Decisions

By affirmation, the Committee approved the application subject to the conditions laid out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

By affirmation, the Committee approved the application subject to conditions 1, 2 and 4 to 10 laid out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development being renumbered as conditions 1 to 9, with condition 3 laid out in the report being deleted.

The Committee agreed to an amendment to condition 7, with delegated authority granted to officers to produce the official wording to be approved by the Chair and Vice-Chair. By affirmation, the Committee approved the application subject to the amended condition and the conditions and informatives laid out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

By 7 votes to 2, the Committee approved the foul drainage details, in accordance with the recommendation laid out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

The Committee agreed to the removal of conditions 4 and 5 and amendments to conditions 17, 20 and 21. By affirmation, the Committee approved the application subject to the amended condition and the conditions and informatives laid out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

The Committee agreed to an amendment to condition 14(b). By 5 votes to 4, the Committee approved the application, subject to the completion of a s106 agreement, the amended condition and the conditions laid out the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

1.            The purpose of this decision is to agree on the proposed designation of the parish of Orwell as a Neighbourhood Area (NA). (See Appendix A – the application submitted by Orwell Parish Council including map (PC)).

Background

2.            A NA must be designated before a PC can prepare a Neighbourhood Plan (NP).  There are national regulations guiding how this designation should be carried out which were revised in February 2015 and in October 2016. 

3.            The 2016 revision to the regulations state that a local planning authority must designate a neighbourhood area if it receives a valid application and some or all of the area has not yet been designated (see section 61G(5) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Act as applied to Neighbourhood plans by section 38A of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004).   Where a parish council has applied for the whole of their parish to be designated the local planning authority must designate all of the area applied for.

4.            A valid neighbourhood area application is one where a ‘relevant body^[1]’ has submitted an application to the local planning authority that must include:

·         a map which identifies the area to which the area application relates

·         a statement explaining why this area is considered appropriate to be designated as a neighbourhood area; and

·         a statement that the organisation or body making the area application is a relevant body for the purposes of section 61G of the 1990 Act

            The application from Orwell Parish Council

5.            The application from Orwell Parish Council is for the whole of their parish to be designated as a neighbourhood area. None of this area has been previously designated for neighbourhood planning purposes and the application includes all the information required

Consideration by South Cambridgeshire District Council

6.            South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) is supportive of Orwell PC preparing a NP for its parish and keen for the two councils to work together in considering the future development of the area. SCDC is aware that by preparing a NP the PC aims to play a key role alongside SCDC in shaping the future of the village.

7.            SCDC considers that the application submitted by Orwell Parish Council is valid and therefore that the parish of Orwell should be designated as a neighbourhood area.

Local Development Scheme

8.            The Local Development Scheme (LDS) sets out the planning documents that SCDC and Cambridge City Council proposes to prepare. A section in the LDS lists the neighbourhood areas designated within the Greater Cambridge area. As Orwell NA is being recommended for designation it is proposed that an amendment be made to the section of the LDS when it is next reviewed.

It is recommended that the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, having consulted with the Planning Lead Member, approves:

a)            The designation of a Neighbourhood Area for Orwell as proposed by the Parish Council.

b)            An amendment to be made to the section about neighbourhood area of the Local Development Scheme when the LDS is next reviewed so that Orwell can be added to the list of Neighbourhood Area designated within the District.

1.            The purpose of this decision is to agree on the proposed designation of the parish of Harston as a Neighbourhood Area (NA). (See Appendix A – the application submitted by Harston Parish Council including map (PC)).

Background

2.            A NA must be designated before a PC can prepare a Neighbourhood Plan (NP).  There are national regulations guiding how this designation should be carried out which were revised in February 2015 and in October 2016. 

3.            The 2016 revision to the regulations state that a local planning authority must designate a neighbourhood area if it receives a valid application and some or all of the area has not yet been designated (see section 61G(5) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Act as applied to Neighbourhood plans by section 38A of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004).   Where a parish council has applied for the whole of their parish to be designated the local planning authority must designate all of the area applied for.

4.            A valid neighbourhood area application is one where a ‘relevant body^[1]’ has submitted an application to the local planning authority that must include:

·         a map which identifies the area to which the area application relates

·         a statement explaining why this area is considered appropriate to be designated as a neighbourhood area; and

·         a statement that the organisation or body making the area application is a relevant body for the purposes of section 61G of the 1990 Act

         The application from Harston Parish Council

5.            The application from Harston Parish Council is for the whole of their parish to be designated as a neighbourhood area. None of this area has been previously designated for neighbourhood planning purposes and the application includes all the information required

Consideration by South Cambridgeshire District Council

6.            South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) is supportive of Harston PC preparing a NP for its parish and keen for the two councils to work together in considering the future development of the area. SCDC is aware that by preparing a NP the PC aims to play a key role alongside SCDC in shaping the future of the village.

7.            SCDC considers that the application submitted by Harston Parish Council is valid and therefore that the parish of Harston should be designated as a neighbourhood area.

