Visitors and members of the public who are unfamiliar with the building and procedures are advised that:

(a)      The fire alarm is a continuous loud ringing. In the event that a fire drill is planned during the meeting, the Chair will advise of this.

(b)      Exit routes from the chamber are located on each side of the room, one directly to a fire escape, the other to the stairs opposite the lifts.

(c)      In the event of the alarm sounding, leave the building via the nearest safe exit and gather at the assembly point on the far side of the car park. Do not leave the assembly point or re-enter the building until advised to do so. Do not use the lifts.

(d)      Anyone unable to use the stairs should make themselves known during this agenda item.

The Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

Councillors should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their families or friends.

The Chair will ask Members if they have any disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) or disclosable non-pecuniary interests (DNPIs) to declare in respect of items on the agenda. Members with a DPI in an item must leave the room for that item and may not participate in the debate or vote. 

Aside from disclosable interests, where a fair-minded and informed observer would think there was a real possibility that a Member might be biased or predetermined on an item, the Member should declare this and leave the room while that item is considered.

Members who are in any doubt about interests, bias or predetermination should contact the monitoring officer for advice prior to the meeting.

Councillor Charles Gibson declared a Disclosable Non-Pecuniary Interest in respect of the Faversham Neighbourhood Plan (FNP) as he was a member of Faversham Town Council and the matter had been discussed at their meetings.

The Interim Joint Planning Manager (Policy) introduced the report as set out in the agenda papers.  She explained the reason why the FNP was being considered at this meeting, as set out in Paragraph 1.3 in the report.  The Interim Joint Planning Manager referred Members to Appendix I in the report which set out the draft list of the Examiner’s Recommended Modifications and Responses, and Appendix II which set out the working draft tracked changes version of the FNP.

The Chair invited Members to ask questions.

A Member asked whether the upcoming General Election on 4 July 2024 (announced on 22 May 2024) would have any bearing on the timeline of the FNP and whether the referendum could be held on the same day as the election.  In response, the Interim Joint Planning Manager explained that if the recommendations in the report were agreed, the decision statement would then need to be advertised for six weeks, before the referendum could take place.  As such, the General Election and referendum could not be held on the same day.  The Chief Executive confirmed that this was the case and that the timelines did not align with each other.

Members welcomed the report and congratulated the FNP team on the work they had carried out so far.

Resolved:

(1)      That the Examiner’s Report into the Faversham Neighbourhood Plan be noted.

(2)      That the proposed alterations to the Examiner’s proposed modifications as set out in Appendix I of the report be noted.

(3)      That the Faversham Neighbourhood Plan proceeds to the referendum stage after a six-week consultation on the Decision Statement.