Issue - meetings

Report number:     CAB/WS/20/071

Portfolio holder: Councillor Andy Drummond

Lead officer: Fiona Quinn

Resolved:

That the Cumulative Impact Assessment in Bury St Edmunds be retained at its current boundaries.

(Report number: CAB/WS/20/071)

The Cabinet considered this report which set out the evidence and data to support the proposed decision to retain the Cumulative Impact Assessment in Bury St Edmunds in its current boundaries.  This evidence was based upon feedback received from a public consultation and stakeholders, as well as information from Suffolk Constabulary.

There was a legislative requirement to review the Assessment every three years, including a full consultation.  The current policy had been in place since 2017 and any decision to renew as a Cumulative Impact Assessment must be taken by the end of 2020 or the existing Cumulative Impact Area would automatically cease.

Section 3 of the report set out the detail of the consultation and engagement exercise.  Councillor Andy Drummond, Portfolio Holder for Regulatory explained that during the seven-week consultation period, the responses received to the consultation were significantly in favour of retaining the Cumulative Impact Assessment in Bury St Edmunds. In addition, there was no split in opinion between different groups, with a majority from each respondent grouping being in favour of retaining the CIA. Responses that were not in favour of retaining the CIA, however, did focus on pressing issues, such as the impact of COVID-19 on businesses in the area, although responses from businesses themselves did not indicate an overall negative impact of the CIA on their capacity to operate.

With regard to the questions which had been raised on expanding the CIA, most comments in favour of increasing the CIA area focused on ensuring it covered both sides of Risbygate Street. However, the evidence suggested that there was neither a majority in favour of expansion, nor was there enough evidence to justify the CIA covering additional areas of the town centre.

Resolved:

That the Cumulative Impact Assessment in Bury St Edmunds be retained at its current boundaries.