Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 13^th May 2020.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 13 May 2020 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the following amendments:

Item 5 (1) 20/00221/HOUSE – West Streatley House (first paragraph of Ward Member Representation):

Councillor Alan Law in presenting to the Committee as Ward Member made the following points

Item 5 (2) 20/00222/LBC2 – West Streatley House

The following heading and text needed to be moved so that it sat above the proposal and resolution for the item (page eight of the minutes):

(2)          Application No. & Parish: 20/00222/LBC2 - West Streatley House, High Street, Streatley

The debate and resolution for Agenda Item 6(2), concerning Planning Application 20/00222/LBC2 which sought listed building consent, was contained within Agenda Item 6(1).

To remind Members of the need to record the existence and nature of any personal, disclosable pecuniary or other registrable interests in items on the agenda, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest received.

The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 19/02879/FULD in respect of the proposed demolition of a former commercial unit, the erection of a retail unit and the erection of seven dwellings including parking, bins and landscaping.

Mrs Lydia Mather, Senior Planning Officer, introduced the report and highlighted the following points:

·         The application site was located within the settlement boundary of Theale. It adjoined the conservation area on three sides and was in close proximity to a number of listed buildings.

·         The update report contained the consultation response from the Conservation Officer and the amended/additional conditions proposed as a result.

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 had been 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.

In accordance with the Extraordinary Council resolution, written submissions had been received from Theale Parish Council, and Mr Tom Rumble, agent.

Written submissions were read out by the Clerk to the Committee as follows:

Parish Council Representation

The written submission of Theale Parish Council was read out as follows:

·         The Parish Council gave thanks for the letter dated 26 May 2020 inviting them to submit written representations for this application to be presented to the Eastern Area Planning Committee.

·         Theale Parish Council strongly objected to the proposed development and took the opportunity to restate its objections. Despite repeated objections on the same grounds, the parish council felt they had not been addressed. The objections were as follows:

1.    Loss of light to neighbouring properties.

2.    Inadequate parking provision.

3.    Lack of clarity about bin storage and how they would be collected.

4.    The development was not in keeping with the existing street scene.

5.    Inadequate amenity space for residents.

6.    Overlooking of neighbours’ gardens on Station Road.

7.    Inappropriate development near a Conservation Area and listed buildings.

8.    Inadequate provision for short-stay deliveries, which would disrupt traffic flow on Station Road and deliveries to other businesses in the vicinity such as Co-op and Crown Kiosk.

Agent Representation

The written submission of Mr Rumble was read out as follows:

·           Mr Rumble was the planning consultant and he gave thanks for the opportunity to present comments upon this application.

·           The officer’s report was a positive one that detailed the merits of the application as recommended for approval. This reflected the lengthy and collaborative approach to the application process undertaken with Council officers over the past year.

·           The application had been revised following consultation responses on a number of occasions so to respond to the comments of, in particular, the Council’s conservation officer. This had resulted in there being no objections to the scheme from either the Council’s conservation or highway officers.

·           The officer’s report confirmed the sustainable location of the site within Theale and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.(1)