Issue - meetings

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

In presenting the application, the Major Projects Manager advised the Committee that:

·  Following publication of the agenda, the applicant had provided the information that would have been required by condition 11 which was an increase in the number of disabled and electric vehicle charging bays, the provision of motor cycle bays and shelters for the cycle parking.  Condition 11 was, therefore, no longer required and condition 1 would be amended to refer to the updated drawing number.  KCC Highways was satisfied with the entrance design and had asked for clarification on sight lines.  It was recommended that a new condition 11 be added requiring approval of an access safety audit and sight lines prior to any of the buildings exceeding damp proof course level.

·  KCC had now agreed that the layby fronting the site can be removed and replaced with meadow planting along the verge as proposed by the applicant.  This would be secured under a S278 agreement.

The Chairman read out a statement on behalf of Councillor O’Meara of Hollingbourne Parish Council.

RESOLVED:

1.  That permission be granted subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report, as amended by the urgent update report and by the Major Projects Manager at the meeting, with the proviso that delegated powers be given to the Head of Planning and Development to investigate further the management of the verge with a view to an agreement being reached between KCC and the applicant and this being incorporated into the ecological strategy to be approved by the Local Planning Authority.

2.  That the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to finalise the wording of the amended conditions arising from the presentation of the application and the discussions regarding the management of the verge, and to amend any other conditions as a consequence.

Voting:  11 – For  0 – Against  0 - Abstentions