MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
Planning and Infrastructure Policy Advisory Committee
MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON Wednesday 6 July 2022
Attendees:
Committee Members:
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Councillors Mrs Blackmore (Chairman), Clark, English, Mrs Grigg, Munford, Spooner, Springett, Trzebinski and Young
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Lead Members:
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Councillors Cooper (Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure) |
<AI1>
21. Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received from Councillor Kimmance.
</AI1>
<AI2>
22. Notification of Substitute Members
Councillor English was present as a Substitute Member for Councillor Kimmance.
</AI2>
<AI3>
23. Urgent Items
There were no urgent items.
</AI3>
<AI4>
24. Notification of Visiting Members
There were no Visiting Members.
</AI4>
<AI5>
25. Disclosures by Members and Officers
There were no disclosures by Members of officers.
</AI5>
<AI6>
26. Disclosures of Lobbying
There were no disclosures of lobbying.
</AI6>
<AI7>
27. Exempt Items
RESOLVED: That all items be taken in public as proposed.
</AI7>
<AI8>
28. Minutes of the Meeting Held on 8 June 2022
RESOLVED: That consideration of the Minutes of the Meeting held on 8 June 2022 be deferred until the next meeting to enable further clarity on the inclusion of Councillors that observed, rather than addressed the meeting, as Visiting Members.
</AI8>
<AI9>
29. Presentation of Petitions
There were no petitions.
</AI9>
<AI10>
30. Question and Answer session from Local Residents
There were no questions from Local Residents.
</AI10>
<AI11>
31. Questions from Members to the Chairman
There were no questions from Members to the Chairman.
</AI11>
<AI12>
32. Forward Plan relating to the Committee's Terms of Reference
RESOLVED: That the Forward Plan be noted.
</AI12>
<AI13>
33. Local Development Scheme 2022 - 2024
The Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure introduced the report and outlined the updates to the Local Development Scheme (LDS) which was adopted by the Council in December 2021. The timetable for the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document (DPD) and the Local Plan Review were unchanged since the last review of the LDS, however the public consultation on the Design and Sustainability DPD had been delayed. This was due to the priority given to the Local Plan Review, which had received significant public interest.
In response to questions, the Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure gave reassurance that the public provision for Gypsy and Traveller sites was a priority among Members, and that the matters to be reviewed within the DPD would be resolved sensitively.
RESOLVED: That the Executive be recommended to approve the Local Development Scheme 2022-2024, attached as Appendix 1 to the report.
</AI13>
<AI14>
34. Neighbourhood Planning Protocol
The Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure introduced the report and explained the three proposed changes to the Neighbourhood Planning Protocol. Reference to Coronavirus measures would be removed as restrictions had been lifted and therefore were no longer relevant to the Protocol, and the change in the Council’s governance arrangements was also reflected within the proposed updates. Following the popularity of Neighbourhood Planning in the Borough, the updated document provided clarity on the process for modifying Neighbourhood Plans.
RESOLVED: That the Executive be recommended to approve the Neighbourhood Planning Protocol, attached at Appendix 1 to the report.
</AI14>
<AI15>
35. Updated S106 Spend by Date
The Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure introduced the report and expressed interest in the Committee’s views on how best to monitor the spend of Section 106 monies.
The Committee felt that the update report should include expired monies and the total amount allocated for future spend, to provide a fuller account of the status of allocated monies. It was also suggested that risk factors should expand beyond the spend-by date. The Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure agreed that the proposed additional information within the report would be useful, and that the risk analysis could be considered once the updated report was available.
In response to questions, the Head of Planning and Development explained that the Council’s role was to monitor and report Section 106 planning obligations, rather than as a spending authority. There was currently no mechanism in place to inform Parish Councils that Section 106 monies had been allocated to them, however this could be implemented which the Lead Member supported.
RESOLVED: That
1. The report be noted;
2. An update in November 2022 be requested, to include all expired monies and those allocated for future spend.
3. The Head of Planning and Development be requested to notify Parish Councils and relevant Ward Members when Section 106 monies are allocated.
</AI15>
<AI16>
36. Duration of Meeting
6.30pm to 7.24pm.
</AI16>
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