ECD OSC SCRAIP Report

ECD.141021.53.1

The committee supports development for employment use at Junction 8 of the M20 subject to the development of a planning policy by the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Development to mitigate damage and to ensure appropriate constraints. This policy should be considered by the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee in January 2015.

21-Nov-2014

Agreed. A draft allocation policy for Junction 8 will be presented for PTD OSC’s consideration at its meeting on 20th January 2015.

The Cabinet Member for Planning Transport and Development will liaise with the Chairman of the Planning Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider the content of the draft allocations policy with Members of the Committee in advance of the January meeting.

Sarah Anderton; Sue Whiteside

ECD.141021.53.2

The Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Development be recommended to acknowledge the importance of retaining the employment sites outside of the town centre detailed in Appendix B of the report (list of existing industrial sites/estates for inclusion in Policy DM18).

21-Nov-2014

Agreed. Policy DM18 of the draft Local Plan (Reg 18) identifies key existing employment sites to be retained in employment use. A revised version of this policy will be presented for PTD OSC’s consideration at its meeting on 16th December 2014.

Sarah Anderton; Sue Whiteside

ECD.141021.54.1

That subject to point XII regarding the Draft Economic Development Strategy, under minute number 51, being considered by the Cabinet Member for Economic and Commercial Development, the Committee recommend the Draft Economic Development Strategy be approved by Cabinet for consultation.

21-Nov-2014

Recommendation: Some concern was raised regarding the wording and strength of the delivery mechanisms for the action plan for the draft Economic Development Strategy. It was agreed there was a need for a higher priority and profile for tourism, leisure and the visitor economy and renewable and green energy in the strategy and it was felt the action plan needed to be written in more positive language.

Response: The comments from the Economic and Commercial Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee are noted and will be responded to as part of the public consultation. When the consultation process is completed and the draft strategy has been finalised, the action plan will be updated accordingly.

Dawn Hudd

ECD.141028.65.2

The Head of Economic and Commercial Development be recommended to refine the language in the Maidstone Culture and Leisure Business Plan to make it clear that the formation of Maidstone Culture and Leisure is not purely a profit making exercise;

28-Nov-2014

The document will be reviewed and amended to reflect the recommendation.

Dawn Hudd