Planning and Licensing Committee

Planning and Licensing Committee
Tuesday, 19th March 2024 at 7:00pm

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Cllr Jackie Meade
Slide 1
Mrs Sue Lewis

2 Declarations of Interest

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Declarations of Interest

Cllr Jackie Meade
Cllr Jennifer Hollingsbee
Cllr Jackie Meade
Cllr Mike Blakemore
Cllr Jackie Meade
Cllr Polly Blakemore
Cllr Rebecca Shoob
Cllr Jackie Meade

3 Minutes

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Final Minutes

4 Minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee

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Final Minutes

7 23/0580/FH - Pent Farm, Pilgrims Way CT21 4EY

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Mrs Sue Lewis

4 Minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee

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Final Minutes

7 23/0580/FH - Pent Farm, Pilgrims Way CT21 4EY

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8 23/1798/FH - Lower Works, Cherry Garden Lane, Folkestone, CT19 4AW

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Slide 428
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Cllr Jackie Meade

5 22/0855/FH - 88 Sandgate Road, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2AA

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Microphone B
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Cllr Jackie Meade
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Cllr Mike Blakemore
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Cllr Jackie Meade
Cllr Paul Thomas
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Cllr Mike Blakemore
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Microphone B
Cllr Jackie Meade
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9 Appeals Decisions Received

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Microphone A
Cllr Jackie Meade
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Mrs Sue Lewis
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Disclaimer: This transcript was automatically generated, so it may contain errors. Please view the webcast to confirm whether the content is accurate.

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:00:01

and welcome to the meeting of the Planning and Licensing Committee.

this meeting will be webcast live to the internet for those who do not wish to be recorded or filmed, you will need to leave the Chamber for members officers and others speaking at the meeting. It is important that the microphones are used so that viewers on the webcast and others in the room might hear you would anyone with a mobile phone please switch it to a silent mode as they can be distracting. I would like to remember and remind members that, although we all have strong opinions on matters under consideration, it is important to treat members officers and public speakers with respect.

members, as the Chair of the Committee, I would like to make a statement for the benefit of all Councillors, present at this meeting and for members of the public, the applications before you tonight, and indeed any applications you considering the future must be considered on planning merits only it is essential that Members adhere to this principle.

1 Apologies for Absence

2 Declarations of Interest

and ensure that their decisions tonight are based on the papers before you and any information provided to you during this meeting, this is not the forum to discuss any ancillary issues relating to the planning applications before you, so we now move on, do we have any apologies

Mrs Sue Lewis - 0:01:24

for absence, no apologies, no apologies, thank you Councillors do we

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:01:28

have any declarations of interest please?

Cllr Jennifer Hollingsbee - 0:01:36

Councillor honestly, yes, just item 23 0 5 8 0 F H, because it's in my ward.

thank you and I'm seeing no other declarations so sorry, Councillor

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:01:45

Blackburn, the lower lot, sorry, I haven't got the numbers of people now, a large one

Cllr Mike Blakemore - 0:01:50

23 1 7 9 8 F H I am a ward councillor for Cheriton.

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:01:59

and Councillor politics and Councillor Rebecca so much.

3 Minutes

Cllr Polly Blakemore - 0:02:00

Cllr Rebecca Shoob - 0:02:02

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:02:05

thank you very much, so, moving on to the minutes you have before you the minutes of the Licensing Committee.

we have the origins of what somebody bits of paper here.

dated Tuesday, the 20th of February, may I take these as a correct record, please.

thank you very much, so we'll move on to our first application this evening.

4 Minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee

7 23/0580/FH - Pent Farm, Pilgrims Way CT21 4EY

4 Minutes of the Licensing Sub-Committee

which is 23 dash 0 5 8 0 dash F H, which is pint farm pilgrims, why do we have any updates, please, if you've missed the minutes of the

Mrs Sue Lewis - 0:02:48

Licensing Committee Sub-Committee, we had Planning and Licensing, and then Licensing Sub-Committee.

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:03:09

sorry, Councillors, before we get an update, you should also have in your pack the minutes of the sub licensing committee, may I take these as an agreement to sign as correct thank you very much.

7 23/0580/FH - Pent Farm, Pilgrims Way CT21 4EY

over to any updates on print form, please.

