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 at the meeting were aware of the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 21 June 2018 (Minute Nos. 67 - 72) as a correct record.

Link to Minutes

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 21 June 2018 (Minute Nos. 67 – 72) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to amending the recommendation in Minute No. 70, 17/505796/FULL – Church Farm, Throwley Road, Throwley, as follows:

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

On being put to the vote, the motion to refuse the application was lost.’

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 Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

Councillor Mike Whiting declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in respect of item 2.6, 17/506010/FULL, Southlands, Rook Lane, Sittingbourne.  Councillor Whiting spoke on the item and then left the chamber.

Councillor Cameron Beart declared a Disclosable Non-Pecuniary Interest in respect of item 3.1, 18/501788/FULL, 89 Chaffes Lane, Sittingbourne.  Councillor Beart did not speak or vote on this item.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 July 2018 (Minute Nos. to follow).

To consider application 18/501494/FULL – St Saviours Church, Whitstable Road, Faversham, ME13 8BD.

Tabled paper added 24 July 2018.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 July 2018 (Minute Nos. 102 – 103) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

18/501494/FULL – ST SAVIOURS CHURCH, WHITSTABLE ROAD, FAVERSHAM

The Planner drew attention to the tabled statement from the applicants which responded to issues raised at the site meeting.  They had also added two amendments to the application: no music after 10pm, and that it be a temporary permission for three years only. The Planner advised that the Environmental Health Team Leader had since raised no objection, subject to conditions to reflect the above.  The Planner sought delegation to approve the application subject to additional conditions to allow the use for three years, with no music after 10pm.

The Chairman moved the officer recommendation to delegate approval of the application to officers and this was seconded by the Vice-Chairman.

Members welcomed the responses to the issues raised at the site meeting, plus the two amendments that had been made.

In response to a question, the Planner explained that ‘no music after 10pm’ included any musical entertainment, including singing.

A Ward Member considered the site meeting had been beneficial in getting the views of local residents, and he was happy to support the application.

Resolved:  That application 18/501494/FULL be delegated to officers to approve subject to conditions (1) to (6) in the report, with the addition of two conditions, so that musical entertainment stops at 10pm, and the permission is temporary for a period of three years.

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 18 July 2018.

Please note that item 2.7, 18/500973/FULL, Doubleday Lodge, Glebe Lane, Sittingbourne has been added to the wrong part of the agenda.  It is a Part 3 item (i.e. it is recommended for refusal).

Tabled papers added 24 July 2018.

PART 2

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

The Planner drew attention to the tabled Letter of Undertaking from the applicant, and suggested that it might not now be necessary to send out thestrongly-worded letter to the applicant, demanding that the landscaping be carried out.

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

Gareth Randall, an objector, spoke against the application.

Annie Pang, the Agent, spoke in support of the application.

A Ward Member was disappointed that the existing development had not been implemented in accordance with the conditions of the original permission.  He stated that the site was overgrown, and he did not consider the proposed variation was for operational needs, but to improve access for any future schemes.

An adjoining Ward Member explained that the site was considered a ‘mess’ by Cryalls Lane residents.

Another Ward Member, stated that the site was an eyesore and was an insult to local residents, and he questioned the validity of the letter that had been submitted.

Members raised points which included:  it was quite clear as to what had originally been conditioned on the application; did not consider the request for the variation was for technical grounds, as shallow-rooting plants could be used; the applicants should be required to meet the conditions; a strongly-worded letter should be sent to state that Members were disgusted that they had ignored a planning requirement for seven years; leaving some of the area as gravel would still mean a bad outlook for a couple of the neighbours; plant vegetation to hide the sub-station, and then remove the plants if necessary for maintenance; there was no material planning reason to refuse the application; the area that would not be gravelled needed to be landscaped urgently; and disappointed that there were no comments from Borden Parish Council.

In response to a question, the Lawyer advised that the letter was an official undertaking from a solicitor, and as such was enforceable through the Solicitors Regulation Authority and any breach could result in professional regulatory sanction.

Members agreed that a strongly worded letter was still to be sent to the applicant.

Resolved:  That application 18/502439/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (3) in the report.

To consider the attached report (Part 6).

There was no discussion on this item, therefore the resolution to exclude the press and public was not passed.

The meeting was adjourned from 9.32pm to 9.35pm.