Issue - meetings

Councillor I C Bates, Leader and Chairman of the Cabinet presented the Report of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 17th December 2009 and 21st January and 11th February 2010.

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In connection with Item No. 55, Councillor G S E Thorpe indicated that he wished to convey his appreciation to the Head of Planning Services for the work undertaken by the Planning Division on the St Neots “health check” and that he hoped that the recommendations would be taken forward for the benefit of the people of St Neots.

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In connection with Item Nos 67 and 68, it was noted that the recommendations had been considered previously under Minute No. 77.

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In connection with Item No. 69, Councillor D B Dew, Executive Councillor for Planning and Transport, explained that the Secretary of State would determine whether the Development Management (DDP) Submission Document was sound and upon being put to the vote, the recommendations contained in the item were declared to be CARRIED.

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In connection with Item No. 70 and in response to a question from Councillor Thorpe, Councillor Bates confirmed that the car parking review had been called in for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being).

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Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

  that, subject to the foregoing paragraphs, the Report of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 17th December 2009 and 21st January and 11th February 2010 be received and adopted.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services on the proposed Development Management Submission Document (a copy of the draft submission is enclosed with Members’ copies only).

noted the content of the proposed submission document for Development Management along with the responses received on the proposals set out in a Statement of Consultation and recommended its approval to Council. Also recommended to Council that authority be given to the Head of Planning Services, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport, to make any minor textual amendments to the documents and to approve the Statement of Consultation, Sustainability Appraisal, Habitat Regulations Assessment and Equality Impact Assessment prior to publication; and to complete the final submission for Development Management DPD and associated documents including a summary of the main issues raised in final representations and to submit these to the Secretary of State.

Further to Minute No. 08/100, and by way 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 content of the proposed submission document for Development Management along with the responses received on the proposals set out in a Statement of Consultation.

Members were reminded that the DPD formed part of the Local Development Framework, would support the Core Strategy and East of England Plan and would set out the Council's policies for managing development in Huntingdonshire including the assessment and determination of planning applications. 

Having received the views of the Overview and Scrutiny (Environmental Well-Being) Panel on the matter, the Cabinet

RECOMMENDED

(a)  that the draft proposed submission document for Development Management be approved;

(b)  that the Head of Planning Services be authorised, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport, to make any minor textual amendments to the documents and to approve the Statement of Consultation, Sustainability Appraisal, Habitat Regulations Assessment and Equality Impact Assessment prior to publication; and

(c)  that the Head of Planning Services be authorised, after consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport, to complete the final submission for Development Management DPD and associated documents including a summary of the main issues raised in final representations and to submit these documents to the Secretary of State.

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services on the Proposed Submission Development Management DPD (a copy of the draft submission is enclosed with Members’ copies only).

(Councillor D B Dew, Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport was in attendance for this Item). 

Following the earlier consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Support) of a report on the development of options in December 2008, the Panel considered a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the proposed submission Development Management DPD which had been prepared following earlier consultation on the options development. Key stakeholder consultation had taken place between 18th December 2009 and 11th January 2010 on the draft proposed submission document. 

In response to concerns raised over the adverse effects on carriageway congestion and parking on verges as a result of car parking allocations on new developments, the Panel was advised that the Council had to conform to national parking standards, although the standards set by the Council were slightly higher and the Council was liaising with the County Council on design guidance in an effort to improve the situation. 

Members were reminded that when considering the development of options stage of the DPD, the Overview and Scrutiny (Service Support) Panel had proposed that the wording of policy E6 was unduly prescriptive by stating that planning permission for development would be granted for proposals which would deliver the implementation of the Great Fen Project.  Doubts also had been expressed about the proposed withdrawal of permitted development rights for specific farming or operational purposes in the Great Fen area which could disadvantage local land owners.  Having questioned why changes had not been made to the submission document to reflect the Panel's concerns, Members were informed that the Government Office had instructed local planning authorities to be precise when wording policies to avoid any possibility of doubt.  Also where permitted development rights had been removed, no charge was payable for any planning application that would otherwise not have been required.

RESOLVED

  that the report be endorsed for submission to the Cabinet.