Members may ask questions on the Leader’s Statement.  (Added 16.10.17).

The Leader introduced his Statement which gave an update on Infrastructure Bids; and the increase in housing allocations – Planning for the Right Homes in the Right Places: Consultation proposals.

Referring to the earlier presentation of the ROSPA award, the Leader referred to examples of achievements of apprentices being trained and developed by Swale Borough Council and the high quality service they provided.  He referred in particular to the ROSPA award (Emma Larkins), the recent Fusion Festival (Brooke Buttfield) and work undertaken by Vicky Sedgwick.  He added that there were many others who had done well.  During discussion on the Leader’s Statement, other Group Leaders added their commendation of the calibre and development of staff.

The Mayor invited Members to ask questions on the Statement.

Infrastructure Bids

The Leader of the Labour Group asked if there was any prioritisation of the bids, and what they were most likely to get?

The Leader hoped that all bids would be successful but that the smaller bids had a good chance of being successful.  The Council was quick to identify sources of funding and to apply, and he hoped that the results would be announced soon.

The Leader of the Independent Group asked the Leader not to forget that Brenley Corner needed to be a high priority for any future bids.

The Leader confirmed that this was on the list and referred to the lobbying by the MP for Faversham and Mid Kent to bring Brenley Corner higher up on the agenda; other stakeholders needed to do the same, but there was support from East Kent Leaders and they would continue to keep pressure on.  He also explained the reasons why the top priority for Swale at present was Junction 5 of the M2.

Other Members then asked questions regarding the bids.  A Member welcomed the bids in particular on Lower Road, Isle of Sheppey, but asked whether the Ward Members for Queenborough and Rushenden should have been consulted regarding the bid for that area; and whether there would be an opportunity for joint bids for the ‘softer’ infrastructure on the Isle of Sheppey before any new development, referring to recent examples of homes having no water?

The Leader advised that he would investigate the water issues and respond direct to the Member.  He apologised that Ward Members had not been involved, however, referred to the tight timescale and that the Council was a partner.  He offered to meet with the three Ward Members.

Another Member referred to severe congestion and highway issues, referring to the area of the Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital, Highsted Road, Bell Road, Brenchley Road and the link to Kent Science Park, and asked if further infrastructure bids would be made, to support access to services such as water, education and health.

The Leader advised that they were always looking for bidding opportunities for the Council and to encourage other stakeholders, but it was important that the Council did not subsidise other organisations’ statutory services such as water etc.

Increase in housing allocations – Planning for the Right Homes in the Right Places: Consultation proposals

The Leader of the Independent Group asked what the Leader was doing to make the Government see common sense, and what more could be done to persuade the Government that they had got it wrong.

The Leader advised that they had written and taken opportunities to discuss with Ministers, and that there was a united approach and they were encouraging all Kent and South East England authorities to make the same representations, and MPs.

A Member referred to a national issue whereby agricultural buildings were being converted into dwellings, with new agriculture buildings being built, and asked the Leader if he agreed this was Right Homes in Right Places?

The Leader advised that he was sure officers would monitor this and that decisions on specific sites would be taken by the Planning Committee, however, in general terms he did not consider that this approach appeared to be Right Homes in Right Places.

A Member asked if the Leader agreed that low cost housing units should be part of the equation, to which the Leader responded ‘yes’. 

Another Member referred to the problem of land banking, referring to brownfield land at Rushenden which the Government had owned for 12 years, which forced development to be built on greenfield sites.  The Leader agreed that there needed to be a way to unlock this land and that the same point had been made to Ministers.

A Member asked the Leader if he agreed that the HS2 was needed to balance the economy and that other urban centres should be looked at, such as Paris, to use space more efficiently which would result in a lesser need to build housing in green spaces?  The Leader agreed that London Authorities could do more.