To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 3 September 2015 (Minute Nos. 188 - 191) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 3 September 2015 (Minute Nos. 188 - 191) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to deleting the word ‘The’ before the word ‘She’ on the third paragraph of page 186.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves or their spouse, civil partner or person with whom they are living with as a spouse or civil partner.  They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

The Chairman will ask Members if they have any interests to declare in respect of items on this agenda, under the following headings:

(a)          Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (DPI) under the Localism Act 2011.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DPI, the Member must leave the meeting and not take part in the discussion or vote.  This applies even if there is provision for public speaking.

(b)          Disclosable Non Pecuniary (DNPI) under the Code of Conduct adopted by the Council in May 2012.  The nature as well as the existence of any such interest must be declared.  After declaring a DNPI interest, the Member may stay, speak and vote on the matter.

Advice to Members:  If any Councillor has any doubt about the existence or nature of any DPI or DNPI which he/she may have in any item on this agenda, he/she should seek advice from the Director of Corporate Services as Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

Councillor Peter Marchington declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of the Planning Working Group item, 15/500819/FULL, Land adjoining Driftwood, Imperial Drive, Warden.  Councillor Marchington left the room during consideration of this item.

Councillor Bryan Mulhern declared a pecuniary interest in respect of item 2.10, 14/504619/FULL, Macknade Garden Centre, Canterbury Road, Faversham as he worked for a competitive brewery.  Councillor Mulhern left the Chair, and the room during consideration of this item.  Following nomination and voting by Members Councillor Andy Booth took the Chair for the item.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 September 2015 (Minute Nos. to follow).

15/503738/FULL 9 Woodside, Dunkirk, Kent, ME13 9NY

To approve the Minutes of the Reconvened Meeting held on 21 September 2015 (Minute Nos. to follow).

15/502716/FULL Breach Farm Paddocks, Land North-east of Breach Farm Bungalow, Breach Lane, Upchurch, Kent, ME9 7PE

15/500819/FULL Land adjoining Driftwood, Imperial Drive, Warden, Kent, ME12 4SE

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 September 2015 (Minute Nos. 211 - 214) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the inclusion of Councillor Andy Booth’s apologies.

15/503738/FULL 9 Woodside, Dunkirk, ME13 9NY

The Chairman moved the officer recommendation for approval and this was seconded.

Resolved:  That application 15/503738/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) and (2) in the report.

The Minutes of the Reconvened Meeting held on 21 September 2015 (Minute Nos. 220 - 222) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the inclusion of Councillor Mike Baldock’s and Councillor Andy Booth’s  apologies.

15/502716/FULL Breach Farm Paddocks, Land north-east of Breach Farm Bungalow, Breach Lane, Upchurch, ME9 7PE

The Chairman moved the officer recommendation for approval and this was seconded.

The Senior Planner reported that Kent County Council (KCC) Biodiversity had no objection to the application, subject to information regarding any potential for reptiles on the site.  He drew attention to the tabled report and specifically to condition (2) which sought to secure the required survey and any remediation works prior to occupation of the site.  The report also provided details of recent changes to the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites.

KCC Archaeology had no objection. KCC Highways had clarified that they had examined the right location, and still had no objection.

The Senior Planner reported that Newington Parish Council and Upchurch Parish Council objected to the application.  The objection from Newington Parish Council had previously been sent to Members.  The Senior Planner outlined the following comments from Upchurch Parish Council: this was a large plot of land which could lead to further applications; the access was very poor; concern over what the remaining container would be used for; and concern that there was a plan to erect an amenity building.

The Ward Members spoke in objection to the application and made the following comments: new gypsy and traveller policy stated that a person who leaves a nomadic life was not defined as a gypsy, but it appeared that the applicant wanted to live at  the site; this should be a temporary permission, as noted in paragraph 5.04 in the report for 3 September 2015; if this was approved, conditions should stipulate that the dilapidated buildings on the site were removed; landscaping was not a ‘cure all’; position of buildings on the site made them very visible to local residents and from Breach Lane; the container’s orientation needed to be changed; landscaping on other sites had not addressed being able to see what was on the site; buildings would become more visible in winter months, evergreens were not native; acknowledged that the applicant had owned the site for many years; do not want  to see the site expanded further to this application; this was harsh on the landscape; this application should have gone through the agricultural/farming route; inequality between what was permitted for gypsy and travellers compared to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 242.

To consider the attached report (Parts 2, 3 and 5).

The Council operates a scheme of public speaking at meetings of the Planning Committee.  All applications on which the public has registered to speak will be taken first.  Requests to speak at the meeting must be registered with Democratic Services (democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call 01795 417328) by noon on Wednesday 23 September 2015.

PART 2

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

Councillor Peto, representing Dunkirk Parish Council, spoke against the application.

The Chairman moved the officer’s recommendation for approval and this was seconded.

A Ward Member objected to the application and considered as the roads were narrow, that KCC Highways should have commented.  In response, the KCC Highways Officer confirmed that the application did not have the criteria for it to be considered by KCC Highways and that Planning Officers were considered competent enough to determine the effects of any highway issues on this size of development.

Another Ward Member considered there should be comments from Planning Officers on highway matters within the report.  He sought clarification on the parking spaces.  The Ward Member considered the road at this point to be busy and dangerous, and that the development was overintensive.

The Area Planning Officer explained that the width of the parking area was sufficient in this case where vehicles were likely to park more closely together than they would do if it was a public car park.  He confirmed that it was likely that one car would park in the garage and two outside.

Resolved:  That application 15/504083/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (3) in the report.

This application was considered at the reconvened meeting on 29 September 2015.

A Ward Member spoke against 12 month occupancy at the site.

The Development Manager outlined the history of the site and explained that the previous Lawful Development Certificate established that there was no occupancy condition on chalet nos. 81-89, as reported in paragraph 8.04 in the report.

The Chairman moved the officer recommendation for approval and this was seconded.

 Resolved:  That application 15/502729/FULL be approved (no conditions required).

Mr Matthew Pamplin, an objector, spoke against the application.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 243.

Members agreed to the suspension of Standing Orders in order that the Planning Committee could complete its business.