Agenda item

(Mr L Christie, Local Member, was in attendance for this item and took part in the debate)

(1)       Gravesham Borough Council was inviting representations on the proposed submission version of their local plan Core Strategy. The consultation ended on 12 February 2013, and the Core Strategy would then be submitted to the Secretary of State in May 2013.  An Examination in Public was expected in August 2013 and adoption of the plan in December 2013.  The report proposed representations by KCC.  The Borough Council proposed that a minimum of 4,600 jobs and homes would be provided, concentrated on previously developed land along the Thames Riverside, at Gravesend Town Centre and at Ebbsfleet.  The Green Belt, Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the historic environment and biodiversity in the Borough would be safeguarded and maintained.

(2)     Prior to debate Mr Crick referred to the statement in the report that Local KCC Members had been asked for their views on KCC’s response to the consultation.  Mr Crick apologised for the error, and stated that such consultation had not taken place.  He assured Members that there was nothing to prevent the Cabinet Committee from discussing the report at today’s meeting and making recommendations to the Cabinet Member; but that the views of all relevant local Members would be sought and included in the papers that came before the Cabinet Member before he made his decision on the matter.

(3)     The decisions to be taken by the Borough Council may have long term financial implications for KCC as the provider of infrastructure and services to support development.  The proposed response by KCC to the consultation supported the County Council’s ambition to grow the economy, and the relevant priorities of Bold Steps for Kent.

(4)       In January 2010, Gravesham Borough Council (GBC) consulted on their Core Strategy and Development Management Policies which set out how the Borough should develop to 2026.  However, the Localism and Decentralisation Bill was then published, which would enable the South East Plan to be revoked.  The economy and the housing market had slowed, and new studies were undertaken by the Borough Council, including the viability of their major development sites.  In October 2011 the Borough Council proposed a revised approach in the Gravesham Growth Scenarios and Core Strategy consultation. Views were invited on development options for Gravesham to 2031, and on amendments to the policies published in 2010. 

(5)       The report summarised:- (a) KCC’s main views on the draft Core Strategy and Growth Scenarios in October 2011; and (b) KCC Representations on the Proposed Submission Core Strategy - Scale and Distribution of Development; Housing Target;  Strategic Housing Sites – Land West of Wrotham Road; Affordable housing and Gypsies and Travellers; Employment land; Retail; Infrastructure Provision - Education Learning and Skills, Families and Social Care, Customers and Communities; Transport;  Minerals and Waste - Red Lion Wharf; and Environment.

(6)       Mr Christie readily accepted the apology from Mr Crick and stated that, for the information of Members, he was not a Borough Councillor and therefore, had not had any input to Gravesham Borough Council’s Core Strategy.  There were 2 recommendations in the report which directly affected Mr Christie’s division which he disagreed with, set out in paragraphs 7(c) and (i) below.

Land West of Wrotham Road

Mr Christie stated that development of land West of Wrotham Road had been an issue for many years, and had been the subject of a referral to the Secretary of State, who had supported the retention of green land and opposed an appeal for development.  Gravesham Borough Council had provided space for housing which did not affect the green belt, but Mr Christie had strong concerns that if KCC’s proposals went forward it would be an encouragement for even more housing.

Red Lion Wharf

Gravesham had 7 deep water berths and recommended safeguarding 6. The 7^th one not guaranteed as being safeguarded was Red Lion Wharf, because it was in a regeneration area.  Mr Christie supported the view of Gravesham Borough Council that should there be a need to choose between regeneration and retaining all 7 berths, then it would be preferable to release Red Lion Wharf for development.

(7)       The report recommended that KCC:-

(a)       welcomed the distribution of development proposed in Policy CS02 and confirmation that the Green Belt, as defined on the Policies Map, would be maintained and protected;

(b)       supported the target of 4,600 dwellings as a minimum to 2028, which might be exceeded if further suitable development sites came forward that were not in the Green Belt;

(c)        confirmed its support for the residential development of land West of Wrotham Road as identified in the 2011 consultation on options;

(d)       supported the general approach to affordable housing and to the provision of Gypsy and Traveller sites in Policies CS16 and 17, but objected to use of the Green Belt;

(e)       supported Gravesham Borough Council’s target for jobs, and its economic vision and strategy set out in Policies CS02 and CS07 which were consistent with the National Planning Policy Framework requirement to support economic growth. However, Policy CS03 should support the investigation of large scale leisure use for Swanscombe Peninsula East Undeveloped Area;

(f)         supported the approach to retail development in Policy CS08 as consistent with the priority to be given to town centres in the National Planning Policy Framework;

(g)       supported the KCC social infrastructure projects in the Infrastructure Delivery Schedule;

(h)        supported the approach to transport in the submission Core Strategy, subject to amendments to the text of the Core Strategy to clarify the need for public transport connections to both classic and high-speed rail services from Ebbsfleet and Gravesend stations. Reference should be made to the Transport Quarter and to the Rathmore Road Link, which was the subject of a planning application.  Further work on the options to provide additional capacity for the Thames crossing, and the implications of an extension to the Bluewater retail centre plus the possibility of a major leisure development on Swanscombe Peninsula, might require an early review of the Core Strategy transport provision and policies  

(i)         objected to the absence of a policy commitment in the local plan to safeguard Red Lion Wharf as an aggregates importation wharf, and to safeguard all existing, planned and potential mineral wharves; and

(j)         supported Policy CS12 as it complied with national policy for  the preservation, restoration and re-creation of priority habitats and ecological networks.

(8)       During discussion issues were raised in relation to:-

·        Land west of Wrotham Road

·        Red Lion Wharf

·        Funding for infrastructure

·        Housing requirements

·        New homes bonus

(9)       RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Waste be recommended to approve the proposed representations from KCC set out in paragraph (7) above.

Carried

Mr Chittenden and Mr Cowan voted against