Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Barrass.

Councillors McMillan and Opara were not present at the meeting.

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 Visiting Members or members of the public wishing to speak, of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Meeting Procedure Rules 18 and 19, and which items they wish to speak on.

Councillor Mark Munday was registered to speak on Item 6 – Paddock Wood Neighbourhood Development Plan.

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 reviewed the minutes. No amendments were proposed.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting dated 23January 2023 be approved as a correct record.

Members considered the Forward Plan. No amendments were proposed.

RESOLVED – The Forward Plan as at 23 June 2023 be noted.

Registered Speaker – Cllr Mark Munday

Deborah Dixon, Principal Policy Planning Officer, introduced the report as set out in the agenda.

Questions and discussion from Members included the following:

-       It was discussed that modifying the Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) was not possible at the present stage, as it had been submitted and gone to examination by the Independent Examiner. The requirement of the Independent Examiner was to consider whether the NDP met the relevant legislative and procedural requirements within the current Local Plan, but also with regard to the emerging Local Plan. For this reason, the Independent Examiner had recommended that there be some additional text inserted into the NDP regarding monitoring and review processes, setting out that the NDP group had the opportunity to review and amend the NDP following the adoption of the Local Plan.

-       When comparisons were made with a similar question recently raised at Full Council regarding Horsmonden’s Neighbourhood Development Plan, it was noted that Cllr March’s question had been in regards to a very specific issue of Horsmonden’s Limits of Built Development and modifications made by the Independent Examiner were to ensure that the current Limits of Built Development that were being proposed in the submitted Local Plan (which may change in subsequent submissions) were in conformity with what the Parish had asked for. If there was a change in the Limits of Built Development in the final Local Plan, then the NDP would be accommodated to fit within those limits.

-       The inclusion of ‘long-life, loose-fit’ housing was commended as dealing with an issue which needed embracing more by the Planning Authority going forward, allowing for flexibility and adaptability within housing.

-       It was commented that a huge amount of work had gone into the Neighbourhood Development Plan from TWBC Officers, the Inspector, Town Council and other contributors.

-       Cllr Munday’s comments regarding transport planning were highlighted with regards to issues which could be considered if the NDP was reconsidered in light of the adoption of the Local Plan. Firstly, that a lot of traffic from the surrounding areas was being funnelled through the centre of Paddock Wood, which would only get worse as the population of Paddock Wood and the surrounding areas grew. Secondly, a specific issue with the layout and traffic system of Station Road, Maidstone Road and Commercial Road that encouraged a rat run for drivers.

-       The Chair noted these comments and the desire to revisit the Neighbourhood Development Plan once the Local Plan was finally made by the Council, which would be fed back to Cabinet. He also reiterated a comment made by Cllr Munday, that “we are not building just dwellings, but homes and communities”.

RESOLVED –

1. That the independent examiner’s Report on the Paddock Wood Neighbourhood Development Plan (PWNDP) at Appendix A be noted and published.

2. That the PWNDP be modified in part as set out in Appendix B. 

3. That Cabinet decided to progress the PWNDP as set out at Appendix C  ...  view the full minutes text for item PT6/22

Deborah Dixon, Principal Policy Planning Officer, introduced the report as set out in the agenda.

Comments from Members included:

-       Members were pleased to note that there was recognition for the hard work of Pembury Parish Council and NDP Working Groups and that the Plan was moving forward.

-       It was noted that it was obvious that the Examiner had clearly walked the Parish and understood the area’s issues and recognised the hard work of the community.

RESOLVED –

1.    That the independent examiner’s Report on the Pembury Neighbourhood Development Plan (PNDP) at Appendix A be noted and published.

2.    That the PNDP be modified in part as set out in Appendix B.

3.    That Cabinet agrees to progress the PNDP as set out in Appendix C to referendum, and agrees the publication of the Decision Statement at Appendix D.

4.    That Cabinet recommends that if the referendum result on the PNDP is positive, the Council formally makes the PNDP as set out in Appendix C which will be subsequently considered at the next Full Council meeting post-referendum.

Deborah Dixon, Principal Policy Planning Officer, introduced the report as set out in the agenda.

Comments and questions from Members included:

-       It was noted that it was clear that all the Neighbourhood Development Plans brought to the meeting had taken many years to develop and had gone through a lot of detailed work. All who had been involved were thanked for getting them to where they were today.

-       Neighbourhood Development Plans carried full weight in the decision-making process as soon as they had been successful at referendum. In terms of the status of the NDP as the emerging Local Plan progressed, once the Local Plan was adopted it would take precedent over the NDP where there were similar policies, which is why that was a good time for NDP groups to consider reviewing and updating NDPs.

RESOLVED –

1. That the independent examiner’s Report on the Cranbrook & Sissinghurst Neighbourhood Development Plan (CSNDP) at Appendix A be noted and published. 2. That the CSNDP be modified in part as set out in Appendix B.

3. That Cabinet decides to progress the CSNDP as set out at Appendix C to referendum, and agrees the publication of the Decision Statement at Appendix D. 

4. That Cabinet recommends that if the referendum result on the CSNDP is positive, the Council formally makes the CSNDP as set out in Appendix D which Page 438 Agenda Item 8 Page  2 of 15 Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Cranbrook & Sissinghurst Neighbourhood Development Plan, Cabinet  27th July 2023  will be subsequently considered at the next Full Council meeting post-referendum.

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.

To note that the date of the next scheduled meeting is Monday 4 September 2023, at 6.30pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Tunbridge Wells.

The next meeting was scheduled for Monday 4^th September 2023.