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 Chair 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.

10 am – Item 2.3 21/506474/FULL Burntwick, The Street, Upchurch, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 7EU.

The Chair welcomed the Agent, members of the public and Members to the meeting.

The Area Planning Officer introduced the application which sought planning permission for the erection of two four-bedroom semi-detached dwellings and one detached garage, with associated fencing, gates, access, and parking. He explained to Members that the proposed development would be sited roughly in line with the existing property at the front and rear and would have the same roof height with lower eaves than a standard two-storey dwelling and use of features such as half dormer windows. He outlined that the property was located outside the conservation area and not in the built up area of Upchurch.

Members of the public raised the following issues:

-       The land at Burntwick was higher than the land at The Poles, Upchurch so any housing development would be overbearing on those residents;

-       the proposed houses would stop any light getting to the south facing gardens at The Poles;

-       the windows at the property would be overlooking onto neighbouring properties;

-       the land at Burntwick was not big enough for two four-bedroom semi-detached houses;

-       traffic was poor in the area during commuting hours and weekends and adding extra cars would make it even worse;

-       happy to see that the applicant had cut down some of the large trees that used to affect light into the garden of the neighbouring property but was concerned that the proposed development would have a detrimental impact on light to their property;

-       the local nursery used the footpath outside of Burntwick to walk around the village so had concerns with small children being near building work; and

-       loss of amenity for residents at The Poles, and The Street, Upchurch.

The Applicant’s Agent made the following points:

-       The development had been changed to address the overbearing issues as the applicant had originally hoped for two detached houses;

-       the houses had been designed to keep in character with the local area;

-       the height of the proposed houses had taken into account the ridge height of houses at The Poles, Upchurch to ensure there was no overbearing impacts; and

-       understood the concerns with a loss of light for those residents at The Poles, Upchurch but Swale officers had done a basic loss-of-light test and the application had passed the test.

A representative from Upchurch Parish Council was invited to speak and made the following points:

-       Emphasised that of the objections received on the application, only three adjoining residents had not raised objection;

-       concerned with the safety of the site; and

-       the development was out of character for the area.

Two Ward Members were present and were invited to speak and made the following points;

-       Felt that the working group needed to walk around the site and the surrounding roads to appreciate the impact the development would have on the residents of The Poles, Upchurch;

-       there would be a huge loss of amenity for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 187.