Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2020 are correctly recorded and that they be signed by the Chairman.

Wednesday, 23 June 2021

Thursday, 23 September 2021

Thursday, 27 January 2022

Thursday, 9 June 2022

The Committee noted the following dates for future meetings:-

Wednesday, 23 June 2021;

Thursday, 23 September 2021;

Thursday, 27 January 2022;

Thursday, 9 June 2022. 

(1)       The Principal Democratic Services Officer introduced a report giving an overview of Transport Appeal statistics for the period between 1 January and 31 December 2020 together with a brief comparison to those from 2010 to 2019.

(2)       The Interim Head of Fair Access gave a presentation focussing on the work of the School Transport and Access Team during the Covd-19 pandemic.  The slides can be found in the electronic agenda papers for this meeting on the KCC website.  

(3)       RESOLVED that the report be noted and that all Members and Officers involved with Transport Appeals be thanked for successfully hearing the vast majority of these appeals in extremely difficult circumstances during the year.

(1)       The Public Rights of Way and Access Service Manager presented an update on a number of matters relating to the Definitive Map and Statement, and the Register of Common Land and Village Greens.  He informed the Committee that the first Member Panel to consider Village Green applications since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic would be held on 24 February 2021. 

(2)       RESOLVED that the report and its contents be noted.

(1)       The Head of Planning Applications introduced the report, stressing the work of the Enforcement service in the context of the Covid-19 restrictions.  She underlined the health and safety concerns for staff visiting sites where confrontation was common with social distancing largely non-existent.

(2)       The Head of Planning Applications reported that additional resources had been made available for the enforcement function in respect of alleged breaches at permitted sites.

(3)       RESOLVED that the actions taken or contemplated in the report be noted and endorsed. 

EXEMPT ITEMS

(Open Access to Minutes)

(Members resolved under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 that the public be excluded 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 Head of Planning Applications informed the Committee that she had not personally been involved in the compliance issues at Maidstone Grammar School due to her association with that school.  The Principal Planning Officer, Mrs Green would therefore report on actions taken at that site.

(2)       Mr P W A Lake was present for this item and spoke on enforcement issues within his constituency. 

(3)       The Head of Planning Applications and The Team Leader – Planning Enforcement gave an update on unauthorised planning enforcement matters setting out actions taken or contemplated at Raspberry Hill Park Farm, Iwade; Warden Park, Eastchurch; Surf Crescent, Eastchurch; Surf Crescent, Stockbury; Chetney Marshes, Iwade; Springhill Farm, Fordcombe; Hoads Wood Farm, Bethersden; Ringwould Alpine Nursery; Double Quick Farm, Lenham;; Mount Pleasant Farm, Yorkletts, Whitstable; The Stables, Harpole Farm, Detling; Heart in Hand Road, Canterbury; Earley House, Petham; Fairfield Court Farm, Romney Marsh; Chapel Lane, Sissinghurst; Highfield, south of Highfield and west of The Limes, Lenham; Land to the south of 17 Hollow Street, Chislet; Woodside East, Nickley Wood Road, Shadoxhurst;  East Kent Recycling, Oare Creek, Faversham; Blaise Farm Quarry, Kings Hill; Maidstone Grammar School; Dungeness Borrow Pit, Dungeness; Cobbs Wood Industrial Estate, Ashford; and Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys.

(4)       The Team Leader Planning drew the Committee’s attention to the sustained burning that had occurred at sites that appeared to be linked to events at Raspberry Hill Park Farm.

(5)       RESOLVED that the enforcement strategies outlined in paragraphs 5 to 108 of the report be noted and endorsed.