Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 25 January 2011 and 17 May 2011.

The Minutes of the meetings held on 25^th January 2011 and 17^th May 2011 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman. Councillor Jeff Beck abstained from voting on the correctness of the Minutes of 25^th January 2011 as he was not in attendance at that meeting.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members.

Councillor Keith Woodhams declared an interest in Agenda Item 4(1), and reported that, as his interest was personal and prejudicial, he would be leaving the meeting during the course of consideration of the matter.

Councillors  Anthony Stansfeld, Hilary Cole, Jeff Beck and Paul Bryant declared an interest in Agenda Items 4(1) and (2), but reported that, as their interest was personal and not prejudicial, they determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

Councillor Pamela Bale declared an interest in Agenda Item 4(1) but reported that, as her interest was personal and not prejudicial, she determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

Councillor Jeff Beck declared an interest in Agenda Items 4(1) and (2) but reported that, as his interest was personal and not prejudicial, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

(Note: The Chairman, with the consent of the Committee, reserves the right to alter the order of business on this agenda based on public interest and participation in individual applications).

(Councillor Keith Woodhams declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that his daughter worked for the applicant. As his interest was personal and prejudicial he left the meeting and took no part in the debate or voting on the matter).

Councillors Anthony Stansfeld, Hilary Cole, Jeff Beck and Paul Bryant stated that as members of Western Area Planning Committee, they had previously considered item 4[1] on this agenda.  Any comments that had been made at previous meetings, were made on the basis of information that was available at that time.  For the avoidance of doubt, they confirmed that they would be considering all the evidence presented in relation to this matter, and therefore they would be considering this application afresh. In accordance with the Council's Constitution they were permitted to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.  

(Councillor Pamela Bale declared a personal interest in Agenda item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that she was Chair of the LSP and was acquainted with the Deputy Chair who was speaking as a supporter of the application. She was also a Member of the Newbury Town Centre Partnership and this application had been discussed at one of their meetings. Councillor Bale stated that any comments made on the application at that meeting had been made on the basis of information that was available at that time and she confirmed that she would listen to all evidence presented afresh before making a decision on the application. As her interest was personal and not prejudicial she was permitted to take part in the debate and vote on the matter).

Councillor Jeff Beck declared a personal interest in Agenda item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that he was a Member of Newbury Town Council but confirmed that he had taken no part in the discussion or decision of this item when it had been considered at the Town Council Planning meeting. He had also been lobbied on this item. As his interest was personal and not prejudicial he was permitted to take part in the debate and vote on the matter).

Councillor Keith Woodhams left the meeting at 6.35pm.

The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 11/00092/FULMAJ in respect of the erection of 54 dwellings including 23 live/work units with associated works.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Councillor David Allen, Town Council representative, Mr. Peter Atkinson (Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce), supporter, and Mr. Paul Crispin (Managing Director, David Wilson Homes), Mr. Guiseppe Zanre (Planning Director, David Wilson Homes) and Mr. Simon Kirk (Technical Director, David Wilson Homes), applicants, addressed the Committee on this application.

In introducing the report, Mr. Michael Butler, the Council’s Principal Planning Officer, stated that this application had been considered at the Western Area Planning Committee on 13^th April 2011. Since that meeting the applicant had submitted revised plans in respect of parking, storey height, revised street scenes and planning layout.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.(1)

Councillors Anthony Stansfeld, Hilary Cole, Jeff Beck and Paul Bryant stated that as members of Western Area Planning Committee, they had previously considered item 4[2] on this agenda.  Any comments that had been made at previous meetings, were made on the basis of information that was available at that time. For the avoidance of doubt, they confirmed that they would be considering all the evidence presented in relation to this matter, and therefore they would be considering this application afresh. In accordance with the Council's Constitution they were permitted to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.  

Councillor Jeff Beck declared a personal interest in Agenda item 4(2) by virtue of the fact that he was a Member of Newbury Town Council but confirmed that he had taken no part in the discussion or decision of this item when it had been considered at the Town Council Planning meeting. He had also been lobbied on this item. As his interest was personal and not prejudicial he was permitted to take part in the debate and vote on the matter).

The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(2)) concerning Planning Application No. 11/00490/FUL in respect of the erection of a 24 hour nursing care home for 24 patients.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Councillor David Allen, Town Council representative, Mr. Graham Smith, objector, and Mr. Peter Frampton and Mr. John Horseman, applicants, addressed the Committee on this application.

In introducing the report, Mr. Michael Butler, the Council’s Principal Planning Officer, stated that this application had been considered at the Western Area Planning Committee on 25^th May 2011. This application site was outside the settlement boundary of the town which corresponded to Monks Lane and the site had Greenfield status. Officers continued to recommend a balanced approval of the application given the exceptional health community need for such a facility. If the application were to be approved then three further conditions would be required which related to landscaping, means of enclosure and refuse storage together with an informative that external facing materials to be approved in conjunction with the Ward Members.

If the Committee were minded to approve the application it would first need to be referred to the National Planning Casework Unit for 21 days to determine if the Secretary of State wished to “call in” the application for his decision. If the application was not called in then it would require the completion of a s106 planning obligation prior to an approval decision being issued.

Councillor Jeff Beck asked for confirmation that fire suppression sprinklers would be included within the development. The Planning Officer responded that no written confirmation had been received from the applicant but that was a question which could be put to them during the course of the meeting. 

Councillor David Allen in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·                    Councillor David Allen confirmed that he was a Town Councillor for the Victoria Ward of Newbury and was also a District  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.(2)