Issue - meetings

1.  That the Officer responses to the representations submitted during the public consultation on the draft Maidstone Borough Local Plan (Regulation 18) for Policy GT1 Gypsy and Traveller Site Allocations, set out in Appendix A of the report dated 18 August 2015, be approved.

2.  That the amendments to Policy GT1 set out in Appendix B of the report dated 18 August 2015 be approved for incorporation into the Regulation 19 version of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan.

3.  That the additional Gypsy and Traveller site allocation set out in the Appendices C and D of the report dated 18 August 2015 be approved for Regulation 18 public consultation.

Councillor Munford substituted for Councillor Mrs Gooch, who had left the meeting. Councillor de Wiggondene joined the meeting and Councillor Mrs Stockell, who was substituting for Councillor de Wiggondene left the meeting.

Both Councillor Munford and Councillor de Wiggondene confirmed they had no declarations to make and had been lobbied on all items on the agenda.

The Committee heard that the Council had a duty to provide locations for Gypsy and Traveller communities.  Seven sites had been submitted as part of the Regulation 18 consultation in March 2014.  The report included the representations made during the consultation and the Officer responses to them.  A further call for sites did not yield any further sites and Officers had pursued other solutions by searching sites put forward for other uses.  Nine sites were recommended for inclusion in the Local Plan which still left a shortfall of 45 pitches.

The Committee discussed the inclusion of temporary site numbers and heard that these sites had been considered, but had been granted temporary consent as permanent consent could not be granted as it was considered it would cause significant harm to the landscape.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the Officer responses to the representations submitted during the public consultation on the draft Maidstone Borough Local Plan (Regulation 18) for Policy GT1 Gypsy and Traveller Site Allocations, set out in Appendix A of the report dated 18 August 2015, be approved.

Voting:  For:  8  Against:  0  Abstain:  1

2.  That the amendments to Policy GT1 set out in Appendix B of the report dated 18 August 2015 be approved for incorporation into the Regulation 19 version of the Maidstone Borough Local Plan.

Voting:  For:  9

3.  That the additional Gypsy and Traveller site allocation set out in the Appendices C and D of the report dated 18 August 2015 be approved for Regulation 18 public consultation.

Voting:  For:  6  Against:  2  Abstain:  1