The Chairman outlined the emergency evacuation procedure.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 22 September 2021 (Minute Nos. 303 - 316) as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 22 September 2021 (Minute Nos. 303 – 316) 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 Interests (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 meeting 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.

The Cabinet Member for Planning introduced the report which outlined the timetable for delivering the Local Plan Review (LPR) which was set out in the Local Development Scheme (LDS) of 2020.  The report outlined a revised programme for the LPR to support the continued preparation of a sound plan.  The Cabinet Member explained that the LDS had previously been considered by the Local Plan Panel.

A Member drew attention to some members of the public requesting that the LPR process be paused following a speech by the Prime Minister.  The Member highlighted the risks that a pause to the process could pose and said that Councils were still required to produce up-to-date Local Plans.   He spoke in support of the LDS moving forward.

A visiting Member said that he had asked that the Leader or Deputy Leader wrote to the Secretary of State for Housing to seek clarification on the Prime Minister’s comments.  The Chairman confirmed that he had asked the Leader to write a letter.

The Cabinet Member for Planning proposed the recommendation which was seconded by the Cabinet Member for Housing.

Resolved:

(1)      That the Local Development Scheme at Appendix I of the report be adopted as the current programme for the Swale Borough Local Plan Review.

The Cabinet Member for Planning introduced the report which presented the Regulation 18 document, Issues and Preferred Options as set-out in Appendix I of the report.  The document had sought further ideas and comments for the Council’s future Local Plan and had previously been considered by the Local Plan Panel.

The Cabinet Member for Planning proposed the recommendations which were seconded by the Cabinet Member for Community.

Resolved:

(1)      That the document for consultation purposes, attached to the report, be agreed and the consultation arrangements be endorsed.

(2)      That delegated authority be given to the Head of Planning in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning, to make minor amendments to the document prior to consultation.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Property introduced the report which summarised the procurement process and its results and sought Cabinet approval of the recommended contractor.  She said the contract was for 11 months, with an opportunity to extend the contract for a further three months if required.

The Cabinet Member for Planning proposed the recommendations which were seconded by the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing.

Resolved:

(1)      That the appointment of Lanes Group plc as Queenborough & Rushenden, Twyford Pumping Station contractor from 18 November 2021 for an initial period of 11 months, be approved.

(2)      That the waiver of contract standing orders in relation to this appointment, due to only one tender submission being received, be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Planning introduced the report which set-out some proposed boundary changes, and that following the recent review work, the conservation area should be formally re-designated under Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act, 1990.  The Cabinet Member read out a late submission to the consultation, which was in support of the proposed extension of the conservation area.  The Cabinet Member added that there had been a really good response to the consultation.

The Conservation & Design Manager said the Milstead Conservation Area was very sound, and was worthy of re-designation with the boundary changes, and he welcomed the consultation responses that had been received.

The Cabinet Member for Economy & Property, who was also the Ward Member, thanked officers and the consultant for the report which had been very positively received by local residents, both in and outside the conservation area.  The Cabinet Member said the review had been requested via an Area Committee and she noted that the conservation area had not been reviewed since its designation in 1973.

The Cabinet Member for Planning proposed the recommendations which were seconded by the Cabinet Member for Environment.

Resolved:

(1)      That the responses received from the public consultation exercise (summarised in the response table at Appendix I) be noted.

(2)      That the content of the conservation area character appraisal and associated management strategy document for the Milstead Conservation Area, as amended in response to the public consultation (set-out in Appendix II) be noted.

(3)      That in light of (1) and (2) above, it be agreed that Milstead Conservation Area is of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance, and that as such, that it should be re-designated as a conservation area in accordance with section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act, 1990.

(4)      That in light of (1) and (2) above, it be agreed that the boundary to the conservation area be re-drawn as proposed in the amended character appraisal and management plan document, and that this document for the Milstead Conservation Area be formally adopted for development management purposes.

Tabled Paper added 27 October 2021.

The Cabinet Member for Planning introduced the report which set-out some proposed boundary changes and that following the recent review work, the conservation area should be formally re-designated under Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act, 1990.  He welcomed the proposed extension of the conservation area into East Street.

The Conservation & Design Manager drew attention to the tabled paper which had also been emailed to Members and added to the website.  The paper set-out comments received from the Practice Manager at The Chestnuts Surgery, East Street and these were read-out.  The Conservation & Design Manager explained that the practice had not been notified about the review at the time, due to an administrative error, but had since been invited to make comments, and had done so.  He added that there was a good collection of buildings in East Street and that they were worthy of having the protection that being in a conservation area offered.

There was some discussion on the point made in the tabled paper on the effect on property prices when a property was within a conservation area.  The Conservation & Design Manager acknowledged that being in a conservation area was an additional land charge and said the process of designation should not delay any sale going ahead.  He advised that the re-designation was likely to take place by the end of 2021.  He added that the re-designation should not materially affect the sale of a property, and the usual effect of being in a conservation area was in a positive way.  In response to a question from the Vice-Chairman in the Chair, the Conservation & Design Manager confirmed that the boundary in the conservation area character appraisal document had been corrected (following the earlier report to the Local Plan Panel) to include the surgery building within the conservation area boundary extension to East Street, as per the original intention.

The Cabinet Member for Planning proposed the recommendations which were seconded by the Cabinet Member for Community.

Resolved:

(1)      That the responses received from the public consultation exercise (summarised in the response table at Appendix iii and set-out in full at Appendix v) be noted.

(2)      That the content of the conservation area character appraisal and associated management strategy document for the Sittingbourne Conservation Area be noted.

(3)      That in light of (1) and (2) above, it be agreed that the Sittingbourne Conservation Area is of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance, and that as such, that it should be re-designated as a conservation area in accordance with section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act, 1990.

(4)      That in light of (1) and (2) above, it be agreed that the boundary to the conservation area be re-drawn as proposed on Map 1 and the related series of maps in the character appraisal and management plan document for the Sittingbourne Conservation Area to be formally adopted for development management purposes.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 410.

The Cabinet Member for Economy & Property introduced the report which sought Cabinet approval to extend the current contract for Planned and Reactive Term Maintenance for a further 18 months from 1 April 2022.  She drew attention to paragraph 3.3 in the report which set-out concerns raised by Cabinet on the quality of workmanship, and the ways that this could be rectified.  The Cabinet Member welcomed the use of a local workforce and local subcontractors.

The Cabinet Member for Planning proposed the recommendations which were seconded by the Cabinet Member for Housing.

Resolved:

(1)      That the current contract for Planned and Reactive Term Maintenance for a term of 18 months from 1 April 2022 subject to the appointed Contractor’s agreement be extended, encouraging them to employ local workforce, sub-contractors and services where practical and cost efficient.

(2)      That the Property Services Manager and Buildings Manager evaluate and provide resource to monitor and approve the standard of work undertaken for Reactive works.

Recommendations published 22.10.21.

Resolved:

(1)      That the recommendations in Minute Nos. 358, 359 and 360 be agreed.