Issue - meetings

Councillor Lin Fairbrass, Deputy Leader introduced the report and made the following correction to Paragraph 2.31 of the report after the sentence ending “…new settlements”:

“The Council sought additional advice on the potential role of new settlements in meeting increased housing demand.”

Mr Solly and Mr Stevens were invited by the Chairman to address the Panel as part of the Scheme for Public Participation.

Councillor Brimm spoke under Council Procedure rule 20.1.

The Panel discussed the report and made the following comments:

·  Concerns were raised about evidence presented in the draft Local Plan in relation to the former Manston airport site and that consultation responses had not been given enough weight.

·  Concerns were also raised regarding economic development strategy and employment.

·  Policies relating to rural development and housing were contradictory and there were not enough guarantees made in relation to the improvement of infrastructure.

·  It was queried whether the letter regarding intervention powers from Secretary of State for Communities would apply to Thanet’s particular circumstances.

Madeline Homer, Chief Executive advised the Panel that the Council had not yet responded to the letter from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government but that DCLG’s intervention was possible if the Local Plan was not progressed.

It was proposed by the Chairman and seconded by Councillor Campbell:

“That the Overview & Scrutiny Panel recommend to Cabinet:

a)  That Cabinet agree the proposed changes to the draft Local Plan set out in the report and that the draft Local Plan, Sustainability Appraisal and draft Transport Strategy be published under Regulation 19 for a period of 6 weeks to allow comments to be made;

b)  That Cabinet agree to publish the Thanet Landscape Character Assessment for comment, with the intention of adopting it as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD);

c)  That Cabinet recommend to Council that, following the Publication period, the draft Local Plan be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for Examination; and

d)  That Cabinet agree the proposed amendments to the Local Development Scheme.

Upon being put to the vote, the motion was declared LOST.

Members considered the report on the draft Local Plan, which set out the legal requirements for the Local Plan and the guidance which affects decisions through the Local Plan process. They were advised that the Local Plan supported the Council’s Corporate Plan priorities and was important for creating a framework for fulfilling the priority to promote inward investment and job creation. Together with the Council’s newly adopted Economic Growth Strategy, it sets the framework for achieving the Council’s economic ambitions.

Cabinet also noted that the Local Plan also makes provision for new housing to meet local needs and to support the growth of the workforce, and other development requirements, and supports the provision of key new infrastructure. They discussed the main issues raised during the consultation on Proposed Revisions to the draft Local Plan (January 2017); and provides recommended responses to those issues as reported in Annex 1 to the Cabinet report.

Members acknowledged that the draft Local Plan had to be based on sound evidence and followed Government guidance in order to meet the statutory requirements that would be considered by the Planning Inspectorate when adjudicating the merits of the Plan. As a result, key changes were being proposed for the pre-Submission Publication stage and these were as follows:

1.  The identification of a number of sites as Local Green Space (as set out in this report);

2.  The identification of Landscape Character Areas for the district, with the Landscape Character Assessment to be published with the intention of adopting it as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD);

3.  New general housing policy to reduce the repetition of key policy requirements in housing allocation policies;

4.  A Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for the Westwood retail area, detailing pedestrian connectivity and the goal of transforming Westwood into a cohesive town centre;

5.  Ensuring the draft Local Plan policies are consistent with Natural England’s advice regarding the coastal international wildlife sites;

6.  A policy for the protection of allotments;

7.  Policy support for new education and health facilities at key locations in the district;

8.  Continuing the policy from the adopted Local Plan to safeguard land for grow-on space for the QEQM hospital;

9.  Updating the evidence and policies relating to the National Technical Standards;

10.  Remove the Westwood Lodge site from the Green Wedge policy area and include it within the urban boundary; and

11.  Updating the Plan to recognise the changes in the status of some housing sites, including the allocation of two additional sites – Shottendane Farm, Margate (8 units); and Lanthorne Court, Broadstairs (up to 56 units).

Cabinet was urged not to delay the Local Plan process because a delay could result in intervention by the Department for Communities & Local Government (DCLG), effectively removing Council control of the process. Investment in the area could be significantly undermined or delayed, with a significant impact on development, economic growth and investor confidence in the area.

In making a decision on this issue, Members were also made aware that that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 460