Issue - meetings

(Councillors Phil Barnett, Jeff Cant and Tony Vickers declared a personal interest in Agenda Items 4(1) and (2) by virtue of the fact that they were members of Newbury Town Council Planning and Highways Committee. Councillor Howard Woollaston had also been lobbied on the matter. 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.)

1.     The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 19/01881/HOUSE in respect of a two storey side and single storey rear extension, with proposed loft to be connected into existing converted loft space at 89 Enborne Road, Newbury.

2.     In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Simon Moffat, objector, and Councillor Andy Moore, Ward Member addressed the Committee on this application.

3.     Derek Carnegie introduced the report to Members, which had been called in by Councillor Moore due to the impact on the neighbour’s privacy.  The report took account of all the relevant policy considerations and other material considerations and in conclusion it detailed that the proposal was acceptable and a conditional approval was justifiable.

4.     Simon Moffat in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·         The planning application had been shown by his neighbour had originally only had two windows on the ground floor and one on the first floor. 

·         However the door that had since been inserted at the side of the extension and was referred to in the officer’s report had been removed, although the window on the first floor remained.

·         Following the construction of the outbuilding in 2018, they had had to install blinds at the back of their house as they were completely overlooked.

5.     Councillor Adrian Abbs enquired as to when they had found out about the installation of the side door and Mr Moffat replied that they had returned from holiday to find the extension being built, which included a side door.  They had raised this with the neighbour who had showed then the plans, but these were different from the original plans.

6.     Councillor Andy Moore in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·         He had called the planning application in and, as he was a Member of the Newbury Town Council Planning and Highways Committee, he had advised them then that he was likely to do so.  This was why there had been no one from the Town Council to make representations on the item.

·         He had called the application in following representations from Mr Moffat about overlooking of his garden and property.

·         There was a history of overlooking from the earlier construction of an outbuilding and a review of enforcement action at the property had indicated the applicant was prepared to submit plans and then change them.  Therefore he had considered that calling in the application would help discourage the applicant from doing this again.

·         He would urge the applicant to build the extension in accordance with the agreed plans and he accepted that it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27