The New Communities Portfolio Holder
(a) NOTED the representations received during the Issues and Options 2 consultation, set out in Appendix 1
(b) AGREED the responses and recommendations in Appendix 2:
· review the approach to the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document (DPD) in 2011 when the new Needs Assessment has been completed and further information regarding government policy, in particular the Localism Bill and the new guidance regarding planning for Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation, is available.
· review the Vision and Objectives in light of the approach to the development plan following changes to government policy having regard to relevant issues raised during the consultation.
· provision at major developments could be either public or private, determined at the time of delivery and taking account of needs at the time. A Site Delivery Strategy will be prepared to explore innovative methods of site delivery, funding and management.
· review the criteria based policy on major developments following changes to government policy having regard to relevant issues raised during the consultation.
· major developments should be required to provide a specific number of pitches through the GTDPD, with flexibility on how that number is provided left to masterplanning of the development.
· the delivery of sites should be phased so that key services and facilities at the major development are available before Gypsy and Traveller pitches are occupied.
· prepare local guidance on design of Gypsy and Traveller sites, including site size, and consult on it at the next opportunity, including consultation with Gypsies and Travellers.
· the following sites are no longer site options:
· Site 5: University site - Land between Madingley Road and
Huntingdon Road Cambridge)
· Site 7: Cambourne (in association with a major development
proposal)
· Site 18: Land at Spring Lane, Bassingbourn
· Site 21: Blackwell (Transit Site)
· commission further assessment of the potential noise impacts of train stabling and the proposed new railway station at Chesterton Sidings on the Chesterton Fen Road area.
· sites suggested through the consultation by, or with the support of, landowners, are subject to public consultation at the next stage of the plan making process, identifying whether or not they should be proposed as site options or rejected.
· if sites are allocated in the Green Belt under exceptional circumstances, they should remain in the Green Belt, including the area west of Chesterton Fen Road if sites are allocated in this area.
· Policy CNF6 from the Local Plan 2004 should not be included within the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document and will be superseded by it.
· review the draft policies for windfall development and site design in light of anticipated new government guidance.
· utilise the monitoring indicators currently included in the Annual Monitoring Report to monitor the performance of the Gypsy and Traveller DPD. Add information regarding unauthorised encampments in the district during the year as a whole rather than purely on the two specific dates of the caravan count.
The Portfolio Holder,
(c) AGREED that a further report being brought to him on the next steps once changes in the national planning policy framework for plan making and for Gypsies and Travellers are known.
1. The New Communities Portfolio Holder agreed for public consultation
(i) Issues and Options 2 - Site Options and Policies (Appendix 1 to the report)
(ii) Technical Annex (Appendix 2)
(iii) Sustainability Appraisal (Appendix 3)
(iv) Further Addendum to Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (Appendix 4) and
(v) Equalities Impact Assessment (Appendix 5).
2. The New Communities Portfolio Holder delegated any further technical amendments to the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities).
The Planning Sub-Committee noted the report.
Council RESOLVED to:
(a) approve the 'three tier scoring matrix' at Appendix 1 for use in the site search phase of the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document (GTDPD) Issues and Options process;
(b) delegate authority to the Corporate Manager for Planning and Sustainable Communities, to make any minor editing changes necessary to the 'three tier scoring matrix', with any which involve a material change being delegated to the Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder; and
(c) hold Special Council meetings at future stages of the GTDPD in order to discuss the development of the GTDPD therefore disbanding the GTDPD Member Reference Group, subject to this process being reviewed following the wider review of decision-making structures in response to the Corporate Governance Inspection of the Council.
Council NOTED the comments from Members and the officer responses to them included at Appendix 2 to the report.
Council RESOLVED that, subject to the alterations tabled at the meeting,
(a) The responses to representations on the GTDPD Issues and Options 1 Report and the Sustainability Appraisal at Appendix 3 be agreed.
(b) The list of Preferred Options at Appendix 2 be approved in order for stage 2, the site options search to begin.
(c) The actions put forward in Appendix 1 and summarised in Appendix 2 be addressed and taken forward into stage 2 of the Issues and Options process (Site options selection).
(d) The three-tier scoring matrix at Appendix 4 be used in the next stage of the GTDPD Issues and Options process.
(e) Authority be delegated to the Corporate Manager for Planning and Sustainable Communities, to make any minor editing changes necessary to the responses as set out in Appendices 1 and 3 with any which involve a material change being delegated to the Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder.
Council RESOLVED to:
(a) approve the Issues and Options Report 1: General Approach, as set out in Appendix 1, including:
(i) the amendments made by the Member Reference Group contained in Appendix 4;
(ii) the recommendations set out in the paper “Additional information for the GTDPD Issues and Options Report 1: General Approach”; and
(iii) the inclusion of the words “and caravan count” to the conclusion of the definition of Gypsy and Traveller in the glossary;
(b) approve the accompanying Sustainability Appraisal, a summary of which is appended to the Issues and Options report at Appendix 1;
(c) approve that the Issues and Options Report 1: General Approach along with the Sustainability Appraisal can be taken forward for public consultation as set out in the timetable at paragraph 10; and
(d) delegate to the Planning and Economic Development Portfolio Holder any editing changes to the above consultation documents.
Cabinet AGREED the proposed timetable and that it should be included in the next review of the Local Development Scheme.
Cabinet NOTED the details and stages of the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document and the project plan, and the Regional Spatial Strategy revision (single-issue review).