Issue - meetings

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 Drainage and Planning Policy.

The committee received a report seeking endorsement of, or recommendations to the Cabinet Member of Environment and Transport on the proposed decision to adopt the Drainage and Planning Policy as attached at Appendix A of the report.

Max Tant, Flood Risk Manager, introduced the report and explained that Kent County Council has become a new statutory consultee for surface water in major planning applications in April this year. In response to this Kent County Council has prepared the draft Drainage and Planning Policy detailed in its entirety in the report. Bronwyn Buntine, Sustainable Drainage Engineer, was also in attendance to discuss the item.

In response to comments made and questions raised by members Mr Tant and Ms Buntine gave the following information:

      i.        It was estimated that an excess of 500 major planning applications would be received a year prior to this commencing. From the consultation requests received so far this year, they were expecting closer to 600 major planning applications by the end of the year.

    ii.        2 full time members of staff have been employed to give pre-planning advice and consultation responses.

   iii.        It was emphasised that there were currently no concerns that 2 members of staff would not be sufficient in achieving this, but it would be kept under review.

It was RESOLVED that the proposed decision to adopt the Drainage and Planning Policy as found in the report be endorsed.