Issue - meetings

(Councillors Phil Barnett and Tony Vickers declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that they were Members of Newbury Town Council and Greenham Parish Council and their respective Planning and Highways Committees, which had discussed this application. 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.)

(Councillors Phil Barnett, Hilary Cole, Carolyne Culver and Tony Vickers declared that they had been lobbied on Agenda Item 4(1).)

1.     The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 21/00114/COND1 in respect of an Approval of Details reserved by Condition 5 (Phasing Programme of Works) of Approved Application 19/00891/OUTMAJ - Section 73: of Condition 6 - Phasing of previously approved application 18/01553/OUTMAJ: Section 73: Variation of conditions to allow for the development to be phased as detailed in submitted schedule of appeal reference APP/W0340/W/14/3002040. (12/00772/XOUTMA) at land off Faraday Road and Kelvin Road, Newbury.

2.     Mrs Sian Cutts, Senior Planning Officer, introduced the report to Members, which took account of all the relevant policy considerations and other material planning considerations. In conclusion the report detailed that the proposal was acceptable in planning terms, and officers recommended that the Head of Planning and Development be authorised to grant planning permission subject to the conditions outlined in the main and update reports.

3.     The Chairman asked Mr Paul Goddard, Team Leader (Highways Development Control), if he had any observations relating to the application. Mr Goddard noted that the application was concerned with the phasing of the development. The first phase was to provide the beginnings of the access road from Calvin Way, and the development then proceeded around the site. He noted that officers had no objection to the proposed phasing.

4.     Councillor Tony Vickers asked why there was no speaker from Newbury Town Council. Mr Simon Till, Team Leader (Western Area Planning), confirmed that the Town Council was not a formal consultee, since this was a discharge of conditions application, and only key stakeholders who were involved in the technical matters of discharging the condition were usually consulted on such matters. In this case the key stakeholders would be Housing and Highways officers. He noted that Newbury Town Council had submitted comments, which were included in the update sheet.

Removal of speaking rights

5.     As resolved at the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 29 April 2020, public speaking rights had been removed for virtual Council meetings. This right had 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.

6.     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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50