News
downsmail.co.uk Anger over planning changes
A PROPOSED overhaul of Ton- bridge and Malling Council’s plan- ning system has prompted an angry response from East Malling and Larkfield Parish Council. The parish said itwas “worrying”
that the proposal should emerge at the time the local planwas being re- viewed and the call fordevelopment sites map published. Since 1974, the borough has been divided into three areas for planning matters, with each councillor having a say on applications relating to their ward. But following a LocalGovernment Association review, the council’s overview and scrutiny committee recommended replacing the area planning system with a borough- wide committee, similar to other Kent councils, with a single commit- tee of 13 to 15 councillors. Former borough council leader
David Thornewell said: “I feel the present system workswell and gives all councillors a voice.Over the years officers have suggested the system be abolished, but I and previous and successive council leaders have re- sisted those calls. Indeed when we last reviewed the constitutionwe in- serted a clause to consult parish councils about any change and so far this has not been done.”
Cllr Thornewell, who chairs East Malling and Larkfield Parish Coun- cil, said hewas not convinced by the argument that no other council in Kent had a similar set-up. He said: “The whole idea of hav-
ing councils is so that they can do what they feel is best for their area and not have the same system every- where. If this was what Parliament wanted it would not have allowed the option of area committee.” The parish council expressed its concerns in a letter to borough coun- cil chief executive Julie Beilby, say- ing that with Tonbridge having the
largest group of councillors it was possible that somewards or parishes would have no representation. The parish council also queried the esti- mated savings of £20,000 under the single system and said that the dem- ocratic local element of the area com- mittees outweighed this figure. Adrian Stanfield, Tonbridge and Malling’s director of central services and monitoring officer, said in a re- port that the wide-ranging review had looked at the structure, number and style of planning meetings and recognised that a single committee system would speed up decisions
and save costs. Cllr Thornewell said: “If one com-
mitteewas created it would lose the local knowledge councillors have about theirownpatches. It is also re- ally worrying this is being proposed again when the council will be in- volved in making difficult decisions onnewhousing areas to put into the revised local plan. The council needs to show the public it will listen to them and all the fine words about lo- calism mean something.” The recommendations were due
to be considered by the cabinet after Downs Mailwent to press.
Coffee and run boost charity
SNODLAND Church of England Primary School combined a Macmillan coffee morning and a sponsored run by pupils in what has become an annual event. Head teacher Holley Hunt said:
Holley Hunt serves cake to Chris Acott, from Acorn Grove, Ditton and Carley Blount, from Hempstead
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14 Malling October 2015
"Our coffee morning was once again a great success for the third year running. Parents enjoyed popping in for a cake and a free drink while raising £340 for such a worthy charity.”
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