Agenda and minutes

The Council stood in silence for one minute in memory of John Tolputt, a former Member of the Borough Council, and a former County Councillor, who died in September.

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Beerling, Chittenden, Collins, Mrs Gibson, Mrs Mannering, Munford, Paine and Sams.

There were no applications for dispensations.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

All Members present stated that they had been lobbied.

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

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Borough Council held on 18 September 2013 be approved as a correct record and signed.

The Mayor announced that he and the Deputy Mayor had been very busy recently.  A highlight had been the reception for the Grenadier Guards who were undertaking a sponsored cycle ride from the Wellington Barracks in London to Waterloo in Belgium to raise money for their regimental charity.  The concert included two instrumental performances by the Band of the Grenadier Guards, which had been well received by the public.

On Saturday he had attended a very successful choral concert organised by the Rotary Club, and involving the Thanet Male Voice Choir and the Kent Police Male Voice Choir, to raise money for the Heart of Kent Hospice and Demelza House.

He would like to thank Members for their continued support and to encourage them to attend the forthcoming Remembrance Sunday parade and service.

There were no petitions.

There were no questions from members of the public.

There were no questions from Members of the Council.

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Wilson, seconded by Councillor Springett, that the recommendations of the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee arising from its review of the methodology and judgements that need to be made in calculating the five year housing land supply be approved.

Amendment moved by Councillor Harwood, seconded by Councillor Mrs Joy, that paragraph 3 of the recommendations be deleted and the following inserted:

“That Officers be instructed to draft a report setting out Local Plan policy options to achieve the prioritisation of regeneration of previously developed land over green field development (in line with the NPPF), and that will deliver protection from inappropriate and unsustainable development for the Borough's countryside in advance of a five year housing land supply being agreed.  Relevant Officer recommendations, with staffing requirements and a timescale for implementation, are to be reported to Cabinet by no later than 13 November 2013."

AMENDMENT LOST

The original motion was then put to the vote and carried.

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the methodology and judgments made thus far for calculating the five year housing land supply be endorsed;

(b)  That the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee be updated at a midyear point on permitted planning applications, windfall sites and non-completions to assess where the Council stands with regard to the five year housing land supply; and

(c)  That the Officers be instructed to investigate urgently what can be done to protect any site from inappropriate development whilst the Council does not have a five year housing land supply.

Note:  Councillor De Wiggondene entered the meeting during the discussion on this item (6.50 p.m.).

6.30 p.m. to 7.20 p.m.