The issues of housing targets and how they are to be achieved in the short and long term futures are complex and of significant public interest.
It is therefore imperative that all the key stakeholders in particular elected members, the Maidstone community and the house building industry have confidence in the council’s housing policies, assessment of need and supply, and monitoring arrangements.
To confirm and make transparent the soundness of the advice given by officers to Cabinet and Planning Committee under the terms of the NPPF relating to the construction of the five year land supply we propose that:
1. Elected members are provided with the opportunity to both scrutinise the methodology and judgements that need to be made in calculating the five year housing land supply through Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
2. The issues to be considered at a single item agenda of the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 17th September and Overview and Scrutiny Committee should report its findings to Full Council as soon as practicable and in any case should report the position it has reached to the Full Council scheduled for 18th September 2013.
3. In the meantime that officers should continue to keep the Five Year Housing Land Supply under regular review in line with the requirements of the NPPF advising the Cabinet member for Planning, Transport and Development of any incremental changes and reporting to Cabinet when there is a need to consider significant changes in the housing target or land supply.