Agenda and minutes

The Committee noted the appointment of Mr A R Chell in place of Mr C Hibberd.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2009 are correctly recorded and that they be signed by the Chairman.

(1)                Correspondence from Mrs V J Dagger, the local Member was tabled.

(2)       The Head of Planning Applications Group informed the Committee of two Planning Policies that should have been specifically referenced in the report. These were: Policy C3 of the emerging South East Plan and Policy EN4 of the Kent and Medway Structure Plan (2006).

(3)       The Head of Planning Applications Group reported the further comments of Wrotham Parish Council and Borough Green Parish Council together with the comments of the South East England Regional Assembly. The latter raised no objection subject to the Highways Authority and Highways Agency being satisfied with the proposal and to the imposition of Air Quality and Noise Mitigation measures.  She also reported that Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council had not commented on the proposal.

(4)       Mr M Taylor from Borough Green Parish Council, Mr H Rayner from Wrotham Parish Council and Mr R Saunders from Keep Boroughs Green addressed the Committee in opposition to the Application. Mr A Scott from Cemex spoke in reply on behalf of the applicants.

(5)       RESOLVED that:-

(a)    permission be granted to the application subject to all other conditions and informatives attached to Permission TM/06/2171 being repeated (with minor amendments as necessary) and to Conditions (5) and (6) of Permission TM/06/2171 being reworded as follows:-

                        “Condition 5:  Unless otherwise agreed beforehand in writing by the County Planning Authority, HGVs associated with the quarry restoration, landfill and recycling operations shall not leave the site during school term time at Wrotham School between the hours of 0800 and 0845 and 1500 and 1545 Monday to Friday. In addition, the operator shall use its best endeavours to prevent HGVs arriving at the site during these periods. For the purposes of this condition “best endeavours” shall include the operator informing its customers of the above restrictions, requesting that they comply with them and only allowing HGVs to exceptionally enter the site during these hours when not to do so would lead to HGVs parking or queuing on Wrotham Road whilst waiting to enter the site.”  (The reasons for this condition are the interests of both highway safety and local amenity and the avoidance of unnecessary conflict with other road users at the start and end of the school day.)

 “Condition 6: HGV movements associated with the quarry restoration, landfill and recycling operations shall, together, not exceed 182 HGV movements per day (91 in / 91 out).” (The reason for this Condition is to limit the total number of HGV movements associated with operations at the site in the interests of highway safety and local amenity; and pursuant to Kent and Medway Structure Plan Policies TP15, WM2 and MN2 and Kent Waste Local Plan Policies W18 and W22.); and

(b)       the applicant be invited to submit further applications to amend the requirements of conditions attached to Permissions TM/93/305 and TM/01/1205/MR86, as amended by Permissions TM/08/2981 and TM/08/3175, to provide consistency with the restrictions set out in Condition 5 (as amended  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

RESOLVED that permission be granted to the proposal subject to conditions including conditions covering the standard time limit; the development being carried out in accordance with the permitted details; details and samples of the external materials in accordance with those indicated in the application being submitted to and approved by the County Planning Authority prior to the development being commenced, and the development subsequently being carried out using the approved materials; no trees, shrubs and hedges being lopped, topped or removed as a result of the development, and all necessary measures being undertaken to ensure their protection before, during and after construction; and control over the hours of construction.

(1)       Mrs PAV Stockell made a declaration of personal interest as she had previously given her views on the proposal at a meeting of Maidstone Borough Council. She gave her views as the local Member but took no part in the decision-making.

(2)       Mrs S Thompson, Head of Planning Applications Group declared an interest as the Chair of the Parent Forum of Cornwallis School and as a parent pf a pupil at the School.  She therefore did not advise the Committee on the proposal. The Principal Planning Officer, Mr J Crossley acted as the Lead Officer for this item.

(3)       Correspondence from Coxheath Parish Council, Linton Parish Council and from Mr M Stevens, Clerk to Linton Parish Council was tabled.

