To consider the following application:

18/501726/FULL – Land between 119a and 121a High Street, Sittingbourne

Members of the public are advised to confirm with Planning Services prior to the meeting that the application will be considered at this meeting.

Requests to speak on this item must be registered with Democratic Services (democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call us on 01795 417328) by noon on Wednesday 24 April 2019.

Reports shown in previous Minutes as being deferred from that Meeting

Mr Doug Brown, an objector, spoke against the application.

Mr Roger Etchells, the Agent, spoke in support of the application.

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

The Chairman invited Members to ask questions.

A Member asked whether the application complied with Policy DM1 of the Local Plan?  The Senior Planner explained that as the plot was vacant at the moment, there was not a loss of retail floorspace, and it was not diluting the vitality of the High Street.  The Senior Planner acknowledged that the application did not fully comply with 1c of DM1 as it would result in a concentration of non-retail frontage at this part of the High Street.  He added that in the wider context there was a diverse use of units in this section of the High Street, and more retail uses than other uses.

The Member asked whether the application was detrimental to the concentration of retail frontages and the Senior Planner said that it was not.

The Committee debated the proposal to approve the application and raised the following points:

·         It was an unfortunate position that the application had come back to the Committee, after having been considered at the meetings in November 2018 and April 2019;

·         in the immediate vicinity of the application, six out of eight of the units were non-retail, which was potentially damaging to Policy DM1, however, there was currently nothing on this site;

·         there were already enough gambling facilities in the High Street;

·         this was not desirable for Sittingbourne High Street;

·         this was positioned near to the entrance point to the Spirit of Sittingbourne development;

·         this should be treated as a new application, and not just to consider the additional conditions that had been omitted from the resolution in November 2018;

·         this should be refused;

·         this would not enhance the High Street;

·         the application was detrimental to the High Street;

·         there were similar facilities already nearby;

·         with regard to paragraph 2.05 in the report, this would not provide greater vitality, viability or diversity;

·         the application was not necessary or welcome, and would not add anything to the High Street;

·         gambling issues: mental health, addiction;

·         the application would not benefit the High Street;

·         it would have a negative impact on other businesses;

·         a retail use was needed, we should wait for that;

·         this was not the right business to attract people to the High Street;

·         some of these points were not material planning considerations, there needed to be strong planning reasons if the application was to be refused; and

·         noted that morality, as outlined in paragraph 2.08, was not a material planning consideration.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19(2) a recorded vote was taken on the motion to approve the application and voting was as follows:

For:  Councillors Cameron Beart, Bobbin, Andy Booth, Mike Dendor, James Hunt, Ken Ingleton, Nigel Kay, Peter Marchington and Bryan Mulhern.  Total equals nine.

Against:  Councillors Mike Baldock, Richard Darby, James Hall, Harrison, Mike Henderson and Ghlin Whelan .  Total equals six.

Absent for part of the application:  Councillor Nicholas Hampshire. Total equals one.

Resolved:  That application 18/501726/FULL be approved subject to conditions (1) to (18) in the report.