Issue - meetings

The Chairman (Councillor Perry) left the meeting whilst this application was discussed.  The Vice-Chairman (Councillor English) took the Chair.

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

Councillor Burnham of Staplehurst Parish Council (against), Mr Dale, for the applicant, and Councillor Brice (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting.

Having regard to local representations about the proposed highway mitigation works, Members felt that the financial contribution of £59,953 towards junction improvements at the A229/Headcorn Road/Marden Road junction should be deleted from the Heads of Terms of the proposed S106 legal agreement.

RESOLVED:  That subject to the prior completion of a S106 legal agreement in such terms as the Head of Legal Partnership may advise to secure the following:

The provision of 40% affordable residential units within the application site;

A financial contribution of £585,333.36 towards the Phase 2 expansion of the Headcorn Primary School;

A financial contribution of £97,862.76 towards land acquisition costs of the Headcorn Primary School expansion;

A financial contribution of £371,078.55 towards the Phase 3 expansion of Cornwallis school;

A financial contribution of £238,643 towards train station improvements at Staplehurst Station;

A financial contribution of £140,280 towards bus service enhancements to increase the frequency of services through Staplehurst village;

A financial contribution of £1,409.86 towards equipment to expand the range of youth focused activities able to take place in Staplehurst by KCC’s commissioned youth worker;

A financial contribution of £8,018.64 towards libraries to address the demand from the development for additional book stock (supplied to Staplehurst Library);

A financial contribution of £5,126.39 towards the cost of providing additional laptops and software to the Adult Education delivery point at Staplehurst Library;

A financial contribution of £98,196 towards improvements and refurbishment of Jubilee Playing Fields and Play Area;

A financial contribution of £93,060 towards extension, refurbishment and/or upgrade of Staplehurst Health Centre;

The provision of a Residential Travel Plan to aim to achieve a 10% reduction in development traffic flows covering a 10 year monitoring period, and to include monitoring costs;

Annual monitoring and reporting of the effect of displaced traffic on highway routes surrounding the site (“rat-running” monitoring); and

A financial contribution towards suitable mitigation measures to combat any significant adverse traffic flow conditions as may be established by the monitoring exercise to be conducted (the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to agree the financial contribution),

the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to grant permission subject to the conditions set out in the report as amended by the urgent update reports.

Voting:  7 – For  1 – Against  1 – Abstention

FURTHER RESOLVED:  That the Maidstone Joint Transportation Board be requested to look at parking and traffic build up at the A229/Headcorn Road/Marden Road junction and, specifically, the possible implementation of double yellow lines on the Headcorn Road junction arm.

Voting:  9 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions