The Senior Planning Officer introduced the application as set out in the report. 

Mr Danny Nicholson, an objector, spoke against the application.

Simon McKay, the Agent, spoke in support of the application.

The Chairman moved the officer recommendation to grant planning permission as per the recommendation in the report, and this was seconded by Councillor Tony Winckless.

The Chairman drew Member’s attention to the planning history of the site, set out on pages 100 and 101 of the report, including the Planning Inspector’s comments. 

A Member sought clarification on the number of static units and mobile units included in the application, plus the number of units currently on the site.  The Senior Planning Officer confirmed that following the most recent appeal in 2022, there were eight plots, each with two touring caravans and one day room.  Currently there were eight plots, each with two touring caravans, two mobile homes and one day room, so overall there would be 16 additional caravans on site compared with the previous appeal.  The Planning Manager confirmed that there were no units lawfully on the site at the moment as the permission had expired in July 2025.  A temporary permission had been granted following the 2019 application which lasted for three years.  He confirmed that the current application was for 32 caravans and eight day rooms across eight plots.

The Chairman invited Members to make comments, and these included:

·         Clarification sought on any restrictions on the use of the units on site, especially in terms of any commercial activities;

·         information sought on who would be living on the site, whether in a static unit or those with a more nomadic lifestyle;

·         welcomed that an application had been submitted, which could then be conditioned;

·         noted that the Council could not demonstrate a five-year supply of Gypsy and Traveller sites;

·         enforcement action had been taken on the site, but there were still units there;

·         suggested a site visit could be beneficial;

·         there were not enough Gypsy and traveller allocated sites and from photographs this looked like a well-kept site;

·         clarification sought on the current Gypsy and traveller allocated sites in the Borough;

·         considered Hartlip Parish Council and the Member who called the application in should have been in attendance at the meeting;

·         it was important that the number of units on the site was regulated and enforced;

·         there was a lot of hardstanding on the site, more landscaping was needed; and

·         suggested a temporary permission be granted.

The Senior Planning Officer responded to some of the points raised: condition (6) in the report prevented commercial activities on the site and condition (5) limited the number of commercial vehicles per pitch; there was a requirement that occupiers of the site met the definition of a nomadic lifestyle under local plan policy DM10; information submitted with the application demonstrated that they did meet the relevant definition; the last Gypsy and traveller assessment was carried out in December 2023 and there was a shortfall of 114 pitches in the borough, with a 1.3 years supply, down from 3.5 years.

The Planning Manager set out the scope for granting a further temporary permission if required, approaches to landscaping and the approach to investigating and enforcing against breaches of planning control.

The Chairman moved the following motion:  That the application be deferred to allow the Planning Working Group to meet on site.  This was seconded by the Vice-Chairman and on being put to the vote, was agreed.

Resolved:  That application 25/502451/FULL be deferred to allow the Planning Working Group to meet on site.