The
Chairman and Councillors Kimmance, Perry and Wilby stated that they
had been lobbied.
The
Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning and
Development.
Dr
Bradbury, an objector, and Councillor Buller of Staplehurst Parish
Council addressed the meeting.
During
the discussion on this application, concern was expressed that the
Staplehurst Neighbourhood Plan and, in particular, Policy PW2 had
not been addressed in the assessment of the proposal. The Major Projects Manager acknowledged that there
had been an omission in not listing the Neighbourhood Plan Policy
in the Officers’ report. He
explained that the Policy considerations ran in parallel with the
Local Plan Policies cited and relied upon in the report, and he did
not think that the Officers would have come to a different
recommendation if they had specifically referenced the Policy as
the tests were the same.
RESOLVED:
1. That permission
be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report with the
amendment of condition 5 (Enhancement of Biodiversity) to refer to
hedgehog (not hedgerow)corridors and to add bee bricks to the list
of potential biodiversity enhancements.
2. That the Head
of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to finalise
the wording of the amended condition and to amend any other
conditions as a consequence.
Voting: 5 –
For
2 – Against 4
– Abstentions