Local Development Scheme

8.            The Local Development Scheme (LDS) sets out the planning documents that SCDC and Cambridge City Council proposes to prepare. A section in the LDS lists the neighbourhood areas designated within the Greater Cambridge area. As Harston NA is being recommended for designation it is proposed that an amendment be made to the section of the LDS when it is next reviewed.

It is recommended that the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, having consulted with the Planning Lead Member, approves:

a)            The designation of a Neighbourhood Area for Harston as proposed by the Parish Council.

b)            An amendment to be made to the section about neighbourhood area of the Local Development Scheme when the LDS is next reviewed  so that Harston can be added to the list of Neighbourhood Area designated within the District.

Purpose

1.    The purpose of this report is:

a.    To agree the Greater Cambridge Brownfield Register 2021 to be published on the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service website. The register will comprise a spreadsheet (Appendix 1 of this decision) and accompanying spatial data.

2.    The Executive Member for Planning Policy and Open Spaces at Cambridge City Council is also being asked to agree the Greater Cambridge Brownfield Register 2021 via a parallel decision.

Greater Cambridge Brownfield Register and national guidelines

3.    The government’s Planning Practice Guidance sets out clear parameters for the compilation and publication of brownfield land registers.

4.    The purpose of brownfield land registers is to provide up-to-date and consistent information on sites that local authorities consider to be appropriate for residential development having regard to the criteria set out in national regulations. Registers should be published locally as open data and will provide transparent information about suitable and available sites.

5.    National regulations require local planning authorities in England to prepare, maintain and publish registers of previously developed (brownfield) land. Previously developed land is defined in Annex 2 of the National Planning Policy Framework. Previously developed land is referred to as brownfield land.

6.    Brownfield land registers can contain two parts. Part 1 comprises all brownfield sites that a local planning authority has assessed as appropriate for residential development. This will include sites with extant full or outline planning permission, prior approval permissions, allocations in the adopted Local Plans and Area Action Plans, sites with permission in principle and other sites considered suitable for residential development. Part 2 is a subset of Part 1 and comprises only those sites in Part 1 where the local planning authority has decided that the land would be suitable for a grant of permission in principle for residential development. The Greater Cambridge Brownfield Register does not include a Part 2, as no sites were identified in the register where it was deemed appropriate to grant permission in principle.

7.    Sites should be included in the register where they are at least 0.25 hectares in area or are capable of supporting at least five dwellings. Sites must also be suitable and available for residential development. Residential development of the land must be considered achievable (within 15 years). Local planning authorities should also have regard to the development plan, national policies and advice, and any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

8.    Local planning authorities are not required to undertake consultation in relation to sites they propose to include only in Part 1 of registers. However, they are required to review and update the register at least annually.

9.    The information to be included in brownfield land registers is set out in national regulations. The format requirements are set out in the brownfield land register data standard published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Local planning authorities are encouraged to publish their Register in this format to enable compliance with requests for information issued by the Secretary of State.

10. The Greater Cambridge Brownfield Register has been compiled in line with Planning Practice Guidance. It contains details of about 90 sites in each of Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire. The previous registers have been reviewed. Existing entries have been amended as appropriate to reflect development activity on these sites. Recent planning decisions have been examined to identify new entries for the Register. The final register includes only sites with planning permission or allocations in the adopted plans.

11. The Greater Cambridge Brownfield Register contains two registers. One covers Cambridge and the other covers South Cambridgeshire. They are published as separate worksheets within the same spreadsheet. This approach is considered to be consistent with other monitoring work undertaken by the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service.

Next Steps

12. Once agreed by the Cabinet Member for Planning at South Cambridgeshire District Council and the Executive Member for Planning Policy at Cambridge City Council, the Greater Cambridge Brownfield Register 2021 will be published on the Greater Cambridgeshire Shared Planning Service website.

That the Cabinet Member for Planning agrees:

a.    The Greater Cambridge Brownfield Register - spreadsheet (Appendix 1 of this decision) and accompanying spatial data - to be published on the Councils’ websites.

b.    A parallel decision is being considered by Cambridge City Council and delegated authority is given to the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development to agree any minor editing to ensure consistency of approach between the two Brownfield Registers.

To consider the CSP Plan for 2022-23

Cabinet:

Agreed the content of the Action Plan for 2022/2023, considering the lead role the Council takes in its delivery and the resources committed to it.

To receive performance data for the final Quarter of 2021-22

Cabinet:

Noted the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) results and comments at Appendix A and progress against Business Plan actions at Appendix B

The policy outlines the Council’s hybrid working arrangements and commitments

Cabinet:

Approved the introduction of the Hybrid Working Policy.

To confirm the decision to award the repairs contract to the ‘winning’ bidder

Cabinet:

Approved the award of the contract to Mears Limited who are the highest scoring bidder, who has also the lowest cost providing a submission that is within budget and provides the Council with value for money.

The purpose of this report is to request that the Lead Cabinet Member for Finance formally adopt a revised policy for the granting of Discretionary Rate Relief to Business properties.

Changes to eligibility criteria for the Covid19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) have been made to encourage uptake.

To adopt the updated policy as shown in Appendix A.