Cabinet

30 October 2024

 

Strategic Development Site Supplementary Planning Documents – Providing Flexibility to Stakeholder Steering Group Terms of Reference

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Cabinet

30 October 2024

 

 

Will this be a Key Decision?

 

No

 

Urgency

Not Applicable

Final Decision-Maker

CABINET

Lead Head of Service

Head of Spatial Planning and Economic Development

Lead Officer and Report Author

Mark Egerton, Strategic Planning Manager

Classification

Public

 

Wards affected

All

 

Executive Summary

 

On 18th September 2024, Cabinet approved proposals for stakeholder steering groups associated with Supplementary Planning Documents for Heathlands Garden Settlement, Lidsing Garden Community and Invicta Park Barracks respectively. This report seeks to ensure future flexibility with regard to the agreed terms of reference for these groups.

 

Purpose of Report

 

Recommendation to Cabinet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This report makes the following recommendations to the Cabinet: That

 

1.   The Head of Spatial Planning and Economic Development, in consultation with the Council Leader, agree to make changes to the terms of reference for the Strategic Development Site Supplementary Planning Documents.

 

 

 



Strategic Development Site Supplementary Planning Documents – Providing Flexibility to Stakeholder Steering Group Terms of Reference

 

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities

The four Strategic Plan objectives are:

 

·         Embracing Growth and Enabling Infrastructure

·         Safe, Clean and Green

·         Homes and Communities

·         A Thriving Place

 

We do not expect the recommendation will by itself materially affect achievement of corporate priorities.  However, it will support the Council’s overall achievement of its aims.

 

Mark Egerton – Strategic Planning Manager

Cross Cutting Objectives

The four cross-cutting objectives are:

 

·         Heritage is Respected

·         Health Inequalities are Addressed and Reduced

·         Deprivation and Social Mobility is Improved

·         Biodiversity and Environmental Sustainability is respected

 

It is not expected that the recommendation will by itself materially affect achievement of corporate objectives.

 

Mark Egerton – Strategic Planning Manager

Risk Management

Already covered in the risk section of this report

 

Mark Egerton – Strategic Planning Manager

Financial

The proposals set out in the recommendation are within already approved budgetary headings and so need no new funding for implementation.

Mark Egerton – Strategic Planning Manager

Staffing

We will deliver the recommendation with our current staffing.

 

Mark Egerton – Strategic Planning Manager

Legal

The three Strategic Development Site Supplementary Planning Documents are given effect by, and will assist in the implementation of, the adopted Maidstone Local Plan Review 2021-2038.

 

Consultation and engagement during the preparation of Supplementary Planning Documents is required by the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, and it is within the Council’s powers under legislation and the Constitution. Consultation and engagement will be carried out in accordance with the Council’s adopted Statement of Community Involvement (2020).  

 

The establishment and administering of Stakeholder Steering Groups, though not a statutory requirement, will form part of the consultation and engagement process during the production of the respective Supplementary Planning Documents.

 

Mark Egerton – Strategic Planning Manager

Information Governance

The recommendation does not impact personal information (as defined in UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018) the Council processes.  Lauren McNicol - Information Governance Team  Consultation and engagement during the production of the Supplementary Planning Documents will be carried out in accordance with legislation and the council’s adopted Statement of Community Involvement (2020).

 

Mark Egerton – Strategic Planning Manager

Equalities

The recommendation does not propose a change in service and will therefore not require an Equalities Impact Assessment.

 

Mark Egerton – Strategic Planning Manager

Public Health

 

 

It is not expected that the recommendation will by itself materially affect public health; however, on adoption the respective Supplementary Planning Documents will provide planning guidance to assist with the implementation of the Maidstone Development Plan, which will have a positive impact on population health or that of individuals.

 

Mark Egerton – Strategic Planning Manager

Crime and Disorder

There are no implications to Crime and Disorder

 

Mark Egerton – Strategic Planning Manager

Procurement

The recommendation has no immediate impact on procurement

Mark Egerton – Strategic Planning Manager

Biodiversity and Climate Change

The implications of this report on biodiversity and climate change have been considered. It is not expected that the recommendation will by itself materially affect the Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan; however, on adoption the respective Supplementary Planning Documents will provide planning guidance to assist with the implementation of the Maidstone Development Plan, which broadly supports the Biodiversity and Climate Change Action Plan.

Mark Egerton – Strategic Planning Manager

 

 

2.      INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

1.1     The Maidstone Local Plan Review 2021-2038 (MLPR), which was adopted on 20 March 2024, forms an integral part of the borough’s statutory Development Plan. The MLPR sets out the planning framework to guide growth, new development and investment within the borough over the plan period. It will help to ensure that identified needs for housing, employment, local services and different types of infrastructure, including community facilities and green infrastructure, are delivered in a timely and sustainable manner.

 

1.2     The MLPR requires Maidstone Borough Council, as the Local Planning Authority, to prepare Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) for the Strategic Development Sites of Heathlands, Lidsing and Invicta Park Barracks. The SPDs will set further detailed parameters for site masterplanning and provide guidance to facilitate delivery.

 

1.3     In line with the wider requirements for consultation and engagement with local communities and other stakeholders, details about the consultation and engagement process for the SPDs will be published in due course. It is also imperative that elected members and senior representatives from key stakeholder organisations are given the opportunity to be kept fully informed and provide feedback on progress of the SPDs at key stages throughout their preparation and implementation. 

 

1.4     In order to achieve this, on 18th September 2024, Cabinet approved proposals for Stakeholder Steering Groups for each SPD. This included associated terms of reference. A link to the report and proposals is provided in the Background Documents section of this report.

 

1.5     This report seeks to ensure future flexibility with regard to the agreed terms of reference for these groups by allowing the Head of Spatial Planning and Economic Development, in consultation with the Council Leader, to make changes to those terms of reference. The flexibility will ensure that the terms remain fit for purpose.

 

 

3.   AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

3.1     Option A: That Cabinet agrees for the Head of Spatial Planning and Economic Development, in consultation with the Council Leader, to make changes to the terms of reference for the Strategic Development Site Supplementary Planning Documents. This would allow the terms of reference to be flexible and ensure they remain fit for purpose.

 

3.2     Option B: That Cabinets does not agree for the Head of Spatial Planning and Economic Development, in consultation with the Council Leader, to make changes to the terms of reference for the Strategic Development Site Supplementary Planning Documents. This would mean that the terms of reference would remain as approved by Cabinet on 18th September 2024

 

 

4.        PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

4.1     Option A is recommended.  This would allow the terms of reference to be flexible and ensure they remain fit for purpose.

 

 

5.       RISK

5.1    The risks associated with this proposal, including the risks if the Council does not act as recommended, have been considered in line with the Council’s Risk Management Framework. We are satisfied that the risks associated are within the Council’s risk appetite and will be managed as per the Policy.

 

 

6.       NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

6.1     If agreed by Cabinet, the delegation to the Head of Service, in consultation with the Council Leader, will be used to keep the terms of reference fit for purpose.

 

 

 

7.        REPORT APPENDICES

 

None.

 

 

8.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

A link to the 18th September 2024 Cabinet report and Appendices is available here (Item 50) - https://maidstone.gov.uk/home/primary-services/council-and-democracy/primary-areas/your-councillors?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGbWVldGluZ3MubWFpZHN0b25lLmdvdi51ayUyRmllTGlzdERvY3VtZW50cy5hc3B4JTNGQ0lkJTNENzQ4JTI2TUlkJTNENTM4OSZhbGw9MQ%3D%3D