Agenda item

To receive a presentation by the Managing Director (Communities, Partnerships & Projects) and the Corporate Team Manager.

(Councillor J D Ablewhite, Executive Leader of the Council, was in attendance for this item).

The Panel received a presentation by the Managing Director (Communities, Partnerships and Projects) and the Corporate Team Manager on Alconbury Enterprise Zone. By way of introduction the Managing Director reminded the Panel of the geographical area covered by Alconbury Airfield and the location of the Enterprise Zone which was predominately to the north of the site. Discussions were ongoing with Urban and Civic about defining the boundaries for the zone and the Panel were informed that the negotiations with Government about using the whole airfield site were unlikely to be successful.  Greater Cambridge and Greater Peterborough Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) were the promoters of the Enterprise Zone and would have responsibility for distributing retained business rates throughout the LEP area. Details of the benefits which would be available to businesses who relocated to the area were provided together with the simplified planning arrangements which would be put in place for the site.

Members’ attention was drawn to the governance arrangements for the Zone and the timetable for its development. The LEP was required to submit an Implementation Plan to Government by 11^th November 2011. An enabling application was expected in November / December 2011 and other developments thereafter. It was expected that business rates discounts would be applied from 1^st April 2012.

The Corporate Team Manager explained the steps, which would be taken to encourage business to occupy the site.  Work was currently ongoing to establish a Memorandum of Understanding between the LEP, Urban and Civic and the District Council to address a range of issues. She then explained the work, which would be undertaken with existing business on the site and the opportunities which would be available for business off site. Members were informed that the aim was to establish 8,000 new jobs by 2027 and that the development was expected to bring improvements to the infrastructure in the area.

In considering the contents of the presentation, comment was made about the planning processes which would be adopted for the Enterprise Zone. The Managing Director (Communities, Partnerships and Projects) explained that if adopted, a Local Development Order would set the parameters for development on the site and would avoid the necessity to go through the formal planning process. Applications for development in the area would be assessed against specified criteria. The Order would have to be adopted by the Development Management Panel.

In response to a question on the infrastructure for the site, the Managing Director explained that the existing road structure would support the development and there was no reason that the existing public transportation network could not be enhanced. In the longer term and subject to completion of the necessary formalities there were other access arrangements and initiatives which could be implemented.

Discussion then ensued on a range of issues including the size of the site and the decision to target start up businesses. Comment was made about the potential for the District Council to lose business rate revenue if business were to relocate to the airfield site, however Members were informed that it was not expected that the development would generate significant gaps in existing areas of employment.  In response to questions by Members, the Corporate Team Manager explained that the District Council had already established effective University links to develop appropriate employment skills and that connections were being made with housing associations and the housing market to promote the area as a full package. She also explained that the Enterprise Zone would seek to target the research and development expertise and prototyping in Cambridge and link with the green technology being developed locally.

With regard to the improvements in broadband which were to be associated with the development of the site, Members asked for a definition of “superfast” broadband. Having noted that current provision was patchy, the Corporate Team Manager undertook to circulate this information outside of the meeting.  Attention having been drawn to the Government’s Broadband Delivery Project, it was agreed that a briefing on broadband should be provided at a future meeting of the Panel.

Having noted that the LEP would have responsibility for distributing the retained business rates within the LEP area, Members queried the costs which had been borne by the District Council in relation to the establishment of the Partnership and the Enterprise Zone. In response, the Managing Director explained that some legacy funding had been secured from Cambridgeshire Horizons. In addition he would be suggesting that the District Council should receive compensation for the expenses it had incurred to date.

At the conclusion of the presentation, the Chairman thanked the Managing Director (Communities, Partnerships and Projects) and the Corporate Team Manager for their attendance at the meeting.