Issue - meetings

The Strategic Planning Manager introduced the report and noted the diagram shown in section 1.4 which showed the categories influencing the Local Plan Review.

The Strategic Planning Manager chose to draw attention to the Call for Sites exercise that was undertaken to understand how the market would accommodate the significant uplift in the amount of homes required by the government. The report noted the ongoing work in the consideration of site submissions, alongside additional evidence, so approaches were identified to move forward. There have also been discussions with infrastructure providers to gain a greater understanding of their needs, alongside discussions facilitated with Kent County Council which concerned traffic modelling.

It was recommended that, the gap between the Scoping Themes and Issues Consultation and the consultation on a submission version of the Local Plan Review was such that, a public consultation on approaches to the matters that would be contained in the Local Plan Review should occur in two stages:

·  The first stage of public consultation would possibly include gypsy and traveller growth. An independent study concerning this was ongoing. This was referenced in section 1.23 of the report; and

·  The second element would occur as part of the February 2021 proposal and consultation process.

RESOLVED: That the content of this report be noted.