Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Moss and Wooding.

The Leader of the Council agreed to take as urgent the reference from the Local Development Document Advisory Group regarding Item 8 – Response to representations received on the Maidstone Borough Core Strategy and the next steps and Item 9 –Local Development Scheme 2009.

Councillor FitzGerald indicated he was attending the meeting as an observer.

There were no disclosures by Members and Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED: That the items on part II of the agenda be taken in public but the information contained therein remain private.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 June 2009 be approved as a correct record and signed.

1.  That Council does not make a strategic allocation in the Maidstone Core Strategy for the Kent International Gateway proposal for a strategic rail/road freight interchange incorporating buildings for warehousing and distribution and offices, research and development and light industrial units at east Maidstone, west of M20 Junction 8 and north of the A20, for the reasons set out in the report of the Assistant Director of Development and Community Strategy and Appendix 1 of that report.

2.  That Council does not make provision for a strategic road/rail freight interchange in the Maidstone Core Strategy, for the reasons set out in the report of the Assistant Director of Development and Community Strategy and Appendix 1 of that report.

3.  That the Council proceed with preparation of the LDF Core Strategy on the timetable outlined in the LDS and in advance of the final resolution of the appeal on the KIG proposal on the balance of risks considered in this report and appendices.

4.  That the Council progresses the fundamental spatial distribution strategy for the Core Strategy as set out in ‘Preferred Option 7C’ as the basis for further evaluation of viability and deliverability (including Regulation 25 stakeholder participation) before reporting back to LDDAG to agree a draft Core Strategy plan for Public Consultation in the summer of 2010”.

5.  That the Core Strategy statement (attached as Appendix 2 to the report of the Assistant Director of Development and Community Strategy) and the possible modifications and refinement of Option 7C outlined in that document be considered.

See Record of Decision of the Cabinet (copy attached at Appendix A).

1.  That the prioritisation of documents, the risk assessment and the requirement to commence stakeholder consultations on the Core Strategy in the summer of 2009 be noted. 

2.  That the Local Development Scheme 2009 be agreed for adoption and submission to the Secretary of State.

3.  That the Local Development Scheme 2009 formally comes into effect on the date of receipt of notification that the Secretary of State will not be issuing a Direction Notice be agreed.

See Record of Decision of the Cabinet (copy attached at Appendix B).

11.00 a.m. to 11.40 a.m.