The Chair 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 Chair 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 Chair 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 Chair 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 Chair 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 Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 12 May 2022 (Minute Nos. 771 - 778) and the Minutes of the Reconvened Meeting held on 16 May 2022 (Minute Nos. 779 – 782) as correct records.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 12 May 2022 (Minute Nos. 771 – 778) and the Reconvened Meeting held on 16 May 2022 (Minute Nos. 779 – 782) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as correct records.

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 Chair 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 Interests (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 Richard Palmer declared a Disclosable Non-Pecuniary Interest in respect of item 2.3 21/506474/FULL Burntwick, The Street, Upchurch as he felt a fair-minded observer might consider he was pre-determined following comments he had made on the application and on item 2.6 21/504388/FULL Woodland Farm, High Oak Hill, Newington.  Councillor Palmer spoke as Ward Member on both items and then left the meeting during consideration of the items.

To approve the Minutes of Meeting held on 13 June 2022 (Minute Nos. 78 - 79).

2.1 21/503749/REM Land on the south east side of Bartletts Close, Halfway, Kent, ME12 3EG

The applicant is amending the proposals as a result of the site meeting and the application will be reassessed by officers with any necessary re-consultation carried out and then presented to a future meeting in its amended form for determination.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 13 June 2022 (Minute Nos. 78 - 79) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

21/503749/REM Land on the south east side of Bartletts Close, Halfway, Kent, ME12 3EG

The Chair advised that as the applicant was amending the proposals as a result of the site meeting and with the application being reassessed by officers with any necessary re-consultation, it would be presented to a future meeting in its amended form for determination.

To consider the following applications:

21/502609/OUT, Land to the East of Lynsted Lane Lynsted Kent ME9 9QN

21/506021/FULL, 21 Chaucer Road Sittingbourne Kent ME10 1EZ

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 these items must be registered with Democratic Services (democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call us on 01795 417328) by noon on Wednesday 22 June 2022.

Additional documents which might be referred to at the meeting were added on 23 June 2022.

Reports shown in previous Minutes as being deferred from that Meeting

The Senior Planning Officer introduced the application and explained that two further objections had been received.  These raised concerns with lack of parking spaces, increased pollution and other points which had been previously noted in the report.  He explained that it was an outline application for the erection of 10 residential dwellings with appearance, landscaping, layout and scale being reserved matters.  Detailed consent was sought for the access to the site from Lynsted Lane. The Senior Planning Officer reminded Members that the Council did not currently have a five-year housing supply.  He said that following the Planning Committee meeting on 10 March 2022, independent highway advice had been sought and the results of this were attached to the committee report.

Parish Councillor Julien Speed, representing Lynsted-with-Kingsdown Parish Council, spoke against the application.

Jacqueline Langdon-Bassett, an objector, spoke against the application.

Sam Sykes, the Agent, spoke in support of the application.

A visiting Ward Member gave his apologies due to illness and was unable to speak at the meeting, but he had advised that he was against the application.  Another visiting Ward Member spoke against the application.

The Chair moved the officer recommendation to approve the application and this was seconded by Councillor Ben J Martin.

Members considered the application and raised points which included:

·         Acknowledged the extension of double yellow lines along Lynsted Lane but still had concerns with the lack of visibility from the development to Lynsted Lane which was a narrow lane;

·         road safety issues;

·         did not consider the ‘tilted balance’ approach should be applied on this application;

·         the site was not sustainable;

·         there was a lack of school places, doctors and bus services in Teynham;

·         the site was close to an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and this scheme would be detrimental to the air quality;

·         the application needed to show that there were measures in place to reduce the impact on air quality;

·         the application was deferred for more highway information, and Members did not seem happy with the independent highway advice, but could not use highways as a reason for refusal as the Council would lose on appeal;

·         the independent highway advice did not consider the junction of Lynsted Lane with the A2 which was often gridlocked; and

·         concerned with visibility issues for vehicles travelling north on Lynsted Lane.

In response, the Senior Planning Officer explained that the priority shuttle scheme was included within the updated highway advice, which he outlined and advised that priority was given to south-bound traffic.  He said the junction had been assessed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 142.

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 22 June 2022.

Tabled paper for item 2.3 added 22 June 2022.

Item 2.1 has been withdrawn from the agenda as the description of the development needs to be changed and re-consulted upon.

PART 2

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

The Area Planning Officer introduced the report and explained that further comments had been received from the Environmental Health Officer requiring a condition to install acoustic protection measures to mitigate impacts arising from the proximity to the railway line.  He explained that the dwellings were constructed in 2006, but later demolished as they were deemed un-fit for purpose.  This application was to erect dwellings of a very similar design and scale to those previous. The only difference on this application was the addition of a small lean-to added to the rear of the properties.  The Area Planning Officer said Queenborough Town Council had raised concern with flooding and sewerage issues, and he advised that the applicant had submitted a new flood risk assessment and that both the Environment Agency and Southern Water (SW) had raised no objection.

The Chair moved the officer recommendation to approve the application and this was seconded by Councillor Monique Bonney.

The Ward Members who were also members of the Planning Committee spoke on the site’s sewerage issues, which included an inadequate sewerage pumping system.

Councillor Cameron Beart moved the following motion:  That the application be deferred and SW be requested to review the sewerage drains in the vicinity to ensure they were fit for purpose.  This was seconded by Councillor Monique Bonney.  On being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

Resolved:  That application 21/505936/FULL be deferred and Southern Water be requested to review the sewerage drains in the vicinity to ensure they were fit for purpose. 

The Area Planning Officer introduced the application and drew Members’ attention to the tabled update for this item which set-out details of the small degree of harm to heritage assets identified by the Conservation & Design Manager, since the report was written.  This also included proposed amendments to the planning conditions.  The Area Planning Officer outlined the details of the application site, which was close to the centre of Upchurch, but technically in the countryside.  The site was adjacent to the Upchurch Conservation Area boundary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 143.

The Meeting was adjourned from 8.22 pm until 8.43 pm.

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