Agenda, decisions and minutes

It was noted that apologies had been received from Councillor Mrs Springett and Councillor de Wiggondene would be late.

It was noted that Councillor Garten was substituting for Councillor Mrs Springett.

The Chairman advised Members that he had agreed to take the urgent update report which related to Agenda Item 17 as it provided information arising out of the Staplehurst Neighbourhood Development Plan Referendum that was held on 3 November 2016.

The following Visiting Members were noted:-

Councillor Clark – for Agenda Item 19 – Local Plan Examination Update

Councillors Boughton, Daley, Vizzard and Willis – for Agenda Item 21 – Response to Regulation 18 Consultation on the Tonbridge and Malling Local Plan

There were no disclosures by Members and Officers.

Councillor English stated that he had been lobbied in relation to Agenda Item 21 – Response to Regulation 18 Consultation on the Tonbridge and Malling Local Plan.

The Chairman stated that whilst he had had quite a few discussions with other Members on Agenda Item 21, he did not feel he had been lobbied.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 October 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed subject to the following amendments being made:-

Minute 86 – Reference from the Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee – Air Quality Working Group

This should be amended to ‘Reference from the Communities, Housing and Environment Committee – Air Quality Working Group’

For clarity it was also agreed that the resolution should read:

RESOLVED: That Councillors D Burton and English be appointed to sit on the Air Quality Working Group as representatives of the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee.

There were no petitions.

There were no questions from members of the public.

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

The Chairman advised that the meeting due to take place on 6 December would be cancelled.  This was in view of the fact that Officer time was  fully committed to the Local Plan Hearings which would create difficulties in producing reports for the December Committee meeting within the required timescales. 

Enforcement – it was agreed that a report should be considered by the Committee after the Retrospective Planning Consent and Enforcement Workshop had been held.

RESOLVED:  That the Committee Work Programme be noted.

The Chairman advised that he had attended the Kent County Council’s Select Committee on Bus Transport and Public Subsidy where he had been asked to speak about the quality bus partnership.  It was noted that the evidence gathered would be published in due course.

That the Committee agrees the essence of the formal response to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation and gives delegated authority to Officers to amend the response, incorporating the revisions made by Members.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning and Development which related to the Response to Regulation 18 Consultation on the Tonbridge and Malling Local Plan.

Councillor de Wiggondene arrived at 6.45 p.m.

Members of the Committee made reference to the following points that they would like included in the correspondence to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council:- 

·  A need to highlight particular areas of traffic congestion in Hermitage Lane

·  A need and desire to work with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council, along with KCC Highways and Highways England.

·  A need for the retention and provision of open space, including areas of landscaped semi-natural open space

·  A need to address the highways and sustainability transport issues

·  A need for the provision of appropriate planting to improve air quality

·  To enquire whether Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council will produce an Integrated Transport Strategy

RESOLVED:  That the Committee agrees the essence of the formal response to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation and gives delegated authority to Officers to amend the response, incorporating the revisions made by Members.

Voting:  For:  9  Against:  0  Abstentions:  0

(1)  That the Planning Committee makes a specific, detailed request to the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board to consider the traffic and parking issues in West Street, Harrietsham; and

(2)  That the Planning Committee refer any similar issues direct to the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board in future unless they consider that the circumstances are significantly different and the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transport Committee should deal with the issues direct.

The Reference from Planning Committee was considered which related to traffic and parking issues in West Street, Harrietsham.

It was noted that Planning Committee had requested that the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee explore the traffic and parking issues in West Street and how they might be addressed by Traffic Regulation Orders. 

The Committee felt that the Planning Committee could refer any such issues direct to the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board in future.  However, if any issues are deemed significantly different, then they should be referred to Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee for comment.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the Planning Committee makes a specific, detailed request to the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board to consider the traffic and parking issues in West Street, Harrietsham; and

(2)  That the Planning Committee refer any similar issues direct to the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board in future unless they consider that the circumstances are significantly different and the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transport Committee should deal with the issues direct.

Voting:  For:  9  Against:  0  Abstentions:  0

The report of the Director of Finance and Business Improvement which related to the Second Quarter Budget Monitoring 2016/17 was considered.

Members noted that the overall projection showed a minor favourable variance.  However, although car parking income had been significantly above target, development management had seen a large overspend mainly due to agency staff having been employed for longer than expected.  Members were advised that a Planning Review would be undertaken shortly by the Director of Regeneration and Place to address the issue.

RESOLVED:  That the revenue position at the end of the second quarter and the actions being taken or proposed to improve the position, where significant variances have been identified, be noted.

Members considered the report of the Head of Policy and Communications on the Strategic Plan Performance Update Quarter Two.

Members noted that there had been excellent progress on two of the key performance indicators for this quarter, these were for the Local Plan Update and processing of major planning applications in 13 weeks, both having achieved 100%.

Members were advised that the target which related to the number of Parishes satisfied with the level of communication and engagement they had with the Council was 38.30%. 

In response to a question from a Member the Policy and Information Manager advised that she would find out if the Parish Meeting Chairmen had been consulted.

