Issue - meetings

(Councillors Hilary Cole, Lynne Doherty and Howard Woollaston declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that they were members of the Executive. 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 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’s Planning and Highways Committee where this item had been considered. 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 Jeff Cant declared a personal interest in Agenda item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that he was a Ward Member for this application. As his interest was personal and not prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

(Councillors Adrian Abbs and Carolyne Culver declared that they had been lobbied on Agenda Item 4(1).)

1.     The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 20/02402/REG3 in respect of Newbury Football Club, Faraday Road, Newbury, RG14 2AD. Approval was sought for the creation of open space for public recreation including demolition of former football ground clubhouse; delivery of new parking spaces and erection of timber bollards and new fencing generally.

2.     Mr Masie Masiiwa (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 Development and Planning 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 indicated that the application followed previous applications which had been looked at extensively with regard to highways, particularly parking accumulation. With the planning applications that had been submitted in 2018, extensive surveys had been undertaken with regard to the use of the car park and the results concluded that with mainly off-peak use, there would be sufficient car parking available. On that basis, there was no objection on traffic grounds because any traffic generation was mainly off-peak. There was an existing car park on the site which was being re-vitalised and there was no objection from Highways to this proposal.

4.     Councillor Phil Barnett noted that no Town Council representative was due to speak to the item, but this was because the Officer who should have given notification by 4.00pm on the day before the meeting, was on annual leave. Councillor Barnett felt this put Members in a difficult position and said that even at the site meeting, discussion had taken place about  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10