To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 12 March 2015 (Minute Nos. 557 - 561) and the Minutes of the Extraordinary Planning Committee Meeting held on 16 March 2015 (Minute Nos. 562 – 563) as correct records.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 12 March 2015 (Minute Nos. 557 – 561) and the Minutes of the Extraordinary Meeting held on 16 March 2015 (Minute Nos. 562 – 563) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

The Chairman advised that the Conservative membership of the Planning Committee had changed from Councillor June Garrad to Councillor George Bobbin and the UK Independence Party membership had changed from Councillor Adrian Crowther to Councillor June Garrad.

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 Andy Booth declared an interest in item 5.1 – Former RAF Mast, Courtenay Road, Dunkirk, as he had a business interest with regard to the Ministry of Defence.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 23 March 2015 (Minute Nos. to follow).

1. 14/505542/FULL – 1A Saxon Road, Faversham, ME13 8QA

2. 14/505472/FULL – 66 Park Drive, Sittingbourne, ME10 1RD

3. 14/505351/FULL – Dane Works, Crown Quay Lane, Sittingbourne, ME10 3HU

4. 14/502557/FULL – Moordean, Oak Lane, Minster-on-Sea, ME12 3QP

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 23 March 2015 (Minute Nos. 579 – 583) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

14/505542/FULL – 1a Saxon Road, Faversham

The Planner reported that the agent had advised that the owner of the site had access towards the back of Stone Street.

The Chairman moved the officer recommendation for approval and this was seconded.

Resolved:  That application 14/505542/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (19) in the report.

14/505472/FULL – 66 Park Drive, Sittingbourne

The Area Planning Officer reported that following concerns, with surface water flooding due to inadequate drains in the vicinity raised by residents at the site meeting, he confirmed that Southern Water had no objection to the application.  He further reported that the Environmental Health Manager raised no objection, subject to a condition with regard to hours of construction.

The Area Planning Officer sought delegation to approve the application, subject to an hours of construction condition and amendment to the wording of conditions (5) and (7) in the report to refer to approval in writing from the Local Planning Authority.

The Chairman moved the officer recommendation for approval and this was seconded.

A Member spoke on behalf of the Ward Members and raised the following points:  the proposed dwelling was too large for the site and not in keeping with surrounding properties; access problems; the residents of Roseleigh Road would be affected by the proposal; it was a quiet road, with large gardens with elderly residents; this would set a precedent; and it was overbearing and out of scale.

Members made the following comments:  dwelling was too large for the site; it goes to the extremes of the boundary, so there was no access from front to back; overbearing on neighbouring properties; existing garden length of property where dwelling was being constructed would be shortened; concerns with manoeuvrability of vehicles parking at the property; a mature tree would be felled; out of scale with the site; this was being ‘shoe-horned’ into the site; this was unreasonable and unrealistic; and the loss of the tree was a loss to the local amenity.

On being put  to the vote, the motion for approval was lost.

Councillor Sylvia Bennett moved a motion for refusal on the grounds of it being out of scale, out of character and appearance and the adverse affect on residential amenity.  This was seconded by Councillor Ghlin Whelan.

In response to a question, the Kent County Council (KCC) Highways Officer advised that as the road was not a classified road, it was acceptable to reverse off the property.

The Area Planning Officer showed Members photographs of surrounding properties with similar bulk and scale to the proposed dwelling, so he considered out of character not to be valid reason for refusal.  He advised that the tree was not protected, and could be felled at any time without permission; and it was not likely that the tree would be of the quality  ...  view the full minutes text for item 599.

To consider the attached report (Sections 1, 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 1 April  2015.

PART 1

Any other reports to be considered in the public session

The Major Projects Officer explained that this application had been referred back to the Planning Committee after being considered at the meeting on 12 March 2015, because an objection had been received, but had not been drawn to Members’ attention on 12 March.  The Major Projects Officer provided clarification from the applicant’s agent in response to the objection and he stated that the applicant was happy to rebuild the wall along the line of the existing in brickwork to match the new development.

The Major Projects Officer sought delegation to approve subject to a further condition to secure details of the finished floor levels and to the signing of a suitably worded Section 106 agreement.

