There were four questions from members of the public.

Question from Ms Gail Duff to the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee

‘Do you think it is right that a third iteration masterplan was completed and submitted by this Council in March, but directly affected residents, who continue to find their homes and land in the centre of the development site, have been denied access to the updated plan to see how it affects their properties?’

The Chairman responded to the question.

Ms Duff asked the following supplementary question:

‘The eighteen land owners who have purportedly been obliged in their demands to have their land removed from the masterplan, given that they never gave permission for it to be included in the first place, haven’t received any formal notification from the Council, given that they were told by your lawyers that they would expect to see the new masterplan by the end of march. You have just explained that but they have had no formal notification from the council one way or another, to know whether they are included in the Heathlands plan still. They would like to be treated, if possible, with respect and decency and are you going to be able to honour that promise?’

The Chairman responded to the supplementary question.

Question from Ms Sharen Cain to the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee

‘Can you please confirm how much money has been spent by Maidstone Council and Homes England on this council-led garden community project to date?’ 

The Chairman responded to the question.

Ms Cain asked the following supplementary question:

‘You told the Downs Mail in May that the new administration would ensure tights control on public money. How are you going to apply tighter financial control to the Heathlands project given ultimately the Council and Homes England are acting as promoter for eight private landowners who could take financial risks to promote their own land, like every other landowner in the borough?’

The Chairman responded to the supplementary question.

Question from Ms Kate Hammond to the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee

‘The report on the Council-led Heathlands garden community mentions the Council are now going to engage, using taxpayer's money, a PR company to help with community engagement. Does the Chairman feel the Council has done a good job on community engagement to date?’

The Chairman responded to the question.

Ms Hammond asked the following supplementary question:

‘The fact of the matter is that MBC has treated residents, the Parish Council and even our local Councillors with contempt in relation to this project over the last two years. Mounting a charm offensive now will not overcompensate for bad planning decisions of the past. Is it time to finally call a day on this very sorry project and learn a lesson to not make the mistake again?’

The Chairman responded to the question.

Question from Mr Steve Heeley to the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee

As Mr Heeley was unable to be present to ask his question, Ms Hammond was permitted to ask it on his behalf.

‘Tonight's Committee is receiving an update report on the Council's Biodiversity & Climate Change Action Plan tonight as well as an update report on the Council-led Garden Community at Lenham Heath. Dumping over 4,000 homes in the middle of the Kent countryside in one of the furthest locations from the borough's urban centre creating an over-reliance on car travel is not conducive to reducing climate change and improving biodiversity. Can you tell me how the proposed Heathlands development relieves the Council's declared Biodiversity & Climate Emergency?’

The Chairman responded to the question and permitted Ms Hammond to ask a supplementary question on Mr Heeley’s behalf.

The supplementary question was as follows:

‘You told the Downs Mail in May that the derided concept of modal shift will be canned and that we will not pretend that modal shift is a solution to over development. Will you accept Heathlands to be a predominantly car-based development in an unsustainable location which cannot be made sustainable simply by building a railway station?’

The Chairman responded to the supplementary question.

The full responses were recorded on the webcast and made available to view on the Maidstone Borough Council website. The question and answer session took place between minutes 14:50 to 28:10 of the recording.

To access the webcast, please use the link below:

(20) Policy and Resources Committee - 23/06/2021 - YouTube