Agenda item

To consider any other issues raised at the meeting.  Any answers, actions and/or outcomes may be provided at the next meeting of the Parish Partnership Panel.

(1)            Biodiversity Net Gain – Implications for Parish/Town Councils

Parish/Town councils are advised to refer to the following links for useful information:

https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/kent-bng-site-register 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/biodiversity-net-gain-exempt-developments

(2)            Update on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Local Plan

Subject to publication of the final NPPF by the Government, any update, if available, will be provided by the Head of Planning.

(3)            Information on insulation of old houses on the Council website

Request to be clarified and information to be circulated either outside of the meeting or at the next meeting.

(4)            Review of Parish Partnership Panel

Initial responses are attached for information.  Parish/Town councils are encouraged to submit/provide further feedback in respect of options for future meetings of the Panel.

(5)            Work Programme 2025/26

The Work Programme setting out matters to be scrutinised during 2025 is attached for information.  Parish/town councils can suggest future items by liaising with the Chair of the Panel.

(1)          Biodiversity Net Gain – Implications for Parish/Town Councils

Parish and town councils were advised to refer to the following links for useful information:

https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/kent-bng-site-register 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/biodiversity-net-gain-exempt-developments

The Chair of Kent Association of Local Councils (Tonbridge and Malling) offered to circulate the information, together with a video from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), via the Association to promote awareness amongst parish and town councils.

(2)          Update on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Local Plan

The Head of Planning provided the Panel with a brief update on the progress with the new Local Plan.

It was noted that a report had been presented to the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee on 24 September 2024, setting out the Council’s response to the NPPF consultation and the implications of proposed reforms to the NPPF for the Council.  In addition, a further report on a Local Plan Engagement Strategy had been prepared for the Scrutiny Select Committee of 3 December 2024, within which an Engagement Plan was to be proposed aiming at improving communication between Borough Councillors, parish and town councils and Council Officers.

The Cabinet Member for Planning endorsed the engagement plan approach to be proposed and encouraged local Ward Members to speak with their respective parish and/or town councils so as to ensure their inputs were fed back and taken into consideration as part of the Engagement Strategy.

The Chair of Kent Association of Local Councils (Tonbridge and Malling) took the opportunity to invite an officer from Planning Services to attend a meeting of the Association scheduled for 12 December 2024.

(3)          Information on insulation of old houses on the Council website

In response to a question raised by the Parish Vice-Chair (Cllr S Butterfill) on behalf of Kent Association of Local Councils (Tonbridge and Malling) on information about insulation of historic and listed buildings and properties within the Conservation Areas, Borough Vice-Chair (Cllr M Tatton) provided the following link for useful information on the Council website:

https://www.tmbc.gov.uk/housing/energy-efficiency

The Head of Planning added that apart from Historic England, it was also advisable to seek advice from the Council’s Planning Department if any works to Listed Buildings or unlisted buildings in Conservation Areas would require planning permission and this could be done via the pre-application service provided by Planning Services.

(4)          Review of Parish Partnership Panel

As it was suggested that a review of the operation of the Parish Partnership Panel be undertaken at the same time as the review of the operation of the Tonbridge Community Forum, initial feedback had been sought from parish and town councils and was attached to the agenda.  General consensus suggested that the Panel was considered a useful forum to connect the Borough Council with parish and town councils and the County Council and a preference for in-person and hybrid meetings was noted.  Further comments were invited to the sent to the Policy, Scrutiny and Communities Manager (G Fox).

(5)          Work Programme 2025/26

The Work Programme setting out matters to be scrutinised during 2025 was attached for information.  Parish and town councils were reminded to suggest future items by liaising with the Chair of the Panel.

(6)          Question regarding reinstatement of List Ds for planning applications

In response to a question raised by Hadlow Parish Council, after publication of the agenda, regarding the reinstatement of List Ds for planning applications, the Head of Planning advised that a response had been provided and published as a supplement to the agenda in advance of the meeting, which explained how the information that was previously available via List Ds could be accessed via the online Planning Portal.