The Chairman will advise the meeting of the evacuation procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. This is particularly important for visitors and members of the public who will be unfamiliar with the building and procedures.

The Chairman will inform the meeting whether there is a planned evacuation drill due to take place, what the alarm sounds like (i.e. ringing bells), where the closest emergency exit route is, and where the second closest emergency exit route is, in the event that the closest exit or route is blocked.

The Chairman will inform the meeting that:

(a) in the event of the alarm sounding, everybody must leave the building via the nearest safe available exit and gather at the Assembly points at the far side of the Car Park; and

(b) the lifts must not be used in the event of an evacuation.

Any officers present at the meeting will aid with the evacuation.

It is important that the Chairman is informed of any person attending who is disabled or unable to use the stairs, so that suitable arrangements may be made in the event of an emergency.

The Chairman ensured that those present were aware of the emergency evacuation procedure.

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.

No interests were declared.

To consider the following application:

15/508025/REM – Former HBC Engineering Site, Power Station Road, Minster-on-Sea, Kent, ME12 3AB

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 29 March 2016.

The Area Planning Officer introduced the application and reiterated that outline planning permission had already been granted under application 14/500561/OUT for up to 142 dwellings on the site.  The Area Planning Officer reminded Members that they could not consider or refuse the application on the following grounds: non-adoption of roads by Kent County Council (KCC) Highways and Transportation; non-adoption of the open space and associated landscaping and drainage system as these were not material considerations, and as such Members could not refuse the application on those grounds. 

The Area Planning Officer reported that he had received comments from the KCC Archaeological Officer who asked that a condition requiring a programme of archaeological works be imposed. 

The Area Planning Officer advised that further landscaping details had been received from the applicant’s agent which gave details of native species to be used which he outlined for Members. 

The Area Planning Officer sought delegation to approve the application subject to the conditions outlined in the report, the further condition requested by KCC Archaeology and as per the amended landscape details. 

Mrs Susan Moore, an objector, spoke against the application.

Mr Cliff Thurlow, the Agent, spoke in support of the application.

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

A Member stated that he had sympathy with local residents’ concerns about the impact to the mini-roundabout at Power Station Road/Halfway Road junction. 

In response to queries, the Area Planning Officer confirmed that the applicant had submitted details as requested by conditions (18) and (19) of planning permission 14/500561/OUT and these had been approved by the Council.  The Area Planning Officer advised that a number of native species were proposed across the site, and showed Members an example on a landscaping plan where eight separate species were proposed in a single area.

A Ward Member spoke against the application.  He raised concern that the archaeological update had only recently been received.  With regard to the comments made by the objector who had spoken against the application, the Member stated that he was fully aware of local residents’ concerns and he did not support the application.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19(5) a recorded vote was taken on the motion and voting was as follows:

For: Councillors Bobbin, Gerry Lewin, Mike Dendor, Mark Ellen, Sue Gent, Tina Booth, Mike Henderson, Lesley Ingham, Bryan Mulhern, Prescott, and Ben Stokes.

Against: Mike Baldock, Cameron Beart, Andy Booth, Richard Darby, James Hall, and Peter Marchington.

The motion to approve the application was won.

Resolved:  That  ...  view the full minutes text for item 629.