Issue - meetings

Mr M Whiting (Cabinet Member for Economic Development) and Mr R Kidd (Project Manager (Area Lead – Infrastructure)) were in attendance for this item

(1)      Mr Whiting, Mr Payne (Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport) and Miss Carey (Cabinet Member for Environment) thanked Mr Smith and Mr Kidd and their colleagues in the work that they had carried out in ensuring sustainable design principles for Kent and Medway.

(2)      Mr Kidd introduced the report which set out activity to raise the quality of design in Kent’s built environment. The report also addressed how the activity responded to the government’s proposed planning reforms in relation to design. He then presented and navigated through the Kent Design Guide website and explained each detail of the website to the Committee.

Mr Kidd then responded to a number of comments and questions from Committee Members, which included the following: -

a)    Mr Kidd explained some of the significant challenges faced in relation to developers and the volume and quality of new-build houses. He said that in light of those challenges, it remained the responsibility of local planning authorities to hold developers to account in relation to the design of those houses. He said that the government’s white paper on planning reform would positively affect design and construction during all stages and said that very robust responses to government on planning matters would continue.

b)    Mr Kidd referred to the design guide’s timescales and said that whilst there was still a significant amount of technical detail to explore, he was confident that the programme would be met.

c)    Mr Kidd confirmed that more information in relation to the local case studies referred to within the report would be presented in due course.

d)    Mr Kidd confirmed that he would seek further clarification outside of the meeting in relation to downloadable content on the Kent Design Guide website.

(3)      RESOLVED that the report be noted.