Agenda and minutes

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Clark, Round and Mrs Stockell.

The following Substitute Members were noted:

Councillor Brice for Councillor Round

Councillor M Burton for Councillor Mrs Stockell

Councillor Garten indicated his wish to speak on the report of the Head of Planning and Development relating to application 15/503232.

Councillor Naghi indicated his wish to speak on the report of the Head of Planning and Development relating to application 16/501604.

Councillor Newton indicated his wish to speak on the report of the Head of Planning and Development relating to application 16/503775.

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/matters to be considered at the meeting.

Councillor Boughton said that, with regard to the report of the Head of Planning and Development relating to application 16/503775, he had previously campaigned against housing development in the area.  However, he had not expressed a view on this particular application, and intended to speak and vote when it was discussed.

All Members except Councillors Brice and M Burton stated that they had been lobbied on the report of the Head of Planning and Development relating to application 16/501604.

All Members except Councillors Boughton, Brice, M Burton and Hemsley stated that they had been lobbied on the report of the Head of Planning and Development relating to application 15/503232.

All Members stated that they had been lobbied on the report of the Head of Planning and Development relating to application 16/503775.

There were no disclosures of lobbying on the report of the Head of Planning and Development relating to application 15/506851.

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

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 August 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed.

MINUTE 105 - 15/510179 - OUTLINE APPLICATION (ALL MATTERS RESERVED) FOR REDEVELOPMENT WITH UP TO 65 DWELLINGS AND ASSOCIATED VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN ACCESS, CAR AND CYCLE PARKING, STREET AND EXTERNAL LIGHTING, MAIN SERVICES, BIN STORES AND OTHER ANCILLARY DEVELOPMENT - 5 TONBRIDGE ROAD, MAIDSTONE, KENT

The Committee considered the urgent update report of the Head of Planning and Development.  It was noted that:

At the meeting of the Committee held on 4 August 2016, it was agreed that subject to the prior completion of a S106 legal agreement in such terms as the Head of Legal Partnership may advise to secure a number of financial contributions, the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to grant outline permission in respect of application 15/510179 subject to conditions and informatives. 

Following the Committee meeting it was noted that the contribution relating to community learning, whilst in line with the original recommendation, should have been per dwelling.  The Head of term should read (amendment shown in italics):

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

The financial contribution to the NHS had been defined as an absolute figure of £55,296.00.  Following discussions with the agent and due to the nature of the application being in outline and for up to 65 dwellings, it was recommended that this absolute figure be amended to refer to a contribution per dwelling.  This would amend the Head of term to read as follows:

·  A financial contribution to NHS Property Services to be calculated per dwelling as set out below to secure improvements to local surgery premises at The Vine Practice or Lockmeadow Clinic or The College Practice:

RESOLVED:  That the above-mentioned amendments to the Heads of Terms of the proposed S106 legal agreement in relation to application 15/510179 be approved.

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

The Principal Planning Officer advised Members that negotiations were still on-going.  It was hoped to report the application back to the Committee within the next couple of cycles.

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 Principal Planning Officer advised Members that further information had been received and put out to consultation.  The results of the consultation exercise were being considered, and it was hoped to report the application back to the next meeting of the Committee or the meeting after that.

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

Since no Members wished to speak against the application, Mr O’Quigley, the applicant, and Councillor Naghi (Visiting Member), withdrew their right to address the Committee.

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

Voting:  12 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

The Committee considered the report and the urgent update 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:  12 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

Mr Hoad, an objector, Councillor Bennett of Hollingbourne Parish Council (against) and Councillor Garten (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That consideration of this application be deferred to the next meeting of the Committee to obtain information on how the development will be constructed bearing in mind the narrowness of the access.

Voting:  10 – For  2 – Against  0 – Abstentions

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

Ms Lamb, for the applicant, and Councillor Newton (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting.

It was moved by Councillor Harwood, seconded by Councillor English, that subject to the prior completion of a S106 legal agreement, the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to grant permission subject to the conditions set out in the report, as amended by the second urgent update report, with the amendment of the Head of Term of the proposed S106 legal agreement relating to the establishment of a “development monitoring committee” to include Councillor Harwood as a member of the Committee and an amended condition 9 regarding the incorporation into the landscaping scheme of native trees and shrubs with downy leaves which are effective in capturing particulate pollutants from the atmosphere.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Prendergast, seconded by Councillor Powell, that the application be deferred for updated Air Quality Assessments based on the cumulative impact of this and other developments coming forward along the A274 Sutton Road.  When put to the vote, the amendment was lost.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 21.4, three Members of the Committee requested that a named vote be taken on the original motion.

The voting was as follows:

RESOLVED:  That subject to the prior completion of a S106 legal agreement, the precise details to be negotiated and agreed by the Head of Planning and Development in consultation with the Head of Legal Partnership, to secure the following:

·  The provision of 30% affordable residential units within the application site; the tenure split to be 38% shared ownership (31 units) and 62% social rented (50 units);

·  A financial contribution of £798,095.00, as calculated in Appendix A to the first urgent update report of the Head of Planning and Development, towards improvements to capacity at the junctions of Willington Street/Wallis Avenue and Sutton Road to be secured prior to commencement of development, subject to final amendments to be negotiated between the Head of Planning and Development acting under delegated powers and developers;

·  A financial contribution of £365,850.00, as calculated in Appendix A to the first urgent update report of the Head of Planning and Development, towards the subsidy required to enable the improvement of the bus service on routes 12 and 82 out to Bicknor Farm and into the land south of Sutton Road development with the prioritisation of high quality bus services serving Headcorn Railway Station, Bearsted Railway Station and the Cornwallis Academy with Real Time Information, Fast Track etc., subject to final amendments to be negotiated between the Head of Planning and Development acting under delegated powers and developers;

·  A financial contribution of £609,893.00 towards the land acquisition costs for provision of a new school at Langley Park and £903,000.00 towards  ...  view the full minutes text for item 130.

The Committee considered a schedule setting out details of S106 contributions held by the Council on behalf of infrastructure providers.  The schedule included details of schemes to be funded by S106 contributions and spend by dates.

It was noted that the Council was in a robust position in terms of the monitoring of spend dates and the timing and implementation of schemes going forward.

In response to questions, the Officers undertook to check whether it would be possible to keep Ward Members informed of projects to be funded by S106 contributions and to update the Staplehurst Ward Members direct regarding the Surrenden Road play area scheme associated with application 07/0629 (Parisfield).

RESOLVED:  That the schedule setting out details of S106 contributions held by the Council on behalf of infrastructure providers and the progress of schemes to be funded by 106 contributions be noted and that the Officers be thanked for their work on updating the information.

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.

6.00 p.m. to 7.45 p.m.