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 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.

11am – 16/503948/FULL The Old School, Painters Forstal, Ospringe, ME13 0EG.

The Chairman welcomed the applicant, the applicant’s agent and the four members of the public to the meeting.

The Area Planning Officer introduced the application which proposed conversion of the former garage to additional accommodation with new link to existing dwelling at The Old School, Painters Forstal Road, Ospringe, ME13 0EG.  The Area Planning Officer showed Members a map of the proposed layout and reported that the site was within the Conservation Area and Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

The Area Planning Officer explained that the proposed link would enable the applicants to use the outbuilding and following concerns about the height of the link the applicant had agreed to reduce the height of the eaves.  Ospringe Parish Council raised objection to the application for reasons as set out in the Committee report.  Two letters of objection had been received and these were also set out in the Committee report.

The Area Planning Officer considered that this was a well designed application which suited the character of the area.

The Agent reported that the ridge and eaves heights were marked out for Members to view at the back of the property.

The Conservation Officer considered that the applicants had addressed concerns relating to the height of the link and did not consider that the application would harm the Conservation Area.

Local residents raised the following concerns: proposed side windows would block out light to the adjoining property; how would the guttering be maintained as the applicant would have to access the neighbouring property; concerns about drainage as this was shared; and the applicants had extended the verge at the front of their property and taken 18 inches off the highway in the process.

Members then viewed the rear of the property, and viewed the site from the adjoining neighbours property.