Microphone C - 0:03:26

thank you Chairman, good evening members.

couple of updates for you this evening. The first one is that it is noted that members of the Planning Committee have received a briefing note for the proposed development from the applicant R and A energy ahead of this evening's meeting. The briefing note and a further letter of support received from touch-based care, who are Folkestone based charity, states that the developer has committed to supporting the local community by establishing a 60,000 pound fund to enhance existing community and volunteer facilities at Pentre Farm for the benefit of residents and volunteers. Members should note that the proposed Community Fund does not form part of the application submission and the details of which are not in the public domain. Members should therefore not give weight to this Community Fund in determining the application. Members have also been forwarded by the applicant 33 letters of support received via their own consultation website. These letters have been summarised within the planning committee report on pages 81 and 82 of the Committee agenda.

and finally, since the publication of the Committee report, the applicant has provided a great crested newt provisional impact assessment and conservation payments certificate, as requested by KCC ecology, in their consultation response should Members be minded to grant planning permission, it is recommended that any outstanding matters relating to this could be dealt with by pre-commencement planning condition, thank you.

thank you very much and we have three speakers on this this evening,

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:05:00

all public speakers have three minutes and I will stop you at the end of three minutes, so could we please have Debbie Reynolds, who is a local resident, to speak in support of the application if you'd like to come forward and turn them icon, and your three minutes will start when you do thank you.

Microphone Forty - 0:05:26

thank you for the opportunity to speak this evening, I am Debbie, and my husband is Tom together we manage current farm and are in full support of the solar project.

Thomas dedicated to regenerative agriculture and I am a farm environment adviser and have committed my entire career to conservation, we understand the importance of sustainability both of the environment and the business this underpins, we care about diversity, community and the future.

as a family we cherish pent farm and have planted miles of hedges installed new ponds scrapes, installed barn out and casual boxes, both birds now breed on the farm, we have a proven track record of increasing biodiversity and are committed to connecting people to the landscape and have set up hosting wildlife group and a farmland bird survey group with residents from Postling Stanford North and starting many have written in favour of the solar project.

Tom and I are keen to make to making sure our children see that we are doing all we can to tackle the terrifying issues of climate and biodiversity breakdown, this solar project carefully located on land adjacent, to a convert, a station on heavy Grade 3 B clay soils, we will be supporting efforts to contribute to the move to renewable energy.

the economic impact of not having energy independence and security in the UK affects us farmers too, from the officer I was clear that I would only support this project if it had substantial and real benefits to biodiversity and have contributed to the planning of three new ponds, wet woodland, broadleaf woodland, scrapes buffer strips and creation of reed bed.

we are so excited about the life that this project will breathe into the farm landscape and how this life will support pollinators, bats hairs, farmland birds and, importantly, contribute to safeguarding the wider farm scape and food production the developer has committed to providing a community benefit fund that will be used to support our local school visits Ghurka community and charity groups that already use pent farm,

the solar project at Pen farm can be a blueprint to demonstrate that farmland is multifunctional and can deliver biodiversity, renewable energy security and profitable farm business we identified, we identified that Pensacola will be a circular green economy, be knitted into the landscape and deliver significant biodiversity net gain of 85%.

climate and UK anxiety is real, seeing solar farms in our landscape provides hope for the future. Our children and younger generations are educated in and recognise the importance of climate action decisions such as granting permission for this solar farm which appeared difficult to all of us but are clear and obvious to them. We need to act in their interests. I ask the members here this evening to recognise that the benefits of this development clearly outweigh its limited and localised visual impact. I need my children to see that we are trying and have not given up. Could you please finish your sentence

thank you very much.

spot on time, wonderful.

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:08:38

also, can speaker is frank hopes, on behalf of the Postling Parish Council, to speak against the application if it could come forward, Mr hopes?

and your three minutes will start when you do, thank you.

