Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne, ME10 3HT. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services, 01795 417330 

Items
No. Item

Audio Recording

478.

Emergency 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 were aware of the emergency evacuation procedure.

479.

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.

480.

Deferred Item pdf icon PDF 408 KB

To consider the following application:

 

18/506417/FULL, Land at Southsea Avenue, Minster.

 

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

 

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 Friday 24 January 2020.

 

Tabled Paper added 24 January 2020.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Reports shown in previous Minutes as being deferred from that Meeting

 

Def Item 1     REFERENCE NO - 18/506417/FULL

APPLICATION PROPOSAL

Residential development consisting of 72no. 3 and 4 bedroom dwellings with associated garaging, parking and infrastructure.

ADDRESSLand At Southsea Avenue, Scarborough Drive, Augustine Road, Sexburga Drive And The Broadway Minster-on-sea Kent ME12 2NF  

REASON FOR REFERRAL TO COMMITTEE

This application was deferred by the Planning Committee on 10th October 2019.

 

 

The Major Projects Officer referred to the tabled update for this item.

 

Annette King, an objector, spoke against the application.

 

Ian McCourt, the Agent, spoke in support of the application.

 

The Chairman invited Members to ask questions.

 

A Member sought clarification on the change in mix of dwelling types and also the revised window heights.  The Major Projects Officer referred him to paragraph 1.3 on page 2 of the committee report.  He highlighted the main changes which included plots 4 – 7 and 72 being replaced with chalet bungalows; the removal of Juliet balconies and replacement with high level windows on 14 plots, and the removal of double height windows on 14 plots, over various locations throughout the layout.  The Major Projects Officer said that if Members had concerns with a particular plot, this could be looked at further.

 

A Member asked for an update on any ecological studies being carried out on the site.  The Major Projects Officer explained that he was not aware of any ecological work currently being undertaken.  He said that the original report, for the 10 October 2019 Planning Committee set-out details of work undertaken by Kent County Council (KCC) Ecology. He added that KCC Ecology had requested a number of conditions if planning permission was granted.

 

A Member noted the density of the housing as being 28 dwellings per hectare and asked for comparison with density figures in the nearby vicinity.  The Major Projects Officer showed the Committee the layout plan of the proposed development and said that the mix of houses were generally detached and semi-detached, with some short terraces.  He considered the design to be in-line with the character of the surrounding area, and that 28 dwellings per hectare was a modest figure.  The Member asked which roads would be brought-up to specification.  The Major Projects Officer referred to condition (15) in the report whereby the key roads through the site were to be made-up to an adoptable standard.

 

A Member referred to bollards being positioned on some of the roads to help stop them becoming rat-runs, and asked if the rights of existing access would be retained?  The Major Projects Officer explained that bollards were not proposed on the site, and that any existing rights of access was a private legal matter and not a planning matter.

 

A Member referred to the ecology section on page 22 of the report and that the proposal should demonstrate a net gain in biodiversity.  The Major Projects Officer explained that the resolution from the October 2019 Planning Committee had centred on three  ...  view the full minutes text for item 480.

481.

Schedule of Decisions pdf icon PDF 46 KB

To consider the attached report (Parts 2 and 4).

 

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 Friday 24 January 2020.

 

Tabled Paper (Item 2.4) added 23 January 2020.

 

Tabled Paper (Item 2.3) added 24 January 2020.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

PART 2

 

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

 

2.1       REFERENCE NO -  19/503100/FULL

APPLICATION PROPOSAL

Creation of a new agricultural vehicular entrance and access track (Part retrospective).

ADDRESSRides House Warden Road Eastchurch Sheerness Kent ME12 4HA

WARDSheppey East

PARISH/TOWN COUNCILEastchurch

APPLICANT Mr W. Love

AGENT Bloomfields

 

There were no questions.

 

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

 

A Member was disappointed that there was not a representative from Eastchurch Parish Council at the meeting.

 

Resolved:  That application 19/503100/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (4) in the report.

 

2.2       REFERENCE NO - 19/505108/FULL

APPLICATION PROPOSAL

Erection of a single storey extension within existing courtyard to form a new hall and addition of 8no. rooflights to existing buildings.

ADDRESSIwade County Primary School School Lane Iwade Sittingbourne Kent ME9 8RS

WARD Bobbing, Iwade And Lower Halstow

PARISH/TOWN COUNCILIwade

APPLICANT Ms Dee Stacey

AGENT Kent Design Studio Ltd

 

The Senior Planner reported that the Agent had responded to comments raised by Iwade Parish Council, noted in paragraph 8.6 in the report.  The Agent had advised that ventilation would be provided by roof lights and mechanical ventilation in the hall and classrooms.

 

There were no questions.

 

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

 

Members were invited to debate the application and raised points which included:

 

·         Agreed with the Parish Council’s comments, but acknowledged that this was a building regulations matter;

·         there was a lack of windows on the side of the building;

·         this was too much in a small space;

·         concerned with fire safety issues; and

·         suggested an informative be added to recommend a heat recovery system as part of the mechanical ventilation to improve the energy performance of the building.

 

The Senior Planner advised that an informative could be added and Members were happy with this approach.

 

Resolved:  That application 19/505108/FULL be delegated to officers to approve subject to conditions (1) to (4) in the report, and an informative to recommend a heat recovery system as part of the mechanical ventilation to improve the energy performance of the building.

 

2.3       REFERENCE NO -  19/503810/OUT

APPLICATION PROPOSAL

Outline application for the erection of 17 dwellings with new access road, associated parking and landscaping. (Access being sought, all other matters reserved for future consideration).

ADDRESSLand On The South East Side Of Bartletts Close Halfway Kent ME12 3EG 

WARD Queenborough And Halfway

WARD Queenborough And Halfway

WARD Queenborough And Halfway

 

The Major Projects Officer referred to the tabled paper for this item.  He also reported that an amended plan had been received indicating access to the site, and advised that an additional condition would be required to ensure that the access was provided, in accordance with the submitted plan before the occupation of the first dwelling.

 

Caroline Barkway, an objector, spoke against the application.

 

Peter Cooper, the Agent, spoke in support of the application.

 

The Chairman invited Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 481.

482.

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 items of business on the grounds that 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.

 

 

483.

Urgent Item - Schedule of Decisions

To consider the attached report (Part 6).

Minutes:

18/503135/OUT – Land west of Barton Hill Drive, Minster

 

The Head of Planning Services introduced the report which related to land at Barton Hill Drive, Minster which was subject to an Appeal and a Public Inquiry due to commence on 4 February 2020. The developer had, in the last week, confirmed that they would agree to additional highways mitigation which would address the concerns raised by the Council’s highways witness.  This report was being presented urgently to Members given that the start of the Inquiry was imminent.

A statement was tabled from a Ward Member.

 

Resolved:

 

1)     That the highways reason for refusal is withdrawn, subject to inclusion of the mitigation measures put forward by the appellant.

 

2)     That the sustainability conditions are pursued for inclusion, in the event that planning permission is granted for the development.

 

 

484.

Adjournment of Meeting

Minutes:

The meeting was adjourned from 8.19pm to 8.27pm.

485.

Record of Thanks

Minutes:

The Chairman announced that Ross McCardle, Senior Planner was leaving the Council after 14 years.  He thanked Ross for his advice and guidance over the years and wished him well in the future.