To approve the Minutes of the Meetings held on 5 November 2015 (Minute Nos. 315 - 321) and the Extraordinary Meeting held on 19 November 2015 as correct records (Minute Nos. to-follow).

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 5 November 2015 were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record subject to the following amendments:

Minute No. 316 be amended to read: Councillor Andy Booth declared a Pecuniary interest in respect of items 2.2 and 2.3 (14/500285/FULL and 14/500286/FULL) – Radio Transmitter, Courtenay Road, Dunkirk.

Minute No. 317 Item 2.4 (15/503580/FULL) Land north of Homestall Road, Doddington the final paragraph on page 345 be amended to read Councillor Bryan Mulhern moved from the chair the following motion.  Not Councillor Andy Booth as stated.

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 Peter Marchington declared a pecuniary interest in respect of item 3.1 (15/506323/FULL) – Flynns Bee Farm, Elmley Road, Minster for business reasons.  Councillor Marchington left the room during consideration of this item.

In the interest of openess Councillor Mike Henderson declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of item 2.1 15/503848/FULL – Preston Orchard Cottage, 9 Ashford Road, Faversham as the applicants were members of the Independent Group on Faversham Town Council.

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 25 November 2015.

PART 2

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

The Development Manager reported that amended drawings had been received showing 2 metres x 2 metres pedestrian sightlines.  He advised that the recommendation needed to be amended to read:  Approve applications as amended by drawings received 18 November 2015.

Claire Martin, the applicant, spoke in support of the application.

The Chairman moved the officer recommendation to approve the application and this was seconded.

Resolved:  That 15/503848/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (5) in the report and as per the amended drawings.

This application was considered in conjunction with 15/503848/FULL above.

Resolved:  That 15/503640/LBC be approved subject to conditions (1) and (2) in the report and as per the amended drawings.

The Chairman moved the officer recommendation to approve the application and this was seconded.

A Ward Member noted that Iwade Parish Council raised objection, but he did not see any problems with the application.

Members considered the application and raised the following points: note that there was already a surplus of 0.8 pitches over the full five year requirement, further provision should be staggered; was within the strategic gap; should ensure these sites were close to amenities; and site was not relatively removed from neighbouring properties as stated in the report.

The Planning Officer noted concerns that Swale had reached its requirement for gypsy pitches, however planning inspectors were likely to support applications for new sites as existing additional pitches were not normally available for anyone outside of existing family groups.    

Resolved:  That 15/502570/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (12) in the report.  

The meeting was adjourned at 8.54pm and reconvened at 9pm.