Agenda and minutes

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors English, Harwood and Paine.

The following Substitute Members were noted:-

Councillor Chittenden for Councillor Harwood

Councillor Garland for Councillor Paine

Councillor Robertson for Councillor English

There were no Visiting Members.

There were none.

Update Report

The Chairman stated that, in his opinion, the update report of the Head of Development Management should be taken as an urgent item because it contained further information relating to applications to be considered at the meeting.

With regard to the report of the Head of Development Management relating to application MA/11/1138, Councillor Collins stated that he knew the applicant, but it was not a close association and he intended to speak and vote when the application was discussed.

RESOLVED:  That the items on the agenda be taken in public as proposed.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 November 2011 be approved as a correct record and signed.

There were no petitions.

MA/11/0679 - ERECTION OF THREE DWELLINGS COMPRISING ONE DETACHED DWELLING WITH INTEGRAL GARAGE AND TWO SEMI-DETACHED DWELLINGS WITH ACCESS TO TONBRIDGE ROAD VIA ACCESS PERMITTED UNDER MA/08/2323 - LAND R/O 125 TONBRIDGE ROAD, MAIDSTONE

The Head of Development Management advised Members that he hoped to be in a position to report this application back to Committee in the next few months.

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

Mr Fleck of the Valley Conservation Society and Councillor Mortimer of Tovil Parish Council addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That subject to the prior completion of a Section 106 legal agreement in such terms as the Head of Legal Services may advise to secure:-

·  An off-site open space contribution of £150,000 towards the improvement, refurbishment and renewal of South Park, Armstrong Road;

·  The provision of on-site open space as identified in the approved Master Plan;

·  A contribution of £7,492.13 towards the provision of book stock for the new Maidstone Library and History Centre;

·  A contribution of £27,970.31 to meet the cost of providing an additional three youth workers;

·  A contribution of £350 per dwelling unit for the Primary Care Trust to be spent within a two mile radius of the site;

·  The provision of 40% of the dwelling units as affordable housing (60% rental units, 40% shared ownership);

·  Measures to ensure that any applications for approval of reserved matters reflect the details and development principles within the Master Plan approved as part of the original Section 106 agreement; and

·  The following measures in relation to the transfer of the Country Park:-

Payment of £500,000 to cover the cost of establishing the Country Park (£125,000) and thereafter maintaining it (£375,000) in accordance with the management plan;

Transfer of the freehold interest in the part of the Country Park owned by the Owner (approximately 12ha) to the Council, Tovil Parish Council and the Valley Conservation Society to hold on trust as Trustees for each other;

Transfer of structural landscaping to the boundary in the north west corner of the site to the Council, Tovil Parish Council and the Valley Conservation Society; and

Following the transfer, the Council, Tovil Parish Council and the Valley Conservation Society will enter into a trust deed setting out the detailed provision by which the relationship between the three parties, insofar as it relates to the future of the Country Park, will operate.

the Head of Development Management be given delegated powers to grant permission subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report with the amendment of informative 5 and an additional informative as follows:-

Informative 5 (amended)

No burning should be carried out on site.

Additional Informative

You are advised that suitable space should be provided during construction for the parking of contractors and operatives vehicles within the site to avoid inconsiderate parking on nearby streets.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

All Members stated that they had been lobbied.

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

Mr Buckwell addressed the meeting on behalf of the applicant.

RESOLVED:  That permission be granted subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report, as amended by the urgent update report, with the deletion of (a) condition 11 completely and (b) the standard reason for approval.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Development Management.

Mr Burbidge addressed the meeting on behalf of an objector.

RESOLVED:  That permission be granted subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against   0 – Abstentions

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Development Management setting out details of an appeal decision received since the last meeting. 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

The Chairman announced that following the Landscape Character Assessment Workshop on 14 November, information packs, including copies of the presentations, had been circulated for Members’ information.

It was noted that there was nothing to report at present.

6.00 p.m. to 7.10 p.m.