Issue - meetings
Response to DCLG Consultation "Planning for the Right Homes in the Right Places"
Meeting: 24/10/2017 - Cabinet (Item 4)
4 Response to DCLG Consultation "Planning for the Right Homes in the Right Places" 
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Minutes:
Background:
This report set out Medway Council’s proposed response to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) consultation “Planning for the right homes in the right places”.
The report articulated the Council’s concerns and foreseeable implications in relation to the proposed changes to the Planning System. In particular, the report drew attention to the suggested introduction of a standard method for calculating Local Authorities’ housing need and a statement of common ground over the housing market area, as well as proposed changes to planning application fees and the approach to viability assessments.
The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Economic Growth and Regulation proposed some amendments to the recommendations, set out in Section 8, of the report to strengthen the Cabinet’s opposition to the proposals from DCLG which would increase the number of houses to be delivered within Medway to unacceptable and undeliverable levels.
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Decision number: |
Decision: |
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114/2017 |
The Cabinet agreed that this report be sent to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) as Medway Council’s formal response to concerns about the proposals contained in the consultation. |
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115/2017 |
The Cabinet agreed that the response to the direct questions in the consultation, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be finalised by the Director, Regeneration, Culture, Environment and Transformation and Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Planning, Economic Growth and Regulation and Inward Investment, Strategic Regeneration and Partnerships. |
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116/2017 |
The Cabinet instructed officers to work with other Kent Authorities and Kent Planning Officer Groups (KPOG) to promote joint responses expressing similar concerns to those set out in the report and Appendix 1 to the report. |
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117/2017 |
The Cabinet strongly requested that the three Medway MPs seek a meeting with the Secretary of State on behalf of Medway to express clearly the concerns of Medway and other Kent Authorities about the proposals in this consultation. |
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118/2017 |
The Cabinet instructed the Leader and Chief Executive to raise the concerns of Medway at their various Kent and Medway Group meetings and to promote similar joint responses to the consultation. |
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119/2017 |
The Cabinet recognised the need for housing, but cannot and will not support the Government proposals which increase the number of houses to be delivered within Medway to unacceptable and undeliverable levels. |
Reasons:
Medway Council is concerned about the recommendations contained within the consultation and specifically the standard methodology for calculating housing need. The consequences of the recommendations within the consultation are set out in the body of the report and in the responses to the questions in Appendix 1 to the report.
The standard methodology recommended produces a housing target for Medway and other Kent Authorities that is not only unachievable but would have serious and unacceptable implications for infrastructure and the valued and nationally and internationally protected landscape within Medway.