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Maidstone Borough Council

Local Development Document Task and Finish Scrutiny Panel

Wednesday 24 August 2011

Local Development Document – Methods for Consultation

Report of: Overview and Scrutiny Officer

1.           Introduction

1.1.      The Task and Finish Scrutiny Panel has been appointed by the Regeneration & Economic Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee to take on the advisory function to the Executive during the Local Development Document process as well as the role of Overview and Scrutiny within the policy framework process.

1.2    The Scrutiny Panel met on 3 August 2011 and made recommendations to the Cabinet that the Local Development Documents were fit for public consultation purposes and interviewed Flo Churchill, Interim Head of Core Strategy, and David Edwards, Director of Change, Planning and the Environment.

2.        Recommendation

2.1    The Scrutiny Panel is requested to consider the response from the Cabinet meeting on 10 August 2011, and consider the methods for consultation including a leaflet for the public as recommended in the meeting on 3 August 2011.

         Local Development Documents

3.1    The Record of Decision of the Cabinet meeting on 10 August 2011 is attached at Appendix A, with a completed Scrutiny Committee Recommendation Action And Implementation Plan (SCRAIP) at Appendix B. In accordance with the Core Strategy timetable, the consultation will commence on 2 September 2011 for a period of 6 weeks.

3.2    On the 3 August 2011, the Scrutiny Panel recommended that ‘the simplified leaflet for mass publication be presented to the Scrutiny Panel at the next meeting’ and it was agreed by the Cabinet on 10 August 2011 that the ‘draft is to be produced to highlight key issues and signpost people to the further information and ways of responding. Cabinet is requested to give Director of Change Planning and Environment delegated authority to approve the leaflet having regard to any comments made by the scrutiny panel’. The draft leaflet is attached at Appendix C.

3.3     Following public participation consultation, there will be a formal round of consultation of the Publication version of the Core Strategy before the DPD is approved by Council for submission to the Secretary of State.  Further reports will be presented to the Local Development Document Task and Finish Scrutiny Panel as the Core Strategy progresses, to enable the Scrutiny Panel to consider the representations received from both consultations, and to agree any resultant officer recommendations to amend the Core Strategy.

3.4     Following the Cabinet approving the Core Strategy on 10 August 2011, key DRAFT dates for 2011/12 are:

·           2 September to 14 October 2011 – 6 weeks public participation consultation;

·           24 January 2012 – LDD Task & Finish Panel consideration of Publication version of the Core Strategy;

·           8 February 2012 – Cabinet approval of the Publication version of the Core Strategy; and

·           24 February to 10 April 2012 – 6 weeks publication consultation.

Then:

·           Submission to the Secretary of State July 2012;

·           Examination October/November 2012; and

·           Adoption March 2013.

4.           Impact on Corporate Objectives

4.1    The new Strategic Plan 2011-15 sets out a priority for Maidstone to ‘have a growing economy’ and ‘to be a decent place to live’. The Local Development Framework with its supporting documents is a priority for the Council.