Cllr Lorna Dupré M O N T H L Y R E P O R T J U N E 2 0 1 8 Local Plan hearings The first hearings of the Examination of the emerging Local Plan for East Cambridgeshire are scheduled to commence on Tuesday 19 June and to last the remainder of that week. The next set of hearings will take place in September. http://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/local-development-framework/local-plan-examination Gladmans win reopens planning floodgates It was speculative developer Gladmans whose successful planning appeal in Witchford in summer 2015 tore the council s current Local Plan to shreds. Now another successful appeal by Gladmans will see 100 properties built in Fordham, in a ruling which undermines the emerging Local Plan as a basis to refuse development across the district. The planning inspector accorded very little weight to the emerging Local Plan, and ruled that the council had not demonstrated a sufficient five year land supply the basis on which Gladmans won their 2015 appeal. This ruling means that the district is likely to see a continuation of the flood of speculative applications for developments which would otherwise be refused. https://zo5ik3egsux1nqg8l35r1mq4-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wpcontent/uploads/appeal-decision-3186785.pdf Planning application quashed by judicial review The Planning Committee approved an application for extension works at 33 Cambridge Road Ely in January this year. The approval was subsequently quashed by judicial review, and costs awarded against the council, with the council conceding on two of the five grounds on which the objector sought the judicial review: breach of S72 of the Listed Buildings Act and failure to accord considerable importance and weight to the harm of the conservation area, and error of fact and failure to take into account the claimant s representation. A slightly amended version of the application was then submitted to the Planning Committee earlier this month, and despite the officers recommendation that the application be granted, councillors refused it. Dog fouling consultation The council is consulting on its proposal to implement a new Public Space Protection Order against dog fouling, to cover the whole of East Cambridgeshire
District. This will take the place of the existing Order under the Dogs (Fouling of Land) Act 1996 which only covered certain areas within the district. The new Order will empower enforcement officers to issue a fine of 80 where dog owners have been witnessed not clearing up after their dog. This would be served where there was clear evidence, including if necessary a statement from any witness willing to go to court. Usually however a Fixed Penalty notice would be issued, and paid by the dog owner as an alternative to a court appearance. The survey is at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/dysg3nn or on paper from the council offices in Ely or email envirocrime@eastcambs.gov.uk. The consultation closes at midnight on Tuesday 24 July. http://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/dogs/public-spaces-protection-order-dog-foulingconsultation Dog fouling complaints can be made at http://www.eastcambs.gov.uk/dogs/dogfouling-complaint Green dog walkers: I supported the proposed Order, but successfully suggested that the consultation period be extended from four weeks to six, in line with the council s own consultation policy and so that parish councils could take part. I also suggested that the council should consider introducing a green dog walker scheme. This originated in Scotland, but is spreading elsewhere, and involves volunteer dog owners signing up they would mark themselves out in some way such as a green ribbon or armband, as someone who always carries spare dog poo bags in case any dog walker doesn t have a bag to hand when needed. They can also help report dog fouling incidents to the council. Bin collections Following up a complaint about full black sacks placed on top of wheelie bins being tipped to the ground by bin collectors opening the wheelie bins, I have been told by the relevant council director that the bin teams have been told they should not pick black sacks up from the tops of the wheelie bins (health and safety). However, the council is also not encouraging residents to leave black sacks on the ground to be split apart by cats, foxes and the like. It was absolutely typical that having followed this up, I should return home to find that on the very same day, my own black sack had been lobbed to the ground by the bin collectors opening the wheelie bin, and had not been collected because it had been trapped out of view between the wheelie bin, my car and the steps behind my house!
Bin dilemmas Now that it has stated that it wants to eliminate single-use plastics, will the council stop giving us black sacks for rubbish? The council s black sack of choice for next year will be more robust and so more expensive, but to offset the cost it will not have collection dates printed on it. If the council wants to replace black sacks with a third wheelie bin for residual waste, where will it find the money to buy the extra bins? Wheelie bins for non-recyclable waste are generally collected fortnightly, to try to limit the increase in waste going to landfill (and the council then having to pay more landfill tax). But the council has promised residents it will continue with weekly collections. How will it meet this promise and its promise to eliminate single use plastic especially as recycling rates locally are currently going down? Food hygiene inspections The council s Regulatory Committee recently received an interesting report on food hygiene inspections in the district. I suggested that the officers carrying out the inspections could also offer advice to local food businesses on reducing or eliminating single use plastics. Hackney carriage fares The Licensing Committee meeting on Wednesday 20 June is being asked to agree to launch a consultation on increasing the fares for local hackney carriages. If approved, this would be the first increase in taxi fares in five years. The suggestion is currently that the lowest increases would be imposed on daytime travel to protect vulnerable taxi users from large cost increases, with the bulk of the increases being levied on late night and bank holiday travel. Sutton GP surgery On 21 May I met Dr Cargill and practice manager Helen Retallack to discuss how Priors Field GP surgery can be helped to achieve its much needed extension, for which it received planning permission some time ago. The Full Council meeting on 24 May added Priors Field surgery to its Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) list. This means that CIL automatically paid by developers in proportion to the size of the development can now be used among other things to help fund part of the cost of the extension. The NHS will fund only two-thirds of extension costs, leaving a large shortfall in this local scheme which CIL will help fill.
There are still issues to be negotiated, but this is a positive step forward. The inclusion of this project on the R123 List does not signify a commitment for the Council; it is just a potential funding source. The surgery will need to apply for its CIL contribution, but the surgery is being given the support of a council officer to enable it to make this application. Community hub and youth hub I recently met with Lizzi Wales from Cambridgeshire County Council s youth team, and separately with Angela Parmenter at East Cambridgeshire District Council, to discuss youth provision and community hubs locally. I have put them both in touch with Sutton Parish Council so that they can all share information about what they are doing and complement each other s activities. The district council is planning to start a monthly Community Hub in Sutton, like the ones operating in Ely and Littleport. It is also hoping to establish a monthly Youth Hub in the village, also along the Littleport model. The Hubs involve a wide range of local statutory, voluntary and other organisations offering advice and support. Earith traveller site The district council s Regulatory Services Committee recently received a report on some of the excellent work that the council s new traveller liaison officer is doing. The council has agreed to use surpluses from service charges to carry out immediate maintenance costs on the site, and rental income to cover refurbishment requests. The officer is working to establish a community hub on site, following a discussion I had with him some months ago about bringing Children s Centre pop-up provision to the site. He is also setting up some youth provision for young people on the site, and keeping track of all rent and service charge payments. The committee agreed to do more work to establish the future need for traveller pitches in the district, following the current closure of the site at Burwell. The Hive update The district council s new leisure centre on the A10 is now open. The council has been dealing with a range of teething problems, and also a widespread sense of disappointment with the learner pool and the lack of facilities for young families. There have also been issues with the swimming club provision, which the club has been working hard to resolve with the council and the operators GLL.
Sutton Scouts I was delighted to be invited to the Sutton Scouts AGM at the Glebe on Wednesday 6 June and to see local children and young people receive their badges. They were truly impressive, and a real credit to the village. I was only disappointed that I couldn t stay to the end, as I had a parish council meeting in another village to report to. Planning applications The following appeals are still awaiting the appointment of an inspector. 16/01772/FUM: Mepal Road (Linden Homes) 17/01445/OUM: Garden Close (Endurance) Meet your councillor Tuesday 10 July, 6:30PM-7:30PM, Sutton, School Community Room Tuesday 14 August, 6:30PM-7:30PM, Sutton, School Community Room Cllr Lorna Dupré District Councillor for the Sutton ward