Microphone Forty - 0:08:57

thank you, Madam Chairman and good evening Councillors.

this is probably one of the rare occasions when a Parish Council comes to these meetings to agree with the planning officer's recommendation, we held a public meeting before the Council considers the application and all those present opposed it, the council voted unanimously to recommend refusal in case you think we're being nimbies I would like to point out that very few of our residents will see the array from their homes but he'll stick out like a sore thumb from various vantage points on the North Downs around the posting area.

we agree it is necessary to provide alternative sources of power, but they have to be in the right place, this application site is not in the right place, the site lies wholly within the Kent Downs national landscape area, formerly the A and B,

this designation gives the same level of protection as national park and, as such, the application is contrary to numerous planning policies, both national and local.

policy any 3 years of places and policies local plan requires the natural beauty and locally distinctive features, the Owen better can be conserved Policy CC 6 states solar farms will only be acceptable where the proposal does not have any adverse impact on the scenic beauty of the A and B.

the Green party's policy is that renewable energy has to be in the right place, not in a fragile, protected rural environment, if this application is granted, it will drive a coach and horses through these policies, which makes you wonder why they're there in the first place, as well as making it more difficult to resist other similar applications in the future.

the applicant has not demonstrated that a site outside the A and B could be more viable.

as a local farmer, I know the land is difficult to farm but is perfectly capable of growing decent crops, the applicant states they will have sheep grazing under the panels, but they also state, they will allow the floor at a farm to flower and set seed, this means the sheep will not be able to enter until late summer and because of the nature of the land will have to leave in early autumn.

there will only be limited use and that grazing will be of poor quality, they ploughs proposed a lot of tree planting, which is good, but this will only be effective towards the end towards the end of the raised lifespan, in conclusion, posting Parish Council urges you to reject this application, thank you Chair.

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:11:22

thank you, sir, and the third person to speak on this this evening is Tom Roseblade, who is the agent to speak in support of the application?

and you have three minutes when you start.

Microphone Forty - 0:11:36

this Council has declared a climate emergency and emergency situations require emergency action.

and difficult decisions, it is clear from the conclusions of the case officer's report that the decision here tonight on the proposed development is finely balanced.

I think there would be significant benefits from the solar farm, but there would also be a level of harm, the benefits of the scheme are wide ranging and you include its contribution to reducing carbon emissions, delivering green economic growth, nature recovery, ecosystem, connectivity, significant biodiversity net gain and a more sustainable opportunities for a local farming business.

the harm from the scheme is, in our view, more limited and relates to the site's position just inside the boundary of the Kent downs and its localised landscape and visual impact on public footpaths. The applicant's position is that the benefits of the solar farm outweigh its harm and there are exceptional and unique circumstances that justify development in the national landscape. On this occasion, the applicant has worked with the landowner to select a pot of federal pen farm, which would have the least visual impact both on local residents and on recreational users of the landscape. However, it is not possible to hide the solar farm entirely

to mitigate for this, they have chosen a part of the farm already characterised by the high voltage pylons and power lines that cross it, ensuring that where the site cannot be screened at all, it is at least visible in a part of the landscape already influenced by electrical infrastructure. A solar farm is not permanent. Like other forms of development such as housing, it does not bring traffic or pressure on local services. It is even noted in the committee report that the Kent downs A and B units agree. A different form of development would have much more significant impacts on the setting of the A and B

the land does not change ownership when the solar farm would have a limited planning permission of 40 years, at which point a planning condition would dictate, it is removed and the land could then be easily returned to its current use.

taking into account the reversibility of the development, it is considered that the localised landscape and visual effects of the solar farm are acceptable on this occasion.

the fundamental question here tonight, though, is whether the scheme can be judged as acceptable in the A and B. National and local planning policy does not prohibit them from coming forward in such areas where exceptional circumstances are required to justify at the planning application sets out that there are specific characteristics of this site that are not likely to be replicated anywhere else in the in Nairobi or perhaps in any of A and B in the country. Together with the scheme's benefits and the overriding climate emergency, the proposed development quite clearly meets the test of exceptional circumstances. It is respectfully requested that the Committee recognises and gives due weight to the benefits of the scheme and takes this opportunity to make a positive difference for future generations by granting planning permission here tonight.

thank you.

thank you very much.

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:14:28

so Councillors, we've had three speakers, and we also have a very long and detailed report in our pack.

this time, which I think he should be very useful for us to discuss this particular application, so, over to you Councillors, would anyone like to ask a question or raise a point?

Councillor Owersby

thank you, Chairman.

Cllr Jennifer Hollingsbee - 0:14:53

I I find this one, one of the most difficult decisions that I've had to make.

for a long time, the the report, as the agent says is, is actually finely balanced.

