Agenda and minutes

The Committee noted the appointment of Mr C Simkins in place of Mr P J Homewood.

(a)   Committee: 28 January 2014

(b)   Mental Health Guardianship Sub-Committee: 29 January 2014    (Information)

(c)   Member Panels: 18 March 2014

                                                    8 April 2014

RESOLVED that:-

(a)          the Minutes of the Committee meeting held on held on 26 January 2014 and of the Member Panel meetings held on 18 March 2014 and 8 April 2014 are correctly recorded and that they be signed by the Chairman; and

(b)          the Minutes of the Mental Health Guardianship Sub-Committee be noted.

(1)       The Head of Admissions and Transport and the Senior Democratic Services Officer gave an overview of Home to School Transport appeal statistics for the period between 1 January 2014 and 30 April 2014. 

(2)       During discussion of this item, the Committee requested a half day “teach-in” on Home to School Transport issues.

(3)       RESOLVED that the report be noted.

(1)       Mrs E D Rowbotham informed the Committee that, in her capacity as Local Member, she had given technical advice to the applicants for the Land at Coldblow Woods in Ripple.  As this did not constitute an Other Significant Interest, she was able to participate in the discussion of this item.

(2)       The Principal Legal Orders Officer gave an update on the current position in respect of applications to register Town and Village Greens.

(3)       The Principal Legal Orders Officer undertook to ensure that Local Members were always informed whenever a “Landowner Statement” was made.

(4)       RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.

(1)       The Committee discussed a report by the Head of Planning Applications Group which gave an update on planning enforcement and monitoring work since the January meeting of the Committee.

(2)       In the light of information provided by Mr Cowan, the Principal Planning Officer undertook to further investigate compliance and planning control issues at Astley Avenue in Dover. The Committee agreed that this case would not be removed from the Schedules prior to a report back at its next meeting.

(3)       The Principal Planning Officer reported correspondence from Mrs J Whittle in respect of the four cases in her constituency.  She had expressed her appreciation and thanks to the officers involved for the clear advice in relation to each of the sites.

(4)       Mr M Baldock, the Local Member offered to assist officers by making himself available to attend the next meeting at the Woodgers Wharf, Upchurch site.

(5)       The Committee agreed that monitoring of the Rochester Way site in Dartford should continue.

(6)       The Committee agreed that the Head of the Gypsy and Traveller Unit would be requested to attend its next meeting.

(7)       RESOLVED that:-

(a)                      with the exception of Larkey Wood Farm, Chartham site and subject to (2) and (5) above, endorsement be given to the actions taken or contemplated in the respective cases set out in paragraphs 5 to 20 of the report and those contained within Schedules 1, 2 and 3 as appended to the report; and

(b)          the Head of the Gypsy and Traveller Unit be requested to attend the next meeting of the Committee.

(1)       The Chairman declared this item to be Urgent because there had been material changes at the site since the agenda papers were published.  The Committee’s support was now being requested in order to ensure that new contraventions did not occur.

EXEMPT ITEMS

(Open Access to Minutes)

(Members resolved under Section 100A of the Local government Act 1972 that the public be excluded from the meeting for the following business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 5 and 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.)

(2)       The Principal Planning Officer reported on the material changes at the site since the original agenda papers had been published.  He sought endorsement for a package of possible measures including the ability to prosecute or injunct any party contravening the Enforcement Notice on any part of the site. This was agreed.

(3)       RESOLVED that endorsement be given to the enforcement strategy outlined in paragraphs 5 to 18 of the report including the ability for the Head of Planning Applications Group to prosecute or injunct any party contravening the Enforcement Notice on any part of the site.