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.

Mr Sonnex, for the applicant, and Councillor Perry (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting.  It was noted that Councillor Brice, a Ward Member for Staplehurst, was unable to attend the meeting, but had submitted her apologies and circulated an email setting out her views on the application.

Contrary to the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Development, the Committee agreed to grant permission subject to conditions to be finalised by the Head of Planning and Development, acting under delegated powers, in consultation with the Ward Members and Councillor Harwood.  In making this decision, Members felt that the proposal would assist and support the viability of this well used community and social facility and these community benefits which are supported by policies DM22 and DM23 in the emerging Maidstone Borough Local Plan outweighed the negative impact of permitting the two houses in this location which would be reduced by planning conditions requiring the retention and enhancement of the landscaping at the north west apex of the site and landscape screening in the form of a mixed species native hedgerow on the site boundary with the public right of way, in line with policy PW2 of the Staplehurst Neighbourhood Plan.

RESOLVED:  That permission be granted subject to conditions to be finalised by the Head of Planning and Development, acting under delegated powers, in consultation with Ward Members and Councillor Harwood; these conditions to cover, inter alia:

·  Materials;

·  Landscaping, including:

Retention and enhancement of landscaping at the north west apex of the site.  The area of land to be retained permanently with defined and physical separation from domestic garden areas;

Landscape screening in the form of a mixed species native hedgerow to the site boundary with the Public Right of Way; and

A landscape management plan including the separate area to the north west apex of the site;

·  Enhancements to biodiversity, including swift bricks, bat tubes/bricks incorporated integrally into the fabric of the buildings; and

·  Renewables

Voting:  12 – For  0 – Against  0 - Abstentions