All Decisions

On 17 December 2020, Cabinet agreed a new Local Development Scheme (LDS)(the Local Plan work programme), which set out the scope for a partial update of the Local Plan, together with a timetable for the preparation of the Plan update.

The purpose of the new CAG would be to:

• To consider the detailed matters identified in the LDS, including, but not necessarily limited to, the following:

§  The implications of the Local Housing Need Methodology on housing requirements for the district;

§  Climate change; including the outcomes from the work of the Climate Emergency Working Group, where relevant;

§  Ensure a robust policy relationship between biodiversity “net gain”; woodland protection/planting; green infrastructure and the Council’s proposed Tree Strategy;

§  Update Environment Strategy policies as necessary, depending on the progress of the Environment Bill and Kent Environment Strategies;

§  Guidance on type and size of dwellings may require updating;

§  The provision of Gypsy & Traveller sites to meet identified requirements;

§  Update the provisions of the Plan in relation to Manston Airport in the light of any decision on the Development Consent Order;

§  Identify additional employment land, as required;

§  Incorporate any decision in relation to the future of Port Ramsgate;

§  Some Town Centre policies may need amending in the light of changing Government guidance and other changes to the planning system;

§  Incorporate key policy aspects from the proposed Westwood SPD fully into the Plan;

§  Some infrastructure policies (for example, transport; health and education) may need updating, depending on the scale and location of new housing;

• To receive and consider the available evidence in relation to these matters;
• To consider the options for the Plan; and
• To advise the Cabinet of the views expressed by the Group.

The Terms of Reference are:

1.  To receive and consider reports and evidence in relation to the matters set out in the LDS;

2.  To consider the policy and development options for addressing these issues;

3.  In their considerations, the Group should have regard to compliance with the relevant legislation, government policy and guidance, to the other parts of the Development Plan for the area and to all other material considerations;

4.  The Group will receive briefings from Officers in the update process about key issues and outcomes from evidence-gathering and discussions with stakeholders;

5.  Following the final meeting of the Cabinet Advisory Group, the key findings/ conclusions/recommendations of the Group in relation to the Reg 18 consultation will be presented to Cabinet.

There would be nine Members of the Group, as follows:

4 Conservative; 3 Labour; 1 Green; and 1 Thanet Independents.

It is anticipated that there would be a series of informal meetings of the Group, followed by a formal meeting to finalise recommendations to Cabinet, before a report is made to Cabinet regarding the update of the Local Plan.

To establish a new Cabinet Advisory Group in relation to the Local Plan and Local Development Scheme.

Thanet has the opportunity to bid into the Government’s Levelling Up Fund as it is a Priority One area and will complement other opportunities that are available to Thanet, including the Future High Street Fund,  Margate Town Deal and Heritage Action Zones. This funding opportunity will support the delivery of regeneration projects in Ramsgate, which will undoubtedly support the whole district's economic recovery and levelling up of its communities.

Cabinet agreed the following:

1.  To approve submission of a Levelling Up Bid to the 18 June 2021 deadline;

2.  To delegate authority to Chief Executive and the Leader of Council for final sign-off of the Levelling up Bid;

3.  That the Council will not make a financial contribution in any form within the 10% financial contribution encouraged in the prospectus.

Retrospective Cabinet approval is required for legal costs of approximately £247,000 incurred to date associated with on-going disciplinary and grievance proceedings. Cabinet members are also asked to approve resources to facilitate the current plan for these proceedings, as future costs are estimated in the region of £450,000 to £486,000.

Cabinet agreed the following:

1.  To approve the expenditure relating to these matters, in accordance with Rule 4 of the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules;

2.  That a one-off 2020-21 supplementary General Fund revenue budget of £247,000 be retrospectively approved for external legal costs already incurred in relation to on-going disciplinary and grievance proceedings, to be funded from earmarked reserves; and

3.  That a one-off 2020-21 supplementary General Fund revenue budget of £486,000 be approved to create a financial provision for future anticipated external legal costs in relation to on-going disciplinary and grievance proceedings, to be funded from earmarked reserves.

Approval is being sought to commit £150,550 of external funding to the Capital Programme. The funding is from Historic England and is a grant payment to a specific property owner in Ramsgate as a contribution to their capital renovation costs for a listed building in the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HS HAZ) area.

The property owners have delivered considerable renovations to a long term vacant and dilapidated space, and have provided a source of funding which is acting as the wider HS HAZ match funding. The grant payment has been approved by Historic England and all legal documents have been provided and signed off by all parties.

1.  To approve a supplementary General Fund capital budget of £150,550 for a High Street Heritage Action Zone grant payment, to be wholly funded from external grant contributions;

2.  To give delegated authority to the Director of Regeneration pay the grants on the basis of the sign off from Historic England;

3.  To give delegated authority to the Director of Law and Democracy, in consultation with the Director of Regeneration, to sign the contract documents and any other necessary documents to give effect to this decision.