Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Chittenden, Field and Thick.

The following substitutions were noted:-

Councillor Nelson-Gracie for Councillor Thick

Councillor Mrs Wilson for Councillor Field

There were no Visiting Members.

Councillor Barned disclosed a personal interest in the report of the Director of Change, Planning and the Environment on the Core Strategy Housing Targets and Distribution of Development as he was the Vice Chairman of Golding Homes and an employee of a Housing Association.

Councillor Burton disclosed a personal interest in the report of the Director of Change, Planning and the Environment on the Core Strategy Housing Targets and Distribution of Development as he was Chairman of Langley Parish Council.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED: That the Items on the Agenda be taken in public as proposed.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 26 July 2010 were approved as a correct record and signed.

The Group considered the report of the Director of Change, Planning and the Environment regarding the methodology and considerations in the setting of a housing provision target and the implications of the target on the Core Strategy for the spatial distribution of development.

The Group, in considering the report, felt that the former South East Plan housing target of 11,000 should be dropped as the Group felt that a sustainable and integrated community could not be maintained by retaining such a high figure.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO CABINET:

(1)  That the former South East Plan housing target of 11,000 be dropped.

(2)  That any option considered should have an emphasis on incentivising regeneration and renewal and  be dispersed to avoid any swamping of communities arising from strategic development areas.

(3)  That, taking into account the necessity for decisions to be based on empirical data/evidence, that options 1 and 2 as outlined in sections 1.3 E and F of the report of the Director of Change, Planning and the Environment be agreed as the hypothesis for the further detailed testing outlined in the report in order to identify the most suitable housing target for the borough. All the testing options plan for the balance of housing necessary after the existing development pipeline of 5800 dwellings is completed, to achieve total housing target figures of: Option 1 - 8,200 dwellings, and Option 2 - 10,080 dwellings. These options would distribute the remainder development in a dispersed pattern. Both options are assessed on the basis of housing densities averaging 45 dwellings to the hectare.

(4)  That a further report be made to the 25 October meeting of the Advisory Group that sets further evidence and recommends a housing target and distribution for agreement by Cabinet as the basis of the draft Core Strategy for public consultation.

The Group considered the report of the Director of Change, Planning and the Environment regarding consideration of the numerical target for Gypsy and Traveller pitches for inclusion in the Core Strategy and the timeframe for the pitch target and the approach to the provision of accommodation for Travelling Showpeople and to transit sites.

The Group felt that the Council should be lobbying Government of our special circumstances and attempting to influence national guidance.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO CABINET:

1)  That the timeframe for the Gypsy and Traveller pitch target is 2006 to 2016.

2)  That the approach, as set out in the report of the Director of Change, Planning and the Environment, to the setting of a numerical target for Gypsy and Traveller pitches for inclusion in the Core Strategy be endorsed.

3)  That no specific numerical target be set for Travelling Showpeople plots in the Core Strategy and that any local need for additional plots be addressed through the development control process using the criteria in Core Strategy Policy CS14 when adopted.

4)  That Kent County Council be encouraged to lead the process of the identification and delivery of appropriate transit sites in the county.

5)  That central government be vigorously lobbied on the special circumstances regarding the gypsy and traveller provision prevailing in the Borough to inform and influence national guidance and in particular to allow local planning authorities to adopt local housing need policies relating to this policy area.

6)  That policies on gypsy and traveller provision should take into consideration the need for appropriately balanced communities which are both integrated and sustainable, and the prevention of harm to the countryside caused by ribboned development of caravan sites and similar or related development. 

5.00 p.m. to 8.20 p.m.