Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

(a)      The fire alarm is a continuous loud ringing. In the event that a fire drill is planned during the meeting, the Chair will advise of this.

(b)      Exit routes from the chamber are located on each side of the room, one directly to a fire escape, the other to the stairs opposite the lifts.

(c)      In the event of the alarm sounding, leave the building via the nearest safe exit and gather at the assembly point on the far side of the car park. Do not leave the assembly point or re-enter the building until advised to do so. Do not use the lifts.

(d)      Anyone unable to use the stairs should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to the meeting.

Councillor Monique Bonney declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in respect item 2.1 22/504876/FULL Masters House Trinity Road Sheerness Kent ME12 2PF. She left the room during the debate and did not vote.

Councillor Ben J Martin declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in respect item 2.1 22/504876/FULL Masters House Trinity Road Sheerness Kent ME12 2PF. He left the room during the debate and did not vote.

Councillor Elliott Jayes declared a Disclosable Non-Pecuniary Interest in respect item 2.1 22/504876/FULL Masters House Trinity Road Sheerness Kent ME12 2PF.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 8 December 2022 (Minute Nos. 507 – 511) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 8 December 2022 (Minute Nos. 507 – 511) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

To consider the following application:

21/505722/OUT 128 High Street Newington Sittingbourne Kent ME9 7JH

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 these items must be registered with Democratic Services (democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call us on 01795 417328) by noon on Wednesday 11 January 2023.

Tabled update added on 11.01.2023.

Reports shown in previous Minutes as being deferred from that Meeting.

The Major Projects Officer introduced the application and reminded Members that had been considered by the Planning Committee on 10 November 2022 and Members had resolved to defer it to allow an independent highways assessment of the application to be undertaken. He added that the independent highway advice had been included at Appendix 1.

Parish Councillor Stephen Harvey, representing Newington Parish Council, spoke against the application.

Mr Wilford, the applicant, spoke in support of the application.

Melvyn Harris, an objector, spoke against the application.

Both visiting Ward Members spoke against the application.

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

A Member said that he had concerns with the location of the site being so close to the A2, which was a busy road and could cause potential safety issues for residents crossing the road. Councillor Tony Winckless moved the following motion: That Members attended a site visit to understand how busy the junction was, and this was seconded by Councillor Peter Marchington.

Members considered the motion and points raised included:

·         Recognised that the A2 was a busy road and coming out of the proposed development would be difficult;

·         the proposed entrance to the site was too close to an existing Kent County Council (KCC) Highways and Transportation traffic calming measure;

·         the traffic was at its worse during peak commuting hours; and

·         members did not have the relevant traffic knowledge to assess the traffic situation at the site, so a site visit would not help to decide the application.

On being put to the vote, the motion to have a site visit was lost.

The Chair invited Members to consider the application and points raised included:

·         Wanted to know why the independent traffic consultant recommended that the visibility splays should be reassessed once the planning application had been approved and not before?

·         Members needed to consider the opinions of the highways experts;

·         thought that the proposed scheme was a good proposal; and

·         the Borough needed homes and thought that this proposal was a sensible one.

In response, the Major Projects Officer said that it was the opinion of the independent traffic consultant that an additional condition was appropriate in respect of the visibility splays, rather than them considering that the matter needed to be considered further before the application was determined. He also reiterated that KCC Highways and Transportation officers had accepted this condition.

Resolved: That application 21/505722/OUT be approved subject to conditions (1) to (39) in the report and the signing of a suitably-worded Section 106  ...  view the full minutes text for item 576.

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 11 January 2023.

Tabled update for item 2.2 added 12.01.2023

Tabled update for item 2.3 added 12.01.2023

Tabled update for item 3.3 added 12.01.2023

PART 2

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

The Area Planning officer introduced the application as set out in the report. 

The Chair moved the officer recommendation to approve the application, and this was seconded by Councillor Oliver Eakin.

A Ward Member who also sat on the Planning Committee spoke in support of the application.

Resolved: That application 22/504876/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (10) in the report.

The Major Projects Officer introduced the application as set out in the report and referred to the tabled update, which included a requirement for additional conditions.

Sarah Varley, an objector, spoke against the application.

Alister Hume, the agent, spoke in support of 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 points raised included:

·         Happy to see that the proposal would enhance the listed building;

·         wanted to know why on page 147, the Environment Agency (EA) said that the site fell outside of their remit? and

·         thought that the KCC contributions were small compared to other applications.

Councillor Mike Henderson moved the following amendment: That Condition (21) in the report included the appropriate native species and encouraging biodiversity conditions. This was seconded by Councillor Ben J Martin.

In response, the Major Projects Officer said that the EA had been consulted but it was their decision whether or not to engage and provide a response. He added that the additional amended conditions could be added to the report as follows:

‘(i) to ensure that a scheme of hard and soft landscaping is submitted and approved by the Local Planning Authority (LPA) and (ii) that the approved landscaping is implemented before the development is first occupied.’

The Senior Lawyer (Planning) responded to the question  ...  view the full minutes text for item 577.

The Meeting was adjourned from 8:30 pm until 8:37 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.