Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 March 2013 are correctly recorded and that they be signed by the Chairman.

(1)       The Committee noted that its provisional additional meeting on 18 April 2013 would not take place.  This was because there were now no urgent School Basic Needs applications needing to be considered by the Committee before its next meeting in June and because the applicants for the only other application which might have been considered had very recently provided additional technical and legal information to the Planners that needed further consideration.

The Head of Planning Applications Group informed the Committee that the Public Inquiry into the proposed westerly extension to Hermitage Quarry, Aylesford (Minutes 2011/37 and 2012/69) had ended and that the Planning Inspector had concluded his report, which had been forwarded to the  Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for his decision.  This report remained confidential pending a final decision by the Secretary of State.

(1)       Mr J A Davies informed the Committee that he had received correspondence from Julian Brazier, MP and from Sir Roger Gale, MP in respect of the application.  He was acquainted with Julian Brazier, MP but this was not a close personal association. He was therefore to approach the determination of the application with a fresh mind.

(2)       Mr C Hibberd informed the Committee that he was acquainted with Sir Roger Gale, MP.  This was not a close personal association and he had not discussed the application with him. He was therefore able to approach the determination of the application with a fresh mind.

(3)       Mr R A Marsh was present for this item pursuant to Committee Procedure Rule 2.27 and spoke.

(4)       Mr Huw Edwards from Barton Willmore addressed the Committee (with the agreement of the Chairman) as a representative of all the businesses on the estate. Mr George Wilson and Mrs Georgina Glover (Westbere PC) also addressed the Committee in opposition to the application.  Mr Mike Goddard (Goddard Planning Consultancy) spoke in reply on behalf of the applicants

(5)       The Chairman informed the Committee that both Julian Brazier, MP and Sir Roger Gale, MP had written to him in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee and had asked him bring the views they had expressed to the Committee’s attention. The Chairman then read their letters to the meeting. 

(6)       The Head of Planning Applications Group reported additional correspondence dated 6 April 2013 from residents of Upstreet opposing the application. She advised that the correspondence did not raise any additional issues to those raised in the report.

(6)       Mr W A Hayton moved, seconded by Mr C P Smith that the recommendations of the Head of Planning Applications Group be agreed.

                                                            Carried 9 votes to 8.

(7)       RESOLVED that:-

(a)       permission be granted to the application subject to conditions including conditions covering the existing conditions on the 2010 permission (or details approved pursuant thereto) being carried forward as appropriate (except where amended by those below); waste types and quantities; the installation and use of an odour suppression system; the closure of the automatic fast action fabric inner doors of the waste transfer building at all times except to allow vehicles to enter and leave the building (or for emergency maintenance when such repairs cannot be undertaken when the building contains no waste); waste being stored within the waste transfer building for no more than 48 hours and, wherever possible, not after 12:00 hours on Saturdays or at any time on Sundays; hours of use; noise from the entire development being limited to 52dB L_Ar,T(free field) when measured at any residential property; the implementation of measures to control vermin and pests (e.g. flies); no more than 324 HGV movements (162 in / 162 out) per day associated with all waste management operations at the site; the proposed foul water arrangements being implemented as proposed; and the requirement for a further landscaping scheme to be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

(1)       Mr R J Parry informed the Committee that he had been lobbied as the Local Member by a number of constituents about the application.  He had not, however, debated the merits of the application with them and he remained in a position to approach its determination with a fresh mind.

(2)       Mr R J Parry left the meeting before this item was considered.  The Chairman had previously agreed to his request to formally move an amendment to the Head of Planning Applications Group’s recommendations.  This amendment was seconded by Mr C P Smith. The proposed amendment asked the Committee to include a condition prohibiting lorry movements during the morning and evening rush hours in order to mitigate the increased congestion on the A25. It also sought to ensure that all noisy “house keeping” activities took place in the morning rather than in the evening after the site had closed to the public. 

