Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Falcon.

Apologies were received from the following Members:

Councillor Dennis;

Councillor Falcon;

Councillor Grove;

Councillor R Potts;

Councillor Dixon, substituted by Councillor Taylor;

Councillor Curran, substituted by Councillor Partington;

Councillor Martin, substituted by Councillor Bayford

To approve the Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 24 October 2017, copy attached.

Councillor Campbell proposed, Councillor Ashbee seconded and Members AGREED the minutes as a correct record of the meeting that was held on 24 October 2017.

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.

Tim Willis, Director of Corporate Resources introduced the report.

Following debate, Councillor Campbell proposed and Councillor Bayford seconded that the Overview and Scrutiny Panel recommend to Cabinet:

“To remove the cremation fee for unviable babies, and to remove the increase to the collection fee for bulky waste.”

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

Nick Hughes, Committee Services Manager introduced the report.

The Panel noted the report.

The Panel noted the report.

The Panel noted the report.