There were no apologies for absence.

There were no Substitute Members.

There were no Visiting Members.

There were none.

Update Report

The Chairman stated that, in his opinion, the update report of the Development Control Manager should be taken as an urgent item because it contained further information relating to the applications to be considered at the meeting.

Councillors Ash and Mrs Marshall disclosed personal interests in the report of the Development Control Manager relating to application MA/09/1743.  They stated that they were Members of Bearsted 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.

RESOLVED:  That the items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2009 be approved as a correct record and signed.

1.  MA/09/1441 - Retrospective planning permission for the creation of two parking spaces - 75 Heath Road, Maidstone

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

  RESOLVED:

  1.  That permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the original report to the meeting of the Committee held on 15 October 2009.

  2.  That Kent Highway Services be informed that there is not a dropped kerb to the front of this property.

  Voting:  8 – For  2 – Against  3 – Abstentions

2.  MA/09/1061 - Construction of temporary Spanish polythene tunnels - Marshalls Farm, Hunt Street, West Farleigh

  The Committee considered the report of the Development Control Manager.  The Development Control Manager advised Members that in view of the controversial nature of the application, it would be reported back to the Committee on the main agenda and there would be a further opportunity for interested parties to make representations.

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

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

Councillor Andrew of Loose Parish Council and Mr Clarke, for the applicant, addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That the details of scale, layout, appearance and landscaping pursuant to outline planning permission MA/04/1363 be approved subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report, as amended by the urgent update report, and the additional conditions and informatives set out in the urgent update report with the amendment of condition 13 and additional informatives as follows:-

Condition 13 (amended)

Notwithstanding the details of landscaping as shown on drawing numbers 1601/01B, 02B, 03B and 04B received 28/10/2009, the following changes shall be made to the landscaping scheme:-

1.  The replacement within the whole site of ‘Prunus laurocerasus’ with Box (Buxus sempervirens) and/or Privet (Ligustrum vulgare).

2.  The provision of a mixed native species hedgerow to the eastern and western boundaries of the open area to the front of Plot 1 (described as the ‘Green’ on drawing number 18744B/03 Revision B).

3.  The substitution of the 2 ‘Catalpa bignoniodies’ shown to be provided on the open area to the front of Plot 1 with 2 trees of native or near native species.

The development shall not commence until the revised landscaping details have been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall thereafter be carried out in accordance with the subsequently approved details.

Reason:  To ensure a satisfactory appearance to the development pursuant to policy ENV6 of the Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000.

Additional Informatives

A Development Panel should be established to monitor all aspects of the development’s progress including compliance with all conditions; the Panel to include representatives of Council Officers, Ward Members and the applicants/developer.

Every effort should be made by the developer to ensure that the entire development achieves a minimum of Level 3 within the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

The Committee considered the report of the Development Control Manager.

Councillor Andrew of Loose Parish Council (against) addressed the meeting.

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

Voting:  12 – For  0 – Against  1 – Abstention

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

RESOLVED:  That permission be granted subject to the conditions and informative set out in the report, as amended by the urgent update report, and the additional condition and informative set out in the urgent update report.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

The Committee considered the report of the Development Control Manager.

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

The development shall not commence until details of a landscaping scheme for the reinstatement of the front garden of the property following completion of the works hereby approved has been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority.  The approved scheme shall be implemented within the first planting season following completion of the development.

Reason:  To ensure a satisfactory setting and external appearance to the development in accordance with policy ENV6 of the Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000.

All planting, seeding or turfing comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding seasons following the occupation of the building(s) or the completion of the development, whichever is the sooner; and any trees or plants which within a period of five years from the completion of the development die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species, unless the Local Planning Authority gives written consent to any variation.

Reason:  To ensure a satisfactory setting and external appearance to the development in accordance with policy ENV6 of the Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

The Committee considered the report of the Development Control Manager setting out details of an appeal decision that had been received since the last meeting.  It was noted that the Inspector had dismissed the appeal against the decision taken under delegated powers to refuse application MA/09/0155 (Outline application for the erection of a new building of four to seven stories comprising 48 no. apartments and a retail store with associated landscaping, parking, bicycle and bin storage with access, layout and scale to be considered at this stage and all other matters reserved for future consideration - 7-23 and land adjacent, Upper Stone Street, Maidstone). 

RESOLVED:

1.  That the report be noted.

2.  That the appreciation of the Committee and of the Ward Members be conveyed to the Officers who worked on this appeal.

The Chairman updated Members on events since the last meeting when the representative of Staplehurst Parish Council chose not to address the Committee on application MA/09/0455.

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration reported that he would update Members direct on the issues raised relating to (a) the operation of the Brooks Place/Queen Anne Road car park following the implementation of planning permission MA/08/1451 and (b) the Rural Repurchase Scheme.

With regard to Members’ request for a discussion on the adoption of Kent Highways Parking Standards, the Development Control Manager advised the Committee that he had been involved in discussions on this matter with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and the Director of Prosperity and Regeneration.  The way forward was for the issue to be addressed as part of an overall transport strategy to be developed alongside the Core Strategy.

RESOLVED:  That given the likely time frame for the adoption of the Core Strategy, the Officers be requested to facilitate, as a matter of priority, a discussion for Members of the Planning Committee on parking standards.

A Member drew the attention of the Committee, including the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, and Officers to a Supplementary Planning Document adopted by Herefordshire Council to provide detailed guidance on the development of polytunnels.  He explained that the Document was being widely used by other local authorities as a template for the development of their own policies on polytunnels.  Members agreed that the Document would be helpful to the Planning Policy Team in undertaking the work requested by the Local Development Document Advisory Group regarding polytunnels.

A Member expressed concern that the agenda for this meeting of the Committee was very light compared to that for the last meeting which contained a large number of applications, some of which were  controversial or of strategic importance.  He asked that, in future, the Officers adopt a more considered overview when planning agendas for meetings of the Committee.

6.00 p.m. to 7.20 p.m.