Agenda and minutes

It was noted that apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Kimmance.

It was noted that Councillor Mrs Wilson was substituting for Councillor Kimmance.

Councillor Brice indicated her wish to speak on the reports of the Head of Planning and Development relating to applications 18/502510

(11 Iden Crescent, Staplehurst, Tonbridge, Kent) and 18/501342 (Meadow View, Marden Road, Staplehurst, Tonbridge, Kent).

Councillor Fermor indicated her wish to speak on the report of the Head of Planning and Development relating to application 18/501181 (Land South of Redwall Lane, Linton, Kent).

Councillor Perry indicated his wish to speak on the report of the Head of Planning and Development relating to application 18/501342 (Meadow View, Marden Road, Staplehurst, Tonbridge, Kent).

There were none.

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

Councillor Harwood said that, with regard to the report of the Head of Planning and Development relating to application 18/502780 (Next, Eclipse Park, Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone), he was a Member of Boxley Parish Council, but he had not participated in the Parish Council’s discussions on the application, and intended to speak and vote when it was considered.

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

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 5 July 2018 be approved as a correct record and signed.

There were no petitions.

17/503237 - OUTLINE APPLICATION (SOME MATTERS RESERVED) FOR DEMOLITION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS, AND CESSATION OF COMMERCIAL USE ON SITE; ERECTION OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT PROVIDING 18 NO. UNITS, OF WHICH 12 X 1 BED AND 6 X 2 BED. PROVISION OF 16 PARKING SPACES/2 DISABLED SPACES AND 4 VISITOR SPACES. ACCESS, LAYOUT AND SCALE BEING SOUGHT - J B GARAGE DOORS, STRAW MILL HILL, TOVIL, MAIDSTONE, KENT

The Development Manager said that he hoped to report this application back to the Committee on 16 August 2018, depending upon the size of the agenda.

17/504412 – DEMOLITION OF STORAGE BUILDINGS AND ERECTION OF 5 DETACHED DWELLINGS, 2 CAR PORTS FOR PLOTS 1 AND 5, AND 2 TWO BAY CAR PORTS FOR THE EXISTING HOUSE AND BARN CONVERSION APPROVED UNDER 14/505872/FULL - IDEN GRANGE, CRANBROOK ROAD, STAPLEHURST, TONBRIDGE, KENT

The Development Manager said that he hoped to report this application back to the Committee on 16 August 2018, depending upon the size of the agenda.

17/503291 - ERECTION OF 6 NO. LIGHTWEIGHT COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL UNITS - THE PACKHOUSE, QUEEN STREET, PADDOCK WOOD, TONBRIDGE, KENT

The Development Manager said that he had nothing further to report in respect of this application at present.

18/501158 - PROVISION OF NEW FARM ACCESS TO KNOXBRIDGE FARM FROM THE A229, INCLUDING LANDSCAPING, CROSSING OVER STREAM AND BARRIER (RESUBMISSION OF 16/508630/FULL) - KNOXBRIDGE FARM, CRANBROOK ROAD, STAPLEHURST, TONBRIDGE, KENT

The Development Manager said that he had nothing further to report in respect of this application at present.

The Chairman and Councillors Bartlett, Harwood, Round and Mrs Wilson stated that they had been lobbied.

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

Mr Hallett, for the applicant, addressed the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That subject to the negotiation of a S106 contribution based on the percentage increase in floor space as a proportion of the S106 contribution secured in relation to application MA/12/2314, index linked, for projects in the Town Centre to mitigate the impact of the increased floor space on the Town Centre (the details to be negotiated and settled by the Head of Planning and Development acting under delegated powers), the Head of Planning and Development be given delegated powers to grant permission subject to the conditions set out in the report.

Voting:  8 – For  4 – Against  0 – Abstentions

Councillors Adkinson and Harwood requested that their dissent be recorded.

