Agenda and minutes

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Ash and Garland.

It was noted that Councillor Butler was substituting for Councillor Ash.

There were no Visiting Members.

MA/12/0828 - ERECTION OF TEN 1-BEDROOM ALMSHOUSES AND A DAY ROOM AND PROVISION OF ENLARGED CAR PARKING AREA INCLUDING THE DEMOLITION OF EXISTING GARAGE/STORE BUILDING - HARRIETSHAM ALMSHOUSES, EAST STREET, HARRIETSHAM, MAIDSTONE

The Committee considered the urgent update report of the Head of Planning.  It was noted that this application had been withdrawn by the applicant.

Update Report

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

Councillor Collins disclosed an Other Significant Interest in the report of the Head of Planning relating to application MA/12/0447.  He stated that the applicant was known to him and that he would leave the meeting when the application was discussed.

The Chairman stated that although he had been involved as a Ward Member in the discussions on the matters in respect of which application MA/10/0157 was deferred, he had not yet made up his mind as to how he would vote.

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

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 June 2012 be approved as a correct record and signed.

There were no petitions.

All Members stated that they had been lobbied.

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

RESOLVED:  That permission be granted subject to the conditions and informative set out in the report as amended by the urgent update report.

Voting:  6 – For  3 – Against  1 – Abstention

Note:

Councillor Thick left the meeting during consideration of this application (6.15 p.m.).

Councillor J A Wilson left the meeting during consideration of this application, but returned prior to consideration of application MA/12/0447.

Having disclosed an Other Significant Interest, Councillor Collins left the meeting whilst this application was discussed.

All Members stated that they had been lobbied.

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

Councillor Sawtell of Hunton Parish Council (in support) and Mr Blything, for the applicant, addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That permission be refused for the reason set out in the report.

Voting:  7 – For  3 – Against  0 – Abstentions

The Chairman stated that he had been lobbied.

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

Mrs Bebbington, an objector, and Mr Bradley, the applicant, addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.  That outline permission be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report, as amended by the urgent update report, the additional condition and informative set out in the urgent update report and the following additional informative:-

  The scale and design of the proposed building should respond positively to numbers 36A and 36B Huntington Road.

2.  That the Ward Members should be kept informed of progress in relation to this development.

Voting:  9 – For  2 – Against  0 – Abstentions

All Members except Councillors Butler, Collins, Hogg and J A Wilson stated that they had been lobbied.

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

Mr Tice, an objector, Councillor Hewitt of Bredhurst Parish Council (against) and Mrs Hales, the applicant, addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That subject to the expiry of the consultation period and the receipt of no representations raising new issues material to the decision, the Head of Planning be given delegated powers to grant permission subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report, as amended by the urgent update report, and the additional conditions set out in the urgent update report with the amendment of condition 4 as follows:-

Notwithstanding the details submitted on drawing no. 2022-005 Rev A received 16/07/12, no development shall take place until there has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority a scheme of landscaping, using indigenous species, which shall include a tree protection plan and the provision of a native hedge to the front boundary.  The scheme shall be designed using the principles established in the Council’s adopted Landscape Character Assessment and Landscape Guidelines.  The approved protection measures shall be implemented before any equipment, machinery or materials are brought onto the site and shall be maintained until all equipment, machinery and surplus materials have been removed from the site.  Nothing shall be stored or placed, nor fires lit, within any of the areas protected in accordance with this condition.  The siting of barriers/ground protection shall not be altered, nor ground levels changed, nor excavations made within these areas without the written consent of the Local Planning Authority.

Reason:  No such details have been submitted and to ensure a satisfactory setting and external appearance to the development.  This is in accordance with policy ENV6 of the Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000, policies CC1 and CC6 of the South East Plan 2009 and the guidance contained within the National Planning Policy Framework 2012.

Voting:  9 – For  0 – Against  2 – Abstentions

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

Councillor Armstrong of Sutton Valence Parish Council (against) and Mr Green, the applicant, addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That permission be granted subject to the condition set out in the report as amended by the urgent update report.

Voting:  11 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

Councillor Godfrey of Lenham Parish Council (against) and Mr Blything, for the applicant, addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That permission be granted subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report, the additional condition set out in the urgent update report and the following additional conditions:-

The development shall not commence until details of all fencing, walling and other boundary treatments have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and the development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details before the first occupation of the building(s) or land and maintained thereafter.

Reason:  To ensure a satisfactory appearance to the development and to safeguard the enjoyment of their properties by existing and prospective occupiers in accordance with policy BE1 of the South East Plan 2009.

No development shall take place until there has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority a scheme of landscaping, using indigenous species, which shall include indications of all existing trees and hedgerows on the land, and details of any to be retained, together with measures for their protection in the course of development and a programme for the approved scheme's implementation and long term management.  The scheme shall be designed using the principles established in the Council's adopted Landscape Character Assessment and Landscape Guidelines.

Reason:  To ensure a satisfactory setting and external appearance to the development in accordance with policy BE1 of the South East Plan 2009.

All planting, seeding or turfing comprised in the approved details of landscaping shall be carried out in the first planting and seeding seasons following the occupation of the building(s) or the completion of the development, whichever is the sooner; and any trees or plants which within a period of five years from the completion of the development die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased shall be replaced in the next planting season with others of similar size and species, unless the Local Planning Authority gives written consent to any variation.

Reason:  To ensure a satisfactory setting and external appearance to the development in accordance with policy BE1 of the South East Plan 2009.

Voting:  11 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning.

RESOLVED:  That permission be granted subject to the condition set out in the report.

Voting:  11 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning.

RESOLVED:  That advertisement consent be granted subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  11 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning.

RESOLVED:  That permission be granted subject to the condition set out in the report.

Voting:  11 – For  0 – Against  0 - Abstentions

See Minute 64 above.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning setting out details of appeal decisions received since the last meeting.  The representative of the Head of Planning advised the Committee that the appeal decision in relation to application MA/11/0395 was interesting in terms of the Inspector’s interpretation of the National Planning Policy Framework insofar as it related to backland development.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

The Chairman announced that he wished to draw Members’ attention to the following training session:-

Member/Parish Training – National Planning Policy Framework –

2 August 2012 at 6.00 p.m. at the Town Hall.

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

6.00 p.m. to 7.55 p.m.