Issue - meetings

This report seeks Council approval to adopt the Chatham Dockyard and its Defences Planning Policy Document, following consideration by Cabinet on 16 December 2014. 

Discussion:

This report provided details of the Chatham Dockyard and its Defences Planning Policy Document which had been considered by the Cabinet on 16 December 2014, following initial consideration by the Regeneration, Community and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 12 December 2013.

A Diversity Impact Assessment screening report was attached at Appendix 3 to the report. The conclusion of this report was that a full Diversity Impact Assessment was not required.

Appendix 1 to the report was set out in Supplementary Agenda No.1

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Rodney Chambers OBE, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Development and Economic Growth, Councillor Chitty, proposed the recommendation set out in the report.

The Leader of the Council undertook for a glossary of abbreviations used in the report to be provided to Members.

Decision:

The Council agreed the adoption of the Chatham Dockyard and its Defences Planning Policy Document, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

Background:

This report sought approval to adopt the Chatham Dockyard and its Defences Planning Policy Document.

The Chatham Dockyard and its Defences Planning Policy Document (Appendix 1 to the report) consisted of three parts:

• The first provided an outline of existing planning policy guidance, drawing together the various existing policy documents which relate to the site.  It included reference to key management plans for significant components of the site, which contain detailed advice about how individual heritage assets or groups thereof will be managed;
• The second part described how some of the site’s principal heritage assets were represented in key views and how these should be managed to ensure that the uniqueness of Chatham Dockyard and its Defences were protected and enhanced;
• Part three of the document set out the methodology, in line with national guidance, that would be used to assess future development and regeneration proposals within and around the Chatham Dockyard and its Defences site.

A list of consultation responses received and how they had been incorporated into the final document was attached as Appendix 2 to the report. A Diversity Impact Assessment screening report was also attached as Appendix 3 to the report; the conclusion of which was that a full Diversity Impact Assessment was not required.

Appendices 1-5 to the report were included in Supplementary Agenda No.1.

It was noted that the Policy Document had been prepared to have the status of, and the same planning weight as, a Supplementary Planning Document. It had been drafted with significant stakeholder involvement and subject to public consultation in accordance with the Medway Statement of Community Involvement and the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2012. It was consistent with the National Planning Policy Framework and the Development Plan for Medway.

It was explained that the Planning Policy Document could not yet be given a timetable for becoming a full Supplementary Planning Document, as there was no adopted parent policy that it would supplement. This meant that it was an amendment to the current policy framework and therefore needed to be approved by Full Council.

Reasons:

An adopted Chatham Dockyard and its Defences Planning Policy Document will provide a single-point framework for decision making to support the effective balance of heritage and regeneration within Chatham Dockyard and its Defences and its environs. It will demonstrate that the balance between heritage and regeneration is at the heart of Medway Council’s decision-making.