Maidstone Borough Council

Planning, Transport and Development

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Monday 3 November 2014

Update on Scrutiny Committee Recommendation Action Implementation Plan reference CEH.140715.20b regarding Parish Liaison

Report of: Tessa Mallett, Overview and Scrutiny Officer

1.      Introduction

1.1        At their meeting of 3 October 2014 the Scrutiny Coordinating Committee considered a report on all SCRAIPs[1] made by Overview and Scrutiny Committees during the municipal year 2014 to date.  The aim of this item was to determine how any outstanding actions should be followed up and monitored.

1.2        The Scrutiny Coordinating Committee, in particular the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Planning Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee, requested, that as part of the special meeting on 3 November 2014 called to look at Neighbourhood Plans, that an additional brief item be included to look at the SCRAIP issued by the Community, Environment and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting of 15 July 2014.

1.3        The Committee would like the Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services to provide an update following his initial response to the SCRAIP shown in the table on Appendix A attached, in particular the items highlighted in bold.

 2.     Recommendation

2.1        That the Committee considers the verbal update for the SCRAIP reference CEH.14.07.15.20b given by the Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services.

3       Reason for recommendation

3.1     The Special Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting of 3 November 2014 was called to update the committee on the progress to date with the processing of Neighbourhood Plans by the Planning Department and to discuss plans going forward.

3.2     Community, Environment and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee issued a SCRAIP at their meeting on 15 July 2014 after discussing the priorities of the Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services for 2014-15.  This particular SCRAIP refers to the work being done to improve liaison between Maidstone Borough Council and parish councils.

3.3     The response to this SCRAIP by the Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services overlaps with the terms of reference for the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the purpose of the meeting of 3 November 2014 regarding Neighbourhood Plans.

4.      Impact on Corporate Objectives

4.1     The Strategic Plan sets the Council’s key objectives for the medium   term and has a range of objectives which support the delivery of         the Council’s priorities. 

4.2     The Committee will consider reports that deliver against the     following priorities:

·         ‘For Maidstone to have a growing economy’ and ‘For Maidstone to be a decent place to live”.  

5.      Financial Implications

5.1     None

6.      Relevant Documents

6.1     Appendix A – SCRAIP reference CEH.140715.20b

7.      Background Documents

7.1     None