To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 28 August 2014 (Minute Nos. 195 - 199) as a correct record.Minutes 28.08.14

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 28 August 2014 (Minute Nos. 195 – 199) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.  Subject to the inclusion of Cllr June Garrad’s apologies.

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.

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 Director of Corporate Services as Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

Councillor Bowles, not a Member of the Committee, declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to application 3.1 SW/14/0088 Sittingbourne Speedway, Church Road, Sittingbourne as he had an interest in speedway.

Councillor Mulhern (Vice-Chairman) took the chair for item 3.2 SW/14/501140 Victoria Working Mens Club and Institute, Broadway, Sheerness, Kent.

To consider the attached report (Sections 1, 2 and 3).

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  17 September 2014.

SCHEDULE OF DECISIONS

PART 1 – Any other reports to be considered in the public session

The Major Projects Officer reported that the Head of Housing had commented and requested that a 70:30 split of social rented to intermediate tenures should be applied to the affordable housing element.  The Major Projects Officer further reported that the Head of Economic and Cultural Services noted the comments from the Museums Group and supported their stance which was outlined in paragraph 6.01 on Page 8 of the report; expressing their disappointment at the potential loss of heritage money.

The Major Projects Officer advised that Members should also note that a profit of 20% in line with government guidance had been provisionally agreed, but officers were still negotiating on the ‘abnormal costs’, which were defined towards the bottom of Page 20 (Paragraph 9.02) in the report.  

The Major Projects Officer sought Members’ views on whether the Heritage Contribution – if the viability of the development supported it, should be re-allocated to additional affordable housing or financial contributions.  He also sought delegated authority further to the Head of Housing Services comments and the appraisal in the report, to negotiate an increased percentage of affordable housing – if the viability supported it – and on the mix of affordable housing tenures, rather than it being solely intermediate.

Mr Bellinger, the Applicant, spoke in favour of the application.

The Ward Members spoke against the proposal and raised the following points: very disappointed and angry that potentially as ¼ million Section 106 monies would be lost; the current state of the site was disgraceful; Swale Borough Council were ‘trapped’ again by developers who had put them in an impossible situation; loss of affordable housing would be a disgrace; heritage centre was integral to the waterside park; and green buffer between Charlotte Street and the proposed development would be lost which was unacceptable.

Discussions ensued and a Member raised the following points: Essential Land should fulfil the Section 106 Agreement that they freely entered into only two years previously; believe that Swale was considered as a ‘soft touch’ by developers; should insist that 70% affordable rented housing was provided and 30% intermediate; heritage centre monies should be transferred to providing housing; and the contribution to KCC education should be reduced again to increase general affordable housing provision.

Councillor Mike Henderson moved the following motion: That officers seek to negotiate a profit margin of not more than 15% and that officers insist on a 70:30 split for affordable housing; that the Heritage Centre monies  ...  view the full minutes text for item 242.