CRANBROOK & SISSINGHURST PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PLANNING PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

HELD ON THE 4TH DECEMBER 2012

Members who had a personal or prejudicial interest, whether direct or indirect within the meaning of Section 51 of the Local Government Act 2000, or a personal or prejudicial interest defined by the Cranbrook & Sissinghurst Parish Council’s Code of Conduct, in any of the matters appearing on the agenda were invited to declare that interest at this stage.Alternatively, personal interests can be declared at the time when a specific item is being discussed, if a member wishes to speak on an item in which they have a personal interest.

Present: Cllr. Bunyan (in the Chair), Cllrs. Bancroft, Cook, Marley, Swann and Veitch

PLANNING APPLICATIONS:

12/03072/HOUSE/LS1

Castle Mead Biddenden Road Sissinghurst

Two storey side extension, with juliette balcony to side, front porch

The Parish Council recommend APPROVAL.

Proposed by Cllr. Bancroft, seconded by Cllr. Marley and agreed.

12/03205/FUL/SE2 & 12/03209/LBC/SE2

Planning & Listed Building Consent

The Bull Inn, The Street, Sissinghurst

Minor external works with works to ground floor bar and restaurant and first floor letting rooms

The Parish Council recommend APPROVAL subject to the views of the Conservation Architect. Members were very supportive of the applications to bring the Bull Inn back into good repair.

Proposed by Cllr. Bancroft, seconded by Cllr. Veitch and agreed.

12/03111/HOUSE/CLC

5 Wheatfield Way Cranbrook

Single-storey front extension and alterations

The Parish Council recommend APPROVAL.

Proposed by Cllr. Cook, seconded by Cllr. Marley and agreed.

12/03112/HOUSE/CLC

7 Wheatfield Way Cranbrook

Single-storey front extension and alterations

The Parish Council recommend APPROVAL.

Proposed by Cllr. Cook, seconded by Cllr. Marley and agreed.

12/03215/FUL/RH1

Hartley Coffee House Hartley Dyke Farm Hartley Road Cranbrook

Retrospective – Storage building

The Parish Council recommend APPROVAL.

Proposed by Cllr. Swann, seconded by Cllr. Bancroft and agreed.

12/03237/HOUSE/RH1

Scotney Bakers Cross Cranbrook

Retrospective – loft conversion including front roof lights and roof alteration with rear dormer window.

The Parish Council made a NEUTRAL recommendation deferring the decision to the Planning Case Officer. The Chairman suggested that the recommendation would probably have been one of refusal if the application had not retrospective.

Proposed by Cllr. Cook, seconded by Cllr. Veitch and agreed.

TREES:

12/03227/TPO/DMD

51 Joyce Close Cranbrook

T1 OAK – Crown thin by 30-40%. Remove lower limb to allow light into garden.

The Parish Council made a NEUTRAL recommendation deferring the decision to the Borough Tree Officer.

Proposed by Cllr. Veitch, seconded by Cllr. Cook and agreed.

029/2011 Tree Preservation Order

7 – 15 Stone Street, Cranbrook

Members noted that the Tree Preservation Order had been confirmed.

APPEALS:

APP/M2270/A/12/2176058

6 Carriers Road, Cranbrook

Members were pleased to note that the appeal had been dismissed.

HOUSING NEEDS SURVEY/EXCEPTION SITES:

Cllr. Bunyan informed Members that the planning application for the Common Road was due to go before the Eastern Area Planning Committee on Monday 10th December and that she would attend and speak in support of the application.

DECISIONS:

Cllr. Bunyan read out the decisions recently received from the Borough Council.

BUDGET:

After a full discussion it was agreed by all Members that there was no anticipated expenditure during the next twelve months. Expenditure may be needed at the time when we look at undertaking a Neighbourhood Plan but that is in the future when the Borough had completed their various development plan documents. There were 200 town councils preparing Plans as frontrunners. There will be templates to follow when we are in a position to undertake a Plan.
ITEMS FOR INFORMATION:

The Chairman stated that she and Cllr. Bancroft had attended the Localism Bill event held last Friday in Tunbridge Wells. Cllr. Bancroft suggested that there was a lot of talking, but not actually much was said. There was one relevant factor in that a TWBC Officer stood up and confirmed that the Borough were now getting their act together with regard to the Localism Bill.

On an issue not relevant to this Committee, Cllr. Veitch confirmed that the Notice for the traffic calming scheme in Waterloo Road had appeared in Kent on Sunday and she would furnish the Clerk with a copy to put on the noticeboard.

Cllr. Bunyan informed Members that at a recent Cranbrook Conservation Area Advisory Committee, a discussion took place on the Localism Bill and Community Assets. Borough Councillor Linda Hall offered to take forward any list prepared by the Parish Council to the relevant Officer at the Borough. The Clerk confirmed that to date there had still not been a response to our letter to James Freeman, Head of Planning Services.

Cllr. Bancroft raised an issue for information only which she would raise at this evenings Economic & Community meeting. There were concerns in Sissinghurst on whether the Village Shop would remain open. Members had a discussion and it was suggested that one option could be that perhaps a letter could be sent to Enterprise Inns on keeping an open mind for a shop within the curtilage of the Bull Pub. This has happened at Matfield and in other rural areas.

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