Issue - meetings

The Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure introduced the report, referencing the decisions taken by the Council’s de-commissioned Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee to produce a Design and Sustainability Development Plan Document (DPD). The Design and Sustainability DPD would form part of the borough’s statutory development plan and carry equal weight to the Local Plan whist being a separate document.

The Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure stated that a public consultation was proposed to take place between 28 October 2022 to 12 December 2022 on the scoping, themes and issues as contained within Appendix 1 to the report.

In response to questions on the document and consultations’ accessibility, the Interim Local Plan Review Director confirmed that advice would be given by the Council’s Communications Team to ensure that it was fully accessible to all.

The Committee expressed support for the draft Design and Sustainability DPD as contained within Appendix 1 to the report, alongside the proposed consultation.

The document attached at Appendix 1 to the report would be proof-read by a numerous Officers before its publication.

RESOLVED: That the Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure be recommended to:

1.  Approve the Maidstone Design and Sustainability DPD Scoping, Themes and Issues document (Regulation 18) attached at Appendix 1 to the report; and

2.  Give delegated authority to the Interim Local Plan Review Director to finalise the format of Design and Sustainability DPD; Scoping, Themes and Issues Document for presentation to the Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure, including any corrections required.