Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne, ME10 3HT. View directions

Contact: Email: democraticservices@swale.gov.uk 

Note: There is one vacancy on the Planning Committee 

Media

Items
No. Item

550.

Emergency Evacuation Procedure

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.

 

 

Minutes:

The Chair outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

551.

Minutes

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 5 December 2024 (Minute Nos. 469 – 480) as a correct record.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 5 December 2024 (Minute Nos. 469 – 480) were taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

 

552.

Declarations of Interest

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.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Andy Booth declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of Item 2.3 24/502130/FULL Sheppey Leisure Complex, Broadway as he is the Chair of Swale Community Leisure.  Councillor Booth remained in the chamber for the duration of the debate but did not comment on the application and abstained from voting.

 

Councillor Elliott Jayes declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of the Deferred Item 22/502086/OUT Land to the east of Scocles Road, Minster-on-Sea as he was one of the Ward Members and Item 2.3 24/502130/FULL Sheppey Leisure Complex, Broadway as he sat on the Council’s Levelling Up group, but the application was submitted before he sat on the group and he was the Council-nominated representative on Sheppey Matters.  Councillor Jayes considered the applications with a clear and open mind and stayed in the chamber for the duration of the debate and voted on the applications.

553.

Deferred Item 1 - 22/502086/OUT Land to the east of Scocles Road pdf icon PDF 796 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Deferred Item 1       REFERENCE NO - 22/502086/OUT

APPLICATION PROPOSAL Outline application for a residential development of up to 650 units inclusive of a new community hub, landscaping measures and green infrastructure, with all matters reserved except for access.

ADDRESSLand to the east of Scocles Road, Minster on Sea, Kent

WARD Sheppey Central

PARISH/TOWN COUNCIL Minster-on-Sea

APPLICANT MLN (Land and Properties) Ltd

AGENT Broadgrove Planning and Development

 

The Planning Consultant introduced the application as set out in the report.  He advised that there was an error in the report where it stated that Kent County Council (KCC) had said that special educational needs and waste were strategically located specialist services which would have to be delivered on the mainland.  He explained that reference to the mainland was incorrect, and that these services would be delivered at a Borough level, but this did not preclude delivery on the Isle of Sheppey.  The Planning Consultant clarified that the further five neighbour objections to the scheme were in addition to the 18 objections reported verbally at the 10 October 2024 meeting.  He referred to the independent traffic survey carried out by Stantec which was summarised in the report and updated Members on comments from KCC Highways and Transportation on the report. The Stantec report had noted that the proposed Barton Hill Drive, Minster roundabout mitigation did not improve the exit to the A2500 westbound and improving this exit from Barton Hill Drive would reduce the queuing identified in the survey data, and Stantec had suggested KCC added a monitor and manage condition.  KCC Highways and Transportation had responded to say that the suggested condition was not necessary as any mitigation could be secured via the Section 278 process.  The Planning Consultant added that Lower Road, Minster was due to be widened through works delivered by the Barton Hill Drive development.

 

A visiting Member spoke against the application.

 

The Chair moved the officer recommendation to determine whether the application would have been approved, if it was still to be determined by the Committee, as per the recommendation in the report, and this was seconded by Councillor Andy Booth.

 

A Ward Member spoke against the application.  He raised concern that the independent highway report had not been put on the Planning Portal.  He said there had been no mention of the road width issues, or the narrow footpaths which the Planning Committee had raised, and with an increase in vehicles as a result of this application, these issues would be made worse.  The Ward Member said that if the application was approved that the dwellings should be built in the right direction for optimum solar gain, and the highway conditions on highway works should be lowered. 

 

The Chair invited Members to make comments, and these included:

 

·      Welcomed the affordable housing that would be provided with this application;

·      concerned with highway issues, but KCC Highways and Transportation had raised no objection;

·      this was not an ideal location for development;

·      it was important that officers ensured that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 553.

554.

2.1 - 18/505157/OUT Land North of Sanderling Way pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Minutes:

2.1       REFERENCE NO - 18/505157/OUT

APPLICATION PROPOSAL Outline application with all matters reserved apart from the means of access for residential development of up to 60 dwellings.

ADDRESSLand North Of Sanderling Way, Iwade, Kent, ME9 8TJ

WARDBobbing, Iwade and Lower Halstow

PARISH/TOWN COUNCIL Iwade

APPLICANT Mr Mick Drury

AGENT Hume Planning

 

The Planning Consultant introduced the application as set out in the report.

 

The Agent spoke in support of the application.

 

Noel Hanafin, an objector, spoke against the application.

 

The Chair moved the officer recommendation to grant planning permission as per the recommendation in the report, and this was seconded by Councillor Andy Booth.

 

The Chair invited Members to make comments, and these included:

 

·         Did not like the spread of further housing at this location, but considered the matter would be overturned if it went to appeal;

·         clarification sought on whether there would be any highway improvements and whether there was a link road to the existing housing;

·         acknowledged that this site was allocated for housing in the Local Plan, but considered it was not appropriate to have more housing here;

·         this was unsustainable development;

·         the disadvantages outweighed the advantages;

·         considered this was a sustainable location and pleased with the revisions to the application, so that the main access was now proposed off The Street, Iwade rather than Sanderling Way;

·         considered there should be more improvements in terms of pedestrian and cycle users;

·         improvements should be made to Swale Halt; and

·         clarification sought on any surveys carried out in terms of the presence of any protected species on the site.

