Issue - meetings

(Report of Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health)

The report summarised the key proposals and potential implications for Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council of the Planning and Travellers consultation by the Department for Communities and Local Government.  A suggested response was set out for consideration.

Following consideration by the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board, the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation resolved that:

(1)             the content and summary of the Department for Communities and Local Government Consultation on Planning and Travellers be noted; and

(2)             the comments in section 1.4 of the report form the basis of the Borough Council’s response by the deadline of 23 November 2014.

Decision Notice D140131MEM

The report summarised the key proposals and potential implications for Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council of the Planning and Travellers consultation by the Department for Communities and Local Government.  A suggested response was set out for consideration.

It was reported that the proposals would have some significant implications for the Borough Council, particularly as the changes to the definition of Traveller for planning purposes and assessing future need would reduce the assessment for future provision.  This was because currently an allowance was made for those parts of the Travelling community living in bricks and mortar which could ‘hide’ a future need for pitches if children of those families wanted to adopt a more traditional lifestyle. 

In addition, of the current authorised, tolerated and unauthorised sites in the Borough most occupants did not travel in the way suggested by the proposed definition so it remained unclear how many of these sites would be included in a new needs assessment. 

The proposals for increasing the protection for sensitive areas and the Green Belt would also have implications for Tonbridge and Malling as over 70% of the land area was designated Metropolitan Green Belt and had two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

RECOMMENDED: that

(1)             the content and summary of the Department for Communities and Local Government Consultation on Planning and Travellers be noted; and

(2)             the comments in section 1.4 of the report form the basis of the Borough Council’s response by the deadline of 23 November 2014.