I, I have to say I have read, I've read it several times, particularly the comments from national landscape and the natural England, and I I I find that very difficult to go against, but I want to listen to what other people say before I make up my mind.

thank you, Councillor Rusby that any other councillor like to speak on this Councillor Jones.

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:15:38

this is a huge dilemma, whichever way we go, I think I'll be criticised.

Cllr Anita Jones - 0:15:45

for me, the sticking point is the area of outstanding natural beauty, and there's a reason why we have these designations, because we need to protect places like this for future generations, I think.

a solar farm is an amazing idea and we do need more of those, and of course I'm in favour of solar energy, but I think it needs to be in the right place and there are other locations you could have such a site, I took a walk up there this morning just to go and get an idea of the scale it's beautiful up there.

and I think it would be a real shame, and I just wonder if this would be the trickle effect, that then this landscape would be built on more after this, so it's kind of setting a precedent for what's going to happen to all the rest of the landscape and are still a bit undecided, so I'm keen to listen to what everybody else has to say but say it's a huge dilemma because yes, we need renewables and we need more of them, but I still think

we can find the right locations for them.

thank you, Councillor, and, as you know, nothing can set precedent

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:16:52

because each application has to be judged on its own merits, Councillor Mike Blakemore.

Cllr Mike Blakemore - 0:17:00

yeah, I do agree with my fellow Councillors who've spoken already, this has been a really really difficult application to consider because it's within the national landscape.

however, I have given a lot of thought to the exceptional circumstances that might allow us, there's no getting away from the fact that a solar farm covering six fields is going to have an impact, especially on those views from the north downs ways.

but I'm not sure that impact is the same as it would be if we were considering a housing development here or new roads or industrial units, it's a solar farm, it's mitigated by the biodiversity gains and the planting of woodland, the ponds the things around it and I think that needs to be taken into account as well.

but the exceptional circumstance I really think has to be about the climate and ecological emergency, and what we need to be doing about that, only today I read a report about the investment that's needed to provide connectivity to the national grid, and here we have a scheme which does provide that opportunity to provide power for more than 5,000 homes. It's within easy reach of the Stanford substation. I know there are other fields nearby which also do that, but they would also be seen from the national landscape, even where they might not be within it.

so I think it's a really really difficult decision, I listened to what everyone else has to say, and I think because as Councillor Jones says, whichever way we go on this, we're going to be criticised for it, so it's a really really hard one, but I'm I think the final speaker we had was right when we say that an emergency as an emergency and we really do need to think about about what we do to address that.

thank you, Councillor Councillor Thomas.

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:18:46

thank you Chair.

well, as everybody else has said, this is this is a tough one.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:18:53

if you look at the consultation that was had 271 letters sent out 21 objections 5 of support and one that didn't make a suppl or a call either way when you have a look at the information we've been given already this evening and in the report is that it is grade 3 B moderate quality agricultural land that we're talking about.

but the thing for me is the fact that, through our own processes, we've already given due course and due consideration and produce policy cc 6, which is for solar farms.

I would just like to remind members I said to the development of new solar farms, or the extension of existing farms will only be acceptable where the proposal does not have an adverse impact on the landscape character or have any adverse visual impact on the scenic beauty of the Kent Downes area of outstanding natural beauty which we now know is the Kent Downs, national landscape or sensitive local landscapes or heritage assets, that's what our policy says.

so again, I think it becomes subjective than in terms of trying to understand the adverse impact and, as we hear pretty much every meeting RAS, so what's the harm and how could that harm be be mitigated potentially, and I think the officer's report does a good job of actually balancing up the the positive aspects of this with regard to 18 megawatts of of clean energy.

against the fact that this is going to occupy a part of 28 hectares, I think it is in an area which will, as we've already heard from a number of other councillors, it will be visible.

it is the kind of thing where

we have to be consistent and I think we've already gone through our places and policies, local plan, which we adopted in 2020.

our policies have already been scrutinised and we've already got agreement on how we're going to go about assessing applications in the future, so again, nothing for me that policy.

sways me enormously with regard to them,

for the Kent town's national landscapes, as the proposal it says in their in their reply to, the proposal will neither conserve or enhance the natural beauty of the Kent Downs, national landscape, that's their professional view.

the access report, if you have a look at that, which is the response to the consultation, talked about other cases across the the country, and talks about exceptional need does not necessarily equate to exceptional circumstance, because this could then, because what hasn't been proposed and it was raised by

by Frank Hobbs, the fact that other sites which might be more suitable have not been considered as part of this application, but again, we have said that we would as a as a Council.

