Decisions

Council Agreed the following motion.

This Council recognises that the minutes relating to private meetings of this Council and its Committees can be made available to the public if the grounds for exclusion of the meeting no longer apply. This Council recognises the importance of openness and transparency and will share the minutes of meetings wherever possible in accordance with the provisions of the law and the constraints of commercial confidentiality.

Council Agreed that

A)       A new parish boundary between Sawston and Babraham (as proposed by Sawston Parish Council) be adopted (as presented at Appendix A).

B)       A formal request be made to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) to realign the district council ward boundary between Duxford and Sawston wards so that they remain aligned with the new parish boundary.

Council Agreed the following motion:

This Council

• believes planning works best when local communities are empowered to work together with developers to shape local areas and deliver new homes that are affordable to live in;

• asks the Leader of the Council to call on the Government to protect the right of communities to have a voice on individual planning applications; and to ensure that any changes to the S106 system lead to an increase in the supply of affordable housing.

Council

Endorsed      the replacement of Councillor Peter McDonald by Councillor Henry Batchelor as the Council-nominated member on the Investment Partnerships Boards.

Council

Agreed           To receive the Ermine Street Business Plan for the period 2020/2021 to 2029/2030 for information.

This Motion was withdrawn.

By affirmation, the Planning Committee approved the revised Local Validation List to provide an up-to-date basis for assessing the validity of planning application requirements.

By affirmation, the Planning Committee approved the issue and service of a provisional Tree Preservation Order on a development site’s conditional tree planting scheme at Firs Farm, St. Peters Street, Caxton.

By affirmation, the Planning Committee revoked Tree Preservation Order number 0016 (1989) at New Inn, Castle Camps (8 Old Camps Castle. High Street).

All Planning Applications for Harston considered by the Planning Committee since May 2003. For individual reports, please click on the ‘Meetings’ tab above. For further details on all Harston Planning Applications, please visit our Planning Applications Database and select Harston from the drop-down list of parishes.

By seven votes to three, the Planning Committee approved the outline planning application subject to the Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development.

All planning applications for Fulbourn considered by the Planning Committee since May 2003. For individual reports, please click on the “Meetings” tab above. For further details on all Fulbourn planning applications, please visit our Planning Applications Database and select Fulbourn from the drop-down list of parishes.

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

(Councillors Heather Williams and Dr. Richard Williams did not vote and were not part of the affirmation.)

All planning applications for Waterbeach considered by the Planning Committee since May 2003. For individual reports, please click on the ‘Meetings’ tab above. For further details on all Waterbeach planning applications, please visit our Planning Applications Database and select Waterbeach from the drop-down list of parishes

By seven votes to three, the Planning Committee approved the application subject to

1.    the prior completion of a Legal Agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in accordance with the Heads of Terms referred to in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development, subject to the parties exploring

a.    the viability of the shuttle buses being electric in accordance with the Committee’s aspiration; and

b.    together with Waterbeach Parish Council, the possibility of a scheme being brought forward by Urban & Civic that would secure street lighting and footpath improvements along the footpath to the north of Denny End Road as part of Phase 1A of the current application; and

2.    the Conditions set out in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development with the final wording thereof being agreed by officers in consultation with the Committee Chair and Vice-Chair, including (but not limited to) rewording so as to require retention of the temporary car parking area until the decked car park is in use, and its retention should Phase 2 not proceed, and a landscaping Condition including details of fencing to the ponds; and

3.    the Informatives set out in the said report.

All planning applications for Fowlmere considered by the Planning Committee since May 2003. For individual reports, please click on the “Meetings” tab above. For further details on all Fowlmere planning applications, please visit our Planning Applications Database and select Fowlmere from the drop-down list of parishes.

By six votes to four, the Planning Committee refused the application contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development. Members agreed that the application conflicted with Policies S/7 (Development Frameworks) and H/17 (Reuse of Buildings in the Countryside for Residential Use) of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2018 specifically with regard to the enlarged curtilage, height, bulk, form and visual harm.

All planning applications for Cottenham considered by the Planning Committee since May 2003. For individual reports, please click on the “Meeting” tab above. For further details on all Cottenham planning applications, please visit our Planning Applications Database and select Cottenham from the drop-down list of parishes.

By affirmation, the Planning Committee agreed not to object to the Hedgerow Removal Notice. Councillor Deborah Roberts did not take part in the debate and did not vote.

The Leader of the Council has the power to appoint members and substitutes to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Board.

That Councillor John Williams be appointed as substitute on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Board (replacing Councillor Neil Gough).