The Chairman moved the officer recommendation for approval and this was seconded.

Mr Kenneth Evans, an objector, spoke against the application.

A Ward Member spoke against the application.  He spoke on the impact on local residents; the loss of view; increase in traffic, especially during construction; insufficient parking; pleased the wall would be re-constructed; would like condition (13) (contamination) to be tightened if approved.

The Major Projects Officer considered the amount of development to be of an appropriate level, with fairly standard sized houses.  He added that condition (11) also covered contamination and as such he considered contamination issues were satisfactorily addressed.

Councillor Tony Winckless moved a motion for a site meeting.  This was seconded by Councillor Sue Gent.  On being put to the vote the motion was agreed.

Resolved:  That application 14/502582/FULL be deferred to allow the Planning Working Group to meet on site.

PART 2

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

The Area Planning Officer sought delegation to approve the application subject to no fresh issues being received on or before the 8 April 2015 consultation deadline.

The Chairman moved the officer recommendation for approval and this was seconded.

Resolved:  That application 15/501231/FULL be delegated to officers to approve subject to no fresh issues being received on or before the 8 April 2015 consultation deadline  and to conditions (1) and (2) in the report

The Planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 600.

To decide whether to pass the resolution set out below in respect of the following items:

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act:

1. Information relating to any individual.

2. Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

3. Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information.

6. Information which reveals that the authority proposes:

(a) to give under any enactment a notice under or by virtue of which requirements are imposed on a person; or

(b) to make an order or direction under any enactment.

Resolved:

(1)  That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act:

1.    Information relating to any individual.

2.    Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

3.    Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

6.  Information which reveals that the authority proposes:

(a) to give under any enactment a notice under or by virtue of which requirements are imposed on a person; or

(b) to make an order or direction under any enactment.

To consider the attached reports (Section 6).

6.1     ENF/GGG/14/005 1 New Cottages, Broom Street, Graveney – Insertion of a rooflight in extension

Resolved:  That an Enforcement Notice be issued pursuant to the provisions of Section 172 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, requiring the removal of the rooflight window and the restoration of the roof as shown on the original plans on application SW/12/0987, within 3 months of the Notice taking effect.

That the Head of Planning and the Head of Legal Partnership of the Council be authorised to prepare and serve the necessary documentation, including the precise wording to give effect to this decision.

6.2       14/503907/FULL – 2 Ruins Barn Road, Tunstall – Retrospective application to construct a timber framed garage/storage area to the rear boundary of the property

Resolved:  That an Enforcement Notice be issued pursuant to the provisions of Section 172 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, requiring the removal of the garage and the site to be returned to its former state within 3 months of the notice taking effect.

That the Head of Planning and the Head of Legal Partnership of the Council be authorised to prepare and serve the necessary documentation, including the precise wording to give effect to this decision.

6.3       14/500654/OPDEV Land adjoining slip road at Thanet Way off High Street Road, Hernhill – Permanent Stationing of a Snack Wagon with extended lean-to

Resolved:  That an Enforcement Notice be issued pursuant to the provisions of Section 172 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, requiring that the Snack Wagon with the lean-to extension be removed from the site within 3 months of the notice taking effect.

That the Head of Planning and the Head of Legal Partnership of the Council be authorised to prepare and serve the necessary documentation, including the precise wording to give effect to this decision.

6.4     SW/14/0548 Land at Vicarage Lane, Ospringe - Alteration of site access, levelling of the site, provision of access track and turning head, construction of two pole barns and change of use to processing and storage of timber

Resolved:  That an Enforcement Notice be issued pursuant to the provisions of Section 172 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, requiring that the operations on site will cease and that the land be restored to its former state within 3 months of the notice taking effect.

That the Head of Planning and the Head of Legal Partnership of the Council be authorised to prepare and serve the necessary documentation, including the precise wording to give effect to this decision.

6.5       Ref ENF/ NEW/12/006 – Land rear of 32 Church Lane, Newington

Resolved:  That an Enforcement Notice be issued pursuant to the provisions of Section 172 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, requiring removal of the container from the land within 3 months of the Notice taking effect.

That the Head of Planning and the Head of Legal Partnership of the Council be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 602.