Agenda item

(1)       Mrs P A V Stockell informed the Committee that she had recently become the Deputy Cabinet Member for Education and Health Reform.  She had not taken part in any discussions on this particular proposal and was able to approach its determination with an open mind.

(2)       Mr R Truelove was present for this item pursuant to Committee Procedure Rule 2.27 and spoke.

(3)       The Head of Planning Applications Group informed the Committee of two additional Development Plan Policies which were relevant to the determination of the Proposal. These were Policy E7 of the adopted Swale Borough Local Plan (Separation of Settlements); and Policy DM25 in the emerging Swale Borough Local Plan, which was similar to Policy E7 relating to the school being within an important local countryside gap. The issues this raised were covered in paragraphs 51 and 52 of the report.

(4)       In agreeing the recommendations of the Head of Planning Applications Group, the Committee included the provision of a box junction on the A2 in the highway scheme condition and specified that the School Travel Plan should include the provision of a responsible parking scheme. It also added an Informative as set out in (5) below.

(5)       RESOLVED that:-

(a)          theapplication be referredto theSecretary ofState for Communitiesand LocalGovernmentand that, subject to hisdecision,permission be granted to the proposal, subject to conditions, including conditionscovering the standard5 yeartime limit; the development being carried outin accordancewith thepermitted details; thesubmission ofdetails ofall materialsto beused externally; the implementation and maintenance of ascheme ofsoft andhardlandscaping; measuresto protect those treesto beretained; no treeremoval taking place duringthe birdbreedingseason; thehabitat areabeing retainedwith the implementation of an agreed scheme of enhancement; detailsof anyexternal lightingbeing provided;  the submission  of  details  dealing  with  the  potential  risks  associated  with  ground contamination; the submissionof averificationreport; no infiltrationof surfacewater drainage into the ground;  no pilingor anyother foundationsusingpenetrativemethodsbeing used;  the provisionand permanentretention of a new coachand taxiparking areaprior tothe occupation ofthe proposeddevelopment; visibilitysplays beingprovided and maintained as approved; hours ofworking duringconstructionbeing restrictedto betweenthe hoursof 0800 and1800 on Mondaysto Fridaysand betweenthe hoursof 0900and 1300on Saturdays withno operationson Sundaysand BankHolidays; measures toprevent mudand debrisbeing takenonto thepublichighway; the submissionof aconstructionmanagement plan,includinglorry routing,access, parking andcirculation withinthe sitefor contractorsand othervehicles relatedto construction operations; a  detailed design of  the  highway schemebeing  undertakenand  implemented accordingly, including the provision of a box junction on the A2; and thesubmission ofa revisedSchool TravelPlan, including the provision of a responsible parking scheme, via the “Jambusters”website, tobe placed onthe school’swebsite andreviewed annually; and

(b)          the applicants be advised by Informative that in preparing the Construction Management Plan, they shall minimise the impact of construction traffic on Swanstree Avenue. This shall include exploring the potential for early construction of the proposed coach and taxi parking area and the role that it can play in mitigating local construction impacts.