Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Director of Environmental & Community Services regarding a proposal submitted to the Greater Cambridge – Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership that an area within Huntingdonshire becomes an Enterprise Zone.

Supported the selection of the Alconbury Airfield site by the Greater Cambridge – Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) as their preferred option for an enterprise zone and the principle of preparing a Local Development Order for the site.

With the assistance of a report by the Managing Director (Communications, Partnerships and Projects) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) Members were advised that the Greater Cambridge – Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) had selected the Alconbury Airfield site as their preferred option for an enterprise zone.

In acknowledging the benefits of having an enterprise zone in the District, Members were reminded that the site would be competing alongside 32 other national LEPs all hoping to be awarded one of the 10 zones being established by the Government. 

The Cabinet were advised that should the bid be successful then its delivery would be aided by the use of a Local Development Order for the site, this would incentivise development in a way that met a range of locally specific policy objectives.

Finally having expressed their thanks to staff for their efforts in preparing the bid, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the contents of the report be noted and the selection of the Alconbury Airfield site as the preferred option for the Greater Cambridge, Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership area be supported; and

(b)  that the principle of preparing a Local Development Order for the site be supported and the Head of Planning Services requested to report back to a future meeting on the Order’s content.