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Agenda and minutes
Venue: Town Hall, High Street, Maidstone
Contact: Email: committee@maidstone.gov.uk 01622 602899
No. | Item |
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Apologies of Absence Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Kimmance.
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Notification of Substitute Members Minutes: Councillor English was present as Substitute Member for Councillor Kimmance. |
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Urgent Items Minutes: The Chairman stated that she had accepted an urgent update to Item 10 - Fees and Charges 2024/25, which contributed to the item's consideration. |
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Notification of Visiting Members Minutes: There were no Visiting Members. |
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Disclosures by Members and Officers Minutes: There were no disclosures by Members or Officers. |
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Disclosures of Lobbying Minutes: There were no disclosures of lobbying. |
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Exempt Items Minutes: RESOLVED: That all items be taken in public, unless any Member of the Committee wishes to discuss Item 15 - Exempt Appendix to Item 14 - Statement of Common Ground - Lower Thames Crossing in which case the Committee would enter into closed session due to the possible disclosure of exempt information, for the reason specified having applied the public interest test.
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Minutes of the Meeting held on 8 November 2023 Minutes: RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed. |
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Forward Plan Relating to the Committee's Terms of Reference Minutes: RESOLVED: That the Forward Plan relating to the Committee’s Terms of Reference be noted. |
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Fees and Charges 2024/25 Additional documents:
Minutes: The
Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic
Development introduced the report, highlighting the urgent update
provided which clarified that a fee increase had been wrongly
attributed to Sandling Road Car Park and updated development
control fees as these had not been set when the report was
published.
In response to questions, the Cabinet Member stated that he was happy with the planning re-application fee set, with the pre-application increase due to the fee not having been increased in previous years. It was stated that the increase to some of the planning fees arose from being re-grouped into new charging groups, as opposed to increased fees.
RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to the CABINET: That
1.
The contents of the report, be noted;
2.
The Fees & Charges policy, as detailed in
Appendix B to the report, be noted; and 3. The Cabinet be recommended to approve the Fees & Charges as detailed in Appendix A to the report. |
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Town Centre Strategy Update Minutes: The Leader of the Council introduced the report and stated that Group Leaders and the Town Centre Users Group had been consulted on the developing Town Centre Strategy (the Strategy). A draft Strategy was not yet ready for public consultation, as further evidence and data was required to support the Strategy’s development. The Committee was asked to consider the proposed ‘Next Steps’ within section 3 of the report, with the Leader stating that he thought the transport and movement review should be realistic, as opposed to a wide-ranging review of the urban traffic control system. The Committee raised a number of points on the Strategy’s aims and contents, and in response the Leader stated that:
·
The
Lighting and Greening Strategy reports would be presented in
January 2024, and were being supported by time-limited UK Shared
Prosperity Funding. Additional funding could be provided by
allocating the funds designated for Creative Maker Spaces should it
not be needed after further research and/or was not
ready;
·
A
comprehensive review of town centre parking was expected, and would
include assessing the viability of building properties with and
without parking facilities and the impact of future technology
alongside parallel streams of work such as the Integrated Transport
Strategy Review;
·
The
Residents Survey questions looked to increase the Council’s
understanding of rural residents’ visits to the town centre,
with the town centre needing something different to increase
visitor demand to the area. As an example, the Leisure and
Hospitality offering was changing, with further research
required.
·
The demand
for retail space was reducing, with the Council to consider options
in response. It was stated that sites such as Bluewater were
popular as they acted to serve the demand for the wider area, with
a good transport system in place to support visitors in return;
and
·
Actions
were being taken to improve town centre safety, including through
local policing and One Maidstone. As a district authority, the
Council was not able to intervene in the provision of police and
health services but could act on aspects such as lighting and
encouraging partner organisations to improve their service
provision. It was important to talk about the positive aspects of
the borough. In response to the comments made, the Chief Executive stated that:
·
The car
parking strategy review would require a fundamental review of how
the Council manages demand and supply and would involve a range of
stakeholders to include residential and business parking;
·
There was
demand for a Creative Maker Space, with further research required
into its placement and if and how the Council would promote the
activity. There was a direct line of communication between the
Council and Kent County Council on the matter;
·
The
‘Next Steps’ suggested would include obtaining
contemporary data to support the Council in looking ahead as part
of the Strategy, and define what success would look like.
Engagement from Members was important, with Members being community
leaders; · The council had worked closely with Kent Police and the Police and Crime Commissioner, having ... view the full minutes text for item 94. |
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Kent Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development introduced the report and stated that Kent County Council would be adopting the Kent Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (the Plan). The Plan would be used primarily to support investment into walking and cycling across a 10-year period but would be a living document subject to regular review. The routes included in the consultation were outlined with it noted that the Maidstone Cycle Campaign Forum were also being consulted on the proposed response at appendix 1 to the report.
The Committee expressed support for the proposed response and suggested amendments, including that; Headcorn should be included as a rural service area and that the R14-02 proposal was unfeasible due to the section’s poor maintenance and existing road space available, in part due to the current parking facilities and possible disruption to residents.
It was also noted that there was poor maintenance on the Medway towpath route, with some Members highlighting that the existing cycle paths and ways should be better maintained generally and expressing concern as to the practicality of a proposed route in the Local Plan Review between Maidstone town centre and Lidsing Garden Community.
The Cabinet Member agreed to include the points raised in the consultation response relating to the proposed consultation route but suggested that Members should contact the relevant County Member or the Environmental Agency for overgrown vegetation along the Medway towpath.
RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to the CABINET MEMBER: That the response to the consultation at Appendix 1 of the report be approved, including the Committee’s additional comments. |
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Marden Conservation Appraisal and Management Plan Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development introduced the report and stated that the local ward Members had been consulted on the matter, item and their comments fed back to the team to inform the report.
The Committee expressed support for the proposal.
RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to the CABINET MEMBER: That
1.
The Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan
for Marden Conservation Area, attached at appendix 1 to the report,
be approved for public consultation; and 2. Delegated powers be given to the Head of Development Management to undertake the necessary statutory requirements to undertake public consultation for the Marden Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan. |
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Statement of Common Ground - Lower Thames Crossing Minutes: The Cabinet Member for Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development introduced the report and advised that the decision was classified as urgent, with the call-in period having been waived by the Overview and Scrutiny Chairman and the Mayor to enable a response to the consultation to be submitted within the timeframe.
The Statement of Common Ground had been delayed whilst the Council waited for a response from National Highways on the Statement of Common Ground (SoCG) contained within the exempt appendix. The Cabinet Member wished to submit the SoCG, as a separate SoCG had been circulated by National Highways which the Council had not subscribed to.
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Duration of Meeting Minutes: 6.30 p.m. to 8.14 p.m. |