Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Development setting out progress on the delivery of the A14 project.

Agreed:

That the Council continues to engage in the Development Consent Order process relating to the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme, and seeks to reach an agreement on the remaining outstanding matters as highlighted at Appendix C of the officer’s report.

The Relevant Representation attached as Appendix B of the officer’s report, as endorsed by Overview and Scrutiny (Environmental Well-Being) Panel and signed-off by the Executive Councillor for Planning and Housing Strategy and the Corporate Director (Delivery) for submission to Planning Inspectorate by the stated deadline of 12 March 2015.

Prior to the consideration of the report, the Chairman referred Members to a typographical error on the front page of the report, which listed the report as not being a key decision.  The Chairman noted the item was a key decision.

The Cabinet received a report (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) regarding progress on the development and delivery of the A14 project, following the submission of the Development Consent Order (DCO) application to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS).  The application had been accepted by PINS which indicated the start of the formal examination process.

The Council is a Tier 1 stakeholder and the deadline for Council’s Relevant Representation to be submitted to the PINS was 12th March, prior to the meeting of the Cabinet, and was presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) for comment and signed-off by the Executive Councillor.

Regarding noise impact, statistics indicated that as a result of the project 2800 dwellings would benefit and 330 dwellings would be affected.  The Executive Councillor confirmed that this was correct and that it was important that appropriate mitigation measures be put in place for those dwellings that will be most affected by noise.

It was noted that both Huntingdonshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council have made a significant financial commitment to the scheme and disappointment was expressed that Cambridge City Council, who will benefit greatly from the scheme, had yet to make a financial commitment.

In considering the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) new bridges will be designed to accommodate future development and the provision of adequate signage is an ongoing matter.

RESOLVED:

The Cabinet agreed:

That the Council continues to engage in the Development Consent Order process relating to the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme, and seeks to reach an agreement on the remaining outstanding matters as highlighted at Appendix C of the officer’s report.

The Relevant Representation attached as Appendix B of the officer’s report, as endorsed by Overview and Scrutiny (Environmental Well-Being) Panel and signed-off by the Executive Councillor for Planning and Housing Strategy and the Corporate Director (Delivery) for submission to Planning Inspectorate by the stated deadline of 12th March 2015.