Agenda item

Erection of a chalet bungalow with garage and associated infrastructure

The section called ‘Appendices’ consists of appendices 1-6, 8 and 9. Appendix 7 is a separate document and large computer file (over 17 Mb).

The case officer reminded Members that, following an appeal against non-determination, the jurisdiction for determining this application lay now with a planning inspector rather than with South Cambridgeshire District Council. However, the Council was required to submit a Statement of Case and so the Planning Committee needed to agree on what decision it would have made given the opportunity. He referred Members to the update report and to various representations received subsequently which were in the public domain. He also referred orally to submissions that had been received on the morning of the committee meeting in relation to hedgerow and tree loss pertaining to visibility splays. The Local Highway Authority had responded to a Highways Report commissioned by Fews Lane Consortium by saying it could not identify any reason for refusing the application on highways grounds.

In response to an intervention by Councillor Deborah Roberts, the Senior Planning Lawyer said that, as the Council no longer had jurisdiction to determine the application, it was his view that it was not necessary or appropriate to advise on any external advice in relation to the application.  

The Chair invited Daniel Fulton (Fews Lane Consortium) to address the meeting. Mr. Fulton asked to speak after Dr. Jon Finney (Local Highways Authority) had spoken. Officers stated that Dr. Finney was present only to answer Members’ questions and advised the Chair to follow the Committee’s established process. Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins endorsed this advice but Councillor Dr. Richard Williams, seconded by Councillor Deborah Roberts, proposed that, given the circumstances of the matter before the Committee, a more flexible approach be adopted. Upon an electronic vote being taken, and by seven votes to three, the motion was defeated. Councillors Ellington, Roberts and Williams voted in favour of the motion and Councillor Cahn did not vote.

Mr. Fulton then started to address the meeting as objector.

Shortly afterwards, a technical problem with the audio aspect of the webcast led to a lengthy adjournment while engineers tried to resolve the problem. Once it was clear that audio could not be restored, the meeting was abandoned.

Agenda items 5 (Longstanton), 6, 7 and 8 (Linton), 9 (Bourn Airfield), 10 (Waterbeach), 11 (Tree Preservation Order in West Wickham, 12 (Enforcement) and 13 (Appeals) would be considered at a Planning Committee meeting on a date to be arranged.