CRANBOOK AND SISSINGHURST PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN         COMMITTEE HELD ON FEBRUARY 1^st 2016.

Present:  Cllr Kemp (chairman) Cllrs Bunyan, Cook, Fermor (also minute taker) Hartley, Hall and Smith.

1. Record of the first meeting.

LH said she did not accept that the minutes were accurate and she had taken legal advice. A long discussion followed and it was finally agreed that that TF would keep them (future minutes) short, concentrating mainly on the outcome of discussions rather than verbatim content.

DC proposed the minutes and they were seconded by JS. All agreed except LH who dissented.

• Designation letter to local planning authority (TWBC) to take to CSPC’s next full council meeting.

It was agreed that the draft drawn up by TK was too long and detailed. It was agreed that TK would change some of the content and the new version would be sent to committee members for approval in time for the full council on February 11 when it would be discussed.

• Definition of Sustainability: Members agreed that this was extremely difficult to quantify as there were very many definitions. After a lengthy debate it was agreed that the Brundtland Commission’s definition would be a good place to start.  It states: “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

• Public inclusion: It was agreed that there be separate meetings for both Cranbrook and Sissinghurst in order to introduce them to the NDP process and invite participation. LH stressed the importance of engaging people as much as possible. She accepted a request from TK to organise the Cranbrook meeting (for a date to be fixed) and JS the Sissinghurst one (ditto). TK said it was important to get a professional along to talk through the various details of a local plan. He said Chris Lamb, the director of Design South-East, was an expert on neighbourhood plans and had offered to come and talk to the committee on March 10, possibly followed by his attending a public meeting. TK also said Paul Mallion, an expert from Conker Conservation Ltd, had offered to come and talk about the benefits of building to the Passivhaus standard. Currently all new homes across Belgium are Passivhaus. e He HHHHHhHe had offered to come and speak to the committee on February 29 2016 or any date with 28 days’ notice. Members agreed that both talks would be useful. The committee agreed with TK that it was important the members were armed with correct and detailed information when dealing with the public who were looking to the committee for information. It was agreed that members could get information from a wide source: including the Headcorn, Staplehurst, Paddock Wood etc. NDPs, Council for the Protection of Rural England, Friends of the Earth, the National Trust, civic societies and numerous other bodies. The committee would ask the CSPC clerk if it would be possible to put these on the council’s website.

• Potential Consultants: It was agreed that a timetable be drawn up by which various phases would be completed. It was agreed a consultant should be appointed within four months (June) and looking further to the future it would be hoped to complete the entire plan by 2018 although 2019 might be more realistic.  Members agreed that a long list of consultants be drawn up followed by a shortlist with TK and other committee members conducting the interview process.

• Press: TF agreed to send out press releases as and when through the chairman because it was important to notify readers that members were 100 per cent behind NDPs for both Cranbrook and Sissinghurst and people’s input and expertise were urgently needed.

• Public: Joy Temple reinforced the message that it was important to raise public interest in the NDP process by keeping them informed and by suitably promoting NDPC meetings in order to encourage public attendance on the benches etc.