Apologies for absence were received from Councillor English.

The following substitutions were noted:-

Councillor Mrs Wilson for Councillor English

Councillor Verrall for Councillor Thick

Councillors Batt, FitzGerald, Garland and Paine indicated their wish to speak on Items 11 and 12 of the agenda.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Lusty be elected Chairman for the municipal year 2009/10.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Robertson be elected Vice Chairman for the municipal year 2009/10.

Councillor Marchant disclosed a personal interest in Item 11 as he is Ward Member for Otham and Downswood.

Councillor Marchant disclosed that he had been lobbied on Item 11.

RESOLVED: That the items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 20 April 2009 be approved as a correct record and signed, subject to the following amendment:-

Minute 54 – include in iii) the words “including “daylighting” of rivers” after the word “enhancement” in the first line.

RESOLVED: That the following be appointed as Political Group Spokespersons for the Municipal Year 2009/10:-

  Conservative Group – Councillor J A Wilson

  Liberal Democrat Group – Councillor Robertson

  Independent Group – Councillor Marchant

The Group considered the report of the Assistant Director of Development and Community Strategy regarding the responses to representations received on the Maidstone Borough Core Strategy and outlining the next steps.

Concern was raised about the lack of evidence available and it was proposed that the Council should reserve final judgement on their preferred fundamental spatial distribution strategy until evidence arising from the ongoing Jacobs Landscape Character Assessment work, highways modelling, a detailed analysis of Core Strategy public consultation and a re-appraisal of the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (“SHLAA”).

Officers reminded Members that the process gone through to get to this point was a thorough democratic process and that the SHLAA is meant to identify sites which are capable of being deliverable. It still remains the role of this Group to go through the allocation process and finally Council that will agree the allocation of land. 

Members were also informed that any delay in the Core Strategy would have implications for the housing and planning delivery grant and progression of the core strategy to adoption is important to secure the determination of planning applications through the development control system.

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC FROM THE MEETING

Officers felt it was appropriate at this point to exclude the public from the meeting as information related to legal proceedings needed to be discussed with members.  The Group therefore

RESOLVED:  That the public be excluded from the meeting because of the likely disclosure of exempt information for the reason specified:-

Paragraph 5 – Legal Proceedings

Following the discussion regarding the legal proceedings, the Group

RESOLVED: That there be a 5 minute comfort break and, following this, the public be re-admitted to the meeting.

The Meeting resumed at 7.55 pm.

Members felt it was important for the Group to meet on a more regular basis in future to ensure they are fully briefed and that all relevant documents are considered by them.

RESOLVED: 

1.  That Cabinet be recommended:-

  i.  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.

  ii.  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.

  iii.  That the Council proceed with preparation of the LDF Core Strategy on the timetable outlined in the LDS (considered elsewhere on this agenda) 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.

  iv.  That the Council progresses  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

The Group considered the report of the Assistant Director of Development and Community Strategy regarding the adoption of the Local Development Scheme 2009 and its submission to the Secretary of State.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the Cabinet be recommended to adopt the Local Development Scheme 2009 and submit to the Secretary of State for approval.

2.  That the Cabinet be recommended 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.

3.  That a series of meetings of the Local Development Document Group be held between August 2009 and March 2010 during the production of the Core Strategy evidence base and drafting of policies, to facilitate recommendations to Cabinet on the content of the DPD.

6.00 p.m. to 8.38 p.m.