Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 September 2015 are correctly recorded and that they be signed by the Chairman.

(1)       The Senior Democratic Services provided an overview of Home to School transport appeal statistics for the period between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2015, giving a brief comparison with transport statistics from 2010 to 2014.  

(2)       The Committee agreed that statistical reports would be provided on an annual basis with reports to the other Committee meetings focusing on aspects of Home to School Transport policy.

(1)       The Public Rights of Way and Access Service Manager updated the Committee on progress in respect of the Deregulation Act 2015, conveyancing and property conveyancing, and the increase in the number of footpath diversion applications.  He also informed the Committee of the sharp drop in Village Green applications which he attributed to the impact of the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013.

(2)       RESOLVED that the report be noted.

(1)       The Head of Planning Applications Group gave an overview of planning enforcement matters since the last meeting of the Committee. She reported on the ongoing leading role taken by the Planing Enforcement Team in bringing together regulatory teams in the public interest. 

(2)       RESOLVED that the actions taken or contemplated in the report be endorsed.

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.)

(1)       The Team Leader – Planning Enforcement gave an update on unauthorised planning enforcement matters, setting out actions taken or contemplated in respect of a number of sites. These were Mount Pleasant Farm, Yorkletts; Nt Rix Scaffolding Ltd, Dover; Plant Hire Solutions, West Hougham;  RS Skips Ltd, Gravesend; Well Street, Loose; Persimmon Ltd, Iwade; Westdene, Tonbridge; and Top Bungalow, Cranbrook;

(2)       RESOLVED that endorsement be given to the enforcement strategies outlined in paragraphs 3 to 10 of the report and in the Schedule in Appendix 1 of the report.  

(1)       The Team Leader – Planning Enforcement reported on developments at the Larkey Wood site in Chartham.  This included the decision by Canterbury CC to grant permission for the restoration and development of the site.  This meant that a long passage of planning contraventions was now nearing a successful conclusion.  

(2)       RESOLVED that endorsement be given to the enforcement strategy outlined in paragraphs 6 to 17 of the report.

(1)       The Team Leader – Planning Enforcement updated the Committee on Planning Enforcement issues at land adjoining Pit Stop Café in Dargate. This included details of the informal views given by him to officers of Swale BC in respect of the shape and content of a retrospective planning application for a lorry park to cover the site.

(2)       RESOLVED that endorsement be given to the enforcement strategy outlined in paragraphs 5 to 9 of the report.

(1)       The Team Leader – Planning Enforcement reported on developments at Thirwell Farm in Hernhill.  He described the County Council’s role in co-ordinating a multi-agency response and outlined a number of measures which were being considered by the agencies involved in response to the complex and sophisticated nature of the activities at the site.

(2)       RESOLVED that endorsement be given to the enforcement strategy outlined in paragraphs 4 to 15 of the report.