Agenda item

(1)       The Head of Planning Applications Group tabled an amendment to the report. This consisted of an amended version of the table on the impact on Year 7 and Year 7-11 capacity in Dartford and replaced the table in paragraph 39 of the report.

(2)       Mrs A D Allen 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 correspondence from the County Council’s Biodiversity Officer stating that she was satisfied with the findings of the Ecological Report confirming that bats were not using the London plane tree.

(4)       Mrs Marion Charlton, a local resident addressed the Committee in support of the proposal.

(5)       The Committee agreed that the proposed condition on details of replacement tree planting would reference a need to include London planes.

(6)       On being put to the vote, the recommendations of the Head of Planning Applications Group (as amended in (5) above were carried by 9 votes to 2 with 1 abstention.

(7)       RESOLVED that:-

(a)          permission be granted to the proposal subject to conditions, includingconditionscovering   thedevelopment beingcarried outin accordancewith thepermitteddetails; the modular buildingsbeing removedfrom siteand thelandreinstatedas playing fieldon orbefore1 September2019; the installation ofthe modularclassroomsbeing undertakenoutsideof school operatinghours; the42 spacecar parkbeing completed andoperational priorto firstoccupation of theadditional3 modularclassrooms; the onsitedrop-off/pick-uparea, busparking/pick-up area,andcar parkingbeing availablefor useduring schooloperationhours; and the submissionof detailsof replacementtree planting including London planes; and

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

(i)           theAcademy shouldmaintain theirpreviously cutback vegetationlinesto avoid futuregrowth overhangingthe carriagewayandfootway/footpaths tofacilitate pedestrian movementand reducethe likelihoodof largevehicles overrunning the CommonLanefootway;

(ii)          theyshould liaisewith theParish Councilregardingthe provisionof benches inthelocal areamade fromthe woodof theremoved tree;

(iii)         the Education Authority’sattentionis drawnto thecomments expressedby Dartford Borough Council thattheyare keento workwith KCCEducation regarding theprovisionof  schoolplaces in  the Boroughand havealways soughtto doso. TheBorough Councilrequest thatany furtherexpansion of schools(whether temporaryor permanent)are discussedwith theBorough Council atan earlystage,so thatthe planningmatters suchexpansions may leadto canbe fullyconsidered beforethe offerofplaces isprejudiced.