Decisions

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

Consideration was given to the Borough Council’s response to the Governments latest consultation on plan-making reforms.  A proposed response to be submitted by the deadline of 18 October 2023 was set out at Annex 1.

The consultation provided further detail around the proposed 30 month plan-making process, including new proposals for a 4 month period prior to commencement, 2 set periods of consultation and engagement and a 3 staged gateway assessment process for local plans.

Attention was drawn to the confirmation of the transitional arrangements for plan-making as proposed within the December 2022 consultation, subject to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill receiving Royal Assent in Spring 2024.  The Government had not yet published the NPPF reforms so amendments to the approach to housing numbers and the Green Belt remained unconfirmed.  However, as the Government were proposing the same transitional arrangements the Borough Council would need to undertake Regulation 18B and Regulation 19 consultation and submit its Local Plan before June 2025.

Following consideration by the Housing and Planning Scrutiny Select Committee and having regard to the comments made by Members, the Cabinet Member for Planning resolved that:

(1)             the proposed response to the plan-making reforms consultation, set out at Annex 1 be approved and submitted by the 18 October 2023;

(2)             authority be delegated to the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health, in liaison with the Cabinet Member for Planning, to approve any necessary further minor changes to the proposed consultation response that might be required for reasons of clarity or presentation.

(3)             the position regarding transitional arrangements for plan-making be noted.

(Report of Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services)

The report covered the investigation and informal consultation stage of the parking restriction proposals contained in Phase 14 of the Parking Action Plan and sought approval to proceed to formal consultation. 

Following the meeting of the Joint Transportation Board on the 5 June 2023, investigations into proposed parking changes had been undertaken at 30 sites across the Borough. A list of these sites, the issues raised and a recommendation for each was attached at Annex 1 to the report.  A location summary and a more detailed response rate, analysis and recommendation was attached at Annex 2. 

The report also considered a Satisfaction Survey relating to new restrictions introduced in Shakespeare Road, Tonbridge (between Burns Crescent and Scott Road).  It was highlighted that if changes were made to remove the double yellow line restrictions, these could be made without invalidating the current Traffic Regulation Order.

Following consideration by the Joint Transportation Board, the Cabinet Member for Transformation and Infrastructure resolved that:

(1)        the recommendations for each location for Phase 14, shown in Annex 1 to the report, be adopted and where appropriate the proposals be taken forward to formal consultation.  Furthermore, Members views were sought on West Street, Wrotham and agreed that this be taken forward to formal consultation; and

(2)        following consideration of the views of the Joint Transportation Board and local Members, the double yellow lines on Shakespeare Road (between Burns Crescent and Scott Road) be removed.