Agenda item

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 with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration, to prepare an addendum to the Plan that may be necessary to address soundness issues raised by representations received on the Regulation 19 Draft Plan, and to include this in the submission materials to the Planning Inspectorate.

e)      The Council agreed to delegate authority to the Director of Place, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration, to agree to any Main Modifications and to undertake a 6 week public consultation on any Main Modifications that arose out of the Local Plan examination process and for this information to be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate.