The Strategic Planning Manager introduced the report and stated that Swale Borough Council (SBC) had repeated its Regulation 18 ‘Issues and Preferred Options’ consultation in November 2021, as part of its Local Plan Review. Due to technical issues that had affected multiple local authorities the Council was unable to respond at that time. SBC had given agreement for the Council to submit a representation.

The contents and purpose of SBC’s Regulation 18 document and preferred housing strategy were briefly outlined. Particular attention was drawn to the question within that consultation on whether neighbouring authorities should be asked to provide for SBC’s unmet housing need. The proposed response, as shown in Appendix 1 to the report, included that SBC was able to accommodate its housing needs figure and that any departure from that assumption was unlikely to be successful. Additional new evidence would also be required in light of the evidence previously submitted by SBC.

In response to questions, the Strategic Planning Manager stated that SBC were conducting further transport work, which would likely be included within the evidence base of its Regulation 19 consultation, due to take place later in 2022.

The Committee expressed support for the response as proposed, with a request made to use plain English. 

RESOLVED: That

1.  The consultation on the Swale Borough Council Local Plan Review Regulation 18 ‘Issues and Preferred Options’, be noted; and

2.  The response to the Swale Borough Council Local Plan Review Regulation 18 ‘Issues and Preferred Options consultation, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, be agreed.