All Members except Councillor Butler stated that they had been lobbied.

The Committee considered the report and the urgent update report of the Development Control Manager.

Mr Hocking, an objector, Mr Cattermole, for the applicant, and Councillor Hinder addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.  That subject to the prior completion of a legal agreement, in such terms as the Head of Legal Services may advise, to secure the following:-

·  The provision of the sum of £22,050 to contribute towards the upgrade, improvement and renewal of Maidstone’s amenity space and play equipment;

·  The provision of the sum of £17,276 for contributions towards the additional demands placed upon the youth and community facilities, libraries and adult education facilities within the locality by virtue of the granting of this permission;

·  The provision of the sum of £17,640 for contributions towards the additional demands placed upon the Primary Care Trust (West Kent) by virtue of the granting of this permission; and

·  A detailed landscape and woodland management plan for all land outlined in blue within the planning application.  Such details shall include proposals for the management of all biodiversity within the site and a financial appraisal forming part of the overarching management plan for a minimum period of 25 years

the Development Control Manager be given delegated powers to grant permission subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report and the following additional condition and informatives:-

Additional Condition

Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (or any Order with or without modification) no development within Schedule 2, Part 1, Class F to that Order shall be carried out without the permission of the Local Planning Authority.

Reason:  To ensure a satisfactory external appearance to the development  in the interest of the visual amenity and character of the surrounding area in accordance with policy ENV6 of the Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000 and PPS1.

Additional Informatives

The applicant is advised that the hard landscape details should include methods to prevent vehicles from encroaching onto or parking upon the open plan front gardens. 

The applicant is reminded to comply with condition 18, taking into account the following recommendations as set out in the submitted ecological assessment under items 7.9, 7.10, and 7.11:-

·Bat boxes to be installed on retained trees and the potential for bat bricks to be incorporated into the design of the new buildings.

·Care to be taken during vegetation clearance and that, in the event of any mammals such as hedgehogs being uncovered, the area in question to be left to allow the animals to disperse of their own accord.

·A number of bird boxes to be provided on retained trees to act as an enhancement and to provide alternative nesting opportunities while new landscape planting matures.

2.  That when negotiating the details of the management plan, the Officers be requested to take into account Members’ expressed wish to see the “buffer” zone maintained as a woodland edge habitat.

3.  That the details of the legal agreement should be agreed by the Political Group Spokespersons or their nominees. 

4.  That the Political Group Spokespersons or their nominees should be consulted prior to the discharge of the conditions relating to hard and soft landscaping.

Voting:  8 – For  3 – Against  0 – Abstentions 

NOTE:  Councillor Thick entered the meeting after consideration of this application.