(a) 'Keeping the Village Identity'
Mr A Garside will present a petition on behalf of 731 signatories concerning the planned housing development between the east of Houghton and Wyton village and the west of St Ives. The petition statement is as follows:-
"As members of the local community, we the undersigned petition Huntingdonshire District Council to revisit the policy behind the Core Strategy, as we believe the proposed development between Houghton and St Ives is not an acceptable solution for the existing local communities."
A covering letter supplied with the petition has been circulated separately to all Members.
(b) Ramsey Community Information Centre
Mr I Curtis will present a petition on behalf of 819 signatories regarding the proposal to close the Ramsey Community Information Centre. The petition statement is as follows:-
"We, the residents of Ramey, and those from the surrounding area who use this resource, would like to ask the elected Members to think very hard about cutting the vital community service that the District Council currently offers at Ramsey Community Information Centre.
This Centre serves people of all ages and is a genuine vehicle for the District Council to deliver social inclusion, community engagement and equality and diversity.
The face to face service is particularly valued by older people, those with mobility or health problems and for people suffering financial or transportation difficulties. The Centre is clearly valued by the people of Ramsey and cuts to the service would have a big impact on this rural community."
(NB The Council's petitions scheme requires there to be a debate in Council on any petition containing more than 500 signatures and for a decision to be taken.
In the event of the subject of the petition appearing elsewhere on the agenda, the debate and discussion may take place when that item is considered. The scheme allows a period of 5 minutes for a petition to be presented and a further 5 minutes during which questions may be asked by Members.
Petition (a) will therefore be debated at this point in the proceedings for a further period of 15 minutes in accordance with the scheme.
Petition (b) relates to Item No. 6 on the agenda and will be debated at that point in the proceedings.)
Minutes:
(a) Keeping the Village Identity
The Chairman invited Mr A Garside to present a petition to the Council on behalf of “SHED - Stop Houghton East Development” containing 731 signatures objecting to housing development between the east of Houghton and Wyton village and the west of St. Ives.
By reference to a powerpoint presentation (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), Mr Garside indicated that it was the primary concern of the action group to seek to protect the green space between Houghton and Wyton village and St. Ives town and prevent the proliferation of ribbon development and the consequences thereof. A supporting letter from the petitioners also had been circulated to Members in advance of the meeting. Mr Garside reminded the Council of the status of the land within the Core Strategy and the issues which would arise should sites STIV4 and STIV5 be developed. Issues highlighted related to traffic on the A1123, including its effect on pedestrians, the generation of pollution, the demand for increased education places, protection of the environment, ecology matters and a request for the consultation being undertaken by the District Council and St. Ives West Working Party to be suspended to enable information on these issues to be compiled and for representatives of SHED to become involved in the process to resolve these matters in an open and transparent way.
In the questions that followed from Members, it was stated that the Core Strategy had established a “direction of flow” for development activity rather than exact site boundaries and that it was likely that Houghton Grange would be developed with open space on either side of the site.
As Executive Member for Planning Strategy and Transport, Councillor D B Dew responded formally to the petition on behalf of the Council. Councillor Dew reminded the Council that the Core Strategy had been found to be sound by the Planning Inspectorate following considerable consultation and scrutiny by interested parties. The Strategy had indicated a direction of growth to the west of St. Ives which would deliver approximately 400 dwellings. A detailed urban development framework for the site was in preparation through a process overseen by a Working Group comprising various local representatives. As one of the few local planning authorities to have a Core Strategy in place, Councillor Dew advised that it would be unwise to re-visit its conclusions. Councillor Dew addressed each of the petitioners’ concerns in turn and confirmed in response to further questions from Members that the Core Strategy had been subject to consultation with Town and Parish Councils, that the urban development framework would seek to ensure that detailed planning applications would protect the green space and that the Working Group comprised elected, parish, district and county councillors.
Having expressed his confidence in the adopted Core Strategy, the Executive Councillor invited the Council to indicate its support for the ongoing delivery of the strategic planning proposals which would deliver the “balanced” growth desirable in the District. Whereupon, it was
RESOLVED
that the Council’s support for the content of the Core Strategy Development Plan Document (“DPD”) be reaffirmed.
(b) Ramsey Community Information Centre
The Chairman invited Mr I Curtis to present a petition on behalf of 819 signatories objecting to the District Council’s proposals to close the Ramsey Community Information Centre. In support of the petition, Mr Curtis explained that the Centre represented the heart of the community, enabled face to face contact with sympathetic staff and encouraged community development. Its closure would harm the most vulnerable people in the town including the elderly, the unemployed and those unable or prohibited, because of the cost involved, to travel to Huntingdon for advice.
In the questions that followed to the petitioner, Mr Curtis acknowledged that whilst the information centre would be moving into the new library building, residents feared that its closure would result in the loss of personal contact with a member of staff which was of greater benefit than advisory leaflets. Councillor J D Ablewhite drew the petitioners’ attention to the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) that the Ramsey Centre be retained and attended by District Council staff on two full days a week or part thereof hoping that this arrangement would allay the fears of the petitioners.
Having noted that a proposal which would retain the centre for two days per week would be welcomed by the petitioners and as the subject matter related to the Council’s financial position which was to be discussed later in the meeting, it was
RESOLVED
that consideration of the petition be deferred for debate under Minute No. 75 post.
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