Audio Recording

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 Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 No. 392.

The Chairman welcomed all Members, officers and members of the public to the meeting.

To approve the Minutes of the following Meetings as correct records:

8 October 2020 (Minute Nos. 179 – 183)

Extraordinary Meeting 29 October 2020 (Minute Nos. 220 – 223)

Extraordinary Meeting 19 January 2021 (Minute Nos. 400 - 403) subject to the inclusion of Councillor Steve Davey as being in attendance.

The Minutes of the following Meetings were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as correct records:

8 October 2020 (Minute Nos. 179 – 183);

Extraordinary Meeting 29 October 2020 (Minute Nos. 220 – 223); and

Extraordinary Meeting 19 January 2021 (Minute Nos. 400 – 403), subject to the inclusion of Councillor Steve Davey as being in attendance.

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.

The Conservation and Design Manager introduced the report which proposed boundary changes to three out of the four Borden Parish conservation areas and recommended that they be formally re-designated under section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act, 1990.  Members were asked to note the representations made by interested parties to the public consultation on the character appraisals and management strategies documents.  Members were also asked to support the proposed changes in response to the consultation, as set-out at Appendix II of the report, and recommend to Cabinet that they be agreed.   The Conservation and Design Manager considered that the proposed changes would better reflect the special characteristics of the three conservation areas in question (namely Borden – The Street, Chestnut Street and Harman’s Corner). 

The Conservation and Design Manager reported that there were some minor errors including typographical errors in the public consultation version of the conservation areas review document.  He confirmed that these would be amended prior to being considered by Cabinet and being adopted.  The Conservation and Design Manager further reported that he had been made aware that two of the public consultees had not received consultation letters. 

Members were invited to ask questions.

In response to queries from Members, the Conservation and Design Manager confirmed that item 2.1 on page 9 of the report should read “…and in the whole borough by 2030” not 2020 as stated.  The Conservation and Design Manager referred to Appendix II on page 90 of the report, and explained the rationale to extend the Chestnut Street Conservation Area to the northeast to include a group of important historic buildings and include former areas of post-medieval quarrying at the southeast side.  He stated that this would be to recognise the contribution the buildings in question made to the special interest of the Chestnut Street Conservation Area.  In the case of the areas of former quarrying, to capture this area within the boundary of the conservation area, whilst recognising the important role that the area of land played in providing part of the immediate setting to the group of high-graded listed buildings, at the heart of the conservation area.

The following points were raised:

·         Welcomed the report;

·         concerned about the lack of response to the consultation; and

·         officers needed to investigate why principal landowners had not received consultation letters.

The Chairman moved the following motion:  That any consultation responses received prior to Cabinet on 17 March 2021 would be tabled at that meeting.  This was seconded by Councillor Richard Palmer.  This was agreed by Members.

The Chairman moved the recommendations in the report and these were seconded by Councillor Richard Palmer.

Resolved:

(1)          That any consultation response received from the parties whom did not receive their original consultation letters would be considered, providing any such responses were received prior to the Council’s Cabinet meeting on 17 March 2021.  Any responses received from the parties in question to be tabled at that meeting.

Recommended:

(1)          That the content of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 454.

The Conservation and Design Manager introduced the report which set-out proposed boundary changes to Tonge Conservation Area following a review and public consultation and requested that the conservation area should be formally re-designated under Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.  Members were asked to note the representations made by interested parties to the public consultation on the character appraisals and management strategies documents.  In addition, Members were asked to support the proposed changes in response to the consultation, as set-out at Appendix II of the report, and recommend to Cabinet that they be agreed.  The Conservation and Design Manager considered that the proposed changes would better reflect the characteristics of the Tonge Conservation Area.

The Conservation and Design Manager reported that there were some minor errors and typographical errors in the public consultation version of the conservation area review document.  He confirmed that these would be amended prior to being considered by Cabinet and being adopted. 

Members were invited to ask questions.

A visiting Ward Member supported the proposed changes.  The Member spoke about the temporary one-way system currently in operation through the village which passed several listed buildings which he considered worked very well.   He asked whether it would be possible to include this within the document as a permanent feature?  The Conservation and Design Manager said that he was aware that Kent County Council (KCC) Highways and Transportation were in the process of liaising with Tonge Parish Council and Bapchild Parish Council about a possible Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) which might seek to impose a speed and/or weight restriction on Church Road, and that KCC could also be asked to consider securing the referenced temporary one-way system as a permanent feature, but that this was not something that could be included within the Conservation Area document.

The Chairman moved the recommendations in the report and these were seconded by the Vice-Chairman.

Recommended:

(1)          That the content of the public consultation draft of the character appraisal and management strategy document produced for the review, and the representations made on this by interested parties, the details of which are set-out in the report be noted.

(2)          That the changes to the review document proposed by officers in response to the representations received during the course of the public consultation be supported and agreed by Cabinet.