Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED: that all items on the agenda be webcast.

It was noted that apologies for absence were received from Councillors Chittenden, Ross, Mrs Watson and Mrs Wilson.

Councillor de Wiggondene arrived at 6:45pm.

The following substitutions were noted:

Councillor Cuming for Councillor Ross.

Councillors Black, Gooch and Hogg indicated their wish to speak on agenda item 8 – Maidstone Borough Local Plan Public Consultation Draft (Regulation 18).

Although not a declaration Councillor Collins explained that although he is the Chairman of the Planning Committee his role for this meeting was to consider whether to recommend to Cabinet that the draft Local Plan, including allocations, should be published for consultation.  He stated that any views he expressed should not be taken as an indication that he has made up his mind as to how he may vote on any forthcoming planning applications.  He further stated he will approach all applications with an open mind if and when they come to Planning Committee.

Councillor Munford explained he had been lobbied in respect of the Draft Local Plan.

Councillor Springett notified the meeting that one of the proposed sites on the Draft Local Plan was located close to her property.

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

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2014 be approved as a correct record and duly signed subject to:

Outstanding resolution minute number 87d - The Part II cost benefit analysis on the park and Ride be circulated to the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee for information.

The Chairman explained to members of the public the purpose of the meeting.

The Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committees role was to consider the documents included with the agenda and discuss if the document was ready to go out for public consultation.  The Committees role was not to make decisions on the content of the plan but to make recommendations to Cabinet.

Due to the closeness of the date of the start of the public consultation of this document (Friday 21 March 2014 to 5pm, Wednesday 7 May2014) members of the public did not have the opportunity to speak at the meeting.

Interviews with Rob Jarman, Head of Planning and Development; Sarah Anderton, Principal Planning Officer; Michael Murphy, Principal Planning Officer; and Emma Boshell, Planning Officer

Rob Jarman, Head of Planning and Development, Michael Murphy, Principal Planning Officer (Spatial Policy) and Sarah Anderton, Principal Planning Officer were invited to introduce item 8:- Maidstone Borough Local Plan Public Consultation Draft (Regulation18).

Rob Jarman began by putting the document into context stating that it had been 16 years since the last detailed Local Plan for Maidstone Borough with detailed recommendations on housing sites was had been prepared.

Mr Jarman explained the process the document will go through before it is adopted by the Council:

·  The Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee consider if the draft Local Plan is ready to go out for public consultation and make recommendations to Cabinet on the contents

·  Cabinet approve the draft Local Plan for public consultation under Regulation 18

·  The draft Local Plan is finalised under Regulation 19

·  The draft Local Plan is submitted to the Secretary of State ahead of an examination by an independent planning inspector.

Mr Jarman also pointed out to the Committee two additional documents:

·  Letter from Councillor Jenni Paterson outlining items in the plan she considered to be of concern – H3(2) Maidstone Barracks, H1(11) Springfield/Mill Lane, Maidstone and RMX1(2) Maidstone East/Sorting Office.

·  Urgent Update Report with details of updates to the draft Local Plan including:

o  Housing Allocations

o  Transport

o  Flood Mitigation

o  Policy H3 – Future locations for housing growth

o  Policy SP4 – Larger Settlements

o  Policy DM30 – Development principles in the countryside

o  Representations already received on the draft Local Plan

Mr Jarman explained this Committee and Cabinet had already considered and agreed a number of elements of the draft Local Plan at meetings over the past six months.  He then outlined the items for discussion and agreement for recommendation to Cabinet for approval.

These included:

Key elements of Policy SS1 (pages 50-58):

·  An initial draft housing supply target of 17,100 new dwellings for 2011-31

·  Employment floor space requirements for 2011-31 of 39,830sqm offices, 20,290sqm industrial and 49,911sqm warehousing

·  Dispersed pattern of housing and employment development with Maidstone as the primary focus for new development – with further development directed to the identified rural service centres and limited focus to the identified larger settlements

Policy SP3 (pages 70-75) – seven rural services centres (from five).

Policy SP4 (pages 70-75) – 3 larger settlements.

48 new housing allocations resulting from the Strategic Housing and Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) assessment (Policy H1) referred to on the large scale plans provided to the Committee at the meeting shown in green marked ‘H’, and East of Hermitage Lane – capacity reduced from 600 to 500 dwellings to exclude the southern field (pages 82-86).

Policy H2 (pages 86-87) – density of housing development.

Policy H3 (pages 87-88) broad locations for housing growth for the later end of the plan period (2026).

Policy RMX1 (pages 89-93) a further three sites for retail/mixed use.

Policy EMP1 (pages 94-95) four sites for B class employment.

Policy GT1 (pages 96-97) seven sites for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation.

Policy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 102.

Prior to 10:30pm, during consideration of Maidstone Borough Local Plan Public Consultation Draft (Regulation18), the Committee considered whether to adjourn the meeting at 10:30pm or continue until 11:00pm if necessary.

RESOLVED: That the meeting continue until 11:00pm, if necessary.

Interview with Michael Murphy, Principal Planning Officer

Michael Murphy, Principal Planning Officer, gave the Committee an overview of Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP).

The IDP identifies the infrastructure required to meet the spatial objectives and growth anticipated in the council’s emerging local plan.  It includes infrastructure schemes that will be provided by the council and other public bodies (public and private).  It is also closely linked with the council’s Integrated Transport Strategy and takes account of Kent County Council’s infrastructure and investment finance model.

The IDP is an evidence base which supports the local plan and helps to demonstrate that the local plan is both realistic and deliverable, particularly in respect of housing and employment site allocations included in the draft local plan.

RESOLVED: That the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommended to Cabinet that the draft Infrastructure Delivery Plan be approved for public consultation alongside the Maidstone Borough Local Plan.

Interview with Darren Bridgett, Principal Planning Officer 

Michael Murphy, Principal Planning Officer, gave the Committee a brief overview of the Community Infrastructure Levy – Preliminary Draft Charging  Schedule (CIL).

To prepare the CIL for adoption there must be an up to date local plan.  The emerging Maidstone Borough Local Plan contains proposed land allocations, primarily for residential uses and also non-residential uses i.e. employment and retail.

The Infrastructure Delivery Plan, which has been developed alongside the local plan, is an up to date inventory of which infrastructure is needed to support the proposed allocations.  The total cost to date of the infrastructure identified in the IDP is approximately £75m.

Mr Murphy confirmed the proposed levies are comparative with adjacent authorities.  Detail of the comparison can be provided to the Committee.

After a brief discussion the Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee

RESOLVED: That Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommend to Cabinet that the Maidstone Community Infrastructure Levy Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule is approved for consultation alongside the draft Maidstone Local Plan.  The consultation to run from 21 March 2014 until 5pm, 2 May 2014.

PLEASE NOTE: For this meeting, due to the amount of business to be discussed, only borough visiting members will have the opportunity to speak as time will be limited.

For further information on the Maidstone Borough Local Plan and forthcoming consultation please contact ldf@maidstone.gov.uk  

RESOLVED: That this item should be deferred to the next meeting.

6:30pm to 10:55pm