Swale council’s leadership has sacked a cabinet member following a row over the authority’s draft Local Plan being passed too quickly.

Green councillor Tim Valentine has been replaced on the council’s key decision-making body, after voicing reservations about the authority’s revised housing strategy.

The next version of the council’s draft masterplan, which will review and shape housing development across the borough from 2022-2038, was discussed at a cabinet meeting last Tuesday.

Cllr Valentine said his views about aspects of the plan were “well known” but he was dismissed after repeating his opposition at the meeting.

In a statement on Monday, council leader Roger Truelove (Lab), said: “I fully respect the fact that Cllr Valentine cannot be reconciled to our draft review of our Local Plan. To be effective, especially on very sensitive policy areas, an administration does require collective cohesion.

“Cllr Valentine will now be in a position to put his views forward without restraint. He has been an excellent cabinet portfolio holder and will continue to play a significant role in the council’s future.”

Cllr Valentine later accused the leader of failing to observe the terms under which Swale’s ruling coalition had been formed, by not consulting other members about his dismissal.

He also listed several parts of the draft Local Plan that he opposed, including 1,400 homes around Teynham and 3,400 homes allocated to the east of Faversham.

Cllr Valentine has been replaced as cabinet member for the environment by Cllr Julian Saunders.

It comes as concerns were raised about the draft Local Plan by other councillors.

Opening last Tuesday’s meeting, Cllr Truelove said: “Let’s be clear, the need to allocate thousands of new homes is not a matter of choice for this council. We have to do it, it’s what the government requires of us and if we don’t move forward we risk losing responsibility for development control.”

However Cllr Lloyd Bowen (Con), for Teynham and Lynsted, said there were “major flaws” with the draft plan.

He said: “All authorities have been told that housing numbers will be re-shaped after the government abandoned its algorithm, but we’re pressing ahead now on something that we don’t actually know about. It could be that the housing figures reduce in the coming weeks or months.”

Swale has the target of building 1,038 homes each year until 2031. If the government’s algorithm had been introduced, that would have risen to 1,483.

Deputy leader Mike Baldock (Ind) responded: “The government has, indeed, stepped back from its higher algorithm but the earlier one is what we were working on. They may come back with something in the coming months, they may also come back with something a lot higher. We don’t know.

“I think it is prudent to go for what we know we can deliver rather than risk having an even higher amount thrown on us."

Lynsted with Kingsdown Parish Council is urging Swale council to put the proposals on hold until residents can fully engage with the consultation.

Chairman Julien Speed said: “Because of Covid, there can be no public meetings or presentations, and no viewing of detailed plans at the council’s offices or libraries. Swale council is exploiting the pandemic to deliberately undermine the democratic process.”

The parish council is concerned the plan includes more than 1,400 new homes for Teynham and Lynsted, as well as a bypass “that is expected to carve up the historic parish of Lynsted”.

Cllr James Hunt, (Con) for The Meads, said: “I fear that the council is pushing ahead too fast in a unwarranted panic.

"I don’t think residents and parish councils realise that they aren’t getting a chance to fully contribute to the Local Plan as they have done in the past.

"Previously we have seen different options for where development could go in the borough and that then goes back to councillors to decide on a final strategy. This has been completely skipped this time round and the coalition are pushing ahead with one option for residents to comment on."

At the cabinet meeting it was revealed a controversial scheme to build 675 homes in a Sittingbourne village had disappeared from the draft Local Plan.

Developer Quinn Estates is waiting to learn whether it can develop Wises Lane in Borden.

When asked why, Cllr Baldock said: “The Wises Lane application is in the hands of the Secretary of State - if he decides it goes ahead then it does and if he decides it doesn’t then it won’t.

“It has now been with the Secretary of State for over a year without a decision and we cannot be stuck in limbo whilst he decides, so the allocation is pending his decision.”

However, the developer said it was “worrying” to hear the council was “making off the cuff decisions”.

Ben Geering, director of planning at Quinn Estates, said: “As it stands the current Local Plan, upon which decisions are based, is the ‘Bearing Fruits’ plan, which still includes Wises Lane as an allocation and will continue to do so until the council produces a legally compliant new plan, and this is adopted.

“That said we do find it very worrying that the council is making off the cuff decisions based on no clear evidence.

“Wises Lane is an excellent site which will deliver new homes, highways improvements, regeneration and local employment at a time that the district desperately needs it. We look forward to the Secretary of State’s decision.”

The plan will be discussed at full council tomorrow night (Wednesday).

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