PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
 21st January 2008

Committee Members present: Cllrs B Garlick (Chairman), D Brown (Vice Chairman), J Atkins, C Block,
C Grayhurst, Mrs B Keeley, Miss A Moloney

Council Members present: Cllr D Keeley, Mrs. S Hunter (Town Clerk)

Members of the Public present: Mr. P Hickmott & Mr J Boyes

1. Apologies for Absence

Apologies were received from Cllrs Mrs D Crook.

2. Declaration of Interest

Cllrs D Keeley and Miss A Moloney are Borough Councillors on Area 3 Planning Committee.

3. Matters arising from the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 December 2007

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

4. Open Forum

Mr Hickmott asked about Item 10.1 Meeting with Lafarge Cement. All they have committed to at this stage is preparatory works. They are hoping for a decision by the summer of 2008.

5. Planning Applications

5.1 Decisions received

In the Office for perusal.

5.2 Applications for consideration

5.2.1 TM/07/00784 – 8 High street – Single Storey rear extension - NO OBJECTION
5.2.2 TM/07/04390 – Land A228 - Landscaping - No objection
5.2.3 TM/07/04404 – 61 Coombe Close – Two Storey Side Extension - No objection
5.2.4 TM/07/04405 – 17 Queens Rd – Rear single storey flat roof ext at Grd Level, with rear projecting dormer to roof space – Would prefer to see a pitched roof.
5.2.5 TM/07/04469 – Sth. East Water Co. Rocfort Rd – Extension to existing Car Park - No objection in principal, but strenuously object to the loss of trees in that area.
5.2.6 TM/07/04493 – Former Holborough Quarry – Revised Details – No Objection
5.2.7 TM/07/04494 – Former Holborough Quarry – Revised details of affordable Hsg. Noted
5.2.8 TM/08/00028 - 5 Hamilton Close - Conservatory - No objection
5.2.9 TM/07/04472 – Former Cement Works Halling – Redevelopment – STC has concerns regarding the increased pressure on the A228 for this and successive developments.
5.2.10 TM/08/0007 - Dene Hall – Demolition of existing building, and replace with block of 8 apartments. – STC do not accept that the changes made to these plans address the previous issues that caused our objection.
5.2.11 TM/07/04132 – 118 High Street – Front Porch – No Objection
5.2.12 TM/07/03934 – Barn adjacent Cox’s Cottages – Landscaping – No Objection

6. Snodland Riverside Project

The Historical Society is in the progress of researching this.

7. Surplus Land at Catts Alley

We need to discuss the District Valuers report in a Part 11 of this meeting. KCC Highways have copied us in to a letter regarding the Section 38 Agreement (The adoption of Catts Alley by Highways), and after looking at the attached Map, the committee are happy with this.
The spare land at the other end of Catts Alley is still being discussed.

8. Brook Street – Request for STC Consent to construct a new bridge.

The committee agree in principal, however we need a time scale and it would be subject to terms and conditions. The clerk will contact the district valuer regarding this.

9. Any other items which the Chairman has decided are urgent owing to special Circumstances

A resident in Simpson Rd has concerns regarding some Silver Birch trees in Nevill Park. We need to put some bushes in place to build a screen from the park, to the Residents gardens before we can remove the trees. The clerk will send a letter to The Residents informing them what we will be doing. The trees can be trimmed back this year and we hope we can remove them the following year.
There are some invitations for Cllrs to attend some functions, the Clerk has the details.
Snodland Cricket club wish to use our logo on their shirts. The committee agreed this is a good idea.

The Chairman moved that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting because of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted.