The Committee considered the report and the urgent update report of the Head of Development Management setting out suggested responses to the specific questions set out in the consultation document seeking views on the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).  It was noted that the draft NPPF was intended to bring together all Planning Policy Statements, Planning Policy Guidance Notes and some Circulars into a single consolidated document.  The proposed Framework set out the Government’s key economic, social and environmental objectives and the planning policies that would be used to deliver them.  It dealt with plan-making and development management.  The decision as to the Council’s response to the consultation was an Executive one, to be taken by the Leader of the Council, but the Committee could make recommendations to the Leader to consider in his response.

During the ensuing discussion, reference was made to, inter alia, the operational implications of the so-called presumption in favour of sustainable development without a clear definition of what it comprised; the implications for Maidstone of the proposed requirement for local Councils to identify an additional 20% of deliverable sites for housing above the current five year housing supply; and the impact of the proposed changes to the planning system on the Council’s Core Strategy.

RESOLVED:  That subject to the suggested response to question 16a being amended to read “Disagree” and the removal of the italics in the  first sentence of the comment in relation to the supplementary question, the suggested responses and associated comments set out in Appendix One to the urgent update report of the Head of Development Management be agreed and forwarded, together with any further comments received from Members by 6 September 2011, to the Leader of the Council to consider in his response to the consultation on the draft National Planning Policy Framework.