Issue - meetings

The Council has prepared and consulted on a draft Masterplan to guide development on land at and bordering Rochester Airport. This report sets out the comments received during the consultation, suggests responses to the issues raisedand seeks Full Council approval to adopt the Masterplan.

Discussion:

Under Council Rule 11.6.3, Councillor Maple, supported by Councillor Murray, proposed a motion to adjourn the debate on this item (to a Special Council meeting).

In accordance with rule 11.4 of the Council Rules at the request of six Members, a recorded vote on the motion was requested:

For – Councillors Bowler, Colman, Cooper, Craven, Gilry, Christine Godwin, Paul Godwin, Griffiths, Harriott, Hubbard, Igwe, Juby, Kearney, Maple, Murray, Osborne, Price, Shaw and Smith (19)

Against – Councillors Avey, Baker, Brake, Carr, Mrs Diane Chambers, Rodney Chambers, Chishti, Chitty, Clarke, Doe, The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Etheridge, Filmer, Griffin, Adrian Gulvin, Pat Gulvin, Hewett, Hicks, The Worshipful The Mayor, Councillor Iles, Irvine, Jarrett, Kemp, Mackinlay, Mackness, Maisey, O’Brien, Purdy, Royle, Tolhurst, Turpin, Watson, Wicks and Wildey (32)

On being put to the vote, the motion was lost.

This report provided details of the outcome of consultation on a draft Masterplan to guide development on land at and bordering Rochester Airport. It was noted that details of the objectives and content of the draft Masterplan had been set out in previous reports between July-November 2013 including Cabinet on 9 July 2013 and 26 November 2013 and Regeneration, Community and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 14 August 2013 and 3 October 2013.

The Council received 908 responses to the consultation held from 22 July 2013 to 20 September 2013. The report provided details to the background of the consultation responses, the concerns raised and the Council’s response to those concerns including any proposed amendments to the Masterplan.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Deputy Leader, Councillor Jarrett, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Development and Economic Growth, Councillor Chitty, proposed the following:

That Council approves the Rochester Airport Masterplan, as set out in Appendix G to the report subject to the reduction to the annual cap on aircraft movements from 40,000 to 38,000, and authorises the Director of Regeneration, Community & Culture, in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Finance and Strategic Development & Economic Growth, to make any final minor amendments to the Masterplan, on the basis set out in paragraph 7.2 of the report.

In accordance with rule 11.4 of the Council Rules at the request of six Members, a recorded vote on the proposal was requested:

For – Councillors Avey, Baker, Brake, Carr, Mrs Diane Chambers, Rodney Chambers, Chishti, Chitty, Clarke, Doe, The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Etheridge, Filmer, Griffin, Adrian Gulvin, Pat Gulvin, Hewett, Hicks, The Worshipful The Mayor, Councillor Iles, Irvine, Jarrett, Kemp, Mackinlay, Mackness, Maisey, O’Brien, Purdy, Rodberg, Royle, Tolhurst, Watson, Wicks and Wildey (32)

Against – Councillors Bowler, Cooper, Craven, Gilry, Christine Godwin, Paul Godwin, Griffiths, Harriott, Hubbard, Igwe, Juby, Kearney, Maple, Murray, Osborne, Price, Shaw and Smith (18)

Abstain – Councillor Turpin (1)

Decision:

The Council approved the Rochester Airport Masterplan, as set out in Appendix G to the report subject to the reduction to the annual cap on aircraft movements from 40,000 to 38,000, and authorised the Director of Regeneration, Community & Culture, in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 746

Background:

This report provided details of the outcome of consultation on the draft Masterplan to guide development on land at and bordering Rochester Airport. The Cabinet had agreed for consultation to be undertaken on the draft Masterplan on 9 July 2013 and the Regeneration, Community and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the issue on 14 August 2013 and 3 October 2013.

The report stated that the Council had received 908 responses to the consultation held from 22 July to 20 September 2013. The majority of the responses (over 80%) were received in association with a campaign set up to object to the Masterplan proposals. The remaining 20% of responses were received via the Council’s website, email, and forms completed at the exhibition events or returned by post to the Council. 89% of the responses made on the pre-printed forms were strongly opposed to the proposals. In considering the responses received independently, more mixed views were seen, with a small majority in support of the Masterplan.

The report stated that the Council had analysed the comments made in response to the consultation. A summary of the main issues and points raised was set out in paragraph 4 of the report. All responses submitted were set out in detail in Appendix A to the report. A copy of the consultation draft of the Masterplan was attached at Appendix G to the report with a number of proposed changes set out within paragraph 4.47 of the report.

The report noted that the Council intended to adopt the Rochester Airport Masterplan as a Supplementary Planning Document, once it had adopted its new Development Plan. Until then it was intended that the Council approve the Masterplan as an amendment to the current policy framework. This would afford it weight as a ‘material consideration’ in decisions on planning applications for Rochester Airport.

It was noted that the reference to paragraph 4.43 as set out within paragraph 4.23 of the report, should have referred to paragraph 4.47.

Reasons:

The amended Masterplan will respond to concerns raised through the consultation process and progress work in bringing this site forward for economic development, and securing the future operations of the airport. The Masterplan will provide the framework to guide development on the site to realise economic opportunities as well as addressing wider amenity issues.