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 Policy 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 7 January 2021 (Minute Nos. 391 - 399) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 7 January 2021 (Minute Nos. 391 – 399) 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 meeting 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 2.4, 20/505438/FULL, 2 Little Kennaways, Stalisfield Road, Ospringe as his wife was a member of Ospringe Parish Council.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 25 January 2021 (Minute Nos. 423 - 525).

To consider application 20/500887/FULL - 224-226 Minster Road, Minster-on-Sea, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 3LL.

Additional information added 4 February 2021.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 25 January 2021 (Minute Nos. 423 - 425) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

20/500887/FULL – 224-226 Minster Road, Minster-on-Sea, Sheerness, Kent ME12 3LL

The Area Planning Officer responded to questions raised at the virtual site meeting.  He explained that if approved there would be a condition setting out the standard hours of construction.  He advised that the pavement was 1.5 metres wide and the access road was 4.5 – 6 metres wide, with the wider part being to the front of the two proposed properties.  The Area Planning Officer showed photographs of Porter Close at weekend and evening times, as requested at the site meeting.  He reported that a further objection had been received with regard to the width of Porter Close not being wide enough for utility and emergency vehicles.  The Area Planning Officer referred to the Manual for Streets government guidance which stated that curb-to-curb a road was required to be 3.7 metres wide, although this could be reduced to 2.7 metres over a short distance.  He confirmed that the kerb-to-kerb width of Porter Close was 4.7 metres to 5 metres, and so it complied with the Manual for Streets.  Following approval of the side extension at Barton House, the Agent had submitted an amended plan to indicate where the parking space would be re-located.  The Area Planning Officer said that condition (14) in the report (12 November 2020) would need to be amended to reflect the change of drawing number.

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

A Ward Member, who was also a member of the Planning Committee, spoke against the application.  He considered it to be an over-intensive, back garden development and that it was out-of-character with the area.  He also raised drainage and parking issues. The Area Planning Officer responded to questions on the location of the parking spaces for Barton House and reminded the Ward Member that this was not included within this application.  He explained that the parking for this development would now be in front of the two new properties.  The Ward Member raised concern with the impact of residential amenity due to the lack of space to the front of the new properties, with the footpath so close to them.  The Area Planning Officer said that this was a similar arrangement with other properties in the area, and the footpath at this location was unlikely to be heavily used.

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

·         Concerned with access to the properties;

·         loss of amenity space;

·         these used to be large gardens, now with the addition of two new properties, there was far too little space;

·         this was over-development;

·         too much was being ‘crammed-in’;

·         the access was not good; and

·         drainage issues.

In response to a further question, the Area Planning Officer explained that the length of the new gardens  ...  view the full minutes text for item 442.

To consider the attached report (Parts 2 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 3 February 2021.

UPDATE TO AGENDA 28 JANUARY 2021

Item 2.2 20/505845/FULL 92 Lower Road, Faversham – WITHDRAWN FROM THE AGENDA WITH AGREEMENT OF THE CHAIRMAN

Updated site plan added to item 2.1 on 1 February 2021.

Questions and Responses for items 2.1 and 2.4 added 3 February 2021.

Additional information added 4 February 2021.

The Area Planning Officer introduced the application and drew attention to the amended site plan which had previously been emailed to Members and added to the Council’s website.   The original plan had shown the site boundary to have overlapped into the neighbouring property, and the new amended plan resolved this issue.  The Area Planning Officer drew attention to paragraph 6.1 on page 11 of the report which set-out Doddington Parish Council’s previous objections.  They had since emailed and said that they had noted the discrepancies with the earlier site plan and had no further comments to make. 

Questions and responses on this application had been added to the website.

Oliver Mustoe-Playfair, an objector, spoke against the application.

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

A Ward Member, who was also a member of the Planning Committee spoke briefly on the update, but had no further comments.

In response to questions from Members, the Area Planning Officer indicated through plans and photographs, the work that had been completed and the distance from the nearby listed building.  He also showed the rough driveway on the western boundary which had been used for many years.  He did not foresee a great amount of traffic resulting from the development using the driveway, as it was a single property, not a commercial, use.  He reminded Members that access was a private matter for the residents to resolve, and not a planning matter.  The Area Planning Officer advised that there was nothing within the application to make improvements to the surface of the access.

Resolved:  That application 20/504677/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (4) in the report.

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

The Area Planning Officer introduced the application.

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

A Member considered it would look odd with the low fence remaining in place.  In response to questions from Members, the Area Planning Officer explained that planning permission was required for fencing over one metre tall if it was sited adjacent to a highway used by vehicular traffic.  He explained that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 443.