Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne, ME10 3HT. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services, 01795 417330 

Items
No. Item

Audio Recording

186.

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.

187.

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:

The Planning Lawyer reminded Members that this application had been considered by the Planning Committee in January 2019 where it had been resolved to approve, subject to conditions and a suitably worded Section 106 Agreement.  She advised that this decision was material to the decision to be made at this meeting.  Members were referred to paragraphs 1.08, 5.02 and 5.06 in the Committee report.  The Planning Lawyer advised that the Council would have to have good planning reasons to change its mind from the decision in January, and these reasons would be discussed and cross-examined at the appeal hearing.  The Planning Lawyer also outlined potential costs to the Council.  She concluded by reminding Members that they needed to be open-minded, listen to the debate, and consider if they were pre-determined or pre-disposed.

 

No interests were declared.

 

188.

Deferred Item pdf icon PDF 41 KB

To consider the following application:

 

17/505711/HYBRID Land at Wises Lane, Borden.

 

Members of the public are advised to confirm with Planning Services prior to the meeting that this application 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 28 August 2019.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Reports shown in previous Minutes as being deferred from that Meeting

 

Def Item 1     REFERENCE NO - 17/505711/HYBRID

APPLICATION PROPOSAL

Hybrid planning application with outline planning permission (all matters reserved except for access) sought for up to 595 dwellings including affordable housing; a two-form entry primary school with associated outdoor space and vehicle parking; local facilities comprising a Class A1 retail store of up to 480 sq m GIA and up to 560sqm GIA of "flexible use" floorspace that can be used for one or more of the following uses - A1 (retail), A2 (financial and professional services), A3 (restaurants and cafes), D1 (non-residential institutions);  a rugby clubhouse / community building of up to 375 sq m GIA, three standard RFU sports pitches and associated vehicle parking; a link road between Borden Lane and Chestnut Street / A249; allotments; and formal and informal open space incorporating SuDS, new planting / landscaping and ecological enhancement works.

Full planning permission is sought for the erection of 80 dwellings including affordable housing, open space, associated access / roads, vehicle parking, associated services, infrastructure, landscaping and associated SuDS.

For clarity - the total number of dwellings proposed across the site is up to 675.

ADDRESS Land At Wises Lane Borden Kent ME10 1GD 

WARD Borden And Grove Park

PARISH/TOWN COUNCIL Borden

APPLICANT Quinn Estates Ltd & Mulberry Estates (Sittingbourne) Ltd

AGENT Montagu Evans

 

The Senior Planner introduced the application and reported that a petition had been received from BRAD (Borden Residents Against Development) with 2,390 signatures opposing the planning application.

 

The Senior Planner gave a presentation on the application.  He explained that the site covered an area of 47.5 Hectares to the south west of Sittingbourne.   The land was predominantly open agricultural land.  A large amount of the land, 33.7 Hectares, was allocated for development within the adopted Local Plan.  The remainder of the land was designated as countryside and was within an important Local Countryside Gap.  The closest part of the site would be 150 metres from the defined village boundary of Borden.  The site was 300 metres from the Borden Conservation Area boundary.  There were a number of historic buildings nearby including Cryalls Farmhouse, Riddles Cottage and Thatch Cottage. There were four listed buildings in Chestnut Street, and a small collection of protected trees, some with Tree Preservation Orders, fronting London Road, and near Wises Lane where there would be some highway works.  The Senior Planner reported that the land sloped down from Borden to Sittingbourne, and the site included a network of public footpaths, and a designated rural lane.

 

The Senior Planner outlined the proposal as set out on page one of the report.  This included the provision of 675 dwellings in total, a two-form entry primary school, sports pitches and improvements to the highway infrastructure.  He explained that Phase 1a of the development would be south of Dental Close and west of Wises Lane, and would consist of 80 dwellings, and included the partial diversion of Wises  ...  view the full minutes text for item 188.

189.

Suspension of Standing Orders

Minutes:

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