30 Kent Downs National Landscape - Outside Body Update
Representatives from the Kent Downs National Landscape to provide a presentation with an update about the organisation.
Minutes:
Representatives from the Kent Downs National Landscape, one of the Borough Council’s outside bodies, provided Members with an overview of their organisation, particularly their role in planning.
Formerly known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, National Landscapes were nationally statutorily designated landscapes, on a par with National Parks, both aiming to conserve and enhance natural beauty.
Kent Downs National Landscape was in partnership with 12 local authorities, with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council being one of them and having a Member representative and an officer representative sitting on their Advisory Committee.
During the presentation, particular reference was made to a statutory Kent Downs Management Plan, required under Section 89 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, which Kent Downs National Landscape was seeking to deliver in consultation with all the local authorities in the area in the next 18 months.
Despite their limited role in Planning, Kent Downs National Landscape mainly focused on inputs to Local Plans and other strategies, including providing consultation responses, guidance documents and training. A further explanation was provided in respect of the Section 85 duty under the Countryside and Right of Way Act 2000 and how it should be complied with by the decision maker within the context of their Local Plans and Enforcement function.
Members welcomed the introduction and raised questions over the weight that was given to the response from the National Landscape in the determination of a planning application. It was recognised that, although not being a statutory consultee and having statutory planning function, the National Landscape would always seek to influence and advise on potential harm and their response was a key consideration taken into account by the Local Planning Authority, especially their advice provided on statutory requirements.