Agenda and minutes

Prayers were said by Father Neil Bryson, Associate Vicar, St Michael and All Angels, Maidstone.

Councillor McKay reserved his right to record the proceedings.

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Brindle, Eves, Fermor, Fissenden, Garland, Harwood, Hastie and Wilby.

There were no applications for dispensations.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

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 30 September 2020 adjourned to 5 October 2020 be approved as a correct record and signed.

The Mayor said that she had tried to undertake as many engagements as possible during this difficult time and it had been enjoyable.

The Mayor also took the opportunity to:

·  Remind Members that nominations were currently being sought for the annual STRIVE awards; and

·  Wish all Members and Officers an enjoyable Christmas.

There were no petitions.

Question to the Chairman of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee from Mr Fergus Wilson (asked at the meeting by Mrs Wilson)

Does Maidstone Borough Council support the concept of the North Downs being made a National Park with the associated protection of National Park Status?

The Chairman of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee responded to the question.

Mr Wilson did not wish to ask a supplementary question of the Chairman of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee arising out of the original question or the reply.

Question to the Chairman of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee from Mr Peter Titchener

What is the point of a Parish Council being encouraged to spend a lot of time and perhaps £100,000 of public money on preparing a Neighbourhood Plan when it would appear those Plans are given little weight, and perhaps even ignored, by those preparing the Local Plan Review?

The Chairman of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee responded to the question.

Mr Titchener asked the following supplementary question of the Chairman of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee:

If the revised Local Plan trumps existing Neighbourhood Plans on strategic matters, does it mean that a Neighbourhood Plan has no weight when it comes to housing numbers and sites in a Parish both of which of course are very important to Parishes?

The Chairman of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee responded to the question.

Question to the Chairman of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee from Mr Peter Coulling

How is Maidstone Borough Council taking all reasonable measures to minimise the amount of additional housing required in our Borough while retaining flexibility to adjust to any effects, up or down, that Government regulations may actually have on those requirements?

The Chairman of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee responded to the question.

Mr Coulling asked the following supplementary question of the Chairman of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee:

If we set aside whether or not the algorithm will change, the thrust of our question was minimising the amount of housing and looking at the Regulation 18b document, the treatment of windfalls, site contingencies and the absence of any contingency allowance if a Leeds Langley relief road comes in does not seem to indicate that there is an effort to minimise.  Will you ask Officers at your next Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee to produce a report on all the steps, all the measures, they are taking to try and minimise the imposition of new housing on our Borough whatever the algorithm?

The Chairman of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee responded to the question.

Question to the Chairman of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee from Mr Robert Sinclair

What evidence is there of the effectiveness of CIL zero rating for industrial, office, warehouse and hotel developments within our Borough, when set within the context of how much money has been foregone by adopting this policy and the Borough’s current need for funds?

The Chairman of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 187.

There were no questions from Members of the Council to the Chairmen of Committees.

Councillor Cox, the Leader of the Council, submitted his report on current issues.

After the Leader of the Council had submitted his report, Councillor Perry, the Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Mrs Gooch, the Leader of the Independent Group, Councillor McKay, the Leader of the Labour Group, and Councillor Powell, the Leader of the Independent Maidstone Group, responded to the issues raised.

The Leader of the Council then responded to questions from Members on issues raised in his report.

It was moved by Councillor Mrs Joy, seconded by Councillor M Rose, that the recommendation of the Licensing Committee relating to the Statement of Licensing Policy 2021-2026 be approved and that delegated powers be given to the Head of Housing and Community Services to make any necessary typographical amendments before publication of the document.

RESOLVED:  That the Statement of Licensing Policy 2021-2026, attached as Appendix 1 to the report of the Licensing Committee, be approved and that the Head of Housing and Community Services be given delegated powers to make any necessary typographical amendments before publication of the document.

It was moved by Councillor Cox, seconded by Councillor Perry, that the 2021-22 Council Tax Reduction Scheme, circulated separately, be approved.

RESOLVED:  That the 2021-22 Council Tax Reduction Scheme, circulated separately, be approved.

It was moved by Councillor Cox, seconded by Councillor Perry, that the recommendation of the Policy and Resources Committee relating to the Discretionary Housing Payments Policy be approved.

RESOLVED:  That the Discretionary Housing Payments Policy, attached as Appendix 1 to the report of the Policy and Resources Committee, be adopted.

There was no report from the Communities, Housing and Environment Committee on this occasion.

There was no report from the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee on this occasion.

6.30 p.m. to 7.50 p.m.