Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Democratic Services, 01795 417330 

Items
No. Item

462.

Fire Evacuation Procedure

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.

 

Minutes:

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

463.

Minutes

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 4 January 2018 (Minute Nos. 420 - 428) as a correct record.

 

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 4 January 2018 (Minute Nos. 420 – 428) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

464.

Declarations of Interest

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.

 

Minutes:

No interests were declared.

465.

Deferred Item pdf icon PDF 1 MB

To consider the following application:

 

REFERENCE NO - 17/505562/FULL - Demolition of existing shed and construction of annex to dwelling house as amended by drawing no's. NR1760.01A, NR1760.05A, NR1760.06A and NR1760.07A received 16 November 2017 - Gladstone House, 60 Newton Road, Faversham, Kent, ME13 8DZ.

 

Members of the public are advised to confirm with Planning Services prior to the meeting that the applications will be considered at this meeting.

 

Requests to speak on these items must be registered with Democratic Services (democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call us on 01795 417328) by noon on Wednesday 31 January 2018.

Minutes:

REFERENCE NO -  17/505562/FULL

APPLICATION PROPOSAL

Demolition of existing shed and construction of annex to dwelling house as amended by drawing no's. NR1760.01A, NR1760.05A, NR1760.06A and NR1760.07A received 16 November 2017.

ADDRESS Gladstone House 60 Newton Road Faversham Kent ME13 8DZ 

WARD

Abbey

PARISH/TOWN COUNCIL Faversham Town

APPLICANT Mrs Mary Mackay

AGENT Wyndham Jordan Architects

 

The Area Planning Officer reminded Members that this application had been deferred to allow officers to meet with the Ward Members to address issues which had been raised at the previous Planning Committee meeting.

 

Mr Malcolm Phelps, an objector, spoke against the application.

 

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

 

Members raised points which included:  this application was obviously not liked by nearby neighbours; could not see what planning grounds the application could be refused on; there was no evidence that the current building was being used as a garage; the proposed building was on a small enough scale not to refuse; the possibility of losing an appeal was not good enough reason to approve the application; concerned with the potential loss of parking; this would be an improvement to the current building; not sure that it would set a precedent; agreed with the reasons for refusal as outlined in the report; the reasons for refusal were a mirror image of the reasons for approval; and this was an annexe to the main property, not everyone would do the same, this was a ‘one-off’.

 

The Chairman, one of the Ward Members, explained that the other Ward Member opposed the application.  He stated that he had reservations in relation to the harm to the neighbours and their properties, harm to the conservation area and the loss of a parking space.

 

Resolved:  That application 17/505562/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (3) in the report.

 

 

466.

Schedule of Decisions pdf icon PDF 231 KB

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 31 January 2018.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

PART 2

 

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

 

2.1       REFERENCE NO - 17/506378/FULL

APPLICATION PROPOSAL

Erection of a two storey side extension.

ADDRESS 29 Seathorpe Avenue, Minster-on-Sea, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 2HU

WARD Minster Cliffs

PARISH/TOWN COUNCIL Minster-on-Sea

APPLICANT John Barker

AGENT

 

The Area Planning Officer sought delegated authority to amend condition (5) on page 27 of the report to read: ‘The extension hereby permitted shall not be occupied at any time other than for purposes ancillary or incidental to the residential use of the dwelling….’. 

 

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

 

In response to a question, the Area Planning Officer explained that an ‘ancillary use’ example was an annexe, and ‘incidental use’ examples included a home gym or a garage.  He stated that the additional wording to condition (5) allowed more flexibility for the use of the extension.

 

A Ward Member was disappointed that the application had been referred to the Planning Committee because Minster Parish Council objected to the officer recommendation, but there no representatives from the Parish Council at the meeting.  The Ward Member considered that although the proposed extension was quite close to the boundary, it sat quite well on the site, and would enhance it, and was an appropriate and good use of the space.  He welcomed the additional wording to condition (5).

 

Members raised points which included:  considered the Parish Council had asked questions about the application, rather than objected to it; concerned that condition (5) was not strong enough; not convinced that the new extension would not be used as a separate dwelling; there needed to be an internal connection; and the top window to the side of the proposed extension needed to be obscured glazing.

 

In response to questions, the Area Planning Officer advised that there was no internal connection between the existing and proposed building.  A further application would be required to change it to a separate dwelling and if it was used as a separate dwelling without a further application being submitted, enforcement action could be taken.   He further advised that a condition could be added to ensure the side first floor window was obscure glazed and non-opening below 1.7 metres above floor level.

 

 

 

Resolved:  That application 17/506378/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (5) in the report, with the additional wording ‘or incidental’ being added to condition (5), as above and an additional condition to ensure the side window was obscure glazed and non-opening below 1.7 metres above floor level.

 

2.2  REFERENCE NO - 17/505865/FULL

APPLICATION PROPOSAL

Erection of a 3 bedroom detached dwelling with associated amenities, as amended by drawings received 10th January 2018.

ADDRESS Land At Sondes Arms, Station Approach, Selling, Faversham Kent ME13 9PL 

WARDBoughton and Courtenay

PARISH/TOWN COUNCIL Selling

APPLICANT Mrs Penny Fisher

AGENT Mr Richard Baker

 

The Area Planning Officer reported that two further letters had been received from a local resident. Points that had been raised included:  the application would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 466.

467.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

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

 

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves 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.

 

Minutes:

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.

 

468.

Urgent Item - Schedule of Decisions

To consider the report (Part 6).

 

Minutes:

6.1       Ref: 17/500143/BOC Brotherhood Wood Yard, Gate Hill, Faversham, Kent ME13 9LN

 

The Chairman explained that he had accepted this urgent item in order that officers could proceed with the relevant action as soon as possible.

 

Members supported the proposed 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:-

 

1)           Cessation of any residential use of the communal building and removal of all fixtures and fittings associated with such residential use.

 

2)           That the use of the extended area of the site for the stationing of caravans for residential use, or for storage, ceases and that all materials and fencing associated with this use be removed from the extended area of the site, and the land be returned to its original condition and levels, and that all resulting materials be removed from site.

 

(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.