 

The Planning Consultant responded to the points raised.   She explained that the connection to the existing houses would be pedestrian access only and that an ecological appraisal had been carried out, and there was no evidence of bats.  The ponds in the area were being retained and one was going to be enlarged.

 

Resolved: That application 18/505157/OUT be granted as per the recommendation in the report.

 

 

555.

2.2 - 24/502180/FULL Car Parks Adjacent to Sheppey Street pdf icon PDF 191 KB

Minutes:

2.2 REFERENCE NO 24/502180/FULL

APPLICATION PROPOSAL Change of use of disused car parks to commercial vehicle sales forecourts with associated sales office, toilet block, refuse storage, perimeter fencing, and lighting and CCTV (partly retrospective).

ADDRESSCar Parks Adjacent To Sheppey Street, Blue Town, Isle Of Sheppey, ME12 1TQ

WARD Sheerness

PARISH/TOWN COUNCIL Sheerness

APPLICANT Mr P Rooney

AGENT Refine Architecture Ltd

 

In the Chair’s absence, the Vice-Chair took the Chair for this item.

 

The Planning Manager (Planning Applications) introduced the application as set out in the report.

 

The Vice-Chair in-the-Chair moved the officer recommendation to grant planning permission as per the recommendation in the report, and this was seconded by Councillor Andy Booth.

 

Resolved: That application 24/502180/FULL be granted as per the recommendation in the report.

 

 

556.

2.3 - 24/502130/FULL Sheppey Leisure Complex, Broadway pdf icon PDF 765 KB

Minutes:

2.3 REFERENCE NO 24/502130/FULL

PROPOSAL  Proposed enhancement of the existing Sheppey leisure complex and healthy living centre; including erection of a two-storey side extension, creation of a new main side entrance to the leisure centre, facade/elevation improvements, minor internal reconfiguration, new cafe area, and external landscaping works to the surrounding public realm, including a new outdoor adventure golf facility, and creation of a new footpath between Sheppey train station and the leisure complex site.

SITE LOCATIONSheppey Leisure Complex, Broadway Sheerness Kent ME12 1HH

WARD Sheerness

PARISH/TOWN COUNCIL Sheerness Town Council

APPLICANT Swale Borough Council

AGENT 3BM Planning

 

In the Chair’s absence, the Vice-Chair took the Chair for this item.

 

The Planning Consultant introduced the application as set out in the report.  He referred to the tabled update to condition (2) to reflect the updated elevation drawing which had been provided.

 

The Vice-Chair in-the-Chair moved the officer recommendation to grant planning permission as per the recommendation in the report, and this was seconded by Councillor Andy Booth.

 

Resolved: That application 24/502130/FULL be granted as per the recommendation in the report.

 

 

557.

Part 5 applications pdf icon PDF 47 KB

Decisions by County Council and Secretary of State, reported for information.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

PART 5

 

Decisions by County Council and Secretary of State, reported for information

 

Item 5.1 – 4 Oast Cottages, Breach Lane, Upchurch ME9 7PH

 

PINS Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED

 

Committee or Officer Decision : DELEGATED REFUSAL

 

Item 5.2 – 8 Cross Lane, Faversham ME13 8PN

 

PINS Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED

 

Committee or Officer Decision : DELEGATED REFUSAL

 

Item 5.3 – 8 Harty Ferry Cottages, Harty Ferry Road, Oare ME13 0QD

 

INS Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED

 

Committee or Officer Decision : DELEGATED REFUSAL

 

Item 5.4 – Bullfinch Cottage, Lewson Street Road, Norton ME9 9JQ

 

PINS Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED

 

Committee or Officer Decision : DELEGATED REFUSAL

 

Item 5.5 – Callum Park, Basser Hill, Lower Halstow ME9 7TY

 

PINS Decision: APPEAL ALLOWED

 

Committee or Officer Decision : DELEGATED REFUSAL

 

Item 5.6 – Land adjacent 113 Chaffes Lane, Upchurch, Sittingbourne ME9 7BB

 

PINS Decision: APPEAL ALLOWED

 

Committee or Officer Decision : COMMITTEE REFUSAL

 

Item 5.7 – Littles Manor Oast, North Street, Sheldwich, Faversham ME13 0LP

 

PINS Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED

 

Committee or Officer Decision : DELEGATED REFUSAL

 

Item 5.8 – Nether Toes, Sheppey Way, Bobbing, Sittingbourne ME9 8QP

 

PINS Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED

 

Committee or Officer Decision : DELEGATED REFUSAL

 

Item 5.9 – Scocles Farm, Scocles Road, Minster-on-Sea ME12 3RU

 

PINS Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED

 

Committee or Officer Decision : DELEGATED REFUSAL

 

Item 5.10 – Stonebridge Lodge, West Street, Faversham ME13 7RU

 

PINS Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED

 

Committee or Officer Decision : DELEGATED REFUSAL

 

Item 5.11 – The Happy Pants Animal Sanctuary, Land to the east of Hawes Wood, Iwade Road, Newington ME9 7HY

 

PINS Decision: APPEAL DISMISSED

 

Committee or Officer Decision : COMMITTEE REFUSAL – appeal against an Enforcement Notice.

 

Members welcomed the decisions.

558.

Adjournment of Meeting

Minutes:

The meeting was adjourned from 8.23 pm until 8.38 pm.