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 Hawkins, an objector, Councillor Parker of Coxheath Parish Council, Councillor Rigby of Loose Parish Council, Mr Hill, for the applicant, and Councillors Webb, B Mortimer, Fermor, Mrs Grigg and Willis (Visiting Members) addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.  That subject to the prior completion of a S106 legal agreement as set out in the report of the Head of Planning and Development, with delegated powers being given to the Head of Planning and Development to review and amend the heads of terms of the legal agreement to:

·  Provide greater control and flexibility over contributions and to ensure that they are spent to serve the Coxheath area, with specific reference but not limited to social care and youth services;

·  Secure a contribution for improvements to bus services in the locality of the site; and

·  Achieve, as part of the LEMP, alongside other requirements, protection measures for open spaces and protected species prior to commencement of and during development.  This should include demarcation of open spaces at the outset, phasing, landscaping, planting, provision of a receptor area for protected species and protection of the woodland,

  the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to grant outline permission subject to the conditions set out in the report with:

·  The amendment of condition 21 to require, before development commences on site, a signed S278 agreement covering, inter alia, the access to Forstal Lane and measures to prevent access eastwards towards Well Street; a potential solution being to create an access which will enter Forstal Lane in a westerly direction where it is almost parallel at the point of access thereby preventing a right turn (the precise wording to be finalised by the Head of Planning and Development acting under delegated powers, including any subsequent amendments to condition 20);

·  The addition of a condition to secure pedestrian links from the development area to the south east footpath access to increase pedestrian permeability (the precise wording to be finalised by the Head of Planning and Development acting under delegated powers); and

·  An informative advising the applicant that the reserved matters application will be reported to the Planning Committee for determination.

2.  That the details of the S106 legal agreement are to be finalised in consultation with Ward Members and the Parish Council.

Voting:  9 – For  0 – Against  2 – Abstentions

FURTHER RESOLVEd to recommend to the maidstone joint transportation board:  That an item be included in the Board’s Work Programme to monitor, after 50% occupation, the effectiveness of the measures put in place in order to prevent a right turn from the development into Forstal Lane towards Well Street and whether changes need to be made and/or a Traffic Regulation Order introduced.

Voting:  11 – For  0 – Against  0 - Abstentions