RESOLVED:

1)  That the summary of performance for Quarter 2 of 2016/17 for Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and corporate strategies and plans be noted;

2)  That the progress of strategic plan action plan at Appendix II of the report of the Head of Policy and Communications be noted;

3)  That it be noted where complete data is not currently available; and

4)  That the performance of Key Performance Indicators from Quarter 1 of 2016/17 for which data was not available at Policy and Resources Committee on 26 July 2016 be noted.

The report of the Director of Regeneration and Place in regard to a planned review of the Planning Service was considered which would enable continuous improvement and ensure that the service provides ongoing value for money to the Council and the end user.

Members noted that a Working Group would be set up and the service areas outlined in paragraph 2.3 of the report of the Director of Regeneration and Place would be within the scope of the review.

The working group would consist of various stakeholders pertinent to the review and were outlined in paragraph 2.5 of the report of the Director of Regeneration and Place. 

RESOLVED:  That it be noted that the review would commence in January 2017, to be completed with the recommendations implemented by 30^th June 2017.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the Committee notes the ‘yes’ result of the Staplehurst Neighbourhood Development Plan Referendum of 3 November 2016; and

(2)  That the Committee recommend to Council that the Staplehurst Neighbourhood Development Plan (“the Neighbourhood Plan”) is made and becomes part of the Development Plan for Maidstone.

Members considered the report of the Head of Planning and Development and the Urgent Update to the report.

It was noted that the Referendum for the Staplehurst Neighbourhood Development Plan took place on 3 November 2016.  The turnout for the referendum was 33.77%, with 92.56% voting ‘yes’ to the question: “Do you want Maidstone Borough Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Staplehurst to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”.  The total number of votes cast was 1,586, with 1,468 votes for ‘yes’ and 118 votes for ‘no’.

Members were advised that as the outcome of the referendum was a ‘yes’, the Regulations require that the Council must make (adopt) the Plan as soon as reasonably practicable after the referendum.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the Committee notes the ‘yes’ result of the Staplehurst Neighbourhood Development Plan Referendum of 3 November 2016; and

(2)  That the Committee recommend to Council that the Staplehurst Neighbourhood Development Plan (“the Neighbourhood Plan”) is made and becomes part of the Development Plan for Maidstone.

Voting:  For:  9  Against:  0  Abstentions:  0

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning and Development which related to the progress on the Headcorn Neighbourhood Plan Examination.

Members were reminded of the historical difficulties of the examination of Headcorn’s Neighbourhood Plan.  It was noted that due to the volume of consultation responses and the diversity of issues that gave concerns, the Examiner appointed to restart the halted examination, Mr Jeremy Edge, had determined that it would be beneficial to hold a hearing to discuss the Neighbourhood Plan, the issues and to allow a number of different parties to respond.

The hearing took place on 18^th October and was well attended by local residents.  The Examiner advised that he would need approximately three to four weeks to reach his conclusions on whether the Neighourhood Plan would be suitable to go to referendum as it was, or whether further modifications would be required. 

However, it was noted that given the significant changes suggested and agreed during the hearing, it was highly likely that a further round of consultation would need to take place before any referendum could be held.

In response to a question from a Member, the Project Manager advised that the Council would bear the costs of the Examiner.  However, the Council could apply for funding for a successfully completed referendum.

RESOLVED: That the progress with the examination of Headcorn Neighbourhood Plan be noted.

The report of the Head of Planning and Development related to progress on the examination of the Local Plan was considered.

Members noted the issues raised in the hearings to date which included strategic matters, legal compliance and duty to co-operate, housing needs (whether the figure was too high or too low).  Other issues considered were windfalls, broad locations as well as the strategic development underway in the south-east of Maidstone.  The November sessions would consider in more detail the allocated sites as well as hearing from landowners and agents who would be promoting sites not currently allocated in the submitted plan.

A Visiting Member addressed the Committee to advise of the difficulties he had had in applying to speak at the hearing.  It was noted that his  submission had been mis-categorised as ITS, when it was for the Local Plan.  Once he brought the matter to the attention of Officers, he was given a slot to speak.

Officers acknowledged that an error had occurred but gave assurances that a check had been done to ensure no other submission had been batched into the wrong category.

RESOLVED:  That the update on progress with the examination of the Local Plan be noted.

RESOLVED:  That the Committee requests the Director of Regeneration and Place to investigate, as part of his Review of Planning Services, how the Maidstone Transport Operators’ Group and other similar groups could be funded and resourced. 

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning and Development on the establishment of a Maidstone Transport Operators Group.

Members expressed their concerns that the figure quoted in the report of £350 per meeting was not accurate and should be revisited.  The Director of Finance and Business Improvement advised that if the cost of accommodating the meetings of the Maidstone Transport Operators Group could not be found from within existing resources, it would need to go to Policy and Resources Committee for assessment.  It was also noted that there would be no capacity for a Democratic Services Officer to service these meetings.

A Member expressed his disappointment that the report had come forward at this time as he had asked for it to come in February/March next year when all the issues would have been resolved.

The Director of Regeneration and Place undertook to ensure that the resourcing issue for this Group would be covered in his report on the Planning Review.

RESOLVED:  That the Committee requests the Director of Regeneration and Place to investigate, as part of his Review of Planning Services, how the Maidstone Transport Operators’ Group and other similar groups could be funded and resourced. 

Voting:  For:  9  Against:  0  Abstentions:  0

6.30 p.m. to 8.15 p.m.