Issue - meetings

(Councillor Hilary Cole declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that she was a member of Chieveley Parish Council, and had attended the meeting where the item had been discussed. However, she would consider the application afresh in light of further information that had been submitted following the Parish Council meeting. As her interest was personal and not prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest, she 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 20/03074/COND3 in respect of an application for approval of details reserved by condition 15 (highways -cms) of approved 18/01161/COMIND - Construction of a single-storey primary school building and associated two-storey boarding house incorporating a part-lower ground floor area for use by Mary Hare Primary School (and to facilitate the relocation of the current Mary Hare Primary School from its current Mill Hall site); two-storey business centre comprising earmould manufacturing facility, audiology clinics, hearing aid repair shop (HARS) and conference centre rooms; single storey vocational classroom block for existing secondary school and single storey works facility to replace existing; formation of extended access road to primary school building; reconfiguration of existing car parking including provision of additional car/cycle parking; provision of new/reconfigured hard and soft landscaping to include a new external covered space to front of existing Blount Hall secondary school building; and other related works at Mary Hare Grammar School, Arlington Manor, Snelsmore Common, Newbury.

2.     Ms Cheyanne Kirby, 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/for the reasons listed 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 stated that he had nothing further to add to the points already raised by the Planning Officer. Changes had been made to the Construction Management Statement, which meant that construction traffic would no longer travel along the narrow Arlington Lane and therefore had overcome the objections. Highways Officers were content with all other aspects of the submitted Construction Management Statement.

Removal of speaking rights

4.     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.

5.     The above changes to speaking rights were subsequently amended at the Council meeting on 10 September  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54