Issue - meetings

That Policy and Resources Committee be recommended to:

1)  Approve the change in scope from the original proposed project, to now include the southern end of Week Street.

2)  Approve the outline designs for all of Week Street and Gabriel’s Hill/Lower Stone Street with the exception of the suggested palette of tree species which do not comply with document HAP12; Urban Green Space.  In addition the 4 Ginkgo Biloba at the bottom of Gabriel’s Hill which should be removed and replaced with trees native to South East England as per HAP 12: Urban Green Space.

3)  Approve the proposed materials for hard landscaping only for Week Street and Gabriel’s Hill/Lower Stone Street.

4)  Approve the additional capital budget of £900k to cover the increased costs for the southern section of Week Street.

5)  Approve the proposed consultation materials and methodology.

The Local Economy Project Officer presented a report on Phase 3 Public Realm. The report detailed the option to include the southern end of Week Street as well as the already proposed north end of Week Street and Gabriel’s Hill. This proposal ensured coherence and generated a cost saving due to economies of scale.

The Committee noted that the design created a sense of arrival at Maidstone East Station and ensured that visitors would appreciate the history of Maidstone through the timeline placed on the ground.

In response to a question, the Local Economy Project Officer explained that designs had previously been shown to the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Communities, Housing and Environment Committee, the Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee and the Policy and Resources Committee and that a full consultation would be carried out on the final designs.

RESOLVED:

That Policy and Resources Committee be recommended to:

1)  Approve the change in scope from the original proposed project, to now include the southern end of Week Street.

2)  Approve the outline designs for all of Week Street and Gabriel’s Hill/Lower Stone Street with the exception of the suggested palette of tree species which do not comply with document HAP12; Urban Green Space.  In addition the 4 Ginkgo Biloba at the bottom of Gabriel’s Hill which should be removed and replaced with trees native to South East England as per HAP 12: Urban Green Space.

3)  Approve the proposed materials for hard landscaping only for Week Street and Gabriel’s Hill/Lower Stone Street.

4)  Approve the additional capital budget of £900k to cover the increased costs for the southern section of Week Street.

5)  Approve the proposed consultation materials and methodology.

Voting:   For - 6   Against - 0 Abstention - 0