To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 19 February 2015 (Minute Nos. 512 - 516) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 19 February 2015 (Minute Nos. 512 – 516) 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.

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.

No interests were declared.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 2 March 2015 (Minute Nos. to follow).

1.    14/503846 - 349-355 Leysdown Road, Leysdown, ME12 4AS

2.    SW/14/0423 – R/o 124 Chaffes Lane, Upchurch, ME9 7BG

3.    14/505307 – Mombasa, Whitstable Road,  Faversham, ME13 8BD

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 2 March 2015 (Minute Nos. 518 – 521) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to including Councillor Andy Booth’s apologies.

14/503846 (2.2) – 349 – 355 Leysdown Road, Leysdown

The Major Projects Officer reported that since the Planning Working Group met on site, two further letters of objection had been received.  Further comments, not included in the report were outlined as follows:  the proposal would overlook rear gardens and properties to the north; the type of properties was wrong for the area as there were no play facilities for children; the development was too dense; the area lacked amenities, and travel by car was required for every day activities; why did Moat Housing consider affordable housing appropriate for the area?; future residents would suffer from isolation and it would become a catalyst for social problems; affordable housing should be more centrally located; there was a lack of parking, double yellow lines and on-street parking bays should be introduced; the bus stop should be moved closer to the site; and the site used to have a 6 foot fence around it, this should be restored.

The Major Projects Officer also reported that a further neutral letter had been received which referred to three fuel tanks on the site and whether they had been removed from the site.  He drew Members’ attention to a letter received from the Agent which was tabled.

The Major Projects Officer considered the development to be acceptable and recommended that permission be granted, subject to the conditions set out on page 32 to 36 on the 19 February 2015 Planning Committee agenda, to also include the signing of a suitably worded Section 106 Agreement.

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

Members raised the following points:  this was over development; out-of-keeping with the other properties in the area; disagreed with the views of Kent County Council (KCC) Highways, with regard to the bend in the road and no parking facilities; there were no work prospects nearby; limited bus service, and the Section 106 would not address these issues; Swale needed affordable housing sites, not all of them needed to be within town centres; this was a good scheme; there would be less traffic generated by this use than the previous use of the site; the site as it stood was an eyesore; this would enhance the area; concerned with the 40mph speed limit, ideally this should be reduced to 30mph; speed along this stretch of road was an issue; and  traffic calming measures should be considered.

In response to the comments on highway matters, the KCC Highways Officer explained that the proposed use would generate less traffic than the site’s previous use.  He explained that a review on speed throughout Swale had been undertaken and this area did not allude to having a 30mph speed restriction.  Any calming measures would need to be self-enforcing, and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 559.

To consider the following application:

14/504557/REM - Iwade South West Development Site, School Lane, Iwade

Members of the public are advised to confirm with Planning Services prior to the meeting that the application will be considered at this meeting.

Requests to speak on these items must be registered with Democratic Services (democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call us on 01795 417328) by noon on Wednesday 11 March 2015.

DEFERRED ITEM

Reports shown in previous Minutes as being deferred from that Meeting

The Major Projects Officer reported that KCC Highways had no objection to the proposal, subject to the imposition of standard conditions to include retention of parking spaces, cycle parking, pedestrian visibility splays, erection of the fencing along Sheppey Way prior to first occupation, and completion of roads and footpaths prior to first occupation.

He reported that one further letter had been received, and he outlined the comments as follows: the use of a 1.2metre-high chain link fence along the boundary was not appropriate or secure; and a hedge along the Sheppey Way frontage would not mitigate the development at all due to its limited height and long growth time.  In response, the Major Projects Officer advised that a more robust fence could be considered when more detailed applications of the adjoining land had been received.

The Major Projects Officer reported that an amended boundary treatment plan had been received showing an iron estate fence and tree and hedgerow planting along the Sheppey Way frontage instead of a timber knee-rail fence.  He advised that the scheme proposed 16 visitor parking spaces, rather than the eight noted on page 6 of the report.  Iwade Parish Council had made further comments and were pleased that the flats had been removed from the application, that there was provision for more parking and that the planting  took place early so that it became established quickly. 

The Major Projects Officer sought delegation to amend condition (5) to include reference to estate fencing, as outlined above.

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

Mr Kirby, the Agent, spoke in support of the application.

The Ward Member considered the application to be an improvement on the previous application.  He requested that a condition be added to ensure that any landscaping be planted at the beginning stage of construction at the site to allow the vegetation to become established, prior to occupation of the dwellings.

In response, the Major Projects Officer advised that this could be looked into with the Agent.  He sought delegation to add a condition for an appropriate landscaping programme.  In response to a question, the Major Projects Officer explained that indigenous species were included within the landscaping scheme.

Resolved:  That application 14/504557/REM be delegated to officers to approve subject to an amendment to condition (5) to include reference to estate fencing and an  additional condition for an appropriate landscaping programme and to conditions (1) to (6) in the report.

To consider the attached report (Sections 2 and 3).

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 11 March 2015.

Application 3.2 (Standard Quay) has been withdrawn from the agenda.

PART 2

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

The Planning Officer sought delegation to approve subject to no fresh issues being received by the 27 March 2015 deadline.

Mr Eric Gunn, the Applicant, spoke in support of the application.

In response to a request for more details on the setting, the Conservation Officer provided information about the property.  He explained that it was within Faversham Conservation Area and it was also constrained by an Article 4 directive.  Residents would have been advised of this when the property was purchased, through the Land Registry.  He explained that the building was part of a very characterful group of buildings, and the alterations that had been carried out would have required planning permission, whether the property was in a Conservation Area or not.  The Conservation Officer outlined the special features of the property, and explained that it was quite damaging to make the alterations that had been carried out.  He advised that officers had met with the applicant and agreed a compromise which included taking the render off the front of the building, but keeping it on the side and rear.

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

Resolved:  That 14/505564/FULL be delegated to officers to approve subject to no fresh issues being received by the  27 March 2015 deadline and to conditions (1) to (3) in the report.

The Major Projects Officer sought delegation to add an extra condition regarding proposed finished floor levels.

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

A Member considered affordable housing should be included in the development.

Resolved:  That 14/502582/FULL be delegated to officers to approve subject to conditions (1) to (23) in the report, and the additional condition in respect of finished floor levels.

The Planning Officer reported that a letter had been received from the Agent responding to some of the concerns raised by neighbouring residents.  The Agent had explained that frosted glass with limited opening on the Roman Road side would be installed to address any overlooking; and access rights had been checked which allowed the right to pass and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 561.