RESOLVED: That all items be taken in public unless any reference is made to Item 4 – Exempt Appendices 1 and 2 to Item 3 – Draft Statements of Common Ground, in which case the meeting would enter into closed session due to the possible disclosure of exempt information.

The draft Statements of Common Ground appended to this report summarise the key strategic matters including matters of agreement and disagreement between Maidstone Borough Council and two other bodies regarding the Local Plan Review. The bodies are The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (Exempt Appendix 1) and Kent County Council Minerals Team (Exempt Appendix 2).  The report recommends that these new Statements of Common Ground as set out in the Exempt Appendices are approved. The report has required additional meetings to be called of the Planning and Infrastructure Policy Advisory Committee and Lead Member on the Executive for Planning and Infrastructure, in order that the current protocol for signing off new Statements of Common Ground may be followed.

1.  That the draft Statements of Common Ground, attached at Exempt Appendices 1 and 2 to this report, be approved.

2.  That the process for agreeing amended and new Statements of Common Ground as set out at Appendix A be noted.