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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
Planning Committee
Minutes of the meeting held on 16 February 2012
Present: |
Councillor Lusty (Chairman) and Councillors Ash, Barned, Chittenden, Collins, English, Harwood, Nelson-Gracie, Newton, Paine, Paterson, Mrs Robertson and J A Wilson |
275. Apologies for Absence
It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Cox and Hinder.
276. Notification of Substitute Members
The following Substitute Members were noted:-
Councillor Barned for Councillor Hinder
Councillor Chittenden for Councillor Cox
277. Notification of Visiting Members
There were no Visiting Members.
278. Items withdrawn from the Agenda
There were none.
279. Urgent Items
Update Report
The Chairman stated that, in his opinion, the update report of the Head of Planning should be taken as an urgent item because it contained further information relating to the applications to be considered at the meeting.
280. Disclosures by Members and Officers
With regard to the report of the Head of Planning relating to application MA/11/1611, Councillor English stated that he was employed by Royal Mail. However, since Royal Mail and the Post Office were separate companies, he intended to speak and vote when the application was discussed.
Councillor Harwood disclosed a personal interest in the report of the Head of Planning relating to application MA/11/2023. He stated that he was a Member of Boxley Parish Council, but he had not participated in the Parish Council’s discussions on the application and intended to speak and vote when it was considered.
Councillor Newton disclosed a prejudicial interest in the report of the Head of Planning relating to application MA/11/2023. He stated that he had business connections with the applicant.
281. Exempt Items
RESOLVED: That the items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.
282. Minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2012
RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2012 be approved as a correct record and signed.
283. Presentation of Petitions
There were no petitions.
284. MA/10/0266 - PLANNING APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF USE FOR STATIONING OF 1 NO. MOBILE HOME, 1 NO. TOURING CARAVAN WITH ASSOCIATED WORKS INCLUDING UTILITY BLOCK, HARDSTANDING AND CESS POOL - ACERS PLACE, LENHAM ROAD, HEADCORN
The Committee considered the report and the urgent update report of the Head of Planning.
Councillor Thomas of Headcorn Parish Council (against) and Mr Cash, the applicant, addressed the meeting.
RESOLVED: That permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report and the informative set out in the urgent update report with the amendment of condition 1 as follows:-
The occupation of the site hereby permitted shall be carried on only by Mr P Cash and his wife and dependents and shall be for a limited period of five years from the date of this decision or the period during which the site is occupied by them, whichever is the shorter.
Reason: The site is in an area where the stationing of caravans/mobile homes is not normally permitted and an exception has been made to reflect the personal need of the named person and his family and to enable the situation to be reviewed when work is complete on the Site Allocations DPD. This is in accordance with Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000 policies ENV28 and ENV46.
Voting: 11 – For 0 – Against 2 – Abstentions
285. MA/11/1611 - AN APPLICATION FOR ADVERTISEMENT CONSENT FOR THE INSTALLATION OF 2 NO. ILLUMINATED FASCIA SIGNS - BARMING POST OFFICE, 15-16 BULL ORCHARD, BARMING, MAIDSTONE
The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning.
Councillor Manser of Barming Parish Council (against) addressed the meeting.
RESOLVED: That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report and the following additional condition:-
The signage hereby approved shall only be illuminated when the premises is open for business.
Reason: In order to avoid an unnecessary proliferation of illuminated signage that may be detrimental to the character of the area in accordance with policy ENV8 of the Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000.
Voting: 13 – For 0 – Against 0 – Abstentions
286. MA/11/1977 - ERECTION OF DETACHED DWELLING AND GARAGE (HEIGHT REDUCED FROM 7.020 TO 6.680) - LAND REAR OF WOLVERLEY, VICARAGE ROAD, YALDING
The Committee considered the report and the urgent update report of the Head of Planning.
RESOLVED: That permission be granted subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report, as amended by the urgent update report, with the amendment of condition 9 and an additional informative as follows:-
Condition 9 (amended)
The development shall not commence until details showing the proposed location of the construction compound within the site and the means by which significant habitat areas around the ditch will be protected during construction have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall thereafter be undertaken in accordance with the approved details.
Reason: In the interests of ecology and in accordance with PPS9.
Additional Informative
The applicant is requested to incorporate ‘swift bricks’ within the fabric of the dwelling to provide habitat for such birds.
Voting: 13 – For 0 – Against 0 – Abstentions
287. MA/11/2023 - ERECTION OF B8 STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION (INCLUDING SELF-STORAGE) BUILDING, WITH ACCESS, PARKING AND LANDSCAPING - BROOKLYN YARD, CHATHAM ROAD, SANDLING, MAIDSTONE
All Members stated that they had been lobbied.
Having disclosed a prejudicial interest, Councillor Newton left the meeting whilst this application was discussed.
The Committee considered the report and the urgent update report of the Head of Planning.
Councillor Davies of Boxley Parish Council (against) and Mr Blythin, for the applicant, addressed the meeting.
RESOLVED: That subject to the receipt of a satisfactory and signed S106 unilateral undertaking to ensure that:-
(a) No development will be carried out within or on the area of the site comprising The Lodge and the adjacent ponds save for works relating to on-site drainage and its subsequent maintenance and the approved development and any associated management plan prepared in the interests of ecological value and first approved in writing by the Council; AND
(b) The area of the site comprising The Lodge and adjacent ponds will be managed in the interests of maintaining its ecological value and in full accordance with the planning permission, including the terms of any management plan required by the planning permission.
the Head of Planning be given delegated powers to grant permission subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report, as amended by the urgent update report, and the following additional informatives:-
The applicant is requested to use drainage gullies that are wildlife friendly.
The applicant is requested to use solar panels that have a matt finish to avoid glare.
Voting: 12 – For 0 – Against 0 – Abstentions
288. Appeal Decisions
The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning setting out details of appeal decisions received since the last meeting.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
289. Chairman's Announcements
The Chairman reminded the Committee that an all-Member seminar on the Localism Act would be held at 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday 22 February 2012 in The Gateway. It was hoped that as many Members as possible would be able to attend.
290. Update on Matters Referred to the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Members for Environment/Economic Development and Transport
It was noted that there was nothing to report at present.
291. Duration of Meeting
6.00 p.m. to 7.25 p.m.