to update the Local Development Scheme to reflect the amended consultation period.

Cabinet considered a report seeking its views on the proposed content of, and the participation and communication strategy for, the first formal round of consultation (the Issues & Options consultation) for the Greater Cambridge Local Plan. This consultation would form part of the early stages in jointly preparing the next Local Plan with Cambridge City Council. The report set

 out:

·         an overview of the Local Plan process

·         the member governance process ahead of the Issues & Options consultation

·         the findings of an independent Lessons Learned and Good Practice review of the adopted local plans

·         conclusions of initial stakeholder engagement workshops for the Local Plan

·         the draft Issues & Options format and text for consultation

·         supporting evidence documents

·         the proposed participation and communication strategy for the Issues & Options consultation

Members noted in particular the comments in Sections II, VI and VIII of the report, which had been made by the Joint Local Plan Advisory Group and by South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Scrutiny and Overview Committee.

On behalf of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee, Councillor Brian Milnes (Vice-Chairman) thanked officers for their commitment to the Local Plan process. His principal concern surrounded the timescales involved in consultation. He wondered whether the availability of ‘pre-information’ might ease the process, especially for those Parish Councils not meeting on a monthly basis.

Following further discussion, Cabinet

a.  Noted the Lessons Learned and Good Practice review (Appendix A);

b.  Noted the Statement of Consultation – Report on Local Plan Workshops (Appendix B – chapters 2-5);

c.  Noted the feedback from the Joint Local Plan Advisory Group (Appendix I);

d.  Approved the Local Plan Issues & Options report text (at Appendix E), supporting documents (at Appendices F, G and H) and consultation process (at Section VIII and Appendix B, chapter 6);

e.  Delegated authority to the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning, in liaison with Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces, and in consultation with members of the Joint Local Planning Advisory Group, to consider and agree, as is consistent with this Council’s corporate objectives, any material changes to the Local Plan Issues & Options report text (at Appendix E) and supporting documents (at Appendices A, B (chapter 6), F, G and H) prior to the commencement of the consultation period, including any proposed by Cambridge City Council;

f.   Delegated authority to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, in liaison with the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning and Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces, and in consultation with members of the Joint Local Planning Advisory Group, to make editorial changes to the Local Plan Issues & Options report text (at Appendix E) and supporting documents (at Appendices A, B (chapter 6), F, G and H)  prior to the commencement of the consultation period (to comprise minor amendments and factual updates and clarifications); and

g.  Delegated authority to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, in liaison with the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning and Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Open Spaces, to update the Local Development Scheme to reflect the amended consultation period.