Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairman opened the meeting by setting out the manner in which he intended to conduct the Committee’s business so that the meeting could deal with the challenges posed by its Virtual nature in the most efficient way practical.  He explained that, in order to help the smooth running of the meeting, he would formally move the recommendations of the Head of Planning Applications Group prior to the consideration of each application. This did not in any way imply any intention on his part to indicate his views on the application.

RESOLVED that the Protocol appended to the report be adopted in order to facilitate the smooth working of the Committee’s virtual meetings.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2020 are correctly recorded and that they be signed by the Chairman.

(1)       The Committee noted that its next meeting would take place on Wednesday, 10 June 2020.

(2)       The Head of Planning Applications Group informed the Committee that active consideration was being given to the question of alternative arrangements for Members’ site visits in accordance with Government advice. This included the Members’ site tour of the Covers Quarry application site in Westerham which had not been able to take place as intended at the beginning of May 2020 (Minute 20/9).

The Head of Planning Applications Group reported that the Government appointed Inspector to independently examine the Early Partial  Review of the Kent Minerals and Waste Plan and the Minerals Sites Plan had concluded that both documents were legally sound subject to the modifications that were considered at the Examination. They could now be formally adopted by the County Council later in the year. 

(1)       Mr M A C Balfour informed the Committee that he was the Local Member for this application.  As he had not commented on this application in this capacity or as a Borough Councillor, he was able to approach its determination with an open mind.

(2)       Mrs S Hamilton was present for this item and addressed the Committee.

(3)       The Committee added an additional Informative drawing attention to the views of the Environment Agency in respect of several invasive non-native species (i.e. Giant Hogweed and Winter Heliotrope) known to be locally present and that it is illegal to cause them to be spread elsewhere.  Attention was also drawn to the Agency’s guidance on potential biosecurity protocols that should be followed.

(4)       Mr H Rayner informed the Committee that as he had not been able to be present for the entire discussion of this application, he would not participate in its determination.

(5)       On being put to the vote, the recommendations of the Head of Planning Applications Group (which had been seconded by Mr J Wright after having been formally moved by the Chairman)  were unanimously agreed as amended in (3) above.

(6)     RESOLVED that:-

(a)          the Application be approved subject to a condition specifying that no further works take place (including ground works and vegetation clearance)untila methodstatement forthe protectionof biodiversity hasbeen submittedto andapprovedin writingby KCC.  The methodstatement,which shall beinformedby anappended up-to-datepreliminary ecological appraisal (PEA)and (asnecessary)protectedspeciessurveysshallbe implementedas approved; and

(b)          the applicants be advised by Informative that:-

(i)           ifthe PEAandprotectedspeciessurveysindicatethat someor all ofthe furtherworksare ecologicallyunacceptable, itwill be necessaryfortherestorationschemeto be revisitedandfurther revised; and

(ii)       in undertaking the development, attention is drawn to the views of the Environment Agency in respect of several invasive non-native species (i.e. Giant Hogweed and Winter Heliotrope) known to be locally present and that it is illegal to cause them to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

(1)             Mr P M Harman informed the Committee that he was the Local Member for this application.  As he had not commented on this application in this capacity or as a Borough or Town Councillor, he was able to approach its determination with an open mind.

(2)         The Head of Planning Applications Group informed the Committee of correspondence from the Local Member, Mrs P T Cole in support of the Proposal.

(3)         The Head of Planning Applications Group informed the Committee of correspondence from Stone PC in support of the Proposal.

(4)         The Head of Planning Applications Group referred to paragraph 112 of the report in which it was stated that the applicant did not propose piling.  She said that some piling would be taking place in Eastern Quarry.  This was, however, covered by the Condition in the recommendations which had been recommended by Thames Water.   

(5)         The Clerk to the meeting read out written representations to the Committee which had been received from Mr Gordon Pratt (Managing Director of KENEXTram) as well as the reply on behalf of the applicants from Ms Deborah Day from Jacobs. 

(6)       The Committee agreed to add an additional Informative requesting the applicant to further consider not infilling the northern tunnel and to consider an alternative means of blocking off the tunnel.

(7)         On being put to the vote, the recommendations of the Head of Planning Applications Group (which had been seconded by Mr H Rayner after having been formally moved by the Chairman) were unanimously agreed as amended in (6) above.

(8)       RESOLVED that:-

(a)          permission be granted to the proposal subject toconditions, including conditions coveringthe standard3 yeartime limit; thedevelopmentbeing carriedout inaccordancewith thepermitteddetails; the submission andapprovalof detailsof externalhardlandscape materialsand the proposed fencing; the submission and approval of adetailedsustainablesurface water drainagescheme includingappropriateoperational, maintenance andaccess requirements prior to commencement; the submissionand approvalof aVerificationReport pertainingtothe surfacewater drainagesystem todemonstrate the suitablemodelled operationof thedrainage system; the submission prior to commencement of details to satisfactorilydemonstratethe diversion of thewater assetto preventthe potentialfor damageto the subsurface potable waterinfrastructure; the submissionand approvalof further details ofthelength and depth ofthe provisionof twin 800mmdiameter pipesand headwallproposedas aculvertforthe EasternQuarry where it crossesthe proposedaccessroad; arrangementsto addressany unfore  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

RESOLVED to note matters dealt with under delegated powers since the last meeting relating to:-

(a)          County matter applications;

(b)        County Council developments;

(c)          Screening Opinions under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017;

(d)          Scoping Opinions under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017; and

(e)          the Urgent decision taken under Sections 10.15 and 10.16 of Part 2 of the Constitution in respect of the Temporary Body Storage Facility in response to the COVID-19 pandemic at the former County Workshops site in Aylesford.      

RESOLVED to note Kent County Council’s responses to the following consultations:-

(a)          Lenham Neighbourhood Plan – Regulation 16 Consultation Submission Version;

(b)       Planning for Growth on the Hoo Peninsula; and

(c)       Ashford BC – Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).