held in the Parish Office, Coxheath Village Hall, Stockett Lane, Coxheath at 7.30pm on Thursday 23 rd October 2014

Transcription

1 COXHEATH PARISH COUNCIL CLERK: T M Ketley 60 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, Maidstone, Kent ME17 4PY Telephone : (01622) E Mail: terryketley@btinternet.com Website: MINUTES of the PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING held in the Parish Office, Coxheath Village Hall, Stockett Lane, Coxheath at 7.30pm on Thursday 23 rd October 2014 Present: Cllrs J Hughes (Chairman); K Woollven; R Divall; M Dale. In Attendance: T Ketley (Parish Clerk); Mrs M Walter (Temporary Administrative Assistant). Apologies: Cllrs C Parker; Mrs A Brindle; Mrs V Page. Members of the public: None 1. PART 2 ITEMS TO CONSIDER WHETHER ANY ITEMS SHOULD BE TAKEN IN PRIVATE BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBLE DISCLOSURE OF EXEMPT INFORMATION: None notified. 2. REPRESENTATIONS FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC: There were no representations from the general public. 3. MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING 2 nd OCTOBER 2014: These were confirmed and signed as a true and correct record. 4. MATTERS ARISING OUT OF PREVIOUS MINUTES: a. MA/12/1209 Land next to Primrose Paddock, Stockett Lane, Coxheath. Change of use of land for the stationing of two additional mobile homes and utility blocks with associated hard standing, for a gypsy family. The application had been recommended for refusal at the Coxheath Parish Council Planning Committee meeting held on 26 th July Following a further enquiry, Alan Howell had re-confirmed that the original papers had been lost when Laura Gregory left the employment of Maidstone Borough Council and that a new case file would be opened. The matter was still being progressed through Alan Howell but Cllr B Mortimer had also taken the matter up with Rob Jarman and Alison Broom. b. MA/13/1607 Forstal Farm, Stockett Lane, Coxheath Change of use of land from agriculture (orchard and open grassland) to tourism use for camping and caravanning, with associated utility block and office/store. The application had been strongly recommended for refusal at the Coxheath Parish Council Planning Committee meeting held on 19 th December In response to the latest chaser, Rob Jarman had indicated that the application remained 1

2 undetermined and that the Planning Officer would update the Parish Council on her return from leave in mid August In the absence of a reply a further chaser had been despatched to Catherine Slade requesting answers to the points that the Parish Council had raised in a letter dated 23 rd December c. MA/13/1979 Land north of Heath Road, Coxheath (known as Olders Field) Outline planning application for up to 55 residential dwellings with access. The outline application had been recommended for approval, subject to a number of points of clarification, at the Parish Council Planning Committee meeting held on 13 th February A further letter had been sent to the planning officer supporting the findings of the various reports, which were discussed at the Parish Council Planning Committee meeting on 27 th March 2014 and again recommending approval of the original outline planning application. The latest indications were that Maidstone Borough Council had been in correspondence with the applicant s agent over the percentage allocation of affordable housing to be included in any future scheme, before the outline application was determined later in the year, probably in November d. MA/13/1999 Land south of Pleasant Valley Lane, East Farleigh (known as Olders Field) Change of use to public open space. Planning Committee meeting held on 13 th February Since this application was inextricably linked to Application MA/13/1979, there had been no further progress. e. MA/13/2008 Linden Farm, Stockett Lane, Coxheath. Outline planning application with all matters reserved apart from means of access, for a mixed use development for both the establishment of outdoor community facilities and for a residential development of up to 40 dwellings. The outline application had been recommended for approval in principle, subject to a number of points of clarification, at the Parish Council Planning Committee meeting held on 9 th January Although this application remained to be determined, the Maidstone Local Plan envisaged a development of 85 dwellings, including an element of affordable, social housing. It was known that the landowners were not in favour of this approach but had agreed to a request from Maidstone Borough Council to extend the period of determination until the end of June Again, it was the Parish Council s understanding that Maidstone Borough Council was in correspondence with the applicant over the level of affordable housing to be included in the potential development. f. MA/14/0043 Londis, 103 Heath Road, Coxheath Erection of a three-storey block comprising retail (A1 use) and public house (A4 use) at ground and basement level, with eight unite (2 x 1 bed, 5 x 2 bed and 1 x 3 bed) at first and second floor levels along with provision of parking, access and landscaping as an amendment to proposal under reference MA/10/0092). The application had been recommended for approval, subject to the clarification of certain issues and the inclusion of conditions to cover concerns over parking and access, at the Parish Council Planning Committee meeting held on 13 th February It had been established that Graham Parkinson, the planning officer dealing with this case had left Maidstone Borough Council, but according to the paperwork the application remained to be determined. A deed of variation was still outstanding to ensure that the Section 106 funding agreed on the original application could be transferred to the current application. The new case officer, Tim Bloomfield, had promised to keep the Parish Council informed. g. MA/14/0566 Land south of Heath Road, Coxheath (known as Clockhouse Farm) 2

