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.

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 Director of Corporate Services as Monitoring Officer, the Head of Legal or from other Solicitors in Legal Services as early as possible, and in advance of the Meeting.

No interests were declared.

9.30am – 2.4 15/503484/FULL – Chapel Farm, Hillside Road, Stalisfield, Kent, ME13 0JE

The Chairman welcomed the applicant to the meeting.

The Area Planning Officer outlined the application which was for the erection of a single storey side extension linking the garage to the main house.  He explained that the property was within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  The house was 60% bigger than the demolished house on the site and the extension would measure 3.5 metres wide by 2.5 metres in depth.  The extension would utilise matching materials to the existing property.

The Area Planning Officer reported that Stalisfield Parish Council had objected to the application; they considered the dwelling was already large and that the proposed extension was out of keeping with the setting.  The Area Planning Officer considered the extension to be modest, with no overlooking or overshadowing issues.

Mr Wright, the applicant, considered the extension was in keeping with the existing dwelling.  He explained that it would obscure the staircase between the garage and the house, and also provide sheltered egress from the house to the garage.

In response to a question, the Area Planning Officer confirmed that the staircase would remain and the dimensions of the proposed extension were maximum figures.

Members then toured the site with the Area Planning Officer and Planning Officer.