Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

The notes of meetings of the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board held on 5 June and 24 July 2018 are attached, the recommendations in respect of the Local Plan being for consideration by the Cabinet and supported by the additional reports below. Notices relating to any decisions already taken by Cabinet Members under the arrangements for delegated decision making have previously been circulated.

The notes of the meetings of the following Advisory Boards were received.

Planning and Transportation Advisory Board of 5 June 2018

Planning and Transportation Advisory Board of 24 July 2018

RESOLVED:  That the report be received and noted subject to Minute CB 18/49 below.

Review of voting at the meeting.

The joint report of the Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board and the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer explained the circumstances leading to a review of the voting on the Local Plan at the meeting of the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board on 24 July 2018.  This had concluded that the proper outcome of the vote was that the recommendation for the draft Local Plan to be recommended to Cabinet for consideration had been defeated.

Members were advised that, having considered the legal and constitutional issues in detail and with the benefit of Counsel’s opinion, it was proper for the consideration of the Local Plan by the Cabinet to go ahead as planned, albeit with the correct vote and views of the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board noted and taken into account. It remained the case that the Cabinet had the responsibility to formulate the Local Plan and make a recommendation to the Council.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)             the contents of the report be noted; and

(2)            the draft Local Plan be considered in the context of the discussion and advice presented in the report.

The report presents a set of Local Plan documents which, subject to the agreement of Full Council, are proposed to be submitted to the Secretary of State following public consultation required by Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Plans) (England) Regulations 2012. 

It also summarises the key matters arising from consideration of the draft Local Plan at the meetings of the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board, including amendments incorporated; provides an update of the Local Plan evidence base; and sets out the next steps in the progress of the Plan.

Due to the size of Annex 2 this document will be circulated as a ‘hard copy’ to Members of the Cabinet. 

The report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health presented a set of Local Plan documents which, subject to the agreement of full Council, were proposed to be submitted to the Secretary of State following public consultation required by Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012. 

The key matters arising from consideration of the draft Local Plan at the meetings of the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board were summarised, including the amendments incorporated in the draft Local Plan document.  The report also provided an update of the Local Plan evidence base and set out the next steps in the progress of the Plan.

Considerable debate ensued with particular concerns expressed about the capacity of infrastructure across the Borough and uncertainty about future investment.  It was noted that the sites proposed to be allocated in the Local Plan were themselves planned to bring forward infrastructure provision appropriate to new development.

The implications of not having an up to date Local Plan were discussed and the Cabinet concluded that, notwithstanding concerns about individual sites, it was preferable to take forward the Local Plan for submission within the six months transition period before the revised NPPF standardised approach to housing need assessment became applicable.

A local Member presented a petition on behalf of residents of West Malling, opposing any development on the Green Belt east of Offham Road.  This was noted and it was advised that the most appropriate course of action was for the petition to be included in the public consultation that would take place should the Local Plan be approved by the Council.

The Cabinet acknowledged the work of officers in developing the Local Plan and the Leader thanked all Members for their contribution to the process and to the meeting.

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)             the content of the report be noted; and

(2)             the Local Plan and accompanying documents appended to the report be commended to full Council for approval for the purposes of public consultations and submission to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

*Referred to Council

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting during consideration of any items the publication of which would disclose exempt information.

There were no items considered in private.