Issue - meetings

Question A – Lewis Bailey, of Gillingham, asked thePortfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration, Councillor Curry, the following:

“Despite receiving legal advice from the Monitoring Officer, the Independent Group refused to alter their motion to a form which would make it compatible with not predetermining any elements of the Local Plan. Council resolved to seek additional external legal advice on this issue, with a view to bring it back.

Instead of just listening to the expert opinion of the Council’s own legal team, the Independent Group forced a situation where the Council had to outsource this work. How much did this external legal advice cost the Council?”

In response, Councillor Curry said that it was not unusual for a second opinion to be sought on some matters for the Council, particularly where the stance taken differed from that which was historically accepted. On this occasion the provision of the external advice had cost £3,120, inclusive of VAT.

Lewis Bailey asked the following supplementary question:

“Given there’s already another motion being put forward by the Independent Group, do we not think this has potential to damage the Local Plan and what are the potential financial implications for the Council if these options pass?”

Councillor Curry considered that there would be an impact if the Local Plan stalled at the current stage, which would be difficult to manage. Medway’s previous Local Plan dated from 2003 when Plans usually only covered a maximum period of 15 years and therefore there would be an implication if there was a further delay.

The Council had been fighting speculative planning applications from developers across Medway, including Cliffe, the Hoo Peninsula and the Capstone Valley. Where the Council opposed these developments, it constantly lost planning enquiries. The cost to the Council had been in the hundreds of thousands of pounds and that could not be sustained. Medway had one of the highest planning enquiry costs of anywhere in the country so the lack of a Local Plan was one that needed to be resolved.

Question B – Katie Lowe, of Rainham, asked thePortfolio Holder for Community Safety, Highways and Enforcement, Councillor Paterson, the following:

“How many dinosaurs have you seen in Medway this month? You may have noticed 1 of the new 21 signs in Medway’s four Air Quality Management Areas asking drivers to switch off their engines at traffic lights, featuring our recently recruited mascot Dino, a logo designed by young creatives at MidKent College.

These signs have been erected to reduce pollution, protect the health of children and those with asthma, and save our pennies. "Turn Off When You Stop", our Medway Breathes slogan, is intended to go far broader. We are looking to find ways to spread the message and particularly encourage drivers to turn off outside schools. We are already building partnerships across the local communities, schools and businesses to ensure our children’s lungs are protected.

Beyond the School Streets scheme, which is not practical for all  ...  view the full minutes text for item 855