Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber , Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3HT

Contact: Democratic Services, 01795 417330 

Items
No. Item

129.

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 outlined the emergency evacuation procedure for those present.

130.

Notification of Chairman and Outline of Procedure

Minutes:

The Chairman outlined the procedure and asked the Sub-Committee and officers to introduce themselves.

131.

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.

132.

Application for a New Premises Licence pdf icon PDF 82 KB

To consider a new premises Licence at Brenley Farm, Faversham.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Licensing Officer introduced the report which was for an application for a new Premises Licence to hold wedding receptions and supply alcohol for these events, at Brenley Farm, Brenley Lane, Boughton.  He outlined the proposed hours as set out on page 4 of the report, and advised that two valid representations had been received from members of the public.

 

The Chairman invited the applicant Julia Berry to present her case.  Mrs Berry said that she and her family lived on site; wedding events would only take place between April and August; and there would be no more than 10 bookings per year.  She added that she was aware of her responsibilities.

 

The Chairman invited Members to ask questions.

 

In response to a question on the distance from the farm to the objector’s property, Mr Berry advised that it was approximately 1km away.  The Senior Lawyer (Contentious) clarified the number of weddings proposed.  Mrs Berry said that she was willing for a condition restricting the number of weddings to 10 in any calendar year.

 

Mr Hodgson, objector, said that he had no objection to the events in principle, but live amplified music travelled, particularly in a quiet countryside environment, and as the weddings were to be held outside it would be difficult to limit the sound.  He added that his summer evenings could be spoilt by noise pollution from the events.

 

There was a discussion around a wedding ceremony and reception held at the farm the previous weekend with a 4-piece band. Mr Hodgson confirmed he had heard amplified music from 8pm to midnight but suggested the band had been told to keep the noise levels down, which Mr and Mrs Berry strongly refuted.  The Senior Lawyer (Contentious) questioned whether it had caused a nuisance and highlighted that there had been no objection to the licence application from Environmental Health, and the only representations against the licence had come from Mr Hodgson’s address.

 

In response to a Member’s question on methods of controlling the noise levels, the Senior Lawyer (Contentious) gave an overview of how limits could be set and how noise travelled.  He went on to say that the events could be run without a licence up to 11pm and suggested parties could negotiate together to achieve a suitable solution.

 

Mr Berry explained that the events could not be held inside because buildings on the site were not appropriate as they were historical listed buildings which contained wildlife.  Mrs Berry advised that the speakers from weddings faced toward a relative’s property.

 

The Senior Lawyer (Contentious) confirmed that the appropriate levels of communication to advertise the licence application had been applied and explained the process of a licence review.

 

Members of the Sub-Committee adjourned to make their decision at 2.47pm.  Members of the Sub-Committee, the Senior Lawyer (Contentious) and the Senior Democratic Services Officer returned at 3.25pm, when the meeting was reconvened.

 

The decision as set out in Appendix I to these minutes was announced.

 

Resolved:

 

(1)  The Sub-Committee agreed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 132.

Appendix I pdf icon PDF 331 KB