The Chairman and Councillors Bartlett and Round 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 set out in the report with an additional condition requiring the installation of a bat tube in the development (the wording to be finalised by the Head of Planning and Development acting under delegated powers).

Voting:  12 – For  0 – Against  0 - Abstentions

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

Mr Court, for the applicant, and Councillor Brice (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting.

In response to a question by a Member, the Development Manager confirmed that the second sentence of proposed condition 6 relating to the enhancement of biodiversity should read:

The scheme shall consist of the enhancement of biodiversity through integrated methods into the design and appearance of the extension by means such as swift bricks, bat tube or bat bricks.

RESOLVED:  That permission be granted subject to the conditions and informative set out in the report, as amended by the Development Manager at the meeting, with the amendment of condition 4 to specify that the landscaping scheme shall include a privet hedge instead of fencing to the boundary of the site (adjacent to the road) to soften the appearance of the development (the wording to be finalised by the Head of Planning and Development acting under delegated powers).

Voting:  12 – For  0 – Against  0 – Abstentions

Note:  During the discussion, it was suggested that, in future, it should be a requirement that landscaping schemes be submitted with applications.  Prior to the closure of the meeting, the Chairman said that he had made a note to raise this issue at the next meeting of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Political Group Spokespersons of the Planning Committee.

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.

The Principal Planning Officer advised the Committee that a further letter of objection had been received, the main points being:

·  Questioning the conclusion that the principle of the development was established as the Committee had made its decision on the basis of original condition 10 which it was now proposed to amend;

·  Expressing concern that the report did not refer to improvements required to increase capacity at Linton Crossroads and that no reference was made to the cumulative impact on traffic due to the recent grant of planning permission for a new medical centre in Heath Road; and

·  Commenting that the report contained no traffic statistics and there was a failure to recognise the impact of the development beyond the immediate locality.

Councillor Cresswell of Linton Parish Council, Mr Allen, for the applicant, and Councillor Fermor (Visiting Member) addressed the meeting.

During the discussion, it was proposed and seconded that permission be granted subject to the conditions and informative set out in the report, as amended by the urgent update report, with the amendment of the noise conditions to require compliance with BS4142 at all times, and that Kent County Council be asked to be a signatory (by way of a Deed of Variation) to the HGV routing requirements of the S106 agreement for application 16/508659, which would apply to this permission, as this is not enforceable by the Local Planning Authority.  It was also suggested that priority should be given to signage in regard to any mitigation from the Traffic Displacement Contribution (section 5 of Schedule 2 to the S106).

An amendment was moved, seconded and carried that consideration of this application be deferred to enable further negotiations with the applicant regarding the redrafting of condition 10 (formerly 9) to specify a time limit in months when the up to 32 in or out movements is permitted (for example, 1 November to 31 May) with a lower threshold for the months outside this time frame.

RESOLVED:  That consideration of this application be deferred to enable further negotiations with the applicant regarding the redrafting of condition 10 (formerly 9) to specify a time limit in months when the up to 32 in or out movements is permitted (for example, 1 November to 31 May) with a lower threshold for the months outside this time frame.

Voting:  6 – For  5 – Against  1 – Abstention

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

Councillor Burnham of Staplehurst Parish Council, Mr Jones, for the applicant, and Councillors Brice and Perry (Visiting Members) addressed the meeting.

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

Voting:  11 – For  0 – Against  1 - Abstention

The Chairman said that a meeting of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Political Group Spokespersons of the Planning Committee had taken place recently, and the outcome of the discussions would be fed back to all other Members of the Committee.

The Chairman asked the Committee to agree to the inclusion of an item on the next appropriate agenda referring to the Democracy Committee the issue of the Planning and Licensing Committees being consulted on the use of budgetary underspends.  The Committee raised no objection to this request.

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

In response to a question by a Member, the Chairman said that an item would be put on the agenda for the next meeting of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Political Group Spokespersons of the Committee to enable a discussion on the principle of sending copies of appeal decisions to Ward Members.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

6.00 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.