The Chairman will advise the meeting of the evacuation procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. This is particularly important for visitors and members of the public who will be unfamiliar with the building and procedures.

The Chairman will inform the meeting whether there is a planned evacuation drill due to take place, what the alarm sounds like (i.e. ringing bells), where the closest emergency exit route is, and where the second closest emergency exit route is, in the event that the closest exit or route is blocked.

The Chairman will inform the meeting that:

(a) in the event of the alarm sounding, everybody must leave the building via the nearest safe available exit and gather at the Assembly points at the far side of the Car Park.  Nobody must leave the assembly point until everybody can be accounted for and nobody must return to the building until the Chairman has informed them that it is safe to do so; and

(b) the lifts must not be used in the event of an evacuation.

Any officers present at the meeting will aid with the evacuation.

It is important that the Chairman is informed of any person attending who is disabled or unable to use the stairs, so that suitable arrangements may be made in the event of an emergency.

The Chairman ensured that those present were aware of the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 13 October 2016 (Minute Nos. 938 - 946) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 13 October 2016 (Minute Nos. 938 – 946) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

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.

(c)          Where it is possible that a fair-minded and informed observer, having considered the facts would conclude that there was a real possibility that the Member might be predetermined or biased the Member should declare their predetermination or bias and then leave the room while that item is considered.

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 Bobbin declared a disclosable non-pecuniary interest in respect of item 3.1, Land north of Canterbury Road, Dunkirk.

To consider the attached report (Sections 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 9 November 2016.

PART 2

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

The Chairman moved the officer recommendation to approve the application and this was seconded.

A Ward Member, also a member of Faversham Town Council, advised that following the amendments, the Town Council were happy with the application.

Resolved:  That application 16/504416/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (3) in the report.

The Area Planning Officer reported that amended plans had been received.  A neighbour had commented on the amendments and considered that the claim that the size of the new garage was almost the same as the existing one was incorrect, and that the drawings appeared to be the wrong scale.  His objections had remained the same, as noted in the report.  The Agent had confirmed that the new garage was the same size as the existing garage, and that the drawings were at the correct scale. The Area Planning Officer stated that the application had not been re-consulted upon, following the amendments, as the dimensions were smaller than the original application.  Norton Parish Council remained concerned with the application, and considered it to be disproportionate to the cottage, and they had concerns that the size of the garage meant that it could be converted to a dwelling in the future, and they had requested a condition preventing this.  The Area Planning Officer confirmed that condition (4) in the report addressed this by stating that the building ‘shall not be used at any time other than for the purposes ancillary and/or incidental to the residential use of the dwelling known as “1 Bullfinches”’.  He advised that the Parish Council had not withdrawn their objection.

Resolved:  That application 16/506621/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (8) in the report.

The Area Planning Officer reported that one additional letter of objection had been received which raised issues of harm to visual amenity which had already been dealt with in the report.

Mr George Newstead, an objector, spoke against the application.

Mr Paul Rainer, the Applicant, spoke in support of the application.

The Chairman moved the officer recommendation to approve the application and this was seconded.

A Ward Member, not a member of the Planning Committee, spoke in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1002.

To decide whether to pass the resolution set out below in respect of the following items:

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

1.    Information relating to any individual.

2.    Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

3.    Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). See note below.

4.    Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and any employees of, or office holders under, the authority.

5.    Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

6.    Information which reveals that the authority proposes

(a)  To give under any enactment a notice under or by virtue of which requirements are imposed on a person; or

(b)  To make an order or direction under any enactment.

7.    Information relation to any action in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime.

Resolved:

(1) That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 2, 3 and 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act:

1. Information relating to any individual.

2. Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

3. Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

4.  Information relating to any consultation or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and any employees of, or office holders under, the authority.

5.  Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

6. Information which reveals that the authority proposes:

(a) to give under any enactment a notice under or by virtue of which requirements are imposed on a person; or

(b) to make an order or direction under any enactment.

7.  Information relating to any action taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime.

To consider the attached report (Part 6).

6.1  Ref: 16/505817/FULL – Proposed garage/outbuilding at 2 Haylocks Cottages, Stalisfield

Resolved:  That an Enforcement Notice be issued in respect of the breach of planning control, pursuant to the provisions of Section 172 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, requiring that the garage is demolished and all materials arising from the demolition are removed from the site within 6 months of the Notice taking effect. 

That the Head of Planning Services and Head of Legal Partnership of the Council be authorised to prepare and serve the necessary documentation, including the precise wording thereof to give effect to this decision.

6.2  Ref:  16/5063907/FULL – Proposed single storey rear extension at 97 Upper Brents, Faversham

Resolved:  That an Enforcement Notice be issued in respect of the breach of planning pursuant to the provisions of Section 172 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, requiring that the extension is demolished and all materials arising from the demolition are removed from the site within 6 months of the Notice taking effect. 

That the Head of Planning Services and Head of Legal Partnership of the Council be authorised to prepare and serve the necessary documentation, including the precise wording thereof to give effect to this decision.

6.3  Ref:  16/503680/FULL – Siting of a mobile home at The Paddock, 76 Horsham Lane, Upchurch

Resolved:  That an Enforcement Notice be issued in respect of the breach of planning control, pursuant to the provisions of Section 172 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, requiring thecessation of the use of the land, the removal of the caravan from the site and any associated domestic paraphernalia within 3 months of the Notice taking effect.  

That the Head of Planning Services and Head of Legal Partnership of the Council be authorised to prepare and serve the necessary documentation, including the precise wording thereof to give effect to this decision.

URGENT ITEM:

Land at Homestall Road, Newnham (Straight Hill)

Resolved:  That an Enforcement Notice be issued pursuant to the provisions of Section 172 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, requiring theuse of the land for any business activity to cease within one month of the Notice taking effect. 

That the Head of Planning Services and Head of Legal Partnership of the Council be authorised to prepare and serve the necessary documentation, including the precise wording thereof to give effect to this decision.

The meeting adjourned at 8.48pm and reconvened at 8.54pm.