Cash reserves available to fight appeals

Ashford council finance chiefs say they will use reserves to boost the authority’s ability to fight expensive appeals against “unscrupulous” housing developers.

The council has faced challenges over housing developments put forward at places such as Brabourne Lees and Tilden Gill Road in Tenterden.

Both were sites where the council had not earmarked homes to be built, but because of delays to the local plan, developers had appealed to the Planning Inspectorate.

At a council cabinet meeting, Cllr Neil Shorter said money in the coffers would need to be monitored, but said funds would be available to the planning department.

Cllr Shorter said: “One of the elements identified in our monitoring report is that the planning department has identified that reserves for appeals and inquiries have been fully utilised.

“It will need close monitoring to ensure that we don’t spend money that we haven’t got. We have an emerging local plan to work with developers.

“These funds will allow Ashford Borough Council to embark on appeals to protect residents from unscrupulous developments.”

In his report, Cllr Shorter said the planning department potentially faces five major appeals by housing developers, and has already spent £125,000.

The total money spent is expected to be up to £350,000, but if the figure goes higher, funds from reserves could be shifted to meet the need.

Cabinet portfolio holder for planning Cllr Paul Clokie said: “We can’t have anybody thinking ‘they have spent all their money, we won’t have anybody appealing against us’.”

Cllr Neil Shorter