All Members except Councillors Butler, Chittenden, Harwood and Paterson stated that they had been lobbied.

Mr Chris Hawkins, Principal Planning Officer, stated that he knew Mr Elvidge, who had registered to speak on behalf of the applicant, through previous employment.  However, he had not discussed the application with him.

The Committee considered the report and the urgent update report of the Head of Planning.

Councillor Brown of Yalding Parish Council (against), Mr Elvidge, for the applicant, and Councillor McLoughlin, a Visiting Member, addressed the meeting.

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 4 and an additional informative as follows:-

Condition 4 (amended)

The area shown on the approved plan as vehicle loading, off-loading and turning space shall be paved and drained to the satisfaction of the Local Planning Authority before the use is commenced and shall be retained for the use of the occupiers of, and visitors to, the premises, and no permanent development, whether or not permitted by the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (or any Order revoking and re-enacting that Order) shall be carried out on that area of land or in such a position as to preclude its use.

Reason:  In the interests of highway safety and in accordance with the guidance contained in the National Planning Policy Framework 2012.

Additional Informative

A register of occupancy (including length of stay) should be maintained and made available for inspection by the Local Planning Authority at their request.

Voting:  12 – For  0 – Against  1 – Abstention