The Chairman explained that the meeting would be conducted in accordance with the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panel (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority Policy and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 No. 392.

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 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.

No interests were declared.

18/504562/FULL Ellens Court, Lady Margaret Manor Road, Doddington, Kent, ME9 0NT

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Planner introduced the application which sought planning permission for alterations and extensions to the existing residential care home to provide 12 no. bedrooms and two no. self-contained two bedroom units with associated facilities, erection of a single storey building to provide four supported living self-contained apartments, a new workshop building and associated landscape works at Ellens Court, Lady Margaret Manor Road, Doddington. 

The Planner explained that there were three routes to the application site: Lady Margaret Manor Road; Payden Street; and Slade Road.  The Planner then showed videos of the site and surrounding area which included: dash-cam footage driving along Lady Margaret Manor Road towards Ellens Court; the existing car park at Ellens Court and siting of the car park extension; walking along Payden Street towards Ellens Court, which included footage of damage to a wall caused by vehicles; driving along Payden Street heading towards Ellens Court then onto Doddington; driving-up Slade Road heading towards Ellens Court and then left at the crossroads; site boundary with the property known as Greet Cottage, view of site alongside Greet Cottage, view of the site next to the property known as The Hermitage; and view of the site from Payden Street.

The Planner reported that Lady Margaret Manor Road was a narrow single track with few passing places.  She further reported that the existing car park would be enlarged to provide a total of 21 parking spaces with parking space for a minibus and ambulance.   The Planner advised that the building would be “G” shaped in footprint and would be sited between three and four metres from the side boundary with Greet Cottage, and a similar distance to the front boundary of The Hermitage.

Parish Councillor Steve Coates, representing Doddington Parish Council spoke against the application.  He stated that whilst they had no objection to the site being developed, they had concerns with the size and scale of this application which they considered would have an adverse impact on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).  They also had concerns about access to the site along very narrow country lanes.  Parish Councillor Coates requested that if Members were minded to approve the application, a suitable condition be imposed requiring the premises to be used solely as a care home.

The Major Projects Officer referred to condition (33) of the report which addressed concerns about the future use of the site as a care home, and the possibility of the building for other purposes.

Mr Adam Woodbridge, the applicant’s agent, spoke in support of the application.  He stated that they been working closely with the Council’s planning officers since 2018 on the application which had been through a rigorous consultation process and all statutory consultees were happy with the application.  Mr Woodbridge reported that there had been a care home on the site for approximately 100 years and if the application was approved they would be able to accommodate a total of 22 residents and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 375.