                                                            Motion Lost                                      

(3)       RESOLVED that the application be referred to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and that subject to him giving no direction to the contrary permission be granted to the application subject to the prior satisfactory conclusion of a Section 106 Legal Agreement to secure the draft Heads of Terms set out in Appendix A of the report and to conditions, including conditions covering the development being commenced within 5 years; the development being carried out in accordance with the submitted plans and any approved pursuant to the conditions set out below;  the submission of details of the final colour finish to the building; the submission of details of all fencing and boundary treatment including any retaining walls; the submission for approval of a final landscape strategy and planting specification; the submission for approval of the final car park layout; the submission of details of the proposed dust and odour suppression system and associated management practices; tree protection measures during construction; the foul and surface water drainage scheme shall be implemented as proposed; the implementation of the recommendations set out with the Geo-environmental Investigation report, including recommended gas protection measures; the external lighting being implemented as proposed; the implementation of the mitigation and enhancement measures proposed with in the Ecological Evalution and Impact Assessment; details of measures to be taken during construction if contamination not previously identified is found on site; precautions to guard against the deposit of mud on the highway during the construction period;  controls on the hours of operation during the construction period; controls on the hours of operation of both the  Waste Transfer Station (WTS) and the Household Waste recycling Centre (HWRC) to those applied for (as set out in paragraph 19 of the report); the entrance to the site being secured outside operational hours; all external lighting being extinguished outside the hours of operation (with the exception of low level security lighting or during any repair or maintenance); controls on the total combined waste throughput (to a maximum of 120,000tpa); only those wastes specified within the planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

RESOLVED that permission be granted to the application subject to conditions covering the standard time limit; the development being carried out strictly in accordance with the approved details; hours of operation being 0800 to 1730 on Mondays to Fridays and 0800 to 1300 on Saturdays; types and throughput of materials; the area set aside for storage; manoeuvring and parking areas being safeguarded for such purposes; a height restriction on stockpiles and skip storage; a noise levels restriction on vehicle movements;  measures to avoid mud and debris on the public highway; prior to commencement of development: details of a scheme of ecological enhancements outlined in the ecology report, together with their longer term management; specific details of the fencing to be installed, including measures to ensure that the existing hedge screening is protected during its erection; and details of a surface water management scheme for the site.

(1)       A copy of a letter from Mr J Edwards-Winser had been sent to all Members of the Committee with the agenda papers.

(2)       The Head of Planning Applications Group reported additional correspondence from residents of Warham Road opposing the proposal and objecting in particular to the proposed height of the new building, and its compatibility with the Conservation Area.

(3)       Mr Martin Whitehead (Otford Parish Council), Mr Rod Shelton (Otford Society and Chairman of Otford Parish Plan) and Mr John Edwards-Winser (Local District Councillor) addressed the Committee in opposition to the proposal. Mr Jay Neil (KCC Property and Infrastructure) spoke in reply.

(4)       The Chairman moved, seconded by Mr A T Willicombe that the Head of Planning Applications Group’s recommended condition requiring a revised Travel Plan be amplified by a requirement for initiatives to be developed in liaison with the Parish Council and its Parish Plan Team, and targets for its implementation for its implementation and ongoing review.

                                                            Motion carried

(5)       On being put to the vote, the revised recommendations of the Head of Planning Applications Group were carried by 12 votes to 1

(6)       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; the submission of details of all materials to be used externally; details of all external lighting; details of an archaeological watching brief; the submission of a scheme for the disposal of foul and surface waters; land contamination; the submission of a revised School Travel Plan within 6 months of the date of this permission, with initiatives to be developed in liaison with the Parish Council and its Parish Plan Team, and targets for its implementation and ongoing review; tree protection measures; hours of working during construction and demolition being restricted to between 0800 and 1800 on Mondays to Fridays and between the hours of 0900 and 1300 on Saturdays, with no operations on Sundays and Bank Holidays; a construction management plan, including the provision of access, parking and circulation within the site for contractor’s and other vehicles related to construction and demolition operations; details of the use of Warham Road; local consultation on the management of the site access to avoid peak school times; pre- construction and post-construction road condition surveys, and the making good of any damage; and measures to prevent mud and debris being taken onto the public highway.

RESOLVED that permission be granted to the proposal subject to conditions, including conditions covering the mobile classroom being removed from the site by no later than 30 September 2015; the building being positioned 5.7 metres from the boundary; the building being finished in light green; details of the covered link being submitted for approval; obscure film being applied to the windows on the northern elevation of the building; hours of working during construction being restricted to between the hours of 0800 and 1800 Mondays to Fridays and between the hours of 0900 and 1300 on Saturdays, with no operations on Sundays or Bank Holidays; provision for parking of the contractor’s vehicles within the site; and measures being taken to ensure that the public highway is kept clean of mud and debris occasioned by the works.

RESOLVED to note matters 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 (None);

(c)               County Council developments;

(d)               Screening opinions under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011; and

(e)               Scoping opinions under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011 (None).