Agenda item

Question and Answer Session for Members of the Public

Minutes:

Questions to the Chairman of the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee

 

Mr Peter Coulling asked the following question of the Chairman of the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee:

 

Regulation 19 consultation on the published Local Plan attracted 588 representations.  Are you happy that all Members of the Council now have a reasonable impression of the nature of those representations, the issues they raise and the responses from Officers and, if not, what action will you take?

 

The Chairman of the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee replied that:

 

It has been very good indeed to see so many responses to our Regulation 19 consultation.  Consideration of the consultation responses was delegated from full Council to the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee.  The report on this consultation has been published and is available to view on the Council’s website.  It will be considered by the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee on 18 April 2016.  I am confident that the report gives a thorough impression of the responses, and it will be for the Members of the Committee to make any necessary decisions arising from it.

 

Councillor Mrs Blackmore, the Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Mrs Wilson, the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Mrs Gooch, the Leader of the Independent Group, Councillor Sargeant, the Leader of the UKIP Group, and Councillor Harper, on behalf of the Leader of the Labour Group, then responded to the question.

 

Mr Coulling asked the following supplementary question of the Chairman of the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee:

 

As a Member should you remain comfortable that this Council has delegated digestion of those representations and evolution of the Infrastructure Delivery Plan to your Committee rather than requiring review and sign off by this full Council?

 

The Chairman of the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee replied that:

 

This full Council, by substantial majority, approved the Plan for submission, and delegated this final small part of the process to the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee.  Full Council has already made that decision. 

 

Councillor Mrs Blackmore, the Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Mrs Wilson, the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Mrs Gooch, the Leader of the Independent Group, Councillor Sargeant, the Leader of the UKIP Group, and Councillor Harper, on behalf of the Leader of the Labour Group, then responded to the question.

 

Mr Peter Titchener asked the following question of the Chairman of the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee:

 

The current draft of the Infrastructure Delivery Plan requires over £115m to be invested by various parties, plus monies for a further 93 projects for which costs are unknown.  Are you confident that all required investment will be forthcoming at the required time?

 

The Chairman of the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee replied that:

 

I would also refer you to the meeting of the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee on 18 April 2016.  The report on the Infrastructure Delivery Plan has been published and is available on our website.  It will be considered by the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee next week, and I am sure that our deliberations will give due consideration to the issue that you raise.

 

Councillor Mrs Blackmore, the Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Mrs Wilson, the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Mrs Gooch, the Leader of the Independent Group, Councillor Sargeant, the Leader of the UKIP Group, and Councillor Harper, on behalf of the Leader of the Labour Group, then responded to the question.

 

Mr Titchener asked the following supplementary question of the Chairman of the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee:

 

The Infrastructure Delivery Plan is described as a living document.  What assurance can you give that any significant updates will be brought to the attention of all Members and formal consultees?

 

The Chairman of the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee replied that:

 

The simple reassurance that I can give you is that is precisely the remit of the Committee that I have chaired for the past year.  It is a constant vigilance of changing factors.  The Officers are extremely good in alerting Members to new legislation and changing conditions, and I think that you should rely upon your elected Members through this body and through the Committee to serve Maidstone in that capacity.

 

Councillor Mrs Blackmore, the Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Mrs Wilson, the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Mrs Gooch, the Leader of the Independent Group, Councillor Sargeant, the Leader of the UKIP Group, and Councillor Harper, on behalf of the Leader of the Labour Group, then responded to the question.

 

Mrs Eileen Riden asked the following question of the Chairman of the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee:

 

The published Plan gives 18,560 homes as the target (which is the same as the Objectively Assessed Housing Need).  Should certain funding elements for the Infrastructure Delivery Plan not be confirmed before corresponding developments are considered for final approval, will you advocate that relevant constraints should be applied to reduce that target?

 

The Chairman of the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee replied that:

 

Full Council with a substantial majority has already agreed to submit the draft Local Plan for examination.  Full Council approved the housing number of 18,560 homes by 2031 by taking into account all of the relevant factors.  I think that ultimately, it is for the Inspector to judge whether the Plan is deliverable.

 

Councillor Mrs Blackmore, the Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Mrs Wilson, the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Mrs Gooch, the Leader of the Independent Group, Councillor Sargeant, the Leader of the UKIP Group, and Councillor Harper, on behalf of the Leader of the Labour Group, then responded to the question.

 

Mrs Riden asked the following supplementary question of the Chairman of the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee:

 

In that case, why are you not listening to the advice of our Members of Parliament that constraints should be and could be applied?

 

The Chairman of the Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee replied that:

 

I think that with the greatest respect to our honourable Members of Parliament, it is the district Planning Authority, through us as Members, that is charged with dealing with this matter.

 

Councillor Mrs Blackmore, the Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Mrs Wilson, the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Mrs Gooch, the Leader of the Independent Group, Councillor Sargeant, the Leader of the UKIP Group, and Councillor Harper, on behalf of the Leader of the Labour Group, then responded to the question.

 

To listen to the responses to these questions, please follow this link:

 

http://live.webcasts.unique-media.tv/mbc320/interface