After discussion at the Environment Committee meeting on the 9^th January 2006 it was agreed that a document should be produced for guidance to the committee and members of the public who wish to address the meeting about future planning applications.

Applicants will be allowed 3 minutes to address members. This is already policy and the meeting will be adjourned to allow this. Once reconvened the applicant is unable to contribute unless asked a direct question by the chairman or committee member.

If possible details of the proposed application would be included on the agenda.

Applicant can submit a draft plan to allow members to consider the proposal; and with prior arrangements can also use the parish council’s projector if they wish to show photographs etc. to help their explanation.

Members can ask questions to help them identify any concerns that they may have. Members would be asked to refrain from discussing in depth any issues that would be the responsibility of the Planning Department for example they can ask for sympathetic materials but should not normally discuss the exact materials that they would wish to see.

Members would identify any concerns about the proposal in order to help the applicant. It is likely that these would be additional traffic, access and egress to the site, design, loss of privacy to neighbours etc.

Members would be asked, where possible, to restrict their comments to one brief succinct statement about the proposed application. Where possible members to refrain from repeating concerns already stated by other members.

Members will not be able to state whether they would support a proposed application. Present policy states that a decision can only be taken when a planning application is submitted via the Planning Department.

Informal summary of the MBC planning system.  

1.    Planning Officer makes decision on the planning application using planning law, guidelines and legislation.  If he/she decides to allow the application then in normal circumstances they have the devolved power to do so.  However if a parish council has objected or if a Borough Councillor ‘calls in’ the application then this devolved power (the right to approve or refuse an application) is removed.

If the Planning Officer agrees with the objection of the Parish Council then the application is refused (see 3)  

2.    Maidstone BC has a Planning Committee that deals with planning applications referred to it by the Planning Officer.  It meets every 3^rd Thursday and an agenda is released the previous Friday.  It is imperative that if you are objecting to an application that you relate your comments to the Planning Officer’s report in the agenda.

     The agenda will generally be available on the MBC website the Friday before the meeting.  The applicant/objectors will also receive a letter notifying them that the application is on the agenda.  A single objector, the applicant, the

Parish Council and a Borough Councillor can ‘book in’ to speak to the committee. MBC will make a decision about the application on the night (see 3).

You will only be allowed 3 minutes to address the members and this is strictly adhered to by the Chairman. You are not allowed to speak again or make comments.  You can however lobby the members by writing them a letter/via e mail prior to the meeting.  Details of the committee membership and their contact details are on the MBC website.  

3.  If MBC refuse a planning application then the applicant has a right of appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.  This is an independent organisation and the decision of the inspector is final and he/she can overturn MBC’s decision.

     Objectors have no right of appeal.  

     If the Planning Officer is minded to approve an application then an objector should consider whether there are any reasonable conditions that might be put in place by MBC that could resolve/mitigate some of their objections/concerns.  This must be done before the decision of the Planning Officer or Maidstone Planning Committee.  It is advisable not to wait until the meeting to talk about these but to notify these to the Planning Officer/Committee members as soon as possible.  Once a decision has been taken by the officer/committee it cannot be added to/or amended.

MBC web casts the planning meetings and if it is likely that an applicant/objector is going to attend the meeting/address members then they are advised to log onto the MBC website and watch the proceedings to familiarize themselves with the process.

Agreed at Environment Committee meeting 5^th February 2007, amended* 12.03.07.

Lighting for PROW KH2.

Mini roundabout or improvements at junction Grovewood Drive South and New Cut.

Improvements to roundabout or junction at Maidstone Studio roundabout/Grovewood Drive north (reduce height of roundabout/yellow hatching/traffic lights?).

Additional lining to traffic approaching from Notcutts roundabout so it has to slow/stop at the television studios roundabout

Improvements to width of Grovewood Drive North. Including a proper pedestrian refuge.

Vinters Valley Park Nature Reserve would always benefit from funding.

Grove Green Scouts are looking for land to build a HQ on (minimum space required for hall is 250 sq m (25mx 10m).

Improvements to traffic facilities in surrounding road system to alleviate congestion problems.

Library at Grove Green.

Traffic calming for Provender Way should be considered.

Contributions towards play areas existing and new.

Traffic lights on roundabouts around Grove Green/new cut/M20 to assist traffic flows.

Community facilities for youth at any residential area.

Pedestrian crossings to encourage/safety for pedestrians. (Bearsted Road/Ware street)

Off road car parking at the rear of the properties for residents at Gidds Pond Cottages*.

Village Halls.      Sandling, Grove Green and Weavering Village Hall could also do with some support.

Beechen Hall/parish office might benefit from development/expansion.

Walderslade/Lordswood

Missing footway Impton Lane.

Improvement to footway around the Boxley Road/Walderslade Woods Road roundabout (this will need investigation)

Repair to wooden sound barrier fence at Wildfell Close.

Walderslade Amenity Woods improvements and additions.

Community facilities for children/youth at any residential area

Westfield Sole Road – additional passing places and/or footway. Funding might be possible from any development on the Wards land on Westfield Sole Road and Gleamingwood Drive. Whilst this would not be possible for the total length of Westfield Sole Road it might possibly do some lengths of the road. If land is developed at Gleamingwood Drive then the request could be for a footway at the back of the development (Gleamingwood Drive already has a footway on one side).

Other.