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 Vice-Chairman in-the-Chair ensured that those present were aware of the emergency evacuation procedure.

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.

No interests were declared.

To consider the attached report (Part 2).

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 27 February 2019.

Tabled Papers added 28 February 2019.

PART 2

Applications for which PERMISSION is recommended

The meeting was adjourned from 7.05pm to 7.11pm to allow Members to read the tabled papers, if they had not already done so.

The Senior Planner introduced the application and referred to the tabled papers.  He explained that following discussion with the Applicant, there was now agreed wording to conditions (6), (9), (16), (36) and (47).  He added that condition (47) on page 44 of the report should refer to Parsonage Farmhouse, not Parsonage Chase.  The Senior Planner stated that the site area was 35.7 hectares, not 37.5 hectares as noted on page 2 of the report.  In paragraph 8.34, A4 use should also have been included as a potential use of the local facility, as noted in condition (15) in the report.

The Senior Planner indicated the site on the plans and referred to the orchard to the north of the site which was within the site allocation, but was not part of this application.  There were three parcels of land within the application that did not fall within the site allocation, including land for sustainable drainage systems (SuDS).  The application also included a footpath link to Lower Road.

The Senior Planner outlined the planning constraints in relation to the unallocated land.  He explained that all three parcels were classed as open countryside and some of the land to the western and southern sections fell within an important Local Countryside Gap.  The Senior Planner stated that the site was near Parsonage Farmhouse which was a Grade II listed building.  The development was for up-to 700 dwellings, with all matters reserved, except for matters relating to access to Lower Road and to Barton Hill Drive.  The Senior Planner said that the development would consist of  a varying density of properties, mostly 2-storey in height, with some 3-storey as well.  There would be a central landscaped area, including a ball court, land for a local facility, open spaces, and green corridor areas.  There would also be a woodland buffer, with a minimum 20 metre depth to the south and west, and footpath and cycle connections to Lower Road and Parsonage Chase.  He concluded by stating that the scheme facilitated road improvements between Barton Hill Drive and Cowstead Corner, and this included road widening and the addition of dedicated footpaths.

Mr Andy Fisher, an objector, spoke against the application.

Mr John Boyd, the Agent, spoke in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 527.

At 10pm and 10.30pm Members agreed to the suspension of Standing Orders in order that the Committee could complete its business.