Issue - meetings

The Planning Policy officer introduced the report and stated that following two rounds of public consultation, the Otham Neighbourhood Plan had been submitted to the Examiner for independent examination. The Examiner’s report was received on the 4 March 2021, with the proposed amendments outlined within the report.

Particular attention was drawn to Policy PM6, whereby Policy AC1 as originally drafted had sought to ensure that further developments within the area, not already identified within the Council’s adopted Local Plan, did not result in the coalescence of Otham village with urban areas of Maidstone. The Council had raised concerns as the policy was not in general conformity to the strategies policies within the adopted Local Plan. The Examiner had recognised that potential risks of development to the surrounding countryside and it was proposed that the policy be renamed to ‘Protecting the Countryside’.

It was confirmed that the Neighbourhood Plan Referendum would take place after the May 2021 elections, but that a date had not been chosen.

The Committee wished to acknowledge the effort involved in creating the Otham Neighbourhood Plan. 

RESOLVED: That

1.  The modifications to the Otham neighbourhood Development Plan as set out in the examiner’s report, be agreed; and

2.  The Otham Neighbourhood Plan proceeds to local referendum.