Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

(a)      The fire alarm is a continuous loud ringing. In the event that a fire drill is planned during the meeting, the Chair will advise of this.

(b)      Exit routes from the chamber are located on each side of the room, one directly to a fire escape, the other to the stairs opposite the lifts.

(c)      In the event of the alarm sounding, leave the building via the nearest safe exit and gather at the assembly point on the far side of the car park. Do not leave the assembly point or re-enter the building until advised to do so. Do not use the lifts.

(d)      Anyone unable to use the stairs should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 20 July 2023 (Minute Nos. 207 – 210) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 20 July 2023 (Minute Nos. 207 – 210) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to the meeting.

Councillor Mike Baldock explained that he was a member of Borden Parish Council who had submitted an objection to Item 2.2 23/500263/REM Land at Wises Lane, Borden.  Councillor Baldock said that he had not sat in on the meeting when the Parish Council had considered the item or taken part in any discussion of that item and was not predetermined.

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 16 August 2023.

Tabled update for item 2.2 application 23/500263/REM Land at Wises lane, Borden.

PART 2

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

The Area Planning Officer introduced the application as set out in the report.

The registered speaker withdrew from speaking.

The Chair moved the officer recommendation to approve the application, and this was seconded by Councillor Andy Booth.

The Chair invited Members to make comments and points raised included:

·         There were no planning grounds to refuse the application;

·         there was a lack of bungalows in Swale;

·         bungalows were single storey and did not have dormer windows;

·         considered that adding further height to the bungalow would be out-of-scale with the area;

·         historically the Council had always imposed conditions on similar applications prohibiting the installation of dormer windows;

·         did not consider the proposal would be out-of-keeping as there were already a lot of similar conversions in the locality; and

·         the Council should in the future work with builders and provide strategies to encourage them to build more bungalows when building housing developments.

In response to questions, the Area Planning Officer said there was no specific policy to prevent bungalows being extended into two-storey buildings.  It was dependent on whether the proposal was acceptable in terms of impact on the local environment.  The Area Planning Officer reported that the increase in height was 1.4 metres, which was still lower than some of the surrounding two storey properties.  The Area Planning Officer confirmed that the case officer had considered the impact on the neighbouring property to the north to be acceptable, and that no objections had been received from this property.

Resolved:  That application 23/500942/FULLbe approved subject to conditions (1) and (2) in the report.   

The Principal Planning Consultant introduced the application as set-out in the report.  He drew attention to the tabled update which had previously been emailed to the Committee and provided the following updates:   details of two further representations and the officer response; and proposed minor amendments to conditions (7) and (8) following requests from the applicant to be confined to the rugby pitches only.

Gaynor Aspin, representing Borden Residents Against Development (BRAD), spoke against the application.

Philip Whymark, a Supporter, spoke in support of the application.

Parish Councillor George Cole, representing Borden Parish Council, spoke against the application.

The Chair moved the officer recommendation to approve the application, and this was seconded by Councillor Andy Booth.

The Chair  ...  view the full minutes text for item 229.