Issue - meetings

To receive a report seeking the Cabinet’s approval of the contents of the Land Availability Assessments and Sustainability Appraisal for additional sites.

Executive Councillor: T Sanderson.

The Cabinet has

(a)  approved the contents of the Land Availability Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal for additional sites submitted between 1 August 2024 and 31 January 2025;

(b)  agreed that the Land Availability Assessments and Sustainability Appraisal for additional sites be published for public consultation for six weeks between 23 April and 4 June 2025; and

(c)  granted delegated authority to the Head of Planning, Infrastructure and Public Protection, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning to make any necessary typographical or other minor changes to the document prior to its publication for consultation.  

A report by the Chief Planning Officer was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) seeking the Cabinet’s approval of the contents of the Land Availability Assessments and Sustainability Appraisal for additional sites and agreement for it to be published for public engagement for 6 weeks between 23 April and 4 June 2025.

By way of introduction, the Executive Councillor for Planning reported that between 1 August 2024 and 31 January 2025 the Ongoing Call for Sites had resulted in a further 68 sites which had been submitted and assessed by the Council. He then went on to report upon the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance & Growth) where comments around flooding in St Neots, lessons learnt from the previous call for sites and detailed communications plan were noted by the Cabinet.

In response to a question raised by the Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Waste and Street Scene, the Executive Councillor for Planning responded that he was aware of the anxieties amongst communities regarding this part of the process and advised that site allocations would not be completed until Autumn. Furthermore, he reported that just because a site had been suggested as part of the Call for Sites process, it did not necessarily mean that it would be developed upon. There was a need to engage with communities further to deliver these key messages and if Cabinet Members had any individuals concerns, then they were encouraged to raise them directly with the Executive Councillor for Planning.

The Executive Leader echoed the comments which had been made in respect of the level of anxieties within communities and also reiterated the importance of responding to the public consultation which adds value to the process.  Whereupon, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  to approve the contents of the Land Availability Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal for additional sites submitted between 1 August 2024 and 31 January 2025;

(b)  to agree that the Land Availability Assessments and Sustainability Appraisal for additional sites be published for public consultation for six weeks between 23 April and 4 June 2025; and

(c)  to grant delegated authority to the Head of Planning, Infrastructure and Public Protection, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Planning to make any necessary typographical or other minor changes to the document prior to its publication for consultation.

The Panel is invited to comment on the Land Availability Assessements and Sustainability Appraisal for Additional Sites submitted between 1 August 2024 and 31 January 2025 report.

Executive Councillor: T Sanderson