Issue - meetings

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Planning Services, to consider a response to the Secretary of State’s proposed changes to the draft revision of the regional spatial strategy and statement of reasons.

Authorised the Director of Operational Services, after consultation with the Leader and the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy, to make appropriate representations to the Secretary of State in response to the draft revision of the Strategy and Statement of Reasons; and endorsed the Council’s commitment to working with other Cambridgeshire Planning Authorities, and Regional and Sub-Regional partners, in order to submit appropriately co-ordinated responses to the strategic planning issues.

By means of a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the details of the Secretary of State’s proposed changes to the draft revision of the Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England and Statement of Reasons.

Having considered the conclusions emerging from the Secretary of State’s proposals and the suggested response, the Cabinet emphasised that the latter should address their apprehension with regard to the ability of the proposals to achieve sustainable development, the initimation that a regional aspiration of 35% affordable housing provision would be sufficient and the lack of provision for improvements to the infrastructure given the proposed increase in new housing the district’s demographic profile and the existing infrastructure deficit in the Eastern Region.. 

Having also recorded their concern with regard to the continued export by road of waste to Cambridgeshire landfill sites from the London area, Executive Councillors

RESOLVED

(a)  that the Director of Operational Services, after consultation with the Leader and the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy, be authorised to make appropriate representations to the Secretary of State in response to the draft revision of the Strategy and Statement of Reasons; and

(b)  that the Council’s commitment to working with other Cambridgeshire Planning Authorities, and Regional and Sub-Regional partners, in order to submit appropriately co-ordinated responses to the strategic planning issues, be endorsed.