be a secure and low carbon district, but not to the expense of other site considerations, for example.

the the impact that this will have on the on the Kent Downs, so I will be supporting the officer's recommendation for refusal Chair, thank you, thank you, Councillor Thomas Councillor Cooper, then Councillor

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:22:17

Cllr Tony Cooper - 0:22:18

Hollybank, thank you garage I'm looking into say a page 1 1 0 with the report which is the recommendation from the officer and basically did just say they're quite clearly what the school is despite, and it's an objective.

reports have gone through with moaner monks.

I've heard the arguments tonight and subject to what's been certainly lead on, and I think what Councillor Thompson said is basically correct, I do not be should go with the officers' recommendation, because if what Councillor Thomas is saying is correct me today as anyway there are alternatives or other sites that this could possibly and should be looked at and it's quite clear it simply to the the policy that's been already mentioned, so if Councillor Thomas wishes to move that I'll happily second this thank you.

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:23:10

councillors wants to wish to propose, yes indeed, yet I'd propose that

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:23:12

we accept the officer's recommendation for refusal, thank you, and and

Cllr Tony Cooper - 0:23:17

our second now yeah, Councillor Cooper will second Councillor Blackburn.

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:23:19

can I carry on?

Cllr Polly Blakemore - 0:23:26

Cllr Polly Blakemore - 0:23:39

with that, I actually dispute the fact that this could actually be somewhere else, because there were on reading the papers.

it's quite clear that there is a reason why this application has come forward, and that is the substation which is right there at Pen, Farm and that substation and has the grid connections, and therefore the capacity to accommodate this solo development.

and to address the climate crisis that we, we've just got to utilise this available grid export capacity. So let's not underestimate what we have here. This is an upside again. A substation with capacity and across the country. There is restricted grid capacity to accept renewable energy generation connections, so not using this is actually missing an opportunity, and I would argue that it's an opportunity that we really aren't in a position to be able to lose. It's not a question of pic or thus doing it somewhere else. It needs to be where it is in order to use that capacity, which will otherwise just go to waste

and we are in the middle of a climate emergency, and this Council did declare 2019 that that is the case, and that is the situation that we need to the calls for drastic measures and difficult decisions, and then it's a fact that by declaring a climate emergency, this Council made a commitment to take planning decisions in line with a shift to 0 carbon by 2030 and this is one of those decisions.

thank you, Councillor Blackburn, Councillor King, could I just ask the

Cllr Nicola Keen - 0:25:11

officers a question, does the substation really carry any weight as to where those panels are gonna, be policed, because I don't think they do having read this at the weekend, the substation could be quite distance where it doesn't need to be in situ to the panels. Yes, I

Microphone C - 0:25:30

mean that there are other opportunities to connect to an existing substation, but then with that comes the

additional cost of running the cabling, and you know the the distance that that might have to go across the other infrastructure, but I'd just like to say I don't think that we can put a price on our areas of outstanding natural beauty and if that's what's gonna happen that

Cllr Nicola Keen - 0:25:50

should happen, so I don't really think that this the substation being near to that farm should be a consideration anyway.

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:26:00

thank you any other Councillor Councillor sheep, thank you, yeah, I

Cllr Rebecca Shoob - 0:26:06

would just echo that we are in a climate emergency, this site does have benefits, I think there's the proximity to the substation is a factor.

I think even if we if there were other sites, I think we need more than one solar farm locally, moving to we need the demand for clean energy is huge and we need to provide it rapidly, and this is a proven technology that can can do that so we could wait around for other things to come forward.

but the the climate emergency is getting worse and worse and picking up a couple of points,

talked about protecting this.

landscape for future generations will if we

we don't deal with the climate emergency and the biodiversity, but biodiversity emergency this landscape is going to degrade significantly, we've got a the bigger picture is that we have got.

to to to protect.

our whole communities, the whole country, from the effects of climate change and biodiversity breakdown.

just going back as well to mentioned policy.

from 2020, which obviously would have been in development for some time, so we're now in 2024, and the changes are manifest, we're seeing locally landslips, floods, biodiversity breakdown, so I think.

