Issue - meetings

The Principal Planning Officer (Spatial Policy) presented this item to the Committee. It was noted that:

·  The Tunbridge Wells Local Plan was still at an early stage in the preparation process and their evidence base was not yet complete.

·  Tunbridge Wells had set out 5 potential strategic options for how development could be distributed across the borough, although they had not specified a preference yet.

·  The document (as set out in Appendix B) seemed to suggest that Tunbridge Wells Borough Council could face difficulty in meeting their development needs.

·  The proposed officer level response (as set out in Appendix A) had stated that the Council believed that it was not sufficient for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to state that the Plan would meet their local needs.

·  The Plan’s objective should have been to meet all of the borough’s development needs in full, which was in line with the National Planning Policy Framework.

It was noted that the Committee were concerned about the current transport links between Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells and that this would need to be considered and addressed by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

RESOLVED: That the Committee approved the response to Tunbridge Wells Borough Local Plan Issues and Options Consultation set out in Appendix A.

Voting: unanimous