(4)       The Transport and Development Business Manager advised that a crash remedial scheme for the A229/ Heath Road crossroad had been designed and had been proposed for construction in 2010/11.  He also advised that cycling strategies were likely to be developed in the near future.  These schemes and strategies were, however, independent of the proposal under discussion.

(5)       In agreeing to permit the proposal, the Committee agreed to include an Informative to advise of its view that the crash remedial scheme and cycling strategies should be progressed at the same time as the permitted development took place.

(6) RESOLVED that:-

(a)       permission be granted to the proposal subject to conditions including conditions covering the standard time limit; the development being carried out in accordance with the permitted details; the submission of details of all materials to be used externally, including the submission of details of door and window reveals; details of all external lighting; rating noise level from the plant not exceeding the existing LA90 when measured at the nearest residential property; a scheme of landscaping, including hard surfacing, its implementation and maintenance; measures to protect those trees to be retained; an Arboricultural Method Statement; a bat survey being undertaken prior to demolition of the existing school buildings; a habitat/biodiversity enhancement strategy, including monitoring and management; protection of badgers from construction activities; no tree removal during the bird breeding season; the development according with the recommendations of the ecological survey; details of fencing, gates and means of enclosure, including colour finishes; archaeological works; “Secured by Design” principles being adopted; a BREEAM rating of ‘Very Good’ being achieved; the playing field being provided and marked out as shown on the proposed site plan; a community use agreement relating to use of the indoor and outdoor facilities, including hours of use and nature of use; the provision of car parking, cycle parking, access and turning areas; details of cycle parking design and phased implementation; promotion of a Traffic Regulation Order and a contribution of £2000 if successful; preparation, submission for approval, implementation and ongoing review of a revised School Travel Plan; provision of visibility splays, including improvements to the visibility splays at the sites exit; details of foul and surface water drainage; control of discharge of foul/contaminated drainage; survey work regarding land  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

(1)       Corresondence from the local Member, Mr G Rowe in support of the proposal was tabled.

(2)       Mr P Lambert, a local resident from Pear Tree Avenue addressed the Committee in opposition to the proposal. Mrs S Stafford, Deputy Head Teacher and Early Years Co-ordinator of Ditton Infant School spoke in reply as the applicant.

(3)   RESOLVED that permission be granted to the proposal subject to conditions including conditions covering the development being commended within 3 years from the date of permission; and the development being carried out in accordance with the permitted details.

RESOLVED that permission be granted to the proposal subject to conditions including conditions covering the standard time limit; the development being carried out in accordance with the permitted details; a groundwater protection condition; removal of all mobile classrooms prior to the first occupation of the development; the recommendations set out in the Tree Impact Assessment Report being adhered to; foundation design; external materials; a landscaping scheme; tree protection measures;  details of car parking surface treatment and a construction method statement; details of construction access and temporary accommodation; and the preparation and submission of School Travel Plan prior to first occupation of new classroom block.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)       permission be granted to the proposal for a temporary period of 3 years from the date of permission subject to conditions including conditions covering removal of the classroom unit from site at the expiration of the 3 year period and the subsequent restoration of the site thereafter; and the development being carried out in accordance with the permitted details; and

(b)       the applicants be advised by Informative that the County Planning Authority would wish to see urgent action taken to resolve the temporary classroom accommodation at Tunstall Primary School during the three-year temporary consent timescale.

RESOLVED to note reports on items dealt with under delegated powers since the last meeting relating to:-

(a)               County matter applications;

(b)               consultations on applications submitted by District Councils or Government Departments;

(c)               County Council developments;

(d)               Screening opinions under Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 1999; and

(e)               Scoping opinions under Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations 1999.

(1)       The Head of Planning Applications Group reported that the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Planning Forum (a partnership of the local authorities directly affected by the rail link and Union Railways and its planning advisors) had received the Royal Town Planning Institute’s national award for planning excellence for their work on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

(2)       RESOLVED that the Planning Applications Group be congratulated on the receipt of this prestigious award.