Agenda and minutes

Notification of substitute Members were recorded as set out below:

·        Cllr R Cannon substitute for Cllr S Hammond

In accordance with Council Procedure Rules 17.5 to 17.9 these Councillors had the same rights as the ordinary member of the committee for whom they were substituting.

Members are reminded of their obligation under the Council’s Code of Conduct to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Significant Interests in any matter(s) to be considered or being considered at the meeting. These are explained in the Code of Conduct on the Council’s website at Code of conduct for members – Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (tmbc.gov.uk).

Members in any doubt about such declarations are advised to contact Legal or Democratic Services in advance of the meeting.

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

To confirm as a correct record the Notes of the meeting of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee held on 21 May 2024.

RESOLVED:  That the notes of the meeting of the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee held on 21 May 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

This report provides data on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that are aligned to the Corporate Strategy 2023-2027 and monitored on a quarterly or annual basis.  The data provided in this report relates to the period up to the end of June 2024.

The report of the Chief Executive provided data on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that were aligned to the Corporate Strategy 2024-27 and monitored on a quarterly basis.  The data provided related to the period up to end of June 2024 and aimed to provide analysis about the performance of the authority and support its improvement.

Members noted positive trends in respect of affordable housing and major planning application deadlines.    There were also areas that continued to be challenging particularly the delivery of the new Local Plan, demand for temporary accommodation and minor planning application deadlines.

Particular reference was made to the challenges in achieving a five-year housing land supply as a result of Government proposals to change the methodology.  There were also challenges in dealing with minor planning applications since the introduction of Biodiversity Net Gain and the requirement to secure funding for monitoring would further impact on the delivery of such schemes.

Finally, there was discussion on the potential reasons for the increasing use of temporary accommodation.  Although it was indicated that the number of people in temporary accommodation in Tonbridge and Malling wasn’t as significant as other areas it might be necessary for the Borough Council to consider a different approach.  The Committee supported the suggestion of an additional KPI to assist Members in monitoring the amount of time individuals were in temporary accommodation.

RESOLVED:  That the positive and negative trends as set out in the report be noted.

This report invites Members to note the Borough Council’s response to the Government’s ‘Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and other changes to the planning system’ consultation and the potential implications of a revised NPPF on the Borough Council’s plan-making process and timetable, and informs Members of the potential items that were intended to be presented to the Committee at a future meeting.

Members were provided with an update on the Government consultation on proposals to revise the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) intended to achieve sustainable growth in the planning system.

Whilst the consultation principally related to the supply of land to boost housing it also sought views on a series of wider policy proposals related to increasing planning fees, local plan intervention criteria and appropriate thresholds for certain Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.  The consultation also set out how and when it was expected for every Local Planning Authority to create a clear, ambitious local plan for high quality housebuilding and economic growth.

The deadline for responses to be submitted was 24 September 2024 and the Borough Council’s consultation response was set out at Annex 1.  The Cabinet Member for Planning had taken decision D240094MEM on 16 September 2024 to enable the response to be submitted by the consultation deadline.  This decision was the subject of a call-in and would be reviewed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 26 September 2024.  In the meantime, the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government had extended the deadline for submissions to be endorsed by Members to 30 September 2024.

A detailed summary of the consultation document, taking into account the revisions made as set out in the draft NPPF, was provided in Annex 2.  The main implications of the proposed revisions to the NPPF were outlined in Annex 3.

Attention was drawn to the headline proposed changes and implications outlined in the report and there was in-depth discussion on the detail set out in Annexes 1 – 5.

Members expressed significant concern at the introduction of a new standard method calculation formula, the uplift in housing need requirements for Tonbridge and Malling from 820 to 1057 dwellings per annum (an increase of 237 dwellings per annum), the 20% buffer that would apply given that the Borough Council did not currently have a 5-year housing supply and the significant cost implications.

Concern was also expressed in respect of green and grey belt proposals, the weakening of the ‘very special circumstances’ requirement to enable development in the green belt, the removal of 10% provision of  affordable housing on major developments, the increased importance of the Duty to Co-operate and implications for the Local Plan timetable and final submission.    In addition, Members welcomed the potential for cost recovery if planning fees were increased.  However, budgetary proposals would come forward once the revised NPPF was published.

Finally, it was reported that Government had committed to publishing a new NPPF by the end of the year and a Local Plan would need to be submitted no later than December 2026.  To date the Borough council had progressed a considerable amount of evidence and as a result of a new NPPF it would be necessary to consider and review the work undertaken to ensure it aligned with the new planning framework. This would include a new call for sites exercise.  A further update on evidence base requirements would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item HP 24/32

Following discussion at Cabinet on 3 September 2024, Members of the three Scrutiny Select Committees and the Overview & Scrutiny Committee are invited to propose options for evaluation in the forthcoming months to assist in bridging the current funding gap identified in the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Members were invited to propose options for evaluation to assist in bridging the current funding gap identified in the Medium-Term Financial Strategy.  Any proposals would be evaluated in the coming months as part of the budget setting process.

It was agreed that any ideas should be emailed to the Chair in the first instance.  The potential for increased planning fees arising from a new National Planning Policy Framework was noted.

The Work Programme setting out matters to be scrutinised during 2024/25 is attached for information.  Members can suggest future items by liaising with the Chair of the Committee.  

The Work Programme setting out matters to be scrutinised during 2024/25 was attached for information.  Members were invited to suggest future matters by liaising with the Chair of the Committee.

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 matters considered in private.