Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:

(1)        That, subject to approval of the Local Plan by Full Council, the Therfield Heath SSSI Mitigation Strategy is approved as a material consideration for the purposed of determining planning applications in Royston and the surrounding area.

(2)        That delegated authority is granted to the Service Director – Regulatory in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Transport and the Executive Member for Environment and Leisure to incorporate the minor changes requested by Natural England, attached as Appendix C and any further non-material corrections prior to publication of the Strategy.

REASON FOR DECISION:

To provide a mechanism through which to negotiate mitigation measures to address recreational impact on the Therfield Heath Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) and fulfil the Council’s Statement of Common Ground with Natural England.

Audio Recording: 21 minutes 3 seconds

The Executive Member for Planning and Transport, Councillor Ruth Brown, presented the report entitled Therfield Heath SSSI Mitigation Strategy and highlighted the following key points:

·        The Council was asked by Natural England to produce a mitigation strategy before the Local Plan is adopted;

·        The increasing amount of development around the area puts extra footfall on that area;

·        Many of the allocated sites in Royston have already had developments on them, but there are more to come;

·        A supplementary agenda was published including the comments from Natural England.

Councillor Ruth Brown proposed and Councillor Ian Albert seconded and, following a vote it was:

RESOLVED:

(1)        That, subject to approval of the Local Plan by Full Council, the Therfield Heath SSSI Mitigation Strategy is approved as a material consideration for the purposed of determining planning applications in Royston and the surrounding area.

(2)        That delegated authority is granted to the Service Director – Regulatory in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Transport and the Executive Member for Environment and Leisure to incorporate the minor changes requested by Natural England, attached as Appendix C and any further non-material corrections prior to publication of the Strategy.

REASON FOR DECISION:

To provide a mechanism through which to negotiate mitigation measures to address recreational impact on the Therfield Heath Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI) and fulfil the Council’s Statement of Common Ground with Natural England.