There were no apologies for absence.

There were no Substitute Members.

Councillor Barned indicated his wish to speak on the report of the Head of Planning relating to application MA/11/2190.

Councillor Hogg indicated his wish to speak on the report of the Head of Planning relating to application MA/11/1315.

Councillor Ross indicated his wish to speak on the report of the Head of Planning relating to application MA/11/0513.

MA/11/1315 – RAISING OF GARDEN LAND TO CREATE TERRACED AREAS; RETROSPECTIVE CHANGE OF USE OF AN AREA OF LAND TO RESIDENTIAL GARDEN LAND AND THE ERECTION OF PLAY EQUIPMENT; THE CREATION OF WOODEN STEPS; AND THE ERECTION OF FENCING – EAST VIEW, BYDEWS GRANARY, FARLEIGH HILL, TOVIL, MAIDSTONE

The Committee considered the urgent update report of the Head of Planning recommending that this application be withdrawn from the agenda to allow further investigation of land ownership issues with the Land Registry.

RESOLVED:  That agreement be given to the withdrawal of application MA/11/1315 from the agenda to allow further investigation of land ownership issues with the Land Registry.

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.

Mr Rob Jarman, the Head of Planning, disclosed an interest in his report relating to application MA/11/2190.  He stated that he knew one of the objectors, but this had not affected the Case Officer’s conclusion/recommendation in any way.  With the agreement of the Committee, Mr Jarman remained in the meeting when the application was discussed, but he did not speak.

Councillor Ash disclosed a personal interest in the report of the Head of Planning relating to application MA/12/0281.  He stated that he was a Member of Bearsted Parish Council, but he had not participated in any discussions on the application and intended to speak and vote when it was considered.

Councillors Harwood and Hinder disclosed personal interests in the report of the Head of Planning relating to application MA/12/0271.  They stated that they were Members of Boxley Parish Council, but they had not participated in the Parish Council’s discussions on the application and intended to speak and vote when it was considered.

Councillor Paterson stated that since she had pre-determined application MA/12/0304, she would speak but not vote when it was discussed.

RESOLVED:  That the item on Part II of the agenda be taken in private as proposed.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2012 be approved as a correct record and signed.

There were no petitions.

MA/10/0157 - CHANGE OF USE OF LAND TO MIXED USE FOR RESIDENTIAL WITH THE STATIONING OF 1 STATIC CARAVAN AND 1 TOURING CARAVAN, UTILITY BUILDING, LAYING OF HARD SURFACING, CESS POOL AND ERECTION OF CLOSE BOARDED FENCING AND CHANGE OF USE OF LAND FOR THE KEEPING OF HORSES WITH FIELD SHELTER - LAND EAST OF MAPLEHURST LANE, FRITTENDEN ROAD, STAPLEHURST, TONBRIDGE

The Head of Planning advised the Committee that negotiations were taking place in respect of this application.

The Head of Planning advised the Committee that the National Planning Policy Framework had now come into force.  However, none of the applications to be considered at the meeting turned on the guidance set out in the document.

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

Mr Lloyd, an objector, addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report and the following informative:-

The applicant is encouraged to discuss the proposal with the Council’s Building Control Officers.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

Councillor Paine stated that he had been lobbied.

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

RESOLVED:  That permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

Mr Best, for objectors, and Councillor Ross addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

See Minute 317 above.

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

Mr Van Diepen, an objector, Councillor Taylor of Harrietsham Parish Council (against) and Councillor Barned addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.  That subject to the expiry of the site notice and advertisement publicising the application as a Departure from the Development Plan and the receipt of no representations raising new issues, the Head of Planning be given delegated powers to grant variation of condition 2 of permission MA/03/2343 as follows:-

All accommodation units (excluding the 19 caravans previously permitted for permanent residential use) permitted at the site shall be occupied for holiday purposes only.  No such accommodation shall be occupied as a person’s sole or main place of residence.  The operators of the caravan park shall maintain an up-to-date register of the names of all owners/occupiers of individual accommodation units on the site, and of their main home addresses, and shall make this information available at all reasonable times to the Local Planning Authority.

Reason:  In order to ensure proper control of the use of the holiday units and to prevent the establishment of permanent residency, which would be contrary to national and local plan policy discouraging the proliferation of new dwellings in the countryside and in accordance with policy ENV28 of the Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000 and PPS7.

2.  That the informative set out in the urgent update report be attached to the consent.

Voting:  10 – For  1 – Against  2 – Abstentions

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

RESOLVED:  That subject to the expiry of the site notice and advertisement publicising the application as a Departure from the Development Plan and the receipt of no representations raising new issues, the Head of Planning be given delegated powers to grant permission.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  12 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

Note: Councillor English was not present during consideration of this application.

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  12 – For  1 – Against  0 – Abstentions

Note: Councillor English was not present during consideration of this application.

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  10 – For  2 – Against  0 – Abstentions

Note: Councillor English was not present during consideration of this application.

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  12 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

Note: Councillor English was not present during consideration of this application.

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  12 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

Note: Councillor English was not present during consideration of this application.

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  10 – For  2 – Against  0 – Abstentions

Note: Councillor English was not present during consideration of this application.

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  10 – For  2 – Against  0 – Abstentions

Note: Councillor English was not present during consideration of this application.

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  7 – For  5 – Against  0 – Abstentions

Note: Councillor English was not present during consideration of this application.

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report with the amendment of the reason for approval as set out in the urgent update report.

Voting:  7 – For  4 – Against  0 – Abstentions

Note:

Councillor English was not present during consideration of this application.

Having stated that she had pre-determined the application, Councillor Paterson did not participate in the voting.

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report with the amendment of the reason for approval as set out in the urgent update report.

Voting:  10 – For  1 – Against  1 – Abstention

Note: Councillor English was not present during consideration of this application.

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report with the amendment of the reason for approval as set out in the urgent update report.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  12 – For  1 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  8 – For  5 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report with the amendment of the reason for approval as set out in the urgent update report.

Voting:  12 – For  1 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  10 – For  3 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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.

The Chairman announced that:-

·  He was impressed by the way in which the planning peer review had been conducted.  The results were awaited.

·  The National Planning Policy Framework had now come into force, and it was pleasing that the Council’s response to the consultation had been taken into account.

It was noted that there was nothing to report at present.

RESOLVED:  That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business because of the likely disclosure of exempt information for the reasons specified, having applied the Public Interest Test:-

RESOLVED:  That Tree Preservation Order No.8 of 2010 be varied under Regulation 8 of the Town and Country Planning (Trees) Regulations 1999 to exclude woodland identified as W1 on the plan attached as an Appendix to the exempt report of the Head of Planning and to continue to protect the individual Oak tree identified as T1 on the plan.

Voting:  9 – For  2 – Against  2 – Abstentions

6.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.