The Principal Planner introduced the report, which gave a headline view of the four schemes that had been submitted following the publication of the New Garden Communities Prospectus.  He drew attention to the presentations that would be held on 16 October 2018 and encouraged all Members to attend, together with the tour of new community locations that had been arranged for 8 and 9 October 2018.  The final arrangements for the tour would be circulated to Members shortly and the intention was to look at a range of schemes.

In response to questions, the Principal Planner confirmed that the Panel meeting on 31 January 2019 would not be asked to choose a scheme, but would be asked to give officers a steer on whether the concept should be taken forward as a potential reasonable alternative for the Local Plan Review Development Strategy.  There would still be an opportunity in June 2019 for the Panel to agree or reject any proposals.

In response to comments and questions, the Principal Planner agreed to follow up a comment regarding ownership of the land occupied by the football club in Faversham; and explained why a scheme had not been submitted for Garden Community consideration at Rushenden Marshes, but that this would be considered for suitability for allocation via Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment along with all other general site proposals.  He also advised that funding opportunities were being explored in terms of building capacity to consider the garden community route but that this would not commit the Council to going down this route.  He also confirmed that the results on the ‘Looking Ahead’ consultation would be considered at the October 2018 meeting of the Panel.

In response to further questions, the Head of Planning Services advised that he was not aware of a confirmed programme for proposals to come forward from Highsted Park developers, although discussions suggested that any planning application that may be submitted would run parallel with the Local Plan preparation programme.  The Spatial Planning Manager advised that reporting on transport modelling was anticipated to be considered at the Panel meeting in January 2019.

Councillor Mike Baldock proposed “that the findings be noted but the Panel does not consider that they answer Swale’s strategic housing needs and therefore the process should not be taken any further.”  This was seconded by Councillor Monique Bonney.

A debate ensued which centred on the following themes:

·        Happy to note the update, but there was no evidence or information at this stage to be able to make an informed decision.

·        The Panel was not being asked to make a decision at this stage, this was an update report and there were more opportunities to find out more information before a decision was made on whether Garden Communities should be pursued as part of the Local Plan Review.

·        That there would be no requirement for the Council to build more houses than it was required to.

·        That the landscape character review evidence would be considered by the Panel in November 2018 and there were no suggestions to delete proposals around Highsted Valley.

·        That if Members voted for the motion, the schemes submitted could be considered via the Local Plan process which would maintain the democratic process.

A recorded vote was taken and voting was as follows:

For: Councillors Mike Baldock and Monique Bonney.  Total = 2

Against: Councillors Andy Booth, James Hunt, Gerry Lewin, Peter Marchington, Bryan Mulhern and David Simmons.  Total = 6.

The motion was therefore not agreed.