Audio Recording

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  20 June 2019 (Minute Nos. 62 - 71) as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

Minute No. 67 item 2.7 19/500577/REM Annexe, James House, Kent View Drive, Eastchurch, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 4DP the resolution to read:  That application 19/500577/REM be deferred and delegated to officers to discuss with the applicant the possibility of a larger amenity space being provided for the annexe.?

To approve the Minutes of the Reconvened Meeting held on 27 June 2019 (Minute Nos.96 - 98) as correct records.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 20 June 2019 (Minute Nos. 62 – 71) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the following amendment:

Minute No. 67 item 2.7 19/501378/FULL Annexe, James House, Kent View Drive, Eastchurch, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 4DP the resolution to read:  That application 19/500577/REM be deferred and delegated to officers to discuss with the applicant the possibility of a larger amenity space being provided for the annexe.?

The Minutes of the Reconvened Meeting held on 27 June 2019 (Minute Nos. 96 – 98) 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 Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

Councillor David Simmons declared a Disclosable Non Pecuniary Interest in respect of item 2.3 Hoppers Huts, South Street, Boughton, as the family was known to him.  Councillor Simmons spoke, but did not vote, on this item.

Councillor David Simmons declared a Disclosable Non Pecuniary Interest in respect of item 2.9 Ewell Farm, Graveney Road, Faversham, as his business involved the use of polytunnels.  Councillor Simmons spoke, but did not vote, on this item.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 July 2019 (Minute Nos. to follow).

To consider application 19/500577/REM Land to the north of Vicarage Road, Sittingbourne.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 July 2019 (Minute Nos. 117 – 118) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

19/500577/REM Land to the north of Vicarage Road, Sittingbourne, ME10 2BL

A Ward Member, also a member of the Planning Committee, spoke against the application.  He considered the proposed properties to the south of the site were too close together, the development would cause over-intensification, the properties were too high and would cause over-shadowing to neighbouring properties.  The Member also raised concern where the access road narrowed, that two vehicles, especially in an emergency situation would not be able to pass each other.

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

There were no questions or debate.

Resolved: That application 19/500577/REM be approved subject to conditions (1) to (13) in the report.

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 17 July 2019.

Tabled Papers added 18 July 2019.

PART 2

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

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

Resolved:  That application 19/502510/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (3) in the report.

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

Resolved:  That application 19/502286/FULL be approved subject to condition (1) in the report.

The Area Planning Officer explained that Kent County Council (KCC) Flood and Water Management Team had been consulted, but this application was not within their scope, and as such they had no comments to make.  He said the application would be subject to the collection of Strategic Access Management and Monitoring Strategy (SAMMS) mitigation payments.

Mr Josh Berry, the Applicant, spoke in support of the application.

The Chairman invited Members to ask questions.

The Area Planning Officer confirmed that the site was large enough to accommodate eight parking spaces.  He said the huts would be sited 120 metres from the lane, and over 100 metres to the nearest dwelling.  In response to questions about how much the hopper huts visual appearance would change, the Area Planning Officer explained that the general appearance would be the same.  The roof slope and shape would remain, and the extensions to the development would be matched as close as possible to what was already there.

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

Members debated the application and raised points which included:

·         This was an excellent use of old redundant farm buildings;

·         there was demand for this type of holiday accommodation;

·         condition (10) (landscaping) needed to be strengthened so that bio-diversity was improved, and removed trees replaced and more added as well; and

·         because of climate change, considered ‘native’ species was not crucial as these often did not survive.

The Area Planning Officer advised that condition (10) could be amended to include the word ‘enhance’, rather than ‘‘encourage’ wildlife…’, and the deletion of the word ‘native’.

Councillor Benjamin Martin moved the following amendments:  That condition (10) be amended to include the word ‘enhance’, rather than ‘‘encourage’ wildlife…’, and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 143.

The meeting was adjourned at 8.33pm and reconvened at 8.40pm.

At 10pm and 10.30pm Members agreed to the suspension of Standing Orders in order that the Committee could complete its business.