Audio Recording

The Chairman explained that the meeting would be conducted in accordance with the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panel (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 No 392.

In welcoming all Members and members of the public, the Chairman explained which Swale Borough Council officers were in attendance.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 30 April 2020 (Minute Nos. 651 - 658) as a correct record, subject to the following amendments to item no. 3.1, 19/506123/FULL, St. Nicholas Allotment, St Nicholas Road, Faversham:

that the measurement at the end of the first paragraph be amended to read:  ‘…..would sit some 6 feet above the allotment security fencing’, and the reference number in the resolution be amended to read ‘19/506123/FULL’.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 30 April 2020 (Minute Nos. 651 - 658) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the following amendments to item no. 3.1, 19/506123/FULL, St. Nicholas Allotment, St Nicholas Road, Faversham: 

that the measurement at the end of the first paragraph be amended to read:  ‘…..would sit some 6 feet above the allotment security fencing’, and the reference number in the resolution be amended to read ‘19/506123/FULL’.

There was also an amendment to item 5.5, Caravan and Stables, Old Billet Lane, Eastchurch, with the addition of the following wording: 

‘A Member stated that it was a disappointing decision’.

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 Monique Bonney declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of the Deferred Item (18/505151/REM) Land at Stones Farm, The Street,  Bapchild, and item 2.1 (19/500990/SUB) Land at Stones Farm, The Street, Bapchild.  Councillor Bonney spoke as ward member, but did not take part in the discussion on these items.

Councillor Nicholas Hampshire declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of the Deferred Item (18/505151/REM) Land at Stones Farm, The Street,  Bapchild, and item 2.1 (19/500990/SUB) Land at Stones Farm, The Street, Bapchild, as his grandmother lived in Bapchild.  Councillor Hampshire spoke and voted on these items.  Councillor Hampshire, during discussion of the item, also declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of item 2.3 (19/503530/FULL) Woodcombe Sports and Social Club, Church Road, Sittingbourne as his parents owned a property on Tonge Road, Sittingbourne.  Councillor Hampshire voted on this item.

To consider the following application:

18/505151/REM, Land at Stones Farm, The Street, Bapchild, Kent ME9 9AD

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

Requests to speak on this item must be registered with Democratic Services (democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call us on 01795 417328) by noon on Wednesday 27 May 2020.

Additional information has been added to this item which might be referred to at this evening’s meeting.

Reports shown in previous Minutes as being deferred from that Meeting

The Senior Planning Officer introduced the application and reminded Members that the application had been reported to the Planning Committee on 3 October 2019.  Following the resolution at that meeting, an independent highway consultant had been instructed to assess the highway matters within the remit of this reserved matters application.  An extremely thorough review had been carried out and the Senior Planning Officer considered the amendments to the scheme were acceptable.  In terms of environmental issues he referred to paragraph 6.12, on page 33 of the agenda and reported that the Swale Borough Council (SBC) Environmental Protection Team had no objection to the application.

Julian Moat, the Applicant, spoke in support of the application.

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

The Ward Member referred to a letter from Bapchild Parish Council outlining why they wanted the application to be brought back to the Planning Committee.  She said that there had been a substantial set of changes to the design and layout of the scheme following meetings with herself, the Parish Council, the developer and officers, to look at the permeability of the estate.  The Ward Member said the consultants report had been revealing and had resulted in an improved design and layout.  She referred to the original Lansdowne Primary School application, agreed in January 2017, for the multi-purpose pitch and drop-off point which would minimise parking issues in the Stones Farm development, and said that detailed travel movements through the estate had yet to be agreed.  She said the consultants had not been able to make any assessment of traffic data, and that this road was in fact a spine road through the estate.  She stated that this was a fundamental issue which she wanted the Committee to consider.  She also wanted the conditions attached to the application to be considered, including the parking strategy, and stated that it was a private road, and would not be adopted by Kent County Council (KCC).  She considered it too late to wait until the first house was occupied.  The Ward Member also requested the full environmental conditions to be considered to meet the Council’s climate emergency policy.

In response to some questions, the Senior Planning Officer advised that there were some instances on the previous layout where refuse vehicles had to reverse a relatively small amount over the recommended distance to collect waste.  As a result, turning areas had been amended and this issue had been resolved throughout the development.  He also confirmed that, as a Member had set-out, there  ...  view the full minutes text for item 675.

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 27 May 2020.

Tabled update for item 2.2 added 27 May 2020.

Additional information has been added to these items which might be referred to at this evening’s meeting.

PART 2

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

Julian Moat, the Applicant, spoke in support of the application.

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

The Ward Member said that it was useful to see where the connections would be located, as a substantial upgrade to the sewerage network would be required.

Resolved:  That application 19/500990/SUB be approved and condition (9) pursuant to application 14/501588/FULL (and as amended by 19/502967/NMAMD) be discharged.

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

A Member requested that the Section 106 Agreement included a local labour clause.  The Major Projects Officer welcomed the suggestion and added that the standard condition also included apprenticeships.

Members were invited to debate the application and comments included:

·         This was a good development, with a good mix of housing including bungalows;

·         concerned with the 20mph road signs being quite close to the junction;

·         the entrance to the development appeared to be too close to the roundabout;

·         concerned with how refuse collection would work;

·         would like to see more bungalows;

·         this was open green space at the moment, and concurred with the Parish Council’s comments; and

·         enhanced planting was needed at the front of the development to minimise the visual impact

The Major Projects Officer explained that KCC Highways and Transportation had been closely involved with the application and were satisfied with the location of the entrance and the position of the road signs, from a highway safety point of view.  He indicated where the bin collection points were on the plan and said that it was a relatively small development and refuse collectors could walk to collect some of the bins.  The Major Projects Officer explained that the detail of landscaping on the plans was illustrative, and drew attention to condition (7) on page 110 of the report.  He suggested the southern boundary be made up of hedges and trees and the western and northern boundaries be a thicker buffer of hedges and trees.  He added that this was a well-designed scheme which would not detract from the entrance to Eastchurch.

Resolved:  That application 19/500887/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (31) in the report, the signing of a suitably-worded Section 106 Agreement to incorporate the items as summarised in the Committee report and with additional clauses in respect of the use of local labour and apprenticeships.

The meeting was adjourned from 7.58pm to 8.05pm to allow those present to part-take in the weekly public applause for the NHS and keyworkers.

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