Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Barrett, Hubbard, Lawrence, Spring and Williams. 

Members are invited to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests in accordance with the Member Code of Conduct. Guidance on this is set out in agenda item 2.

The Head of Legal Services addressed the Council. She advised that the Assistant Director, Legal and Governance had e-mailed all Members on 30 May 2025 setting out advice in relation to the meeting and Declarations of Interest. In relation to discussion of the Local Plan, it was acknowledged that Members may have strong opinions, but it was important that they must be capable of revising these opinions and not approach discussions with a closed mind. Members should be aware of the need to avoid any actual or perceived bias and they might consider starting their contributions with a statement that they were taking an open minded approach.

There was no need for a general dispensation to be given to Members in relation to discussion of the Local Plan. A Member owning a property in a particular area was not generally considered to have a disclosable interest as their interest would be no greater than a member of the public owning a property in a particular area and the Local Plan covered all of Medway. Where a Member had a significant land or property holding, they had been encouraged to request bespoke advice in advance of the meeting.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

The Worshipful The Mayor of Medway congratulated Councillor Hackwell BEM who had recently been named in the King’s Birthday Honours list for 2025. He had been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to Young People and the community of Medway. The Mayor congratulated Councillor Hackwell BEM on his achievement on behalf of the Council.

The Mayor and the Deputy Mayor had attended a number of events since having been elected in May 2025, including a Dedication Service and Admirals Cruise.

The Mayor would be holding a number of events during the coming year to help fundraise for his charities, Caring Hands and Slide Away. The next event would be the Call the Midwife tour at Chatham Dockyard on 22 July 2025, tickets for which were available from the Mayor’s office.

It was announced that Group Leaders had informally agreed how to deal with any amendments for the meeting, none of which had been received and timings during the meeting. All Members had been advised of these changes in advance.

The Mayor, supported by Members of the Council, moved a suspension of Council Rules. This was to amend the usual time limits on speeches in relation to agenda item No.5, Publication of Medway Local Plan (Regulation 19).

Decision:

The Council agreed to suspend Council rules to facilitate the following changes in relation to agenda item No.5:

a)    The Proposer to speak for up to 10 minutes when introducing the report and moving the recommendations.

b)    The Supporter of the proposal to speak for up to 5 minutes when supporting the proposal.

c)    Other Group Leaders, or their nominees, from the Conservative Group, Independent Group, Reform UK Group, plus Councillor Spalding, to speak for up to 10 minutes each.

d)    The normal time limits would then apply for all other speakers, i.e. 3 minutes.

The Leader congratulated Councillor Hackwell BEM on his receipt of the British Empire Medal. He also congratulated four other Medway residents who had been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours. They were Shaun Spiers, Anne Thorpe, Dudley Hubbard and Paul Dennington, the latter of whom the Leader wished well as he started his Walk for Life.

The Leader thanked Councillors who had joined him on the Appointments Committee to determine the appointment of the Assistant Director of Children’s Social Care. He congratulated Kelly Cogger, previously the Acting Assistant Director of Children’s Social Care, who had been appointed to the permanent position.

This report presents the Pre-Submission Draft Medway Local Plan to Council to consider approval to publish at Regulation 19 for representations. The report outlines the work carried out in preparing the draft Medway Local Plan and defining a development strategy to manage Medway’s growth up to 2041.

Background:

This report presented the Pre-Submission Draft Medway Local Plan for the Council to approve publication of the Plan at Regulation 19 for representations.

The report outlined the work carried out in preparing the Draft Plan and defining a development strategy to manage Medway’s growth up to 2041. It provided information on the processes followed and evidence collated to prepare the Draft Plan, and the purpose and requirements of Regulation 19 in advance of its submission for independent examination. The Draft Plan detailed proposed policies and site allocations and was set out Appendix 1 to the report, while a Diversity Impact Assessment in relation to the Plan was set out at Appendix 4.

The report set out that the Medway Local Plan was an important component of the authority’s Development Plan with the Development Plan being part of the Council’s Policy Framework. On adoption, the new Local Plan would replace the Medway Local Plan 2003.

The Draft Plan showed Medway residents, businesses, statutory and voluntary organisations a blueprint for Medway’s future, providing a sustainable strategy to meet Medway’s growth needs over the plan period. The Draft Local Plan provided more certainty on how and where development would take place, boosting confidence in investment, and helping to secure sustainable development that would benefit residents and conserve the important natural environment and heritage.

This important stage in plan-making built upon the work carried out in Regulation 18 consultations in 2023 and 2024, and in assembling a wide-ranging evidence base, including site assessments and sustainability appraisal and strategic working on cross border matters.

The Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration, Councillor Curry, supported by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Maple, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

In accordance with Rule 12.4 of the Council Rules, a recorded vote on the was taken on the proposals:

For: Councillors Animashaun, Bowen, Browne, Campbell, Cook, Coombs, Curry, Field, Gurung, Hamindishe, Hamilton, Howcroft-Scott, Jackson, Jones, Mahil, Mandaracas, Maple, McDonald, Murray, Myton, Nestorov, Nestorova, Paterson, Peake, Louwella Prenter, Mark Prenter, Price, Shokar, Spalding, Stamp and Van Dyke. (31)

Against: Councillors Anang, Brake, Clarke, Crozer, Doe, Etheridge, Fearn, Filmer, Finch, Gilbourne, Gulvin, Hackwell BEM, Hyne, Joy, Kemp, Lammas, Pearce, Perfect, Sands, Tejan, Mrs Turpin, Vye and Wildey. (23)

Abstain: None.

Decisions:

a)      The Council approved the publishing of the Pre-Submission Draft Medway Local Plan (Regulation 19), as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, for a period of six weeks for written representations.

b)      The Council agreed to delegate authority to the Director of Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration, to make any minor amendments, such as the correction of any typographical errors, prior to the publishing of the Pre-Submission Draft Medway Local Plan (Regulation 19).

c)      The Council approved submission of the Proposed Submission Local Plan and supporting documents to the Secretary of State for examination, with the Regulation 19 representations.

d)      The Council agreed to delegate authority to the Director of Place, in consultation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 128.