Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 20^th October 2010.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 20^th October 2010 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any Declarations of Interest from Members.

There were no declarations of interest received.

(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.)

The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application No. 10/02308/FUL in respect of the construction of a new 3 bedroom detached dwelling house.

The Planning Officer in introducing the report stated that the application site was largely located within Reading Borough and the application sought full planning permission for the construction of a new 3 bedroom detached dwelling to the rear of the existing property which fronted onto and was accessed from Ullswater Drive. It was only the north-west corner of the site which fell within the West Berkshire district. A parallel application comprising the same detail and plans was therefore also being considered by Reading Borough Council on the same evening and Officers at Reading were also recommending approval. The Planning Officer advised that to make a determination based on development outside of the West Berkshire District would be ultra vires and consequently the application should only be determined in so far as it related to West Berkshire. The Chairman agreed that both items relating to 154 Overdown Road would be discussed jointly but that there would be two separate votes.

There were no speakers present at the meeting to address the Committee on this application.

In considering the above application Members queried what would happen if West Berkshire disagreed with Reading Borough Council on the determination of the application. The Planning Officer replied that an informative would be included on the West Berkshire decision notice which stated that it should be read in conjunction with the decision notice from Reading Borough Council. If West Berkshire refused the application then the site would have to be accessed from land in the ownership of Reading Borough Council and any refusal would need to be defended at appeal. Members were also advised that the applicant would have planning permission in relation to the Reading side of the site but not the West Berkshire side of the site so would be unable to fully implement the decision as intended

Discussion also took place on which authority would receive the Council Tax when the boundary crossed the site as this happened on numerous occasions throughout the district and that difficulties had also been encountered in trying to secure Section 106 contributions in similar circumstances. It was noted that bin collection would be provided from the host authority that collected the Council Tax. In respect of s106 contributions for Education Members felt that West Berkshire should receive a contribution as many of the children in the Reading Borough Council area attended West Berkshire Schools and they hoped that contributions would be sought in a more robust manner in the future.

RESOLVED that delegation be given to the Head of Planning and Countryside to grant planning permission subject to the following conditions:

Conditions

1.         Time limit

The development hereby permitted shall be begun before the expiration of three years from the date of this permission.

Reason:  To comply with Section 91 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.(1)

The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(2)) concerning Planning Application No. 10/02410/OOD in respect of the consultation response to Reading Borough Council for the construction of a new 3 bedroom detached dwelling house.

RESOLVED that the Head of Planning and Countryside be authorised to raise no objections, and to send a copy of this report to Reading Borough Council.

Purpose: To inform Members of the results of recent appeal decisions relating to the Eastern Area Planning Committee.

Members noted the outcome of appeal decisions relating to the Eastern Area. Councillor Brian Bedwell noted that the write up of appeal decisions was useful for the Committee.

Councillor Pamela Bale asked if the appeal decision in respect of Pangbourne College could be brought to the next Committee for information.

A date of 24^th November 2010 at 9.30am was agreed for site visits if required.