Cabinet |
30 October 2024 |
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Strategic Development Site Supplementary Planning Documents – Providing Flexibility to Stakeholder Steering Group Terms of Reference |
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Will this be a Key Decision?
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No
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Urgency |
Not Applicable |
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Final Decision-Maker |
CABINET |
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Lead Head of Service |
Head of Spatial Planning and Economic Development |
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Lead Officer and Report Author |
Mark Egerton, Strategic Planning Manager |
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Classification |
Public
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Wards affected |
All |
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Executive Summary |
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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.
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Purpose of Report
Recommendation to Cabinet.
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This report makes the following recommendations to the Cabinet: That
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Strategic Development Site Supplementary Planning Documents – Providing Flexibility to Stakeholder Steering Group Terms of Reference |
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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.
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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.
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Mark Egerton – Strategic Planning Manager |
Risk Management |
Already covered in the risk section of this report
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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.
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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.
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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).
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Mark Egerton – Strategic Planning Manager |
Equalities |
The recommendation does not propose a change in service and will therefore not require an Equalities Impact Assessment.
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Mark Egerton – Strategic Planning Manager |
Public Health
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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.
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Mark Egerton – Strategic Planning Manager |
Crime and Disorder |
There are no implications to Crime and Disorder
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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