Grants Advisory Committee (GAC) met on the 28^th May 2021 to recommend to the Lead Cabinet Member for Finance the criteria and evaluation methodology for applicants of the one-off Dual Use Leisure Facility Grant Funding.  A sum of £50,000 had been allocated by the Council for Health and Wellbeing from within the Central Government funding for Local Authorities with the purpose of mitigating the impacts of Covid-19.

Following discussion between Officers and Lead Members it was proposed that the most effective use of this funding would be to help improve the leisure facility offer with the aim of encouraging the return of existing facility members and attract new membership, thereby promoting exercise and health and wellbeing post-Covid. These leisure centres have largely remained closed for the past year.  They are all valued local community assets which promote community cohesion, physical and mental health and wellbeing.

It is anticipated that a small investment into the décor and the introduction of updated equipment and / or facility hire will help to encourage the return of members, provide an attractive offer for new members and help breathe new life into these facilities.

It was recommended that the grants be assessed by officers and signed off by the Lead Member for Finance.

11 dual use centres are eligible for this scheme of which 7 centres applied for funding.  

Melbourn

Swavesey

Gamlingay

Impington

Sawston

Linton

Bottisham

The purpose of this decision is to consider the waiver of local land charges which are registered against properties where a Disabled Facilities Grant has been awarded.

Since 1990, local housing authorities have been under a statutory duty to provide grant aid to disabled people for a range of adaptations to their homes.  This grant aid is means tested for adults (not for children), with maximum grants of up to £30,000.  

Under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996: Disabled Facilities Grant (Conditions relating to approval or payment of Grant) General Consent 2008, the Council can place a limited charge against owner occupied properties in order to recoup costs over £5,000, with a maximum charge of £10,000.  The charge is repayable upon disposal of the property (sale, assignment or transfer) within 10 years of the certified date. 

The legislation states that a local authority must consider the following before it can demand repayment:

i)          the extent to which the recipient of the grant would suffer financial hardship were he to be required to repay all or any of the grant;

(ii)        whether the disposal of the premises is to enable the recipient of the grant to take up employment, or to change the location of his employment;

(iii)       whether the disposal is made for reasons connected with the physical or mental health or well being of the recipient of the grant or of a disabled occupant of the premises; and

(iv)      whether the disposal is made to enable the recipient of the grant to live with, or near, any person who is disabled or infirm and in need of care, which the recipient of the grant is intending to provide, or who is intending to provide care of which the recipient of the grant is in need by reason of disability or infirmity

             is satisfied that it is reasonable in all the circumstances to require the repayment.

The Lead Cabinet Member for Housing is asked to consider whether it is appropriate to waiver the local land charge in respect of the application received.

To approve the request to waiver the local land charge of £7,010.

A Growth Fund policy setting out how a top up of Additional Restrictions Grant will be used to champion support growth within the district in line with the ‘restart’ mentality advocated from central government.

The policy details the method for administering this fund from 1^st July 2021 to support local businesses who are looking to scale and grow within the region post-pandemic.

To approve the Growth Fund Policy (Additional Restrictions Support Grant Tranche 2) as detailed above.

This policy has been developed following guidance from Government, in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Officer for Business Recovery and Skills, plus Cabinet.

Local authorities are responsible for delivering funding support to eligible businesses in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A second tranche of Additional Restrictions Grant funding has been announced by government, to be spent from 1^st July 2021.  In order to formalise arrangements for carrying out this function in line with government guidance, the Chief Executive, in exercise of the emergency delegation in paragraph 4.4 of the Scheme of Delegation in Part 3 of the Constitution, and the emergency delegation approved by the Leader of the Council on 30 March 2020, authorising the Chief Executive to exercise all executive functions, or to authorise specified officers to exercise any such functions, and after consultation with the Leader of the Council:-

1.  Approves the Growth Fund Policy (Additional Restrictions Support Grant Tranche 2), including details of how grant schemes will be administered to support local businesses who are looking to scale and grow within the region post-pandemic.

2. Authorises the Chief Finance Office to approve future individual discretionary grants for small businesses, as set out within the policy.

The purpose of this decision is to provide approval of the Modern Slavery Statement, which has been produced in accordance with the authority’s duties under the Modern Slavery Act, 2015.

The statement sets out the actions and steps the Council will take through its policies, processes and procedures to understand, prevent and act against modern slavery and human trafficking through our supply chains and activities.

Approval of the Modern Slavery Statement and the action plan contained within.

The Chair made a number of brief housekeeping announcements.