Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Town Hall, High Street, Maidstone

Contact: Tessa Mallett  01622 602524

Items
No. Item

142.

Minutes silence

Minutes:

The Committee held a minute silence to show respect for Councillor Peter Parvin, who represented Leeds Ward for 20 years and passed away on the evening of 27 January 2015.

 

143.

The Committee to consider whether all items on the agenda should be webcast

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That all items on the agenda be webcast.

 

144.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors:

 

·  Ross;

·  De Wiggondene;

·  Willis, and;

·  Munford.

 

145.

Notification of Substitute Members

Minutes:

·  Councillor Hogg was substituting for Councillor Ross;

·  Councillor Ash was substituting for Councillor de Wiggondene;

·  Councillor Wilson was substituting for Councillor Willis, and;

·  Councillor Gooch was substituting for Councillor Munford.

 

146.

Notification of Visiting Members

Minutes:

Councillors Daley, Edwards-Daem, D Mortimer, Perry, Sams, Mrs Stockell and Thick were in attendance to address the committee on Item 8.

 

Councillors Blackmore, Burton, Greer, Newton and Ring were in attendance for Item 8 and reserved their right to address the Committee.

 

147.

Disclosures by Members and Officers

Minutes:

Councillor Springett declared an ‘Other Significant Interest’ by virtue of the fact that her property borders the boundary of site H1 (17) – Barty Farm, Bearsted.

 

Councillor Burton declared a Disclosable Pecuniary interest in site H1 (10) – Land South of Sutton Road, Langley.

 

Both councillors were to leave the room during discussion of these sites.

 

There were no disclosures by Officers.

 

148.

To consider whether any items should be taken in private because of the possible disclosure of exempt information

Minutes:

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

 

149.

Local Plan Employment and Mixed use Land Allocations and Results of the Consultation of the Economic Development Strategy (agenda item 9 for the meeting of 20 January 2015)

A report detailing the two options for the Planning, Transport and Development and Economic and Commercial Development Overview and Scrutiny committees to decide how they would like to meet to consider these two documents.

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered the two options for the joint meeting with the Economic and Commercial Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee (ECD OSC) to consider together the Local Plan Employment and Mixed Use Land Allocations and the results of the public consultation of the Economic and Commercial Development Strategy.

 

RESOLVED: that there is a joint working group with the ECD OSC to consider the together the Local Plan Employment and Mixed Use Land Allocations and the results of the public consultation on the Economic and Commercial Development Strategy.

 

150.

Maidstone Borough Local Plan - new amended site allocations (Item 8 of agenda for 20 January 2015)

To continue consideration of the proposed amendments to the sites identified for housing (Policy H1) in the regulation 18 Maidstone Borough Local Plan following public consultation on the draft Plan held between March and May 2014 (Appendix A and B Item 8 of agenda for 20 January 2015).

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed the Committee, visitors and Officers, Rob Jarman, Head of Planning and Development; Sarah Anderton, Principal Planning Officer, and; Steve Clarke, Principal Officer to the meeting.

 

The Chairman apologised for the error in allowing a member of the public to address the Committee at the meeting of 22 January 2015.  She was unaware the person in question was not a parish councillor.

 

The Chairman went on to re-affirm the ruling on who was allowed to address the Committee on item 8 Maidstone Borough Local Plan – new and amended site allocations.

 

The Committee continued their discussions on the sites in Appendix A of item 8 of the agenda for 20 January 2015.

 

The Chairman explained at the adjourned meeting on 22 January 2015 the Committee agreed that a cross party group from the Committee met with Planning Officers before this meeting to discuss the development criteria and parameters for sites H1 (7) – North of Bicknor Wood, Gore Court Road, Otham; H1 (8) – West of Church Road, Otham, and; H1 (9) – Bicknor Farm, Sutton Road, Otham.  The Chairman, Councillors English, Mrs Gooch and Powell met with Steve Clarke on 27 January.  As a result of the meeting a number of changes to the layout and configuration of the sites were being suggested and these proposed changes would be brought back to Committee for further consideration.  After this it was proposed these sites proceed to a further Regulation 18 consultation.

 

H1 (10) – South of Sutton Road, Langley

 

Councillor Burton left the Chamber during the discussions on this site.

 

Parish Councillor Taylor-Maggio addressed the Committee.  She raised the concerns of Langley Parish Council with sites H1 (9) and H1 (10) and the proposed 1,100 homes in the parish.  She stated the Bicknor Farm site was not just affecting Otham as a green buffer had been removed which was originally going to be included in the site and put in trust with Langley Amenity Trust to protect Langley from further development.  Councillor Taylor-Maggio also raised concerns regarding H1 (10) in terms of its size and a green area, which was originally not to be developed, shown as part of the development area.  She asked that this site be removed or reduced to 4/5 bedroomed houses and the reinstating of the green buffer.  She stated the Parish Council could not support this site as it would act as a magnet for further development.

 

The Chairman reminded the Committee that site H1 (9) was included in the discussions with Officers and would be brought back to the Committee for further consideration with sites H1 (7) and H1 (8).

 

Parish Councillor Ian Ellis from Boughton Monchelsea Parish Council addressed the Committee and requested that site H1 (10) be removed. He stated the Parish Council accepted there would be some development in the parish but felt this was one site too many.  There was a considerable concentration of development in a small area being proposed without the infrastructure to support  ...  view the full minutes text for item 150.

151.

Long Meeting

Minutes:

Prior to 10:30pm, during consideration of Maidstone Borough Local Plan – new and amended site allocations, the Committee considered whether to adjourn the meeting at 10:30pm or continue until 11:00pm if necessary.

 

RESOLVED: That the meeting continue until 11:00pm, if necessary.

 

152.

Future Work Programme

Minutes:

The Committee discussed the Future Work Programme and agreed that an item on the Invicta Barracks, Maidstone site should be included on the agenda for the meeting on 17 February 2015.

 

RESOLVED: that Committee:

 

Noted the Future Work Programme and agreed an item on Invicta Barracks, Maidstone be included on the agenda for the meeting of 17 February 2015;

 

Noted the List for Forthcoming Decisions at Appendix B, and;

 

Noted the SCRAIP update at Appendix C.

 

153.

Meeting Duration

Minutes:

15:00hrs to 22:55hrs