The Chairman will advise the meeting of the evacuation procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. This is particularly important for visitors and members of the public who will be unfamiliar with the building and procedures.

The Chairman will inform the meeting whether there is a planned evacuation drill due to take place, what the alarm sounds like (i.e. ringing bells), where the closest emergency exit route is, and where the second closest emergency exit route is, in the event that the closest exit or route is blocked.

The Chairman will inform the meeting that:

(a) in the event of the alarm sounding, everybody must leave the building via the nearest safe available exit and gather at the Assembly points at the far side of the Car Park.  Nobody must leave the assembly point until everybody can be accounted for and nobody must return to the building until the Chairman has informed them that it is safe to do so; and

(b) the lifts must not be used in the event of an evacuation.

Any officers present at the meeting will aid with the evacuation.

It is important that the Chairman is informed of any person attending who is disabled or unable to use the stairs, so that suitable arrangements may be made in the event of an emergency.

The Chairman ensured that those present at the meeting were aware of the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 24 May 2018 (Minute Nos. 19 - 28) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 24 May 2018 (Minute Nos. 19 – 28) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

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

Councillor Anita Walker declared a Disclosable Non-Pecuniary Interest in respect of item 2.5, 18/501494/FULL, St Saviours Church, Whitstable Road, Faversham, and item 2.6, 18/500880/FULL & 18/500881/LBC, 7 Preston Street, Faversham, as she had already spoken on these items at Faversham Town Council.  Councillor Walker advised that she would speak as Ward Member on item 2.5.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 June 2018 (Minute Nos. to follow).

To consider application 17/505796/FULL – Church Farm, Throwley Road, Throwley, ME13 0PF.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 June 2018 (Minute Nos. 54 – 55) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the final word being amended to read: ‘……the wall between the two buildings, alongside the track, would be replaced.’

17/505796/FULL – CHURCH FARM, THROWLEY ROAD, THROWLEY, ME13 0PF

The Chairman moved the officer recommendation to approve the application and this was seconded.

On being put to the vote, the motion to approve the application was lost.

Councillor Mike Baldock moved the following motion: that the application be approved for the reasons outlined in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) supporting statement for the application, plus standard planning conditions.  This was seconded by Councillor Cameron Beart.

In response to a question, the Area Planning Officer explained that there would also be a condition to stipulate that the building used as Bed & Breakfast accommodation could not be used for residential purposes in the future.

Resolved:  That application 17/505796/FULL be approved subject to standard planning conditions, plus a condition to stipulate that the building used as Bed and Breakfast accommodation could not be used for residential purposes in the future.

Please note that this item has been withdrawn from Thursday’s Planning Committee Agenda, and will be considered at a future meeting:

17/500727/OUT – Manor Farm, Key Street, Sittingbourne

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

To consider the attached report (Parts 2 and 5).

The Council operates a scheme of public speaking at meetings of the Planning Committee.  All applications on which the public has registered to speak will be taken first.  Requests to speak at the meeting must be registered with Democratic Services (democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call 01795 417328) by noon on Wednesday 20 June 2018.

PART 2

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

The Major Projects Officer drew attention to the tabled update, which reported no objection to the application from Highways England (HE) and Kent County Council (KCC) Highways and Transportation.  He explained that amended plans had been received, decreasing the number of apartment units from 75 to 70.  A further letter of objection had been received, raising points similar to those already noted in the report, and also stating that 48 car parking spaces were not enough for the development, and that the flats would generate a demand for parking on the street.

The Chairman moved the officer recommendation to approve the application and this was seconded.

A Ward Member thanked the Case Officer for the report.  He considered the development would have a major impact on the area, and there had been a lot of concern from local residents in the Ward, and the adjoining Borden and Grove Park Ward as well.  The Ward Member raised concern with parking in the area, and that the change of use would result in vehicle movements 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which had not been the case during the application site’s previous use.  He stated that the development would have an impact on the A2, with an additional 70 residential units making the highway more congested.  The Ward Member considered the change of use from office to residential was ‘appalling’, without consideration of wider planning issues.

Members raised points which included:  this was a loss of employment space; it was near a dangerous road/junction; it was the wrong site for an increase in traffic; better that this was on brownfield, rather than on a greenfield site; 70 units was too high for this location; lack of car parking space; concerned with egress to the main highway, with no clear visibility; approval had already been given for 22 units;  48 car parking spaces was not enough for 70 units; there was a potential for more parking to the front of the building; and there should be some affordable units included within the 70 units.

The Major Projects Officer explained that this was not a usual application, and that it was limited to the four criteria on page 42 of the report.  A Section 106 Agreement could not be imposed on an application like this, and so there was no facility for the option of some affordable housing within the development.  The Planning Committee could not oppose the application, unless it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.