Agenda item

Questions to the Leader of the Council

Mr Mike Cockett asked the following question of the Leader of the Council:

I am very concerned with the amount of building applications that are cropping up all over Lenham, could you tell me if there is a statutory legal ruling on what special weight is given to planning applications to Maidstone Borough Council for new housing within an existing Conservation Area?

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

Councillor Harwood, on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Munford, on behalf of the Leader of the Independent Group, Councillor Powell, the Leader of the UKIP Group, and Councillor McKay, the Leader of the Labour Group, then responded to the question.

Mr Cockett asked the following supplementary question of the Leader of the Council:

How is it that building on one section in the Conservation Area has already been refused by a Planning Inspector and yet the Planning Authority gets into a consultation process with the developer of a second site also in the Conservation Area for which it takes money from the developer?

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

Councillor Harwood, on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Newton, on behalf of the Leader of the Independent Group, Councillor Powell, the Leader of the UKIP Group, and Councillor McKay, the Leader of the Labour Group, then responded to the question.

Mr Elliot Dean asked the following question of the Leader of the Council:

Many residents across Maidstone have been affected by the introduction of the bedroom tax. Have over crowded households, temporary accommodations users or waiting lists been significantly reduced in Maidstone since the roll out of the Welfare Reform Act 2012?

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

Councillor Mrs Wilson, the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Mrs Gooch, the Leader of the Independent Group, Councillor Powell, the Leader of the UKIP Group, and Councillor Harper, on behalf of the Leader of the Labour Group, then responded to the question.

Mr Dean asked the following supplementary question of the Leader of the Council:

What are the groups on this Council going to do to oppose the Bedroom Tax both locally and nationally?

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

Councillor Mrs Wilson, the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Mrs Gooch, the Leader of the Independent Group, Councillor Powell, the Leader of the UKIP Group, and Councillor Harper, on behalf of the Leader of the Labour Group, then responded to the question.

Mr Bryn Annis asked the following (precised) question of the Leader of the Council:

Why is it that nobody from the Parking Services Department is able to tell me why the parking restrictions have not been amended following the Public Realm Project coming into force?

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

Councillor Mrs Wilson, the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Mrs Gooch, the Leader of the Independent Group, Councillor Powell, the Leader of the UKIP Group, and Councillor McKay, the Leader of the Labour Group, then responded to the question.

Mr Annis asked the following supplementary question of the Leader of the Council:

Could someone find out what is going on?

The Leader of the Council responded to the question.

Councillor Mrs Wilson, the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Mrs Gooch, the Leader of the Independent Group, Councillor Powell, the Leader of the UKIP Group, and Councillor McKay, the Leader of the Labour Group, then responded to the question.

To listen to the responses to these questions, please follow this link:

http://live.webcasts.unique-media.tv/mbc184/interface