There were three questions from members of the public.

Questions to the Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee from Ms Kate Hammond

‘Your Deputy Communications Manager has now confirmed that this Council has no intention to use Compulsory Purchase Orders in respect of the principal landowners that it is already in preliminary commercial discussions in relation to the Council-led Garden Community in Lenham. From our understanding, at least a quarter of these principal landowners have told this Council already that they have no intentions whatsoever in selling their land to you. On that basis, the Save our Heath Lands Action Group would like to know why you are still pursuing this proposal?’

The Chairman responded to the question.

Ms Kate Hammond asked the following supplementary question:

‘The threat of compulsory purchase orders continues to promote fear and trepidation in the Lenham Heath community.  Can you please confirm formally, here tonight, that this Council will not pursue at any time CPO powers for principal or any other sites landowners in Lenham Heath to develop your Garden Community proposals.  A simple yes or no answer please.’

The Chairman responded to the supplementary question.

Question to the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee from Ms Sally King

‘Residents, councillors and our MP Helen Whately keep asking this Council why they chose Lenham Heath for their council-led garden community location. The Save Our Heath Lands Action Group still cannot get to the bottom of this question. In the interests of democracy and transparency we ask you again: Why Lenham Heath?’

The Chairman responded to the question.

Ms Sally King asked the following supplementary question:

‘Keeping in the spirit of transparency, can you please show your work to date on the testing of reasonable alternatives to this site?’

The Chairman responded to the supplementary question.

Question to the Chairman on the Policy and Resources Committee from Mr Richard Proctor

'The draft Capital Finance Strategy for 2020/21 and beyond still shows a budget of £3.3m for the Council-led Garden Community at Lenham. Following the strong opposition you felt at the Save Our Heath Lands residents' meeting on 24th January and upon learning that 96% of respondents to Helen Whately MP's recent survey oppose this proposal, do you believe this Council has the mandate from its taxpayers to continue to spend such considerable sums of money on this project?'

The Chairman responded to the question.

Mr Richard Proctor asked the following supplementary question:

‘In your Medium Term Financial Strategy report it comments that there is significant risk attached to the budget. Assuming that applies to garden communities what is your own assessment of the risk?’

The Chairman responded to the supplementary question.

The full responses were recorded on the webcast and were made available on the Maidstone Borough Council website.

To access the webcast recording, please use the below link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_ftr7c9gLw