3 Outline application for a mixed use development comprising up to 72 dwellings, up to 43 extra care apartments and the provision of land for open space/community use, with associated access and parking, with access considered at this stage and all other matters reserved for future consideration. The application had been recommended for approval, subject to a number of suggested conditions and some pointers of further issues to be addressed, at the Parish Council Planning Committee meeting held on 14 th May Two letters had been sent to the Planning Officer underlining the fact that the Parish Council wished any development to be in accordance with the Coxheath Neighbourhood Plan and not the Maidstone Local Plan. The developer had indicated that there was every likelihood that the application would be determined in its present form (ie: without any commercial/employment development). Further correspondence had been exchanged with Alister Hume, as a result of which it was agreed that an should be despatched to him:- Supporting the inclusion of 32 parking places a new health centre facility; Requesting the land earmarked for the health centre to be designated community use land rather than open space ; Welcoming the increase in parking provision for the proposed extra care accommodation; Reiterating the need for all Section 106 contributions to be directed for the benefit of Coxheath residents, particularly in the context of funds for the education sector; Welcoming the adjustment of the building elevations in the three-storey element of the extra care accommodation; Requesting land to be safeguarded within the development site for the introduction of a safe cycle route at a later stage; Asking for reconsideration to be given to the widening of the highway to facilitate right hand turns into the site and Georgian Drive, without compromising the rural landscaping appearance. It was noted that the application was expected to be referred to the Maidstone Borough Council Planning Committee before the end of November h. MA/14/ Park Way, Coxheath Erection of a single-storey side and rear extension. Planning Committee meeting held on 19 th June Notification of a decision was still awaited. i. MA/14/ Wilberforce Road, Coxheath Erection of a two-storey, part single-storey side and rear extension. The application had been recommended for approval, subject to clarification of parking issues, at the Parish Council Planning Committee meeting held on 19 th June Notification of a decision was still awaited but in view of the more recent planning application, it was assumed that this application had been or would be withdrawn. j. MA/14/ Wilberforce Road, Coxheath Erection of a single-storey rear extension and a new front porch. Planning Committee meeting held on 19 th June Notification of a decision was still awaited. k. MA/14/0836 Land north of Heath Road, Coxheath (known as Heathfield) 3

4 Erection of 130 dwellings together with the creation of a new access and landscaping provision. The application had been strongly recommended for refusal at the Parish Council Planning Committee meeting held on 19 th June It was also noted that Loose Parish Council had lodged a strong objection to the application, citing, amongst other things, major concerns over the disposal of sewage. Again, it had been made clear to Maidstone Borough Council in face-to-face discussions was implacably opposed to the application for a wide variety of reasons not least being its failure to comply with the Coxheath Neighbourhood Plan. Nevertheless, it seemed likely that the application would be referred to the Maidstone Borough Council Planning Committee before the end of l. 14/500398/FULL/RARE 2 Park Way, Coxheath Erection of a single-storey side extension. The application had been recommended for approval, subject to a number of observations, at the Parish Council Planning Committee meeting held on 10 th July m. 14/500356/FULL/LOWE Reason Hill Oast, Westerhill Road, Coxheath Erection of a rear extension to replace an existing UPVC conservatory. Planning Committee meeting held on 7 th August n. 14/500700/FULL/GRPA The Cottage, Westerhill Road, Coxheath Demolition of an existing dwelling and the erection of a replacement dwelling. Planning Committee meeting held on 7 th August o. 14/ /FULL/AW2 14 Aspian Drive, Coxheath. Erection of a first-floor rear extension and extended front entrance porch. Planning Committee meeting held on 21 st August p. 14/502775/FULL/JOBA 30 Wilberforce Road, Coxheath. Erection of a new two-storey rear and side extension. The application had been recommended for approval, subject to the addressing of concerns over parking, at the Parish Council Planning Committee meeting held on 2 nd October NEW PLANNING APPLICATION FOR DISCUSSION It was noted that there were no new planning applications for consideration. 6. NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN FOR COXHEATH Cllr J Hughes reported that Parish Council representatives had attended a meeting on 7 th October 2014, at the invitation of Maidstone Borough Council, to discuss the Coxheath Neighbourhood Plan. It was felt that the hidden agenda for the meeting was a desire on the part of the Borough Council to delay the independent examination of the Neighbourhood Plan by suggesting the need for amendments resulting in reconsultation. This was both unhelpful and unacceptable. Cllr Hughes was seeking advice from an eminent senior planner and proposed, therefore, to make a number of recommendations on future actions to be taken, at the October Parish Council meeting, including, if necessary, a delegated budget to commission formal legal advice. The objective remained to proceed to independent examination as soon as possible in order not to risk the loss of any legal weight of the Neighbourhood Plan in determining future 4

