Issue - meetings

(Due to a technical issue Agenda Item 4(2) was considered by the Committee prior to 4(1))

The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(2)) concerning Planning Application 20/02500 in respect of the demolition of existing one storey side extension and erection of two storey side extension and associated works.

Mr Bob Dray introduced the report and highlighted the key points. There were no objections to the proposal and Officers were recommending that planning permission be approved.

Removal of Speaking Rights

As resolved at the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 29 April 2020, public speaking rights were removed for virtual Council meetings. This right was replaced with the ability to make written submissions. This decision was made in accordance with The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panels Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020.

The above changes to speaking rights were subsequently amended at the Council meeting on 10 September 2020. It was agreed that parties making written submissions in relation to a planning application would be invited to attend the Remote Meeting of the Planning Committee to answer any questions that Members of the Committee might wish to ask in order to seek clarification on any part of their statement.

There were no written submissions received for the application.

Councillor Graham Pask as Ward Member addressed the Committee on the application.

Ward Member Representation

Councillor Graham Pask in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·         The proposal was not contentious in anyway. It was before the Committee because the applicant was a member of staff from West Berkshire Council’s Planning Service. In Councillor Pask’s view it had been very sensitively designed.

·         Councillor Pask commended the photo generated view of the application site, which had been extremely helpful and he felt that other applications would benefit from such information. 

There were no Member questions for the Ward Member.

Member Questions to Officers

Councillor Royce Longton asked for clarification on what a bird nesting brick was. Mr Dray reported that this was a specially designed brick that had a hollowed out area for birds or bats.  This did not form part of a mitigation, but was a proposal to enhance the biodiversity.

There were no further questions for Officers. 

Debate:

Councillor Graham Pask felt that the proposal had been very sensitively designed and he had no hesitation in proposing Officer recommendation to approve the application with the conditions outlined within the report. This was seconded by Councillor Tony Linden. At the vote the motion was carried.

RESOLVED that the Head of Development and Planning be authorised to grant planning permission subject to the following conditions: