Agenda and minutes

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Cox and Prendergast.

The following Substitute Members were noted:

Councillor M Burton for Councillor Prendergast

Councillor Fermor for Councillor Cox

Councillor McLoughlin indicated his wish to speak on the report of the Head of Planning and Development relating to application 16/501263.

Councillor Webb indicated his wish to speak on the report of the Head of Planning and Development relating to application 13/1607 in his capacity as both Ward Member and Member/representative of Coxheath Parish Council.

There were none.

The Chairman said that, in his opinion, the update reports of the Head of Planning and Development should be taken as urgent items as they contained further information relating to applications to be considered at the meeting.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

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

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed.

There were no petitions.

14/504109 - ADVERTISEMENT CONSENT FOR THE INSTALLATION OF 2 NO. NON-ILLUMINATED METAL POLE MOUNTED SIGNS (RETROSPECTIVE APPLICATION) - HUNTON C OF E PRIMARY SCHOOL, BISHOPS LANE, HUNTON, KENT

15/503223 – PART RETROSPECTIVE - CHANGE OF USE AND REBUILDING OF FORMER CATTLE SHED TO PROVIDE TOURIST ACCOMMODATION - BLETCHENDEN MANOR FARM, BLETCHENDEN ROAD, HEADCORN, KENT

The Development Manager advised Members that, with regard to application 14/504109, alternative locations for the signage were awaited.  Further details were also awaited in respect of application 15/503223.  In response to questions by Members about timescales, the Development Manager said that he would emphasise to the respective Case Officers the need to expedite the reporting back of these applications to the Committee.

Councillors Boughton and English stated that they had been lobbied.

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

The Principal Planning Officer advised the Committee that, having regard to advice received from the Head of Legal Partnership, it was suggested that reference to the setting up of a management company to deal with parking enforcement and upkeep of any common areas within the site be removed from the Heads of Terms of the proposed S106 legal agreement and that the issue be dealt with by the imposition of the following condition to replace original condition 19:

Prior to the first occupation, a plan for the management of the communal areas of the site and estate roads shall be submitted for approval by the Local Planning Authority.  Such a plan should include the following:

The areas within the scope of the management plan and the maintenance requirements of these;

Method and works schedule for maintaining communal areas and estate roads;

Details of the parking control measures to be implemented within estate and access roads;

Details on the enforcement of parking control measures;

The setting up of an appropriate management body;

The legal and funding mechanism(s) by which the long term implementation of the plan will be secured by the developer with the management body(ies) responsible for its delivery; and

Ongoing monitoring of implementation of the plan.

The approved plan will be implemented in full accordance with the approved details and retained in operation thereafter.

Reason:  To ensure the amenity of residents and the character and appearance of the development.

Mr Thurlow addressed the meeting on behalf of the applicant.

RESOLVED:  

1.  Thatsubject to the prior completion of a S106 legal agreement in such terms as the Head of Legal Partnership may advise to secure the following:

·  A financial contribution of £2,360.96 per applicable house and £590.24 per applicable flat towards an extension to South Borough Primary School to allow permanent expansion to 2 Form Entry;

·  A financial contribution of £2,359.80 per applicable house and £589.95 per applicable flat towards the first phase of expansion of Maplesden Noakes School;

·  A financial contribution of £48.02 per dwelling towards additional book stock required to mitigate the impact of the new borrowers from this development;

·  A financial contribution of £30.70 towards community learning facilities; specifically towards portable equipment for the new adult learners in Maidstone;

·  A financial contribution of £8.49 per dwelling towards additional equipment to be supplied to InfoZone Youth Centre for the new attendees;

·  A financial contribution of £55,296.00 to deliver investment in The Vine Practice, Lockmeadow Clinic or The College Practice; and

·  A financial contribution of £1,575.00 per dwelling towards the resurfacing of the MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area), tennis courts and pathways within Clare Park as well as improvements to the bowls green, general maintenance, improvements and refurbishments of existing equipment of sports, play and ancillary items of Cornwallis Park or the improvement of paths, signage, shrub planting, tree  ...  view the full minutes text for item 105.

Councillors Boughton and English stated that they had been lobbied.

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

RESOLVED:  That subject to no representations raising new material issues being received in response to the re-notification exercise, the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to grant permission subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

Councillor Round stated that he had been lobbied.

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

Mr Norton, for the applicant, and Councillor McLoughlin (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting.

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:

·  A financial contribution of £59,024.00 towards the enhancement of St Margaret’s Primary School, Collier Street;

·  A financial contribution of £29,232.00 to be invested in improvements within primary care by way of extension, refurbishment and/or upgrade in order to provide the required capacity at Yalding Surgery and The Pond Surgery; and

·  A financial contribution of £61,744.00 towards off-site affordable housing in the Borough,

the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to grant permission subject to the conditions and informative set out in the report.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

All Members stated that they had been lobbied.

Councillor Mrs Stockell stated that she was the County Councillor for Coxheath.

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

Councillor Webb (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting in his capacity as both Ward Member (representing the parishes of Coxheath and East Farleigh which had made representations on the application) and Member/representative of Coxheath Parish Council (against).

RESOLVED:  That permission be granted subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report, as amended by the urgent update reports, with the amendment of conditions 13 and 20 and an additional condition as follows:

Condition 13 (amended)

No development shall take place until full details of a landscaping and planting scheme comprising native and near native cultivars for all internal planting (excluding boundary planting) has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and these works shall be carried out as approved before the commencement of the use or the occupation of any building hereby approved, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The details shall include on a plan, full details of the size, species, spacing, quantities and location of proposed plants, together with any hard surfacing, means of enclosure, and indications of all existing trees, hedges and any other features to be retained, and measures for their protection during the course of development.  Any plants found to be dead, diseased or dying within a five year period following completion of the planting scheme shall be replaced with plants of an identical size and species.

Reason:  To ensure a satisfactory appearance to the development.

Condition 20 (amended)

Prior to first use of the site approved by this permission, the 2 passing bays shown on drawing 1117.02 Rev C alongside the carriageway on Forstal Lane shall be completed, surfaced, drained and adopted in accordance with a scheme secured through a S278 agreement with the Highways Authority.

Reason:  In the interests of highway safety.

Additional Condition

The development shall not commence until details of biodiversity enhancements that shall include bat tubes within the utility building hereby approved have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The development shall be built in accordance with the approved details and all features shall be retained in that manner thereafter.

Reason:  In the interest of biodiversity protection.

Voting:  8 – For  2 – Against  3 - Abstentions

FURTHER RESOLVED:  That Maidstone Borough Council Parking Services be requested to consider the making of a Traffic Regulation Order to prevent parking in the passing bays to be provided alongside the carriageway on Forstal Lane.

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

The Chairman and Councillor English stated that they had been lobbied.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning and Development.

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

Voting:  13 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

Councillor Clark left the meeting after consideration of this application (8.15 p.m.).

Councillors Boughton, English and Harwood stated that they had been lobbied.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning and Development.

RESOLVED:  That subject to the prior completion of a S106 legal agreement or deed of variation in such terms as the Head of Legal Partnership may advise to secure a financial contribution of £10,000.00 for pedestrian improvements/phasing to the traffic light signals on the crossroads of Hermitage Lane/Fountain Lane/Heath Road/St Andrews Road (in lieu of the condition requiring the provision of a pedestrian refuge), the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to grant permission subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report.

Voting:  8 – For  3 – Against  1 - Abstention

Councillor Boughton requested that his dissent be recorded.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Planning and Development setting out details of appeal decisions received since the last meeting.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

There were no announcements on this occasion.

Reference was made to the need to involve Members in pre-application discussions and to encourage Officers and applicants/agents to ensure as far as possible that they take place.

6.00 p.m. to 8.50 p.m.