I don't think we have the luxury of.

time is not on our side and what seemed feasible in 2020 or likely you know, the the changes that are happening have been worse than many people predicted, so I I just yeah, I think there are exceptional circumstances, yeah, but I think that the by the the climate emergency for me overrides,

you know the harm, it's a and, as everyone said, it's an extremely difficult decision, it's not something I take lightly,

but yeah, I would be, I would want to support this application, thank you.

do any other Councillor I'd like to speak on this, Councillor Lyons

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:28:42

me, yes, I just wanted to say that.

Cllr Jennifer Hollingsbee - 0:28:46

locally, actually just adjacent to the frozen highs district council border with Ashford, there are two huge solar farms in the vein, they haven't got planning permission, and they are right next to the Sellindge.

substation. So but we are told, and I'm not sure the situation, I mean I'm not technical, I don't understand as much as this, but if it if it's connected to the substation, does it automatically go into the grid? It does because you know that they're talking quite a few years at some, it's some places for it to be connected to the grid, so I you know, there is an issue there and also as a as a District Council, we're looking at a solar farm in limb and, as Councillor Blair said, he has read the various things. Of course we were all reading different things and I was reading the other day that if we carry on as we are at the moment with new solar farms within Kent

we will be an industrialised county, so I think I mean I I'm really torn with this, I I know I know Debbie I know the farm and I know that they would do their best say that they're amazing in terms of the local nature and what and what they do, but I'm also aware of the national landscape and the natural England comments which I really sort of are in my head and I can't seem to get out and I and I think are there exceptional circumstances we can argue can't we cannot,

you can argue one way or another, so I do find it very difficult.

thank you, Councillor, Councillor Goddard, thank you Chairman, firstly, offering credit to Alex for such a.

Cllr Clive Goddard - 0:30:43

good good report and a difficult report at Oxford because of the national climate emergencies, not just ours but nationally, all over the country down in my ward and their fellow Morris Councillor, we know we've within two or three miles of each have we got a nuclear power station a solar farm and obviously the windfall in ACM will give you at that solar farm for 18 17 18 years.

but obviously personal important tonight or turn to Councillor Thomas and agree with many of his comments. So he's made last ladies, who must have been difficult with, we have our local climate emergency and Marcelo growing. Colleagues, for for you know, trying to get this support because obviously that's your last you're lying with with the solar, my line from nuclear, but again we're not discussing the power station here tonight, let's not consider it dangerous, but I'll do more of it, yeah yeah get the plug in, but you know I do respect and echo Councillor Thomas's views on our policies and on Alex's excellent report, and perhaps not the replies. I would like to support migraine colleagues, but unfortunately not here lot, I say we've got plenty of of this as well. As Jenny said, coming up, not many miles away, the wider crow flies. We went to an exhibition like last year on one of the the solar farms that Jenny mentioned earlier, so you know, I can't support this at this time at this area if it comes back somewhere differently, and yes, I think we all know,

that you know there is an emergency and we we've got to go down this way, just like the Marsh's.

the mosh is there as follows, thank you, thank you, Councillor, would anyone else like to speak, I think we possibly?

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:32:44

have finished the debate, so we have in front of us one proposal which is to refuse this application as per the officers recommendation, all those in favour of the officers recommendation, please show your hands.

those against.

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:33:05

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:33:11

and any abstentions, thank you for seven against for no abstentions,

Mrs Sue Lewis - 0:33:15

thank you that application has fallen, thank you.

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:33:19

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:33:28

we now move on to our next application, which is 23 dash 1 7 9 8 dash f h, which is the law works at Cherry Garden Lane in Folkestone, do we have any updates, please?

thank you, Chair Now updates.

Microphone B - 0:33:46

thank you, we have one speaker on this.

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:33:51

and that's Graham Deans from affinity Water, who is the applicant to speak in support of the application, could you come forward, please, sir, and you have three minutes from when you start.

