Agenda item

To receive a report by the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport and Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and Transport to consider and endorse or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Environment & Transport on the proposed decision to adopt the refreshed Kent Environment Strategy.

1.            The Environment Strategy Programme Manager, Dr Anderson introduced a report that gave an update on the strategy to reflect feedback following the public consultation held from 27 July to 25 September 2015. Parallel to the consultation, the strategy had been presented to senior management teams across the Districts and Boroughs and many of the key stakeholders groups.  Just over 100 responses were received of which 50% represented organisations and networks.

2.            The report highlighted those high level areas that required particular attention including:

·         Balance of priorities in relation to development

·         Influencing national Government and Bodies

·         Agricultural, forestry, viticulture and horticulture

·         Sustainable Transport options

·         Noise pollution; and

·         Links between strategies, plans and partner roles

3.            The final draft of the Strategy was presented to the Kent Leaders Group at its meeting last week with recommendations for endorsement and to take forward the adoption of the Strategy in their individual authorities, subject to their internal processes and the governance highlighted in the report, which were all agreed.

4.            The Cabinet Committee agreed to the amended wording of  recommendation (b) in the report read out by Dr Anderson as follows: “That the Cabinet Committee is asked to consider and endorse or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport on the proposed decision to adopt the refreshed Kent Environment Strategy: A strategy for environment, health and economy, which as a partnership strategy will include the delivery of programmes and activities by a variety of organisations requiring associated frameworks, MoUs, projects and contracts to be developed and implemented as appropriate. One of these would be the work of the Countryside Management Partnership and associate contracts for delivery.”

5.            Dr Anderson and Mr Balfour responded to questions by Members as follows:

a)    The proposal of a Kent Environment Strategy Member Advisory Group was welcomed.

b)    Comments were made that there were still issues that needed to be addressed on the following; (i) Paragraph 2.51 - the impact of new housing developments across Kent.  Sustainable growth was unachievable with the amount of development that was planned for Kent in the next 15-20 years and the local authority should reflect that it had to meet the challenge of unsustainable housing and development being proposed by Government. (ii) Paragraph 2.5.4 – The conflict of what was perceived as a lack of investment from the Transport Office and there was a reduction in funding which would result in a lack of investment.  Car travel would not reduce if the population was going to increase by 25%.  The local Authority had to look at how it can manage with the imposed development.

c)    A comment was made that ideally this should be a second draft submitted for consultation as this was not ready as a final draft.  Where are we going to see what difference was going to be made with the implementation of the strategy.

d)    Mr Balfour thanked Mr Baldock for his comments.  He considered that the Strategy was good, acceptable and usable by all partners and stakeholders.  There would be a Member Advisory Group and there would be an Implementation Plan.  All of was being considered with transparency in the public domain and all comments that had been received were given consideration.

e)    Dr Anderson and wider team were thanked for the work carried out on the Strategy and presentation.

f)     There were invitations being sent out for Members to take part in the implementation

6.            Dr Anderson advised that the next stages were; (i) to receive the endorsement from this Cabinet Committee, (ii) The final draft would be submitted to Cabinet in January 2016 for proposed adoption; and (iii) the decision to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, Mr Balfour. At the same time the Partner organisations would be taking the Strategy through their internal processes. The Strategy would then be launched.

7.            RESOLVED that:-

(a)  the comments and responses to questions by Members be noted;

(b)  the key consultation feedback outlined in this report be noted and the amendments proposed in the final draft of the Kent Environment Strategy (Annex 1) be agreed; and

(c)    the Cabinet Committee endorsed the decision to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport to adopt the refreshed Kent Environment Strategy: A strategy for environment, health and economy, which as a partnership strategy will include the delivery of programmes and activities by a variety of organisations requiring associated frameworks, MoUs, projects and contracts to be developed and implemented as appropriate. One of these would be the work of the Countryside Management Partnership and associate contracts for delivery.