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.  Nobody must leave the assembly point until everybody can be accounted for and nobody must return to the building until the Chairman has informed them that it is safe to do so; 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 at the meeting were aware of the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 November 2017 (Minute Nos. 314 - 320) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 November 2017 (Minute Nos. 314 – 320) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman, subject to the following amendments:  Page 324, paragraph 2 – ‘The Area Planning Officer reported that Hartlip Parish Council had withdrawn their objection in respect of contamination…’ and Page 327, paragraph 2 – to replace the words ‘except that it had not been properly marketed’ with ‘and that it had been properly marketed.’

In response to questions, the Planning Lawyer clarified the wording of the constitution in respect of approval of the Minutes.

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.

(c)          Where it is possible that a fair-minded and informed observer, having considered the facts would conclude that there was a real possibility that the Member might be predetermined or biased the Member should declare their predetermination or bias and then leave the room while that item is considered.

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

Councillor Nigel Kay declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in respect of Item 2.3, as he was the applicant.  He left the meeting whilst this item was considered and did not take any part in the debate or vote on this item.

To consider the attached report (Parts 2 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 6 December 2017.

PART 2

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

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

Parish Councillor Stephen Harvey, representing Newington Parish Council, spoke against the application.

One of the Ward Members, who was a substitute Member on the Planning Committee, considered that it was a contentious application; he raised concern regarding overlooking and he suggested that the middle window should also be obscured; and asked whether the application met the test as outlined by the Planning Inspector on page 13 of the report.

The Area Planning Officer clarified that the main dormer window of No. 9 London Road would be obscured and showed a diagram of the proposed triangular oriel window which would be half-blind; and he considered that this would address concerns about overlooking.

Members asked questions regarding the proposed driveway; the width of the garage; the size of the garden of the proposed property; and the impact of the proposal on on-street parking for residents.  The Area Planning Officer referred to page 7 of the report which stated that the garage was not being treated as a parking space as it was considered that there would be space on the driveway, and that the garden for the new property was an acceptable size (9m deep by 16m wide).  Another Member expressed concern that the application would exacerbate existing parking problems and the application would over-develop the site.

Resolved:  That application 17/503349/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (13) in the report.

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

The Vice-Chairman expressed his disappointment that Minster Parish Council had asked the Planning Committee to consider this application, but were not present to speak at the meeting, and asked for this to be recorded in the minutes.  Another Member echoed these sentiments and suggested that the Chairman could write to all parish councils regarding this matter, whilst another Member considered it important that parish councils had the right to ask for applications to be referred to the Committee.

Resolved:  That application 17/505484/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (3) in the report.

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 5 and 7.

5.    Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

7.    Information relation to any action in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime.

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 item s of business on the grounds they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 5 and 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act:

5. Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

7. Information relating to any action taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime.

To consider the attached report (Part 6).

6.1    Ref 17/500752/CHANGE Old Fire Station, Whiteway Road, Queenborough, Kent, ME11 5EJ

One of the Ward Members spoke in support of the proposed enforcement action.

Resolved: 

(1) That an Enforcement Noticebe issued pursuant to the provisions of Section 172 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, requiring the use of the former Fire Station building as a steel works operation to cease within 1 month of the Notice taking effect.

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

6.2 Ref 17/500747/OPDEV (Former White Hart Pub) 89-91 High Street Milton (Flats 3 and 4 The Courtyard, White Hart Mews), Sittingbourne, ME10 2AR

Both of the Ward Members spoke in support of the proposed enforcement action, and praise was given to the Planning Enforcement Team.

Resolved: 

(1) That an Enforcement Noticebe issued pursuant to the provisions of Section 172 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended, requiring the replacement of the UPVC windows with purpose made timber joinery as specified within the Notice to be installed within 3 months of the Notice taking effect.

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