Issue - meetings

The Project Manager, Local Plan, presented the report and explained the issues experienced with the Staplehurst and Headcorn neighbourhood plans.

Subsequent to the publication of the report Staplehurst parish council had appointed an alternative examiner for their neighbourhood plan, Mr D Stebbing.  Mr Stebbing would commence the examination of the Staplehurst neighbourhood plan on 15 June 2016.

The Committee heard that Headcorn parish council were still to confirm their preferred examiner.  Indications were that the parish council would prefer Mr Lockhart-Mummery, who had been advising KCC on transport issues in respect of the Local Plan. The parish council had been informed that MBC would object to Mr Lockhart-Mummery’s appointment as examiner as it was considered by officers to be a conflict of interest on Mr Lockhart-Mummery’s part. Planning Practice Guidance was clear that the appointment of an examiner should be made by the local authority, but with the parish council’s agreement.

The Committee requested a further update on the situation regarding the Headcorn neighbourhood plan at their next meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the update on the Staplehurst and Headcorn neighbourhood plan be noted.

2.  That a further update on the Headcorn neighbourhood plan be provided at the next meeting of the Committee.