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(Report of Director of
Planning, Housing and Environmental Health)
 
Consideration was given to
a petition received from East Malling and Larkfield and West
Malling Parish Councils ‘seeking support for an extension to
the Green Belt to protect the green fields between East and West
Malling and Kings Hill’.
 
The petition
organisers addressed the Cabinet in accordance with the Borough
Council’s Petition Scheme, as set out in the Constitution,
and expressed concern at any potential reliance on strategic gap
policy that was undefined and could weaken the adoption of the
Local Plan.   Petitioners felt that
an extension of the green belt would strengthen the Borough
Council’s position in protecting historic and rural
communities.  Concern was also expressed
that the expansion of Kings Hill would create an urban sprawl
between West Malling, East Malling and Kings Hill. 
 
Due regard was
given to the views of the petition organisers and Local Plan,
financial and value money considerations, legal implications and
risk and equality impact assessments detailed in the report of the
Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health.   Whilst Cabinet understood the points raised
by the petitioners, it was recognised that potential extensions to
the Green Belt boundary required to be led by evidence and any
decisions prior to this being made available were likely to be
subject to challenge, which presented risks to future adoption of
the Local Plan and damage to the reputation of the Borough
Council.  However, the Borough Council
would continue to explore all options to ensure that settlements
retained their own identities.
 
On the grounds that
any decision to formally and firmly support a Green Belt extension
at this stage in the plan preparation would be premature and not
based on available evidence and would, therefore, likely fail Local
Plan examination it was proposed by Cllr Boughton seconded by Cllr
Keers and
 

RESOLVED:  That
 
(1)            
the Petition seeking support for an extension to the Green Belt be
received and noted; and
 
(2)            
all policy options continue to be explored to provide protection
for the green belt and open land.