Microphone Forty - 0:34:25

chair members and officers, thank you for your time this evening, I'm just going to focus on one aspect which I believe was raised by the Parish Council, but in doing so just provide some background to the decision making or logic, in terms of how we are operating mostly affinity Water successors to Folkestone water company has got very long history 1,048 when that was first set up.

firstly, our focus remains on providing wholesome water to the communities, both infections over it and the associated other locations.

as part of our accommodation strategy, I've been looking at how best to provide for the relocation of our existing facilities on the Cherry Garden, sheer waste site to our our existing and based production facility to the north of where this site is located, in doing so, I have to have regard for how our operational requirements on some of the safeguards for existing apparatus, some of which is obviously not visible in terms of pipes that are below ground but also other functions that are based on the site that we were the where the workshop is located.

that includes things like our developer services teams, but also storage and associated facilities that are there as well the focus in terms of of accommodation officers provide for are like I say, our existing teams, the customer customer library, which is a production and network facility but also customer experience in terms of interface with customers on a day to day basis.

the the reuse of the facility obviously is part of our design approach. Looking at what we've got there, the workshop is a redundant building largely redundant and will obviously we're looking to accommodate and consolidate on that site to release the site to the south as well. The we've approached them to have regard for, obviously the heritage nature of the site itself and the particular building to try to make sure the design is sympathetic to that, but we do need to accommodate a certain number of headcount and provide for car park and associated, and therefore we've had to look at the overall site and, unfortunately, the point raised by the Parish Council in terms of the loss of a dwelling

there is overridden in our approach by the overall operational needs that we want to accommodate on the site.

so that focus remains in terms of the existing workshop.

but also called Friday's co-located facilities, keeping our employment base in Folkestone and providing for enhanced settings that will make ensure that our teams can work collaboratively with a focus on providing wholesome water, and therefore I think in terms of our our support for this and our approach to this is in line with the core local plan and associated core policies policies and therefore we're obviously looking to promote that and drive out with with ourselves in terms of the outcome, thank you.

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:37:22

thank you very much, thank you so over to you Councillors, would anyone like to raise any points?

Councillor Gorod said Joan them, offshore respect about some town

Cllr Clive Goddard - 0:37:35

council's decision Barcombe personally see a lot more modish in Lee spoke, and she said he keeps all the jobs and everything in Folkestone, and it's already here, so mostly officers' recommendation.

thank you, do we have a seconder?

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:37:52

Councillor sheep, thank you, who else would you like to speak on this?

Cllr Rebecca Shoob - 0:37:56

though very happy to second glad to see it's.

it's actually a nice walk round the back of their and it's nice to see that the the proposals are to keep the the new building sort of in line with that sort of industrial slum Victorian style so yeah very happy to second

thank you at any other Councillor might speak.

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:38:19

gosh, that was a short one, and we have one proposal in front of us, which is that planning permission be granted subject to the officers recommendation, all those who favours please show your hands.

and I don't need to count that was unanimous, thank you very much.

8 23/1798/FH - Lower Works, Cherry Garden Lane, Folkestone, CT19 4AW

5 22/0855/FH - 88 Sandgate Road, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2AA

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:38:41

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:38:49

so, councillors, we move on to the next one, which is 22 dash 0 8 5 5 dash if H, which is 88 Sandgate Road in Folkestone, any updates, please.

not dates Chair.

Microphone B - 0:39:02

thank you, and we have no speakers on this, so it's straight over to

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:39:08

Councillors, would anyone know or like to raise any ideas or issues or concerns, or indeed questions on this?

Councillor King.

has this been marketed long enough because I think it was Jim was met

Cllr Mike Blakemore - 0:39:24

Cllr Nicola Keen - 0:39:25

and has it been marketed for the length of time that we are?

Wednesday.

OK, I'm would you like me to come back from London?

thank you.

Microphone B - 0:39:55

these are the there is no requirement to market this particular site for a 12 month period policy Eta, and its explains under paragraph 7.4 of the officers report policy E, to, within the places and policies, local plan protects existing employment sites. The aims of the policy are informed by the Council's employment land review, which was focused upon office manufacturing and warehousing distribution uses, as the application property is not within the sites reviewed in this part of the document would not have formed part of the review. There is no requirement, therefore, to market that length of time

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:40:36

thank you would only other Councillor landlords question Councillor Thomas than Councillor might Blake more.

