At each Cabinet meeting, up to 15 minutes shall be allocated for questions from and discussion with, non-Cabinet members. Members wishing to speak during this session should if possible, give notice in advance. Who speaks and for how long will be at the complete discretion of the person presiding.
Minutes:
Hatchfield Farm: Secretary of State Decision – Next Steps (Report No: CAB/FH/16/042)
The following non-Cabinet Members spoke on this item (as summarised below):
(a) Councillor Rona Burt
Councillor Burt addressed the Cabinet and expressed her disappointment with the Secretary of State’s decision to refuse planning permission for 400 homes at Hatchfield Farm, Newmarket. She referred to the former Secretary of State’s previous statement in relation to planning matters where he had stated that “locally elected members should make the decisions on planning applications in their District.”
Councillor Burt explained that the villages which she represented within her Ward were now all very concerned regarding this decision and the impact that this would have on their villages. Councillor Burt also raised her concerns of the impact which this decision would have on the Council’s housing figures within its Local Plan.
(b) Councillor Carol Lynch
Councillor Lynch addressed the Cabinet and explained that she had previously represented Newmarket on the Council for 16 years and had also been the lead Member for Housing. She expressed her gratitude to the Secretary of State for being mindful regarding housing development in Newmarket, but there was a need for housing, albeit of a sensitive nature. There were no available brownfield sites in Newmarket which can be used for the provision of additional housing. It was very important to keep the paddock land, along with the continued support of the Council’s Horseracing Policies, as they were paramount to the protection of the horseracing industry. The Hatchfield Farm site was in the right location for the provisional of additional housing in the town.
Councillor Lynch also referred to the importance of horseracing to Newmarket, but there needed to be a balance between horses and the people. In her view, the surrounding villages and other settlements were being asked to allocate too much additional housing.
Councillor Lynch concluded by requesting for the Cabinet to continue to support the decision of the Council’s Development Control Committee for the approval of planning permission for 400 homes at Hatchfield Farm, Newmarket.
(c) Councillor Victor Lukaniuk
Councillor Lukaniuk addressed the Cabinet and stated that if Members believed the decision to approve planning permission for 400 homes at Hatchfield Farm, Newmarket, had been the right decision, then the Council should challenge the Secretary of State accordingly.
(d) Councillor Ruth Allen
Councillor Allen addressed the Cabinet and stated that the residents of Newmarket considered that the town needed growth and Hatchfield Farm was an ideal location for these homes to be built. The development also offered additional cycle routes and footpaths and improved highway infrastructure. Councillor Allen considered that the residents and the horseracing community should be able to work together, in harmony, to make this development work effectively.
Councillor Allen stated that this decision by the Secretary of State should be challenged by the Council, which would show to the residents of Newmarket that the future development of the town was a priority.
(e) Councillor Andrew Appleby
Councillor Appleby addressed the Cabinet and stated that the horseracing industry was valued by the Council, however, the decision to over-rule the Council’s planning decision for the approval of 400 homes at Hatchfield farm, Newmarket and the subsequent Planning Inspector’s conclusions endorsing the Council’s decision, was unlawful. In particular, the current Secretary of State’s view was inconsistent with the former who had accepted that 1,200 homes would not prejudice the horseracing industry.
Councillor Appleby concluded that the Council must have faith in its own planning decisions, along with the Planning Inspector’s conclusions and he believed that the Council must challenge the decision by the Secretary of State to refuse planning permission for 400 homes at Hatchfield Farm, Newmarket.
(f) Councillor Simon Cole
Councillor Cole addressed the Cabinet and stated that he considered the Council should challenge the Secretary of State’s decision to refuse planning permission for 400 homes at Hatchfield Farm, Newmarket. One of the reasons for this was that the Council had made a democratic decision to approve this planning application, being the Local Planning Authority and that the challenge would reinforce this democratic decision.
In his view, he considered that the development at Hatchfield Farm would not damage the horseracing industry, but in fact would damage it more if these homes were not built. It appeared that the Jockey Club was not totally adverse to house building at it was currently looking itself to build 100 homes in Hamilton Road, as housing was needed in the town.
Councillor Cole concluded that the Council should challenge the Secretary of State’s decision to refuse planning permission for 400 homes at Hatchfield Farm, Newmarket.