Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Democratic Services, 01795 417330 

Items
No. Item

Audio Recording

384.

Emergency Evacuation Procedure

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.

 

Minutes:

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

385.

Minutes

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 7 November 2019 (Minute Nos. 349 - 355) as a correct record, subject to including further wording to the resolution for item 2.8, 18/500257/EIFUL, Land adj. to Quinton Farm House, Quinton Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 2DD, as below:

 

‘…..and the signing of a suitably worded Section 106 Agreement for the Heads of Terms as set-out in the report and updates.’

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 7 November 2019 (Minute Nos. 349 - 355) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to including further wording to the resolution for item 2.8, 18/500257/EIFUL, Land adj. to Quinton Farm House, Quinton Road, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 2DD, as below:

 

‘…..and the signing of a suitably worded Section 106 Agreement for the Heads of Terms as set-out in the report and updates.’

 

Also, to an amendment on page 390 of the minutes, to read after the wording ‘The motion to adjourn the meeting was lost’……‘Councillor Angela Harrison left the chamber and was absent for the remainder of the Committee’s business’.

386.

Declarations of Interest

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.

 

Minutes:

No interests were declared.

387.

Planning Working Group pdf icon PDF 39 KB

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 25 November 2019 (Minute Nos. to follow).

 

To consider application 19/501921/FULL, Land at Belgrave Road, Halfway, ME12 3EE.

 

Tabled Paper added 3 December 2019.

 

This item has been withdrawn from the agenda.

 

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 25 November 2019 (Minute Nos. 372 - 373) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to recording that Councillor Simon Fowle and Councillor Pete Neal were in attendance.

 

19/501921/FULL, Land at Belgrave Road, Halfway, ME12 3EE

 

This application was withdrawn from the agenda.

388.

Schedule of decisions pdf icon PDF 46 KB

To consider the attached report (Parts 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 4 December 2019.

 

Tabled Papers added 4 December 2019.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

PART 2

 

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

 

2.1  REFERENCE NO - 19/503553/FULL

APPLICATION PROPOSAL

Demolition of existing detached dwelling. Erection of two buildings comprising of 10no. flats (4no. one bedroom flats in a two storey building & 5no. one bedroom and 1no. two bedroom flat in a three storey building) including parking, external areas and extension of existing vehicular access.

ADDRESS125 London Road Sittingbourne Kent ME10 1NR  

WARD Homewood

PARISH/TOWN COUNCIL

APPLICANT Ms Jasmine Friend

AGENT Alpha Design Studio Limited

 

The Planning Officer explained that this application had originally been scheduled for consideration at the Planning Committee on 7 November 2019.  She stated that there had been some minor changes to the report, with updated plan numbers and a new condition stating that each dwelling would have one electric vehicle charging point.

 

The Chairman invited Members to ask questions.

 

A Member asked about the visual impact of the building, landscaping, and the impact on the A2.  The Planning Officer said that the Principal Urban and Landscape Design Officer had broadly been supportive of the scheme.

 

A Member asked about the status of the empty land and the Planning Officer explained that it had been a garage and rear garden.

 

The Chairman moved the officer recommendation to approve the application and this was seconded by Councillor Denise Knights.

 

Councillor Ken Rowles moved a motion for a site meeting and this was seconded by Councillor Tony Winckless.  On being put to the vote the motion was lost.

 

Members were invited to debate the application and raised points which included:

 

·         This fitted in well with the streetscene;

·         welcomed the one bedroom units;

·         did not like the design, there was a lack of relief and it looked very flat;

·         the roof needed to overhang more;

·         the dwelling dwarfed the house next door because of its massing;

·         the site at the moment was an eyesore, this development enhanced the area;

·         an energy efficient condition needed to be added to the application; and

·         this was not-in-keeping with the surrounding area.

 

Councillor Monique Bonney moved the following motion:  That the application be looked at again to improve the front façade so that there was a better design on the front elevation, and to include some landscaping at the front.  This was seconded by Councillor Paul Stephen.  On being put to the vote the motion was lost.

 

Members then discussed the substantive motion.  The Planning Officer confirmed that conditions (14) and (15) dealt with landscaping.  A Member considered landscaping to the front would help to ‘soften’ the building, and an amendment to the conditions should be added.  The Major Projects Officer further explained that the above conditions adequately dealt with landscaping and so an amendment was not required.

 

Members agreed that the energy efficiency condition be added to the application.

 

Resolved:  That application 19/503553/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (31) in the report, the addition of the energy efficiency condition (with officers given delegated authority to amend in consultation with the Cabinet Member for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 388.

389.

Suspension of Standing Orders

Minutes:

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

390.

Adjournment of Meeting

Minutes:

The Meeting was adjourned from 8.47pm to 8.57pm.