Agenda item

The Scrutiny and Overview Committee is asked to review and comment upon the attached draft report to Cabinet.

The Scrutiny and Overview Committee considered a draft Cabinet report?detailing the results of the consultation relating to the Greater Cambridge Local Plan First Proposals (Preferred Options) held in late 2021, and the representations received. The report also sought Cabinet approval of a revised timetable for future stages of the Local Plan, and of the North East Cambridge Area Action Plan, as set out in an update to the Greater Cambridge Local Development Scheme.

Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins (Lead Cabinet Member for Planning), the Strategy and Economy Manager and the Planning Policy Manager introduced the two themes of the report. Councillor Anna Bradnam welcomed the wide-ranging nature of the Local Plan consultation exercise in terms of both the number of different methods used to obtain feedback and the breadth in the demographic of respondents. Councillor Dr. Aidan Van de Weyer said that it was important for the Local Plan to focus on issues but accepted that Members might in addition be interested in who had made representations. He suggested that any gaps in the feedback from different communities should be identified for the future. 

Councillor Sue Ellington asked that, where possible, there should be some analysis of the type and quantity of responses originating from the Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire administrative areas. She was keen to make sure that the overall result would not be skewed against the rural way of life. Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins said that she would ask officers to carry out some analysis.

Councillor Ellington continued by saying that the pressure placed on the Uttons Drove Sewage Treatment Works by developments at Bourn Airfield, West Cambourne and Northstowe must not be underestimated. The Planning Policy Manager assured the Committee that officers were continuing to engage with partner organisations to make sure that appropriate infrastructure was in place.

Should the Water Treatment Plant be relocated away from North East Cambridge, Councillor Ellington said that the consequent time required to achieve that must be considered in assessing the reasonableness of the Local Plan’s timescales. Councillor Peter Fane observed that this was a joint Local Plan between South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City Council. He recognised that there would be issues for the two Councils that were dependent on work being completed by third parties. The Strategy and Economy Manager said that the Cabinet would be asked to revise the Local Development Scheme to make sure that there was a realistic correlation between those things under the control of South Cambridgeshire District Council (like the Local Plan) and matters relating to other organisations such as the Development Consent Order upon which the North East Cambridge Area Action Plan was dependent. She confirmed that the new Local Plan would make reasonable assumptions on delivery of development taking account of site-specific circumstances.

Councillor Dr. Martin Cahn noted that the majority of housing proposed in South Cambridgeshire was in the north of the district whereas major employment expansion was focussed on the south. He said it would be crucial to forge a relationship between the two. Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins pointed out that housing development was located near to existing transport corridors.

Councillor Stephen Drew was keen that every effort should be made to increase involvement in the planning process by those aged between 19 and 39 as these people were the ones most likely to be affected in the long term by the outcome of Local Plan policies. Councillor Dr. Tumi Hawkins said it was a resource issue and that the main challenge was to get people used to being involved. The Planning Policy Manager added that officers were constantly striving to achieve a greater impact.

Councillor Peter Fane emphasised the importance of South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City Council being satisfied that water supply was sufficient. Officers summarised the evidence base on which the two Councils were reliant.

Having considered consultation responses in respect of the Greater Cambridge Local Plan First Proposals and, in particular, issues surrounding water resources, relocation of the Waste Treatment Plant at North East Cambridge, and the relationship between housing and employment, the Scrutiny and Overview Committee supported by affirmation the recommendations that the Cabinet should

1.          note the representations made to the Greater Cambridge Local Plan First Proposals (Preferred Options) consultation and the report on the consultation at Appendix 1;

2.          adopt the updated Local Development Scheme for Greater Cambridge included at Appendix 2 of the report, to take effect from Monday 1August 2022; and

3.          grant delegated authority to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, in consultation with the South Cambridgeshire District Council Lead Cabinet member for Planning and the Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning and Infrastructure (in consultation with chair and spokes), to make any minor editing changes and corrections identified to the updated Local Development Scheme for Greater Cambridge included at Appendix 1 of the report prior to publication.