MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Cabinet

Wednesday 12 November 2014

REPORT OF Head of Policy and Communications

Report prepared by Tessa Mallett 

1.           Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee SCRAIP regarding - Amendment to decision making arrangements for Neighbourhood Plans

1.1        Issue for Decision

1.1.1   To consider the SCRAIP (reference number PTD.141103.93.1) issued by the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their Special Meeting on 3 November 2014 attached as Appendix A.

1.2        Recommendation of the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee

1.2.1   That the Cabinet are recommended to agree to the insertion of an additional paragraph in the decision making arrangements for neighbourhood plans as follows:

1.3        Reasons for Recommendation

1.3.1   The existing agreed framework does not provide for a formal council response to the submitted version of the plan (Regulation 16).  On reflection, it is considered important that the council makes a response at this formal stage and that this response has the weight of a Cabinet Member decision.  The Examiner will want to know whether the council, as the local planning authority, is in agreement or not with the plan as it has been submitted and this can best be done through a response during this formal consultation stage.

1.4        Alternative Action and why not Recommended

1.4.1   The Cabinet could decide not to agree to this additional paragraph but this could result in the council’s comments on neighbourhood plans not being formally recorded as part of the Neighbourhood Planning process.

1.5        Impact on Corporate Objectives

1.5.1   The way the Council support neighbourhood planning will have an influence on the objective “to make Maidstone a decent place to live.”

1.5.2    

1.6        Relevant Documents

1.6.1   Appendices

Appendix A - PTD OSC SCRAIP issued 3 November 2014

IS THIS A KEY DECISION REPORT?                  THIS BOX MUST BE COMPLETED     Yes                                               No     If yes, this is a Key Decision because: ……………………………………………………………..   …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….     Wards/Parishes affected: …………………………………………………………………………………..   ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..