Agenda item

(1)          Mr J Burden informed the Committee that he was the Local Member and also the Leader of Gravesham BC which had given its views on the Proposal.  He had excused himself from all discussions of the Proposal by the Borough Council and was therefore able to approach its determination with an open mind.

(2)       The Head of Planning Applications Group informed the Committee that the Memorandum of Understanding between KCC Children, Young People and Education and KCC Highways, Transportation and Waste had been received after publication of the report and that the recommendations needed to be revised to reflect this.  The Head of Planning Applications also advised that a further representation had been received which included comments relating to cycle parking provision and querying whether there was sufficient road width for heavy goods vehicles to turn into the construction access when other vehicles were parked on the Street.

(3)       The Clerk to the meeting read out representations from Mr Alastair Thrush (a local resident) and the response on behalf of the applicants from Mr Matthew Blythin (DHA). 

(4)       Dr L Sullivan (Local Member) was present for this item and addressed the Committee. 

(5)        During discussion of this item, the Committee agreed to an additional Condition and three Informatives to the recommendations.  The extra Condition specified that the upper floor glazing in the elevation facing properties in The Avenue was to be opaque.  The Informatives strongly encouraged the applicant to explore the potential for incorporating photo voltaic panels and other renewable energy features into the scheme; encouraged the applicant to explore the potential for the relocation of the air conditioning unit or measures to minimise its acoustic impact; and encouraged the applicant to explore the potential to make provision for construction traffic on site.

(6)       On being put to the vote, the recommendations of the Head of Planning Applications Group, as amended in (2) and (5) above were carried by 8 votes to 3. 

(7)     RESOLVED that:-

(a)          theapplicationbe referredtotheSecretary of State for Housing,CommunitiesandLocal Government, andsubject tohisdecisionand to the signed Memorandumof UnderstandingbetweenKCCChildren,Young PeopleandEducationandKCCHighways,TransportationandWaste (which has now been received and ensuresthatthe costsofthefellingandstump removalof thehighwaytree required tobe removedfor constructionpurposes,aswellas thefullCAVATvalueof thetreetobe removedwill be paidby theapplicant), permission be granted to the Proposal subject to conditions, including conditionscovering the standard3-yeartime limit; the development being carried outinaccordancewith the permitteddetails; thesubmission and approvalofdetailsofall constructionmaterialstobe used externally;  the existingtemporaryclassroomson thetenniscourtsbeing removedfrom thesite andthelandreturnedto itsformerusewithin3 monthsof theoccupationof thenew classroomsbuilding; theexistingtemporaryparkingarrangementsbeing retained until the approved car parkisavailable to use; theprovisionandpermanentretentionof thevehicleparkingspacesasshownon thesubmittedplanswithin3 monthsof thedemolitionof theexistingannexbuilding and their retentionthereafter; the approvedparking being used forstaffandvisitorparking onlyand being retained for such use; twoelectricvehicleparkingspacesbeing providedon sitewithin3 monthsof the occupationof thenewbuilding, withpassiveprovisionfortwofurtherspacesbeing providedwithintheapprovedcar parkandbeing retainedandkept available for electriccar use only thereafter; the  submission  of  a  detailed  review  of  the  School  Travel  Plan  incorporating measuresto encouragesustainabletransport; theimplementationofthesubmittedConstructionMethodStatementfortheduration ofthe constructionactivitieson site(includingdetailsof demolition measures to ensure that mammalsandtheiryoung arenot killedduringdemolition); worksonlybeingcarriedouton sitebetweenthehoursof0800to1800 on MondaystoFridays, 0900to1300on Saturdays, with no operationson Sundaysor publicholidays;   the  access  gates  from  The  Avenue  only  being  used  post-construction for emergencyaccesspurposesand not forpupilorstaffaccessat school dropofforpickup times; fourtrees(onereplacementandthreeadditional) being plantedinTheAvenue duringthefirstplantingseasonfollowingoccupationof thenewbuilding, in accordancewith aspecificationto be agreedinwritingwith the CountyCouncil’sHighway’s AboricultureDepartment, with any ofthesetreesthatdieorareremovedwithin5 years ofplantingbeing replaced; thesubmissionofa BatMitigation Strategypriortothe commencementof demolition works; the submission for approval by the County Planning Authority of detailsof anylighting scheme, includinghoursof use,levelof illuminationandongoingcontroloveranynew lightingon siteinordertoprotect foraging andcommutingbats; the demonstration priorto the completionof thedevelopmentthattheecological enhancementsdetailedinthe“HabitatCreationandManagementPlan”havebeen incorporatedinto thesite,with thefeaturesthen being managedin accordancewith the plan; compliancewiththe submittedsustainable surface waterdrainagescheme; the submission  of  a  verification  report  covering  this  scheme  being  approved  in consultation withtheLead Local Flood Authority; no infiltrationofsurfacewaterdrainagetaking place intothegroundotherthanwiththewritten approvalof theCountyPlanningAuthority,andonlybeing usedinthoseareas where there wouldbe no unacceptable risktocontrolled watersorgroundstability; theprogrammeofarchaeologicalworksbeing carriedoutinaccordancewith the submitted andapprovedWritten Scheme of Investigation; a  watching  brief  being  carried  out  by  a  suitably  qualified  consultant  during demolition andfoundation works in order toprotectunderlying groundwater resources; no furtherdevelopmenttaking placeif, duringdevelopment,contaminationnotpreviouslyidentifiedisfoundtobepresent, untila remediationstrategyhasbeen agreed withtheCountyPlanning Authority; pilingor anyotherpenetrativefoundationdesignsnot beingpermittedwithout the writtenapprovalof the CountyPlanning Authority; (priortothecommencementofdevelopment)theprotectionandretentionof alltrees onsitewithin the vicinityof the developmentnotshown tobe removed within the planning application; and the upper floor glazing in the elevation facing properties in The Avenue being opaque; and

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

(i)            they should ensurethatallnecessaryhighwayapprovalsandconsentsare obtained;

(ii)          they should  ensurethatworkstotreesare carriedoutoutsideof thebreedingbirdseason (mid-MarchtoendofAugustinclusive)and,ifthisisnotpossible,thatan ecologist examinesthesite prior to works commencing;

(iii)         thedevelopmentshouldtakeaccountoftheBatConservationTrust’s“Batsand Lighting in theUK” guidance;

(iv)         onlycleanuncontaminated watershoulddrainto thesurfacewaterdrainage system. Appropriatepollutioncontrol methodsshouldbe used fordrainagefrom accessroadsandcar parkingareas topreventhydrocarbonsfromenteringthe surfacewatersystem;

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

(vi)         thedemandforcycleparkingprovisionshouldbe monitoredwith anyrequirementfor additional spaces beingmet;

(vii)       they are strongly encouraged to explore the potential for incorporating photo voltaic panels and other renewable energy features into the scheme;

(viii)      they are encouraged to explore the potential for the relocation of the air conditioning unit or measures to minimise its acoustic impact; and

(ix)         they are to explore the potential to make provision for construction traffic on site.