Minutes:
Discussion:
Portfolio Holder for Climate Change and Strategic Regeneration introduced the report and thanked officers for their help in its completion.
The following issues were discussed:
Local Plan – in response to a question about how the Portfolio Holder reconciled the proposed allocation of sites on Captone Valley with the need to preserve greenspaces. The Portfolio Holder stated that balancing the need to build additional housing whilst keeping greenspaces was a fundamental issue for the Council. There was a recognised need for 24,500 additional homes in Medway, and the Council was obliged to allocate land for them. The Portfolio Holder acknowledged that this required some compromise and difficult decisions had to be made, however allocations were proposed following assessments and without an up to date Local Plan Council decisions had been overturned by public enquiries.
The Portfolio Holder added that the Council had held detailed negotiations with Maidstone Borough Council regarding development at Lidsing and would work with landowners. The public consultation in relation to the local plan showed strong support for additional housing balanced across the different parts of Medway. Previous Local Plan proposals had allocated the majority of housing in a single area which in the view of the Portfolio Holder would have been unsustainable.
Impact of development – It was asked what measures the administration had taken to mitigate the impact of large scale development in existing communities such as Hempstead where not all s106 contributions had been received locally. The Portfolio Holder acknowledged that the estimated growth in population would require additional infrastructure to be developed, the Council was working on an infrastructure plan but it also required the support of central government, health agencies and private companies. The Portfolio Holder undertook to provide further information regarding s106 contributions in the Hemptstead area to the ward councillors following the meeting.
Regulation 19 consultation – in response to a question regarding the progress of the regulation 19 consultation the Portfolio Holder explained that a smaller response had been received than during the regulation 18 consultation, this reflected the additional consultation and large number of responses received at regulation 18 stage.
Local Government Reform – the Portfolio Holder was asked for his views regarding the Local Plan and Local Government Reform. He stated that it was the responsibility of the Council to put in place a local plan fit for Medway now. When the local plan was agreed, it would be the legal document for the subsequent authority in this area until any new local plan was developed by a successor authority. He added that other authorities in Kent had recently undertaken or were consulting on a local plan and it would be several years before a successor authority would be in a position to agree a local plan, it would in his view be wrong to not put a plan into place.
Planning Enforcement - in response to a question whether the Portfolio Holder felt the planning enforcement team was adequately resourced, the Portfolio Holder stated that he would always prefer additional resources, however, the Council finances were constrained, and officers did an excellent job in managing the service.
Transport - the Portfolio Holder was asked when he expected bus passenger numbers to return to pre covid levels. The Portfolio Holder stated that the numbers of car journeys was unsustainable prior to the expected growth in population with Junction 1 of the A2/M2 at capacity and junction 3 and 4 nearing capacity. It was an issue for the entire region and the only viable solution was improved public transport. The Council was considering a new Local Transport Plan and a local bus service plan was in place. The area had already benefited from additional government funding and the Council held regular and productive meetings with the local bus service providers.
In the future Local Government Reform would provide opportunities for local authorities for further investment in public transport
A Member questioned whether Medway had the infrastructure required to service a significantly upgraded public transport, the Portfolio Holder stated that there were a number of opportunities to improve the bus network such as a new Strood bus station and a regular low emission service to the Hoo peninsula.
A Member commented that Arriva had been provided with funds to increase bus services at the weekend but had now reduced the 190 service during the week, he asked what action the Portfolio Holder was taking with regards to this. The Portfolio Holder acknowledged it was disappointing that Arriva were reducing some services, however it was a matter for the company and Arriva continued to invest in Medway. The free bus weekend which the Council had funded saw a 32% increase in passenger numbers on the same time last year and there was a clear target to achieve passenger numbers of 9m per annum by 2028.
Greenspaces – a Member commented that the area was in a poor condition and there had been a significant cut in the greenspaces budget, he asked if the Portfolio Holder was satisfied with the budget for the service. The Portfolio Holder stated that he did not recognise the description of Medway, whilst there was always more that could be done the administration had coalesced a fragmented provision into one server which had improved provision and increased bio diversity in the area.
Waste Management – a Member commented that they believed greater provision of bins in the borough and on high streets and more regular emptying of bins would be helpful. The Portfolio Holder agreed that he would like to see more public bins, however there was a cost to emptying the bins so the Council had to mindful of the resource restraints. He added that he would like to see legacy bins from previous authorities replaced with the dual litter and dog waste bins which the Council favoured. The Deputy Director undertook to provide the costs of litter bins outside of the meeting
Maidstone Road cemetery – in response to a question whether the partially collapsed wall at Maidstone Road cemetery could be repaired, the Portfolio Holder undertook to review the situation and respond to the Member outside of the meeting. The added that cemeteries provided a positive greenspace and a place for reflection. Greenspaces was now managed under a single service and management plans would be developed for each site including cemeteries.
Net Zero - a Member asked what progress had been made towards achieving net zero, the Portfolio Holder stated that Cabinet would consider a new climate action plan in the next few weeks. The new plan was split into two parts, the first to ensure that the Council reduced its emissions through policies such as the new waste fleet and using solar power at Cozenton Park, the second part was to promote knowledge and engagement in the wider community.
Waste Fleet – it was asked whether there was an ambition for the waste fleet to be all electric in the future. The Portfolio Holder stated that thid remained the ambition, however, it would require a new depot to enable charging and this was not possible at the current time. In the future Local Government Reform may provide additional opportunities to revisit this. The administration had procured a new fleet which had significantly reduced emissions associated with waste collection and could be converted to run on biofuel when that became economically viable.
The Committee discussed where waste due for landfill disposal was take to and what was the associated cost to the Council. The Deputy Director Place undertook to provide an answer to this outside the meeting, she added that the level of waste going to landfill was low and the team strived to minimise landfill use wherever possible. A Member commented that waste going to landfill was around 13% and one of the lowest in the country of which Medway should be proud.
Planning Enforcement – A Member commented that he believed there was a difference in expectations of the public of enforcement and what the local authority was unable to provide within its resources, he requested clearer service standards be published to manage public expectations. The Portfolio Holder stated that moving to a single service enabled greenspaces service to provide a more consistent service. He added that the Council also had to ensure it received value for money in it is contracts with providers such as Norse. It was asked that the officers provide a briefing note on enforcement standards.
Decision:
a) The Committee noted the report.
b) The Portfolio Holder to provide additional information regarding what actions had been undertaken to mitigate the impact of building on existing communities.
c) The Committee requested further information to clarify the costs related to maintenance of public bins.
d) The Committee requested further information on landfill sites cost and costs to the Council.
e) The Committee requested a briefing note setting out planning enforcement standards with particular reference to trees.