Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 9^th February 2012.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 9th February 2012 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members, declarations as to personal and/or prejudicial interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any Agenda item. Please see notes 1 and 2 overleaf.

No declarations were received.

A copy of the current Forward Plan, which was published on 10^th February 2012, is attached. Members are invited to note the Plan and to comment as appropriate on any items contained therein.

The Panel considered and noted the current Forward Plan of key decisions (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which had been prepared by the Executive Leader of the Council for the period 1st March to 30th June 2012.

Members were advised that the Statement of Community Involvement, which set out the Council’s proposed methodology for involving the community and stakeholders in planning matters, would be available for the Panel to consider in April.

To receive a report by the Head of Environmental Management and the Head of Planning Services on the Cambridgeshire Renewables Infrastructure Framework (CRIF) and Cambridgeshire Community Energy Fund (CEF).

(Councillor D M Tysoe, Executive Councillor for the Environment, was in attendance for this Item.)

Councillor D M Tysoe introduced a report by the Heads of Environmental Management and of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the Cambridgeshire Renewables Infrastructure Framework (CRIF) and Cambridgeshire Community Energy Fund (CEF). The Head of Environmental Management then presented the case for the development of a framework for delivering action on the renewable and low carbon agenda in Cambridgeshire. Having outlined the environmental targets the County would have to meet by 2038 and the potential economic benefits of the CRIF project, Members were informed of the project’s aims and objectives, the current position with regard to renewable sources of energy and the level of changes that would be required to achieve various scenarios. They were advised that the CRIF provided a robust evidence base which would promote and deliver the right projects in the right places. They also were advised of investment opportunities the project presented and the ways in which communities would be involved.

Members welcomed the news that solar panels had been installed at Eastfield House which would provide the Council with electricity for its own use and would provide a significant return on the investment.

The Head of Environmental Management then addressed the Panel on how the CEF would channel funds from development projects into low carbon infrastructure and carbon emission reduction projects. He outlined the potential benefits of establishing a CEF, the framework within which it would operate, the timescale for its introduction, how it would be collected and spent and the kind of projects that might be delivered.

Members recognised that developers were likely to challenge the inclusion of renewable energy policies in the new Local Plan. It was, however, accepted that the Council needed to have in place policy provisions to ensure that CEF income was retained locally. Having discussed detailed planning aspects of the CRIF and CEF, concerns were raised that applications for developments with high levels of renewable features would be looked on more favourably than others.  It was, however, the case that such development would have to meet other planning requirements.  Some Members expressed the view that the removal of the requirement for planning permission to be obtained for the installation of renewable features was having a detrimental effect on the appearance of some properties.

With specific reference to wind power, Members suggested that the Council should try to influence where wind turbines were located as it was acknowledged that wind farms worked better in some locations than others.  It was reported that under the new National Planning Policy Framework the Council would be able to specify areas where wind farms would be more suitable.  In making this recommendation it was accepted that there was no upper limit that could be imposed on the amount of wind turbines in an area.  At present Huntingdonshire was dependant upon wind and photovoltaic power for its renewable sources  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85.

To appoint a representative to the Cambridgeshire Future Transport Overview and Scrutiny review.

Pursuant to Minute No. 11/78, it was

RESOLVED

  that Councillor Mrs M Banerjee be appointed to the Cambridgeshire Future Transport Overview and Scrutiny Review.

To consider, with the aid of a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, the current programme of Overview and Scrutiny studies.

The Panel considered and noted a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) informing them of studies being undertaken by the other Overview and Scrutiny Panels.

To consider a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services on decisions taken by the Panel.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel was advised of progress on issues that had previously been discussed.

Having noted that the Panel was due to receive a presentation on the planning implications of the Enterprise Zone, in response to a request, the Scrutiny and Review Manager undertook to circulate a plan of the area included within the Enterprise Zone.

With regard to the ongoing drainage issues in Yaxley, Councillor Mrs Banerjee reported that an on-site meeting had been held with the Council’s Project and Assets Manager who had subsequently alerted Anglian Water to the fact that there was a problem with the surface and foul sewerage system.  Having expressed concern over the long running nature of the problem, the Panel requested that a letter was sent to the Environment Agency asking that enforcement action was taken.

The Chairman advised Members that the Working Group looking at land use for agricultural purposes in the context of planning policies and agriculture’s contribution to the local economy was progressing well and, following his attendance at a Working Group meeting, Dave Felce, the Linking Environment and Farming representative, had extended an invitation to the Panel to visit his farm.

To scrutinise decisions as set out in the Decision Digest and to raise any other matters for scrutiny that fall within the remit of the Panel.

The Panel received and noted the latest edition of the Council’s Decision Digest (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) summarising the Council’s decisions since the previous meeting.