Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval to submit the Medway Core Strategy, and a number of associated documents, to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for independent examination.

Discussion:

This report provided details of the Medway Core Strategy and associated documents for submission to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for independent examination. This issue had previously been considered by the Regeneration, Community and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 4 October 2011 and Cabinet on 20 December 2011.

Councillor Chitty, Portfolio Holder for Strategic Development and Economic Growth, supported by Councillor Jarrett, Portfolio Holder for Finance, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Councilllor Cooper proposed a minor amendment to paragraph 2.19 of the Submission Draft Core Strategy in that there were five parks with Green Flag status rather than three.

With the consent of the Council, Councillor Chitty and the seconder confirmed that in accordance with paragraph 11.4.2 of the Council rules in the constitution, she was happy to incorporate this in the motion.

Decision:

(a)   The Council authorised submission of the Submission Draft Core Strategy to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for independent examination in accordance with the provisions of the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, including the changes set out in paragraph 10 of the report and in Appendix 1 to the report subject to the amendment of paragraph 2.19 of the Submission Draft Core Strategy to refer to five Green Parks rather than three.

(b)   The Council authorised adoption of the revised Medway Statement of Community Involvement, incorporating the changes referred to in the report.

(c)   The Council approved publication of the Diversity Impact Statement, final Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment.

(d)   The Council agreed to grant delegated authority to the Director for Regeneration, Community and Culture, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Development and Economic Growth, to make any necessary minor changes to the documents prior to their publication and/or submission.

Background:

This report provided details regarding the submission of a suite of documents, including the Medway Core Strategy and associated documents, which make up the Local Development Framework, to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government subject to Full Council approval on 12 January 2012.  

The Core Strategy established the overall development quantities and broad locations for development over a period of at least 15 years. It was a strategic document with associated detail being reserved for subsequent development plan documents, however, it would provide a framework for all major planning decisions.

The report set out a number of attachments including the Core Strategy (Attachment 1) and a schedule of changes proposed to the publication version approved by Cabinet in August 2011 (Attachment 2). Attachments 1-10 had been circulated separately to all Members for both the Cabinet meeting and Council on 12 January 2012.

The Regeneration, Community and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the report on 4 October 2011 and its comments were set out in Attachment 10 to the report.

An addendum report proposed some further limited additional changes to the Core Strategy.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been included as Attachment 6 to the report. The Screening Form indicated that whilst it was not necessary to undertake a full assessment, there were actions around undertaking wider consultation and providing better quality information in terms of the breakdown of survey data.

Reasons:

To comply with the requirements of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) and ensure that there is an up to date spatial planning framework for the area.