Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

The Chairman stated that in her opinion the following should be taken as Urgent Items:-

a)  an Urgent Update from Officers, together with the SCRAIP from the  
  Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny
  Committee, all relating to Agenda Item 8 – Maidstone Borough Local
  Plan – Development Management and Infrastructure Delivery Policies;
  and

b)  Agenda Item 10 which were the References from council relating to two
  petitions received from Harrietsham Against Reckless Development
  and the Chairman of Sutton Valence Parish Council.

Councillors English, Mrs Springett and Wilson attended the meeting and indicated their wish to speak to Agenda Item 8 relating to the Development Management and Infrastructure Delivery Policies.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

All Cabinet Members stated that they had been lobbied in regard to Agenda Item 8 – Development Management and Infrastructure Delivery Policies.

RESOLVED:  That all agenda items be taken in public as proposed.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed.

1)  That the proposals set out in the SCRAIP from Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee (PTDOSC) on 16 December 2014 as attached at Appendix C to the report of the Head of Planning and Development, together with the proposed amendments to the development management policies detailed in Appendix A to the report be agreed, subject to the following amendments:-

Policy DM1 – There should be an additional amendment to Policy DM1 so that the first sentence reads – “Proposals for development on previously developed land (Brownfield land) that make effective and efficient use of land and which meet the following criteria will be encouraged and permitted”.

Policy DM4 – Paragraph iii) be removed, paragraphs xii) and xiii) be amalgamated and the rest of the paragraphs be renumbered to reflect these changes.

Policy DM10 – An additional paragraph be added – “Further consideration will be given to concerns about receptor sites and additional reference will be drafted by the Head of Planning and Development in consultation with the portfolio holder for Planning, Transport and Development”.

Policy DM23 11.124 – The final sentence of this paragraph should read “Where affordable housing is proposed or required, the housing register will provide additional guidance”.

Policy DM25 Key Issue 2 Officer Response: Replace the word ‘principal’ with the word ‘principle’ and Key Issue 8 Officer Response: remove the Planning Minister’s name

and with the exception of Policies DM13, 14 and 15 which will be subject to further consideration when transport modelling advice is available and Policy DM24 which will be subject to further consideration when updated viability information is available;

2)  That, the proposals set out in the SCRAIP from PTDOSC on 16 December 2014 (as attached to the report at Appendix C) and the proposed amendments to the infrastructure delivery policies detailed in Appendix A to the report be agreed and that the policies be approved for regulation 19 consultation in July 2015;

3)  That, the proposals set out in the SCRAIP from PTDOSC on 16 December 2014 (as attached to the report at Appendix C), and the amendments to the proposed care home policy detailed in Appendix B to the report be approved, for regulation 18 consultation in February 2015; and

4)  That it be noted that in regard to Policy DM18 – an additional representation had been received to include the James Whatman Site, at least in part, in the list of retained employment sites and that consideration should be given to this before Regulation 19 consultation is conducted; and

5)  That reference to Neighbourhood Plans and their importance in the Development Plan framework be highlighted and strengthened in the introductory narrative to the Local Plan as a whole and that publicity material associated with the Local Plan should also reference the important role of Neighbourhood Plans prominently where appropriate.

Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Planning and Development relating to the Maidstone Borough Local Plan – Development Management and Infrastructure Delivery Policies.

Members also considered the Urgent Update from Officers and the SCRAIP from the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee from the meeting held on 16 December 2014.

The Head of Planning and Development updated Members on a representation he had received from Agents acting for the Eclipse Business Park which queried the appropriateness of identifying the site for Park and Ride use and making it too site specific.  Members noted the comments made.

DECISION MADE:

1)  That the proposals set out in the SCRAIP from Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee (PTDOSC) on 16 December 2014 as attached at Appendix C to the report of the Head of Planning and Development, together with the proposed amendments to the development management policies detailed in Appendix A to the report be agreed, subject to the following amendments:-

Policy DM1 – There should be an additional amendment to Policy DM1 so that the first sentence reads – “Proposals for development on previously developed land (Brownfield land) that make effective and efficient use of land and which meet the following criteria will be encouraged and permitted”.

Policy DM4 – Paragraph iii) be removed, paragraphs xii) and xiii) be amalgamated and the rest of the paragraphs be renumbered to reflect these changes.

Policy DM10 – An additional paragraph be added – “Further consideration will be given to concerns about receptor sites and additional reference will be drafted by the Head of Planning and Development in consultation with the portfolio holder for Planning, Transport and Development”.

Policy DM23 11.124 – The final sentence of this paragraph should read “Where affordable housing is proposed or required, the housing register will provide additional guidance”.

Policy DM25 Key Issue 2 Officer Response: Replace the word ‘principal’ with the word ‘principle’ and Key Issue 8 Officer Response: remove the Planning Minister’s name

and with the exception of Policies DM13, 14 and 15 which will be subject to further consideration when transport modelling advice is available and Policy DM24 which will be subject to further consideration when updated viability information is available;

2)  That, the proposals set out in the SCRAIP from PTDOSC on 16 December 2014 (as attached to the report at Appendix C) and the proposed amendments to the infrastructure delivery policies detailed in Appendix A to the report be agreed and that the policies be approved for regulation 19 consultation in July 2015;

3)  That, the proposals set out in the SCRAIP from PTDOSC on 16 December 2014 (as attached to the report at Appendix C), and the amendments to the proposed care home policy detailed in Appendix B to the report be approved, for regulation 18 consultation in February 2015; and

4)  That it be noted that in regard to Policy DM18 – an additional representation had been received to include the James Whatman Site, at least  ...  view the full minutes text for item 99.

The Head of Planning and Development gave an oral update on the Planning Support Shared Service performance:-

Outcomes for determination of Planning Applications

3^rd Quarter – 74% Majors in time
  49% Minors in time
  68% Others in time

Planning Application Validations

Speed of validations is on average at 5 working days

Members felt that there had been a significant improvement and was very encouraging.

RESOLVED:  That the updated performance figures for the Planning Support Shared Service be noted.

Members considered the References from Council relating to the two petitions presented to the Council meeting on 10 December 2014 relating to Harrietsham and Sutton Valence.

RESOLVED:  That the issues raised in the petitions be noted. 

6.30 p.m. to 9.20 p.m.