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.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 18 August 2022 (Minute Nos. 245 - 252) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 18 August 2022 (Minute Nos. 245 – 252) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record subject to the removal of the word ‘construction’ from the resolution under minute number 248.

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 Oliver Eakin declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in respect of agenda item 2.2 21/505047/AGRREQ Muswell Manor Farm Shellness Road Leysdown-on-sea Kent, as he had been a part of the public  consultation and had assisted in the objections received. Councillor Eakin left the meeting during discussion of this item.

Councillor Mike Henderson declared a Disclosable Non-Pecuniary Interest in respect of agenda item 3.1 22/501402/FULL Land Adjacent to Hinkleys Mill Teynham Street Teynham Sittingbourne Kent ME9 9EU, as he had a family member with special needs.

To consider the following application:

·         21/505936/FULL 19-21 Mount Field, Queenborough, Kent, ME11 5DB

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 Tuesday 20 September 2022.

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

The Senior Planning Officer introduced the application and said that Southern Water (SW) had provided an update. SW said that previously the site had foul flooding issues which resulted in a Notice being served to the developer but, ultimately SW had intervened and undertook a 110m relay/diversion of the drains.

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

Resolved: That application 21/505936/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (16) in the report.

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 Tuesday 20 September 2022.

PART 2

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

The Senior Planning Officer introduced the application and outlined the details of the application site.

A 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.

The Chair invited members to make comments:

·           Would the new road be adopted by Kent County Council (KCC)?;

·           concerned that two parking spaces for each home was not sufficient;

·           tandem parking was not suitable for the size of the site;

·           concerned that local residents were parking on land that was not to be used as parking;

·           concerned about the protected Willow tree on the site and that the roots of the tree could become damaged from the construction of the houses; and

·           had a management plan been discussed with the developer to identify ownership of the Willow tree?

The Senior Lawyer (Planning) clarified the points about parking on the site and officers advised Members that the site was classed as a suburban are, which meant that under the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) Policy, the developer only needed to provide two car parking spaces per household. The Senior Lawyer (Planning) added that although tandem parking was recognised as not being best practice it was not explicitly precluded under the policy and guidance and so was an option for parking in certain situations.

A member of the Planning Committee asked the Senior Planning Officer who would be responsible for the Willow tree? The Member asked if a condition could be placed on the application for a management plan outlining who would be responsible for the Willow tree and the cost for the maintenance of the tree, as it had a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) placed upon it.

The Senior Planning Officer asked for an adjournment of the meeting so they could discuss the possible wording of an extra condition. The Chair adjourned the meeting.

After the adjournment, the Senior Planning Officer advised that condition (19) in the report could be amended to protect the Willow tree with delegation given to amend and make the wording sufficiently precise. The Senior Planning Officer read out the draft proposed additional condition (19) which read:

“Prior to commencement of the development herby approved the development shall be carried out at all times in accordance with the working methodology and tree protection measures recommended in the submitted Arboriculture and Planning Integration Report by GHA Trees (ref.GHA/DS/133460:21) and the Tree Protection Plan provided on 15.08.22. Details shall also be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority of proposed ongoing management, maintenance and responsibility of the aforementioned management of the Willow Tree as identified on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 295.

The meeting was adjourned from 8.13 pm until 8.20 pm.