Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive notice of any Declarations of Interest from Members.

Councillor Emma Webster declared an interest in Agenda Item 3 and reported that, as her interest was personal and prejudicial, she would be leaving the meeting during the course of consideration of the matter and she would not vote on the matter.

Councillors David Rendel and Julian Swift-Hook declared an interest in Agenda Item 3, but reported that, as their interests were personal and not prejudicial, they determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

Councillor Roger Hunneman declared an interest in Agenda Item 3 and reported that, as his interest might be personal and prejudicial, he might leave the meeting during the course of consideration of the matter and not vote on the matter.

Resolved that the recommendations below (as set out in the report) be agreed:

Council resolves that:

(1)              the schedule of post-examination proposed focused changes to the submission Core Strategy are published in accordance with Regulation 30 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Amendment Regulations 2008 for a six week period of consultation;

(2)              Delegated authority is given to the Head of Planning and Countryside, in consultation with the Portfolio Member for Planning and Housing, to agree any non-material supporting documentation and any other non-material refinements to the policy wording before consultation;

(3)              The Council disagrees with the ‘Proposed Inspector Change’ to Policy CS16 (Sustainable Construction and Energy Efficiency) and will so inform the Inspector during the consultation period. The Council strongly recommends Policy CS16 to remain substantially unchanged.

Note: The six week consultation period will start on Friday, 4 February 2011 and forms can be obtained from Reception at the Council Offices, Market Street, Newbury, from local libraries or completed on-line. A link will be available to the consultation page from the front page of the Council’s website on 4 February.

(Councillor Emma Webster declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda item 3 by virtue of the fact that her employer was undertaking a consultation exercise on the Newbury Racecourse Development. As her interest was personal and prejudicial she left the meeting and took no part in the debate or voting on the matter).

(Councillor David Rendel declared a personal interest in Agenda item 3 by virtue of the fact that he was a member of the Campaign for Rural England. As his interest was personal and not prejudicial he determined to take part in the debate and vote on the matter).

(Councillor Julian Swift-Hook declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda item 3 by virtue of the fact that he was the Ward Member for Greenham and had publicly expressed objections to development on the Sandleford site. As his interest was personal and not prejudicial he determined to take part in the debate and vote on the matter).

(Councillor Roger Hunneman declared a personal interest in Agenda item 3 by virtue of the fact that he lived immediately adjacent to the Sandleford site. Councillor Hunneman determined that his interest was personal and not prejudicial he would remain in the chamber and take part in the debate and vote on this item. If however a specific discussion on the Sandleford site was entered into he would absent himself from the chamber and not take any further part in the debate or vote on the item).

Councillor Emma Webster left the meeting at 7.04pm.

The Council considered a report (Agenda Item 3) concerning focused changes to the Core strategy following the additional work that was undertaken following the suspension of the Examination in Public in November 2010

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Alan Law and seconded by Councillor Paul Bryant:

 “That Council Resolves that:

1. the schedule of post-examination proposed focused changes to the submission Core Strategy are published in accordance with Regulation 30 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Amendment regulations 2008 for a 6 week period of consultation.

 2. Delegated authority is given to the Head of Planning and Countryside in consultation with the Portfolio member for Planning and Housing to agree any non-material supporting documentation and any other non-material refinements to the policy wording before consultation.

3. The Council disagrees with the 'Proposed Inspector Change' to Policy CS16 (Sustainable Construction and Energy Efficiency) and will so inform the Inspector during the consultation period. The Council strongly recommends policy CS16 to remain substantially unchanged. ”.

Councillor Alan Law in introducing the item reported that the structure of the plan, spatial strategy (including the settlement hierarchy, the four spatial areas ,the two strategic sites and the revised affordable housing provision starting at five homes were not questioned by the inspector. This report had however been prepared as a response to the Inspector’s request to clarify a number of policies and to provide evidence to strengthen some of the Council’s policies. The main queries  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

The Council considered a report (Agenda Item 4) concerning the membership (including nominating a chairman) of the Independent Remuneration Panel and scope of the allowances it would consider at its next meeting.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Graham Jones and seconded by Councillor Jeff Brooks:

1)      “That the membership of the Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) be agreed.

2)     That Members agree that the IRP consider the whole Members Allowances Scheme (as set out below) at their next meeting:

·                Basic Allowance.

·                Special Responsibility Allowances.

·                Co-optees Allowance (including the independent members of the Standards Committee).

·                Childcare and Dependent Carers Allowance.

·                Appeals Allowance.

·                ICT Allowance.

·                Travelling Allowance.

·                Subsistence Allowance.

·                Conference Allowance.

·                Pensions.

·                The administration of the scheme.”

The Motion was put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.

The Council considered a report (Agenda Item 5) concerning a report back on the findings of the Greener Select Committee’s deliberations into two separated but related Council motions concerning renewable energy.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Emma Webster and seconded by Councillor Hilary Cole:

 “That the Council agrees that:

1.                  The Local Strategic Patnership are best placed for taking on responsibility for, and producing, a West Berkshire Renewable Energy Strategy.

2.                  That the Council's Energy Team finalise an Energy Strategy, to include policy on renewable energy, for West Berkshire Council's estate that includes school buildings.

3.                  That the Council examine ways in helping / facilitating others to take up projects under the Localism Bill.

4.                  That the Council investigates introducing a loan scheme to assist schools undertaking renewable energy projects.”

Councillor Emma Webster in introducing the report thanked Adrian Slaughter for the presentation that he had given to the Select Committee during their consideration of the two motions. Councillor Webster also thanked Councillor Tony Vickers, Roger Hunneman and Tim Metcalfe for their contributions to the debate.

Councillor Tony Vickers whilst applauding much of what Councillor Webster had commented on stated that he was unable to endorse the recommendations in their current form. Councillor Vickers reported that the minutes of the Select Committee at which the recommendations had been discussed had not yet been agreed and he felt that some of the recommendations set out in this report needed to be amended.

AMENDMENT: Proposed by Councillor Tony Vickers and seconded by Councillor Roger Hunneman:

That the Council agrees that:

1.      “the council’s Energy Team finalise an Energy strategy to include policy on renewable energy, for West Berkshire Council’s estate that includes school buildings;

2.      the Council examine ways in helping/ facilitating others to take up projects under the Localism Bill.

3.      the Council investigates introducing a loan scheme to assist any property owners undertaking renewable energy projects.”

Councillor Graham Jones noted that recommendation three would require sign off from the Council’s s151 Officer as it would have budgetary implications and could therefore not be discussed. Councillor Hilary Cole noted that the loan scheme was already in place but that it was specific to schools and that this recommendation should therefore not be amended. Councillor Tony Vickers stated that he felt that the amendment was in line with what had been agreed at the meeting.

The Monitoring Officer advised that given the concerns over the accuracy of the minutes of the Greener Select Committee (which had yet to be approved) that the item should be deferred and a special meeting of the Greener Select Committee convened so that the Committee consider the minutes of its previous meeting and then make any appropriate amendments to the report if necessary. The report could then be re-considered at the next Council meeting on 03 March 2011.

The Council agreed with the approach of the Monitoring Officer and accordingly deferred consideration of this item