To consider any questions submitted by Members.  (The deadline for questions is 4.30 pm on the Monday the week before the meeting – please contact Democratic Services by e-mailing democraticservices@swale.gov.uk or call 01795 417330).

The Mayor advised six questions had been received from members.

On 1 October this Council made a clear political decision to take back control of HMO development by progressing a borough-wide Immediate Article 4 Direction and by urgently producing a Supplementary Planning Document so residents could finally be consulted and poor-quality HMOs properly controlled.

Nearly four months later, nothing has changed on the ground. HMOs are still being created without planning applications, without public consultation and without this Council having any real say, precisely the democratic failure this motion was passed to end.

So, can the Chair of Planning tell Full Council—without generalities or process language—what has been done since 1 October, give a clear timetable with dates for both the Article 4 Direction and the SPD, and explain why residents are still being left unprotected while this Council’s own decision remains unimplemented?

Thank you Cllr Palmer, for your question.  Members will be aware that no planning decision is sound without robust evidence – whether that be a planning application being decided, or whether that be planning policy being created. 

With this precursor point, I am pleased to explain that a paper came to Planning and Transportation Policy Working Group last week, setting out the significant amount of research and evidence building that has taken place and laying out a programme for adoption of the SPD five months from now. As the SPD will need its pre-consultation draft approved by Policy and Resources Committee, a period of consultation, a period of reflection on that consultation and then approval by the Planning and Transportation Policy Working Group, Policy and Resources Committee and Full Council, I trust you will see that pace is being applied to this workstream.

The Article 4 direction is progressing in parallel, and the approvals route for this document is via Planning Committee. I will take the liberty of commenting on behalf of Cllr Booth, the Chair of that Committee, that this is presently anticipated at Planning Committee in March.

Can the Leader confirm whether Swale Borough Council has been approached by Government or the Home Office about refurbishing existing homes or building new housing in Swale for use as asylum-seeker accommodation, as part of the national pilot scheme now being pursued by other councils? 

Swale Borough Council has not received any approach from the Home Office or any other Government department regarding the pilot programme announced in the summer statement that it intends to bring an end to the use of hotels as asylum accommodation.  Should the Government initiate discussions with us in future, we will engage constructively and ensure that Members are informed, and a report brought to the relevant committee.

My question is to the Leader: Given the ongoing erosion of the Sheppey Cliffs caused by climate change, shifting tectonic plates, and rising sea levels, will Swale Council urge the Government to replace its current ‘No Intervention’ coastal policy for the Sheppey frontage with a policy of active protection, in order to safeguard the area’s social, economic, and community interests for current and future generations?

Following the motion presented by Cllr MacDonald in November 2020, the Council lobbied MPs and Government Ministers and attended officer level meetings with the key national agencies in order to pursue this change in coastal policy.

The Environmental Services and Climate Change committee (ESCCC) received an update report on 18 March 2025, where the full detail of actions was recorded. At that committee evidence was shown to suggest the motion was not able to be delivered and Members resolved to cease any further work on changing the Shoreline Management Plan and instead focus resource on engaging with the affected communities.

A further report is scheduled to go to ESCCC in March to present a draft engagement plan for Members to adopt which will then determine what level of continued support we offer those residents affected.

I hope that we have the opportunity to actually present some evidence. Can we please be tough with these organisations? Thank you

Thank you, Council MacDonald. You have my assurance that we'll be as strong as we possibly can.

This question was withdrawn.

As Councillor Last was not in attendance a written response would be provided.

Will the Chair for the Economy and Property Committee outline how the council is engaging with the owners of empty buildings that are in growing states of disrepair in Sittingbourne town centre namely the old cinema building, Bell House, the Bell Centre and the former Wheatsheaf pub?

The Council shares residents’ frustration about the deteriorating condition and prolonged vacancy of several key buildings in Sittingbourne town centre, including the old cinema, Bell House, the Bell Centre and the former Wheatsheaf pub.

Officers from the Regeneration, Property and Planning services are engaging with owners and their agents to develop future plans for these sites. Officers are also promoting appropriate maintenance and security and issuing notices for urgent works where necessary.  Furthermore, they’re exploring opportunities to bring the buildings back into productive use where the Council’s limited resources permit.

Regarding the former cinema, introductions have been made to interested parties but these have yet to progress further. 

The Swale Community Safety Unit holds regular multi-agency discussions about hotspot locations, including insecure and dilapidated buildings like Bell House and the old Barclays building.  Through joint working between the Police and Environmental Response Team and more recently monthly meetings with KFRS, these locations are being addressed by engaging with and enforcing against the landlords/owners.  Proactively, officers contact owners when properties pose a risk or access is gained and ASB incidents occur.  They also issue communications to property owners before school holiday periods, encouraging additional patrols.

Officers are simultaneously preparing a report for the Economy and Property Committee. This report will detail various potential options for the Council to support town centre regeneration and tackle long-term vacancy, aligning with its town centre policy.  It will consider new powers like High Street Rental Auctions (HSRA) alongside existing tools such as enforcement action acquisition options partnership working and funding opportunities.

The Council has already invested in public realm improvements in Sittingbourne town centre to enhance the environment. However, it’s a challenging time for town centre businesses.  Since the buildings are privately owned the Council’s direct ability to compel redevelopment or investment is limited.  Securing change is difficult unless statutory thresholds for enforcement or acquisition are met.

For wider support, government assistance for town centres like Sittingbourne includes the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). The working group is exploring how the UKSPF can be used to support regeneration improvements to the built environment and “pride in place” initiatives in Swale.