5 planning applications. It was agreed that it would be necessary to convene a meeting of the ward elected members to brief them on developments and to encourage their support for what the Parish Council was seeking to achieve. In addition, the Neighbourhood Plan Implementation Working Group in the persons of Messrs Hughes and Parr, had met with Caroline Robinson, the Headteacher at Coxheath Primary School, to initiate discussions on the development of a project to ensure that funds from local Section 106 agreements were used for necessary improvements at the school rather than being diverted to the building of a new primary school in South East Maidstone. This meeting had resulted in Messrs Hughes and Parr addressing a meeting of the School Governors on 23 rd October A formal response to the discussions was now awaited. In the meantime, Cllr Hughes had spoken with Steve Clarke at Maidstone Borough Council to obtain names of relevant contacts within Kent County Council. The intention would be to Kent County Council with the detail of a rudimentary project at the earliest opportunity. Contact had also been established with the Chairperson of Coxheath Pre School. Finally, it was noted that the finishing touches would be applied to the gathering and presentation of the evidence base to support the Neighbourhood Plan including:- The updated list of windfall sites; Both Local Needs Housing Surveys; Ecology reports from the applications relating to three development sites included in the Neighbourhood Plan; Kent Wildlife Trust Ecology Reports for the areas off Linden Road and Forstal Lane; The creation of a maxi-document to be used to transfer the evidence base electronically; The ACRE Rural Communities Profile of Coxheath (thought to have been received between May and August 2013); The completion of changes to the Coxheath Parish website to facilitate electronic communication with residents. 7. LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK CORE STRATEGY CONSULTATION Cllr J Hughes had also attended a meeting of the KALC Maidstone Area Committee on 22 nd October 2014, when, amongst other things, the subject of the Maidstone Local Plan shortcomings had been discussed. The general consensus was that Maidstone Borough Council had ignored the views expressed through KALC. The decision had been taken, therefore, to have one last try at convening a meeting with Annabelle Blackmore, David Burton, Rob Jarman and Sarah Anderton but if this failed, then to mount a more prominent public campaign involving the press, the local MP and questions to be put to a meeting of the cabinet. 8. CORRESPONDENCE/REPORTS: Enforcement Issues An had been despatched to Alan Howell and Rob Jarman pressing for action to be taken on the outstanding enforcement issues relating to Forstal Farm and warning of the possibility of bringing the matter to the attention of the Local Government Ombudsman, if urgent progress was not made. Cllr B Mortimer had also intervened but to date had not received a report from the Head of Planning. However, an acknowledgement had been received in respect of the investigation of a 5

6 case at 45 Pembroke Road, Coxheath. MBC Review of Transport Cycling and Walking It was noted that a letter had been despatched to the Secretary of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee working group, enclosing a copy of the Coxheath Neighbourhood Plan and drawing attention to the policies relating to the creation of safe cycle routes and the desire to encourage walking through the improvement and development of footpaths KALC Concerns over Neighbourhood Planning Following further discussions at the KALC Maidstone Area Committee, Cllr J Hughes planned to speak at a special meeting of the Maidstone Borough Council Planning, Transport and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 3 rd November Loose Neighbourhood Plan It was agreed that Cllr J Hughes and the Clerk would attend a meeting arranged by Loose Parish Council on 4 th November 2014, to discuss areas of mutual interest on Neighbourhood Plans. They would report back to the next meeting of the Planning Committee. 9. DATE OF NEXT MEETING: 7.30 pm on Thursday 13 th November 2014 There being no further business to discuss, the meeting closed at 9.15 pm. 6