Issue - meetings

1.     (Councillors Jeanette Clifford and Anthony Pick declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that they were Members of Newbury Town Council and had been present at the planning meeting when the item was discussed. As their interest was personal and not an other registrable or a disclosable pecuniary interest, they determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

2.     Councillor Billy Drummond declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that he was a Member of Greenham Parish Council and had been present at the meeting when the item was discussed. As his interest was personal and not an other registrable or a disclosable pecuniary interest, they determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.)

3.     The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 17/00158/COMIND in respect of the construction of a new one form of entry single-storey primary school, south of the existing Newbury College.

4.     Councillor Jeff Beck joined the meeting at 6.35 pm and it was agreed by Members that as the meeting had only just started, he would be able to take part in the debate and vote on this item.

5.     Emma Nutchey introduced the report to Members, which took account of all the relevant policy considerations and other material considerations.  She drew the Committee’s attention to the six additional conditions in the Update Sheet.  In conclusion, the report detailed that the proposal was acceptable and a conditional approval was justifiable.  Consequently, officers recommended the Committee to grant planning permission.

6.     In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Greg Bowman, Bill Bagnell and Andy Vernon, applicant/agent and Councillor Billy Drummond, Ward Member addressed the Committee on this application.

7.     Bill Bagnell in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·       The application was the conclusion of 20 months of hard work and it was a wonderful opportunity to provide a first class facility in exceptional surroundings.

·       The children would be able to experience the extraordinary rural environment with a dipping pond in close proximity to Newbury.

8.     Councillor Hilary Cole requested reassurance that stringent fire prevention measures had been incorporated in the internal design of the building and in the external aluminium cladding.  Bill Bagnell advised that in normal circumstances, the design would be put through a testing procedure and if sprinklers were recommended, a cost benefit exercise would be undertaken.  However, sprinklers were included in this scheme as they were required by the Department for Education, unless a good reason could be shown not to do so.  Andy Vernon added that the aluminium cladding bore no relation to the cladding used at Grenfell Tower and would only be used on the outer layer of the roof, on top of the steel under layer.

9.     Councillor Paul Bryant enquired whether there was an assumption from Central Government that sprinklers were installed in new schools and Bill Bagnell confirmed this was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9