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

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health which recommended that, following the significant review last year, the scheme of charges for the fee earning aspects of the Building Control Service be held at their current level for 2014/15.

Members were updated on recent changes to the resourcing of the Building Control team and preliminary discussions regarding the potential development of a full shared service arrangement with Sevenoaks District Council.

RECOMMENDED:  That the current Building Control fee scheme, as set out at Annex 1 to the report, be retained for the year 2014/15.

The report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health referred to the regular review of fees and charges for parking in the Borough in the context of current and planned service improvements and the operational management of the parking service. 

It was noted that there had been no increase in parking charges in the Borough for two and a half years and the report reviewed all current and potential fees and charges.  An appropriate way forward was recommended through a careful balance of considerations of parking management objectives and support for the local economy.  Particular reference was made to the proposed retention of the current policy of not charging on Sundays or evenings, the current charges for business and residents preferential parking permits and on-street parking charges, and the 50p half hour stay band.

Members expressed concern about the increase in business rates to be borne by the Council in respect of its car parks and were advised that such information was being sought from all Kent authorities with a view to making representations to ministers.

RECOMMENDED:  That the following proposals be approved with effect from April 2014:

(1)  the schedule of tariffs for short and long stay parking in Tonbridge be introduced as shown in Table 1 of the report;

(2)  the schedule of season ticket prices shown in Table 2 of the report be adopted;

(3)  the schedule of tariffs for Blue Bell Hill car park shown in Table 3 of the report be introduced;

(4)  the schedule of prices for Haysden and Leybourne Lakes country parks shown in Table 4 of the report be introduced;

(5)  the maximum stay in the West Malling High Street car park be reduced from 4 hours to 3 hours; and

(6)  any objections received by written representations to the administrative process of making the Off-Street Order be considered by the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation.

[In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 8.5 Councillor Cure requested that his vote against recommendation (4) be recorded.]

Decision Notice D140008MEM

The report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health gave details of a consultation by the National Air Traffic Service and Gatwick Airport on the management of airspace associated with flights from Gatwick and London City Airports.  It was noted that the introduction of new technology (Performance Based Navigation) would enable a different approach to organising aircraft from further afield and remove the need for conventional stacking.  Consideration was given to a suggested response to the two questions raised in the consultation which were relevant to the Borough.

RECOMMENDED:  That the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation, be authorised to respond to the specific consultation questions and comment generally on the proposals as outlined in the report.

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.