Agenda item

(1)       Mr M C Dance and Mr M J Harrison were present for this item pursuant to Committee Procedure Rule 2.27 and spoke.

(2)       Mr Mark Barnes and Mr Adam Roake addressed the Committee in opposition to the proposal. Mr Simon Moon from DHA Transport spoke in reply on behalf of the applicants.

(3)       Issues of a legal nature having been raised during discussion of this item, the Chairman advised that these could not be taken into account in determining the proposal.

(4)       Mr P M Harman moved, seconded by Mr M Baldock that consideration of this item be deferred in order to enable further consideration to be given to the proposed informal one way system and the timing of the opening and closure of the school gates.  The intervening period should be used for a Members’ site visit.

                                    Lost 4 votes to 13.

(5)       Following a brief adjournment, Mr M J Angell moved, seconded by Mr J N Wedgbury that the recommendations of the Head of Planning Applications Group be agreed subject to the following:-

-       The Construction Management Plan being strengthened by “to make best use of the former Ladesfield Care Home site in order to minimise the impact on local amenity.”

-       The Traffic Management Plan and School Travel Plan being combined with the following amendments: “to include specific details of the management of the school gate closure. This Plan will be reviewed after 6 months of the occupation of the development and annually thereafter, with the results being submitted in writing to the Local Planning Authority and published on the School’s website.”

-       An additional Informative strongly encouraging the applicants to explore the opportunities for the provision of photovoltaic panels at this site.

-       In addition, the Chairman be requested to write to the Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform to express the Committee’s view that prior to disposal of the Ladesfield Care Home site, the Cabinet Member should be satisfied that the site is not required for future educational needs.

Carried 14 votes to 2 with 1 abstention

(6)       RESOLVED that:-

(a)          permission be granted to the proposal subject to conditions, including   conditions covering the standard5 year time limit; the development being carriedoutinaccordancewith thepermitteddetails; the  submission  and  approvalof  detailsof  all  constructionmaterialstobe used externally; hoursofworkingduringconstructionbeingrestrictedtobetween0800 and1800 on Mondays to Fridays andbetween0900 and 1300 on Saturdays, withno operationson Sundaysor BankHolidays; the submissionofa ConstructionManagementPlan to providedetailsofthe routingofconstruction and deliveryvehiclesto and from the site,the timing of deliveriestoavoidschool peaktimes,thelocationofparkingand turningareasfor constructionand deliveryvehiclesand forsitepersonnel andvisitors,theprovisionof wheelwashingfacilities,detailsofa siteaccesspointforconstruction,temporary trafficmanagement andsignage, and to make best use of the former Ladesfield Care Home site in order to minimise the impact on local amenity; the recommendationsset out intheEcological Appraisal beingimplemented; the submissionofdetailsand specificationsof the newaccess road, andtheir approval in writingprior to occupationoftheextension; the completionand maintenanceoftheaccessshownon theplansprior to the occupationof the extension; theprovisionand permanent retentionofthevehicleparkingspacesprior to the occupationof the extension; the provisionand permanent retentionofthecycleparking facilitiespriorto the occupationof the extension; the provisionand permanent retentionofthevehicleloading/unloadingand turning facilitiesprior to the occupationoftheextension; the submissionofa revisedSchoolTravelPlanpriortooccupationoftheextension to include specific details of the management of the school gate closure. This Plan will be reviewed after 6 months of the occupation of the development and annually thereafter, with the results being submitted in writing to the Local Planning Authority and published on the School’s website; the submissionofa TrafficManagement Planfor writtenapproval prior to the occupationof the extension to include specific details of the management of the school gate closure. This Plan will be reviewed after 6 months of the occupation of the development and annually thereafter, with the results being submitted in writing to the Local Planning Authority and published on the School’s website; the submissionofa fullydetailedsustainablesurfacewaterdrainageschemefor the sitepriortocommencementofdevelopment,and thewrittenapproval of sucha schemeand itson-going maintenanceprior to occupationof the extension; the submissionofa nativespecieslandscapeschemeand detailsofa maintenance schemeforsuch landscaping; the recommendationswithin theArboricultural ImpactAssessmentbeing carriedout in order to protect thosetrees tobe retained; and the removal of the temporaryclassroomwithin3 monthsof theoccupationofthe permittedextension; and

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

(i)           they should register the School Travel Plan withKentCountyCouncilthroughthe “Jambusters” website;

(ii)           they shouldensurethatallnecessaryhighwayapprovalsand consentsare obtained;

(iii)         they should ensurethatworkstotreesarecarriedoutoutsideofthebreedingbirdseasonand, ifthis isnot possible, anecologist should examines the siteprior to workscommencing;

(iv)         they mustuse aprecautionaryapproachwhenremovingfeatureswithbat roostingpotential in theformerLadesfieldCareHome;

(v)          theremustbe nodisturbanceto thesurfaceoforobstructionoftheuse ofthePublic Right of Way,CW56; and

(vi)         they are strongly encouraged to explore the opportunities for the provision of photovoltaic panels at this site; and

              (c)        the Chairman be requested to write to the Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform to express the Committee’s view that prior to disposal of the Ladesfield Care Home site, the Cabinet Member should be satisfied that the site is not required for future educational needs.