Agenda and minutes

Announcement on procedural matters.

The Chairman opened the meeting, introduced Committee members and officers in attendance, and outlined procedural matters of the meeting.

Apologies for absence as reported at the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillors Johnson and Patterson.

Councillors Atwood and Britcher-Allan were not present.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in items on the agenda.

No declarations of interest were made.

If a Member has been lobbied in connection with any application on the agenda, this should be declared at the start of the meeting, whether by, or in support of, the applicant or objectors.

Members in doubt about such a declaration are advised to contact the Legal Services Manager/Monitoring Officer before the date of the meeting.

Councillors Bailey, Moon, Warne and Poile advised that they had been lobbied by objectors on application PLA36/22 7 Boyne Park, Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Councillors Bailey, Fitzsimmons, Le Page, Moon, Wakeman, Poile advised that they had been lobbied by supporters on application PLA37/22 Apt 107 The Potteries, Linden Park Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells.

There were 8 speakers registered to speak on agenda item 8A PLA36/22 7 Boynes Park, Royal Tunbridge Wells.

There was 1 speaker registered to speak on agenda item 8B PLA37/22 Apt 107, The Potteries, Linden Park Road, Roya Tunbridge Wells.

To note the application sites visited, as recorded at the meeting.

Members had not undertaken any site visits.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting dated 10 August 2022 be recorded as a correct record.

The running order of the applications listed below is subject to change and will be agreed by the Chairman and announced at the meeting.

Planning Report and Presentation – The Head of Planning Services submitted a report in respect of application PLA36/22 7 Boyne Park, Royal Tunbridge Wells and this was summarised at the meeting by Ms Emma Franks Senior Planning Officer and illustrated by means of a visual presentation.

Updates and additional representation – Since publication of the agenda report, the presenting officers updated conditions:

·         Amendment to condition 7:

No above ground work shall take place until a landscape scheme has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. The scheme shall show all existing trees, hedges and blocks of landscaping on, and immediately adjacent to, the site and indicate whether they are to be retained or removed. It shall detail measures for protection of species to be retained, provide details of on-site replacement planting to mitigate any loss of amenity and include a planting specification and a programme of implementation and management. The landscape scheme shall address, but not be limited to, the need to provide additional planting along the Boyne Park and Somerville Gardens frontages and along the boundaries of the site and to provide ecological enhancement and biodiversity net gain.

Reason: To ensure a satisfactory external appearance to the development, to preserve the setting of the Conservation Area and to maintain screening to neighbouring properties.

·         Added conditions:

Condition 16 – Prior to development commencing and notwithstanding the submitted details, no development shall take place until an Arboricultural Method Statement (AMS) and a tree protection and retention plan in accordance with the current edition of BS 5837 have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The AMS shall include details of, Arboriculture supervision, works within the RPA including ground protection, foundations, and replacement of any hard surfacing, including the driveway, and how materials/plant would access the site without damaging trees on site. The tree protection details shall include an updated drawing showing the tree protection fencing more clearly than the submitted drawing.

The approved development shall then be carried out in such a manner as to avoid damage to the existing trees, including their root systems, and other planting to be retained by observing the following:

a)    All trees to be preserved shall be marked on site and protected during any operation on site by temporary fencing in accordance with the approved Tree Protection Plan and Arboricultural Method Statement. Such tree protection measures shall remain throughout the period of construction

b)    No fires shall be lit within the spread of branches or upwind of the trees and other vegetation;

c)    No materials or equipment shall be stored within the spread of the branches or Root Protection Area of the trees and other vegetation;

d)    No roots over 50mm diameter shall be cut, and no buildings, roads or other engineering operations shall be constructed or carried out within the spread of the branches or Root Protection Areas of the trees and other vegetation;

e)    Ground levels within the spread of the branches or  ...  view the full minutes text for item PLA36/22

Planning Report and Presentation – The Head of Planning Services submitted a report in respect of application PLA37/22 Apt 107, The Potteries, Linden Park Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells and this was summarised at the meeting by Ms Emma Franks, Senior Planning Officer and illustrated by means of a visual presentation.

Updates and additional representation – None.

Registered Speakers – There was 1 speaker that registered in accordance with the Council’s Constitution (Planning Committee Procedure Rules)

Supporter:

·         Mr David Scott, applicant.

Matters of clarification by Officers and Committee Members’ questions to Officers included:

              i.        It was the responsibility of the applicant to oversee the health and safety aspect of the application and it was not a planning consideration that any weight was given to.

             ii.        It was confirmed that as the applicant was a Member of the Council in the three years prior to making the application, the application had been called to Planning Committee in accordance with section 4 of the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Constitution.

Committee Member debate and Officer clarification included:

              i.        It was suggested that it was excessive that the application was brought before Committee given that the applicant was a former Council Member. This was addressed and it was confirmed that it ensured transparency for former Members and Officers.

Decision/voting – On the basis that members were satisfied that all relevant planning considerations had been covered within the report, a motion was proposed by Councillor Fitzsimmons seconded by Councillor Pope and a vote was taken to approve the application in line with the officer recommendation.

RESOLVED – That application PLA37/22 be granted subject to the plans, conditions and informatives as set out in the agenda report.

To consider any other items which the Chairman decides are urgent, for the reasons to be stated, in accordance with Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business for consideration.

The next Planning Committee was scheduled for Wednesday 28 September 2022.

The next Planning Committee meeting was scheduled for Wednesday 28 September 2022.