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 were aware of the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 December 2021 (Minute Nos. 497 - 504) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 9 December 2021 (Minute Nos. 497 – 504) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

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 Interests (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 meeting 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 Cameron Beart declared a Disclosable Non-Pecuniary Interest in respect of item 2.3 21/504578/Full, 42 & 44 Broadway, Sheerness as he knew the applicant.  Councillor Beart remained in the Council Chamber with an open mind and intended to debate and vote on the item.

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 7328) by noon on Wednesday 12 January 2022. 

Item 3.2 has been withdrawn from the agenda (7 January 2022).

Item 2.8 has been withdrawn from the agenda (10 January 2022).

Additional information added 12 January 2022.

Tabled Updates for items 2.1 + 2.2 added 13 January 2022.

PART 2

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

The Area Planning Officer introduced the application.  He drew attention to the tabled update, specifically that within condition (5), reference should be made to condition (4), not condition (3).  The Area Planning Officer recommended a further condition be added to refer to the amended plans.  He explained that the application site was within the open countryside and within Hartlip Conservation Area, with Sweepstakes Farmhouse, a listed building, to the north of the site.  The site was currently an open field, with established hedgerow screening.  The Area Planning Officer said the scheme was for private use and accorded with guidelines, the design was appropriate and it was located close to other buildings, with use of the existing access.  He showed photographs of the site and views of it from Lower Hartlip Road.  The stables would be located behind a 2.5 metre hedge.  The Area Planning Officer summarised and said the proposed use of the land was acceptable subject to the conditions in the report.

Jane Hooker, the Agent, spoke in support of the application.

The Chairman moved the officer recommendation to approve the application and this was seconded by Councillor Ben J Martin.

A visiting Ward Member spoke in support of the application.

In the debate that followed, Members raised the following points:

·         This was in a rural setting and was not detrimental to the area;

·         acknowledged the information from the visiting Ward Member that the damaged hedgerow had been re-planted;

·         the scheme should be limited to horses only and no other animals should be permitted;

·         disappointed that although Hartlip Parish Council had called-in the application, they had not registered to speak on the matter; and

·         concerned that other buildings could be added to the development.

In response to questions, the Area Planning Officer explained that the change of use covered the whole application site which included the stables and the use was for the keeping of horses.  There were no Permitted Development Rights (PDR’s) associated with the keeping of horses, so any other development on the site would need planning permission.   The Area Planning Officer said any temporary structures relating to the keeping of horses were regulated by condition (9) which restricted the placing of additional horse paraphernalia.

Resolved:  That application 21/503629/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (13) in the report and an additional condition to refer to the amended drawings.

The Meeting was adjourned from 9 pm until 9.05 pm.