Purpose

The new
Local Plan that WDC is preparing will provide the planning
framework for development in Wealden District until 2042. The
polices within the Local Plan will be used to assess planning
applications and guide future development.
 
 

Decision

RESOLVED –
That:
 
1.    
The current
consultation on Wealden District Council’s Local Plan 2042
Regulation 18 (part 2) be noted and
2.    
The draft
responses/comments set out in the table of TWBC officer comments
presented in Appendix A of this report be approved and
submitted, on or before the consultation deadline 20 march
2026, as Tunbridge Wells Borough
Council’s formal representations to Wealden District
Council’s Local Plan 2042 Regulation 18 (part 2) consultation
with delegated authority given to the Head of Planning, in
consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to make corrections to
grammar, formatting and typographical errors, and other
non?material changes that do not affect the substance or intent of
the response.

Reasons for the decision

The preferred option is Option 2, “Agree to
submit the representations/comments attached at Appendix A to the
WDC consultation on behalf of TWBC”. 

 

This option is favourable because it is considered
to represent a corporate view having been considered by officers
and Members. It will ensure that TWBC has engaged with the
consultation process in making representations/comments on matters
which may affect TWBC in a timely manner, thereby supporting
constructive, active and ongoing strategic engagement on
cross?boundary matters,
including in the context of the current statutory duty to
co?operate (which
remains in force pending any formal repeal) and assisting WDC in
progressing with its Local Plan.
 

Alternative options considered

Option
1: Do nothing – do not make
representations to the consultation and consequently miss an
important opportunity to engage, input and advise on the WDC Local
Plan Regulation 18 (part 2) and would create a risk that the
Council is unable to demonstrate compliance with the current
statutory duty to co?operate, which requires constructive, active
and ongoing engagement on strategic cross?boundary
matters.
 
Option
2: Agree to submit the
representations/comments attached at Appendix A to the WDC
consultation on behalf of TWBC. This would allow the response to be
sent and help to ensure the Council continues to meet its current
statutory duty to co?operate, which remains in force pending any formal repeal, while
also demonstrating the Council’s ongoing commitment to
effective strategic engagement with neighbouring
authorities.
 
Option
3: Agree to submit an alternative
representation to that attached at Appendix A. This option
would require further discussion with officers and/or Councillors
to inform the response, which would mean the consultation deadline
is unlikely to be met, reducing the opportunity for the Council to
evidence timely, constructive, active and ongoing strategic
engagement on cross?boundary matters, including in the context of
the current statutory duty to co?operate (which remains in force
pending any formal repeal).