Issue - meetings

(Councillors Jeff Beck, Adrian Edwards and Anthony Pick declared a personal interest in Agenda Items 4(15) by virtue of the fact that they were members of Newbury Town Council and its Planning and Highways Committee. As their interest was personal and not prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest, they determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.)

(Councillor Beck had been lobbied on all five applications and Councillor Pick had discussed the application with residents during a site visit outside of the formally arranged appointment.)

1.     As all five applications related to the same site, under Rule 7.13.6 of the Constitution, the Chairman varied the order of the representations so that the applications were presented and discussed as a whole. The decisions would then be taken consecutively. 

2.     The Chairman suspended the operation of Rule 7.13.4 (Time Allowed) of the Constitution to allow speakers to present for ten minutes.

3.     Therefore, the Committee considered reports on (Agenda Item 4(1-5)) concerning Planning Applications:

1)    17/03232/FUL in respect of Section 73 - Application for variation of Condition (2) Approved Plans of Planning Permission 17/01171/FUL

2)    17/03233/LBC Section 73 - Application for variation of Condition (2) Approved Plans of Planning Permission 17/01172/LBC

3)    17/03223/FUL – Erection of plant room and substation

4)    17/03237/COMIND - Extension and alteration of existing cottage to create hotel restaurant with outdoor seating terrace, wall-mounted condenser unit and roof-mounted extract

5)    17/03238/LBC2 - Extension and alteration of existing cottage to create hotel restaurant with outdoor seating terrace, wall-mounted condenser unit and roof-mounted extract

4.     In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Mr Edward Sharp and Ms Rebecca Richards, objector, and Ms Tiffany Renwick and Mr Euan Brown, applicant/agent, addressed the Committee on this application.

5.     Matthew Shepherds introduced the reports to Members, which took account of all the relevant policy considerations and other material considerations. In conclusion the reports detailed that the proposals were acceptable and conditional approvals were justifiable, subject to the first completion of a section 106 planning obligation. Officers on balance recommended the Committee grant all five planning permissions.

6.     The Chairman invited the Highways Officer to expound on the proposed car parking arrangements. Paul Goddard confirmed that he had no concerns with Agenda Items 4(1-3) and that the focus was on the car parking provision for the restaurant (Agenda Items 4(4-5)). A previous application had been withdrawn for the site as there was concern over the level of car parking. This application provided an additional 54 spaces, totalling 129 across the whole site to serve the hotel and the restaurant. Highway Officers had evaluated the parking plan and found it to be acceptable. There would be 25 staff on site who would mostly travel by car. The hotel provided 49 bedrooms and on the rare occasions that these would all be occupied, there would be 64 remaining spaces. The restaurant could cater for 162 covers, therefore an average of 2.5 spaces per cover should be sufficient as it was expected  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8