Agenda and minutes

Announcement on procedural matters.

The Chairman opened the meeting and outlined procedural matters of the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Subsequent to the meeting, it was ascertained that apologies had been sent to the Chairman by Councillor Bland.

To receive any declarations of interest by members of the Council in items on the agenda. For any advice on declarations of interest, please contact the Monitoring Officer before the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

To note any members of the Council wishing to speak, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rule 18, and which items they wish to speak on.

There were no Visiting Members who had registered to speak at the meeting.

To approve the minutes of a previous meeting as a correct record. The only issue relating to the minutes that can be discussed is their accuracy.

Members had the opportunity to review the minutes.

RESOLVED– That the minutes of the meeting dated 5 August  2019 be approved as

a correct record.

The Chairman advised that the Forward Plan had been re-published on 14 August 2019.  He also advised that Councillor Lidstone had identified that the consultation period relating to the Cabinet Decision on 15 August had been incorrectly shown and should have read September/October.  The Chairman confirmed that the decision on 15 August was however made on the correct basis.

RESOLVED – That the Work Programme be noted on the amended basis.

Mr David Scully, Landscape and Biodiversity Officer, introduced and summarised the contents of the report.  Members of the Committee had the opportunity to ask questions and discussed matters including:

·         Interim measures and longer term policy;

·         The government provided DEFRA Biodiversity Metric;

·         Resources to monitor and oversee the Council’s proposed policy including use of consultants;

·         Application of conditions to planning permission;

·         Risks that offsets would not reflect the true impact of a loss;

·         Control or restriction of pesticides not being within the remit of planning conditions;

·         Definitions of native species; and

·         Engagement of key partners and stakeholders such as the Kent High Weald Partnership, Kent Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust.

The Chairman thanked Mr Scully for providing such an informative report and for the provision of further member presentations in the future.  The options for reporting the Advisory Board’s recommendations were referred to on page 3 and the officer recommendations to Cabinet on page 17 of the agenda report. 

RESOLVED –

That the Cabinet Advisory Board supports the recommendations in the report.

To consider any other items which the Chairman decides are urgent, for the reasons to be stated, in accordance with Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business for consideration.

To note that the date of the next scheduled meeting is 30 September 2019, at 6.30pm.

RESOLVED – That the next meeting take place on 30 September 2019, at 6.30pm,