Issue - meetings

All Members stated that they had been lobbied.

The Committee considered the report and the urgent update report of the Head of Planning and Development concerning TPO No. 5019/2017 which had been made to protect groups of trees and woodland on land at Valley Park Community School, Huntsman Lane, Maidstone.

In response to a question as to whether consideration of the report could be deferred until the next meeting to enable people wishing to make representations objecting to confirmation without modification of the TPO to be in attendance, it was pointed out that the TPO would expire on the day of the next meeting.

It was noted that:

·  An objection to the making of the TPO had been received from Barker Parry Town Planning.

·  Application 17/501471 for the erection of a three storey secondary school with associated access, car parking and landscaping at the site was the subject of an appeal against non-determination.  There was no guarantee that planning permission would be granted for the proposed development.  It was therefore considered that tree removals ahead of a planning permission would be premature. 

·  If the appeal against non-determination was successful, then the planning permission would over-ride the TPO.

RESOLVED:  That TPO No. 5019/2017 be confirmed without modification.

Voting:  6 – For  0 – Against  3 - Abstentions