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:40:41

Cllr Paul Thomas - 0:40:47

Cllr Rebecca Shoob - 0:40:48

excuse me, okay, yeah, thank you Chair just a couple of comments already, so again, 18 letters sent out only one objection associated with this.

in the report he talks about minor external alterations, not readily visible from the streetscene so again, just in terms of its Grade II listing and the fact that you know what being asked to do tonight in terms of consider the application it is redeveloping the inside one and moving away from what is currently an empty property so again it is bringing a property back into habitable use which is to be supported, thank you.

that's all from me, thank you Chair

thank you, Councillor Blake, well, yes, I'm supportive of this too, it

Cllr Mike Blakemore - 0:41:34

is providing three new homes much-needed, the preservation of a heritage asset also welcome the provision of cycle spaces, I'm not concerned about the lack of parking I think with a town centre location like this within easy reach of trains and buses.

we can't consider an application unacceptable for not having sufficient parking, and I think many residents that look to live in a location like that or quite happily use public transport, so I'm very supportive.

thank you, Councillor Blake more, I've actually got a question on this

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:42:08

under the Environmental Health, on page 17.

it states that mitigation is required, as per the noise assessment, and I'm guessing, this is around the bin storage, but I can't actually see anything within the conditions I could be wrong, could you highlight that, or is it something that we need to possibly include on the conditions?

Microphone B - 0:42:42

are actually correct, there isn't a conditional nr if few.

feel that more comfortable, having a condition that secures those in line with the statement made in the report, which we can add that thank you very much.

but any other Councillor I'd like to comment.

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:42:58

I am seeing none, so we have one proposition in front of us which should go with the officers recommendations including.

the condition regarding the mitigation around the bin storage for noise assessment, odour noise mitigation, rather all those in favour, please show.

so I Councillor Kane will propose Councillor Cooper will second apologies all those who favour.

I got too excited because I saw it as unanimous.

thank you, and we go on to the last one this evening for the applications which is again Sandgate Road, Frankston, and this is regarding the listed building consent, do we have any updates, please?

again, now updates checks.

Microphone B - 0:43:53

councillors, would anyone like to make any comments, Councillor

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:43:57

Goddard would like to move it or have a seconder?

Councillor Mowat, Blackmoor, all those in favour.

and again that is unanimous, thank you very much.

as per.

recent

9 Appeals Decisions Received

meetings that we've had, we are now receiving information regarding appeal decisions.

so that we can actually see how are decisions that are made in this Chamber actually go forward.

and are upheld or not, as the case may be, so it's a good training and learning curve, I wonder if you could give us an introduction to this, thank you Chair good evening members well we received quite a few

Microphone A - 0:44:44

appeal decisions last month in the main I think that they're pretty good.

the inspectors have generally gone along with the decisions of the Council and supported our grounds for refusal, there's one decision which is Appendix A which I would collect clearly some a bit of a shocker, frankly, I think it's a very poor decision, I think we'll do harm the character and appearance of the D, A and B. But certainly to remainder we are particularly particularly happy about particularly the

dwelling in the A and B and the

the Station House, skiing and Sandling Road was a particularly interesting scheme.

and so I would advise Members to have a good look about decision and, particularly, if possible, scrutinise the drawings, because I think it's particularly interesting.

thank you very much, I am I actually find these appeals or reports

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:45:54

very, very interesting and informative, and before we close the meeting this evening.

we have a member sorry, can I can I just before you move it certainly

Cllr Jennifer Hollingsbee - 0:46:06

can I just say yeah, it's really interesting and a, and I'm glad that we've started the system again, we did run it in previous years I was particularly interested in the Western Bangor and the Live Les Lyveden.

dwelling, and I think, or at least I I'll.

I won't have so many of you, I won't have so many telephone calls and e-mails from that applicant, now that's quite useful.

to Wankhede Councillor Hollingbery just make sure everybody's happy

Mrs Sue Lewis - 0:46:36

just to note the report, could everyone show if they're happy to note the report, please?

Cllr Jackie Meade - 0:46:39

wonderful, as I was saying it's quite a sad evening this evening because we have a member of our staff Sue Lewis, who, after 36 years with the is well.

is leaving us today, committee I would like it noted, if I may, in the minutes, that we give huge thanks for the service that Sue has given us over the years and to all planning committees tonight is in fact her very last meeting, so if you agree with a huge thanks being put into the minutes, could you show with a round of applause please?

and so, if you'd like to see us afterwards, we've gotten a little present for you, thank you, everyone so much have a safe journey home if you're not at home at the moment, and we'll see you very soon, thank you.

Planning and Licensing Committee - Tuesday 19 March 2024, 7:00pm - Folkestone & Hythe webcasting