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Agenda and minutes

Venue: This meeting can be viewed at www.westberks.gov.uk/easternareaplanning

Contact: Stephen Chard / Jessica Bailiss 

Items
No. Item

25.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 558 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 26 August 2020.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 26th August were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the following amendment:

Application No. & Parish: 20/01134/HOUSE, Page 8, third paragraph: The questions raised by Councillor Somner to be included under questions to officers rather within the debate.

26.

Declarations of Interest

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.

Minutes:

Councillor Ross Mackinnon declared an interest in Agenda Item 4(1), but reported that, as his interest was a personal or an other registrable interest, but not a disclosable pecuniary interest, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

Councillor Ross Mackinnon declared an interest in Agenda Item 4(2), but reported that, as his interest was a personal or an other registrable interest, but not a disclosable pecuniary interest, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

All Members of the Committee declared an interest in Agenda Item 4(2), but reported that, as their interest was a personal or an other registrable interest, but not a disclosable pecuniary interest, they determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

27.

Schedule of Planning Applications

(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.)

27.(1)

Application No. & Parish: 20/01480/FUL - Glenvale Nurseries, Hungerford Lane, Bradfield Southend pdf icon PDF 355 KB

Proposal:

Demolition of existing outbuilding and polytunnels and erection of a building in flexible use for storage or distribution (Use Class B8) and/or for any light industrial process within Use Class E, with associated access track and parking area.

Location:

Glenvale Nurseries, Hungerford Lane, Bradfield Southend

Applicant:

Mr and Mrs Varley

 

Recommendation:

Delegated to the Head of Development and Planning to grant planning permission subject to conditions.

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Ross Mackinnon declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that he had been lobbied on the item. 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.)

The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 20/01480/FUL in respect of the demolition of an existing outbuilding and polytunnels and erection of a building in flexible use for storage or distribution (Use Class B8) and/or for any light industrial process within Use Class E, with associated access track and parking area.

Ms Sarah Melton, Senior Planning Officer, gave a detailed presentation on the application and highlighted the key points.

Removal of Speaking Rights

As resolved at the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 29 April 2020, public speaking rights were removed for virtual Council meetings. This right was replaced with the ability to make written submissions. This decision was 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.

The above changes to speaking rights were subsequently amended at the Council meeting on 10 September 2020. It was agreed that parties making written submissions in relation to a planning application would be invited to attend the Remote Meeting of the Planning Committee to answer any questions that Members of the Committee might wish to ask in order to seek clarification on any part of their statement.

In accordance with the Extraordinary Council resolution, written submissions relating to this application were received from Gareth Osborn, Jim Forrester, Charles Romaine (joint submission on behalf of multiple named objectors), Peter Neal, Rebecca Neal and Meg Nelson, objectors, and Duncan and Helen Varley and Sophie Berry, applicants and agent.

Objector Submission Summary:

The written summarised submission from Gareth Osborn, Jim Forrester, Charles Romaine (joint submission on behalf of multiple named objectors), Peter Neal, Rebecca Neal and Meg Nelson, was read out as follows:

·         The development is outside of a defined settlement boundary and within the AONB. There has been no demonstrated need for the development as to justify development in this location.

·         The existing mixed-use site will be significantly reduced by the units and the dominating 100m access road, reducing its ability/flexibility to operate as a viable rural business in the future.

·         The site is not within a sustainable or accessible location which is contrary to all planning policies. The proposal scheme as a whole is contrary to the Development Plan.

·         Industrial uses should be directed to Protected Employment Areas. There are existing vacant farm buildings that could be used instead of the proposal scheme.

·         The investment into the infrastructure required for the development will ensure that the units will be expensive to rent for potential occupiers, and will make the proposal commercially unviable in terms of construction.

·         Previous housing development applications on this site have been refused by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.(1)

28.

Application No. & Parish: 20/00674/FUL - Land to the South east of Mortimer Station, Station Road, Mortimer pdf icon PDF 460 KB

Proposal:

Change of use of land and the construction of a 150 space car park with alterations to the highway, landscaping, and associated works.

Location:

Land to the South east of Mortimer Station, Station Road, Mortimer.

Applicant:

Stratfield Mortimer Parish Council.

 

Recommendation:

Delegated to the Head of Development and Planning to refuse planning permission

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Councillor Ross Mackinnon declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(2) by virtue of the fact that he had been lobbied on the item. 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.)

(All Members of the Committee declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(2) by virtue of the fact that they were politically acquainted with Richard Benyon who owned Englefield Estate. 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.)

The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(2)) concerning Planning Application 20/00674/FUL in respect of the change of use of land and construction of a 150 space car park with alterations to the highway, landscaping and associated works.

Mrs Lydia Mather, Senior Planning Officer, gave a detailed presentation on the application and planning report. Key points included:

·         Planning Officers were recommending refusal and the main concerns were the number of spaces proposed, road safety over the bridge and landscape impact.

·         Since the application last came to Committee in August 2020 the issues identified including lighting had been advised to the applicant. Additional information had been submitted including a new red line, including the landscaping; a technical note on parking and Great Western Railway (GWR) design and electrical specifications.

·         Mrs Mather showed slides providing a parking count and extracts from the Statement of Community Involvement. Although there was demand for more parking at Mortimer Station it was difficult to assess from the information the actual additional spaces required.

·         Highways continued to have safety concerns regarding the safety of the footpath over the bridge due to the steepness of the gradient and separation distance from vehicles.

·         It was agreed that there was a need for additional car parking spaces, it was the size and scale that was not considered justifiable. 

Removal of Speaking Rights:

As resolved at the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 29 April 2020, public speaking rights were removed for virtual Council meetings. This right was replaced with the ability to make written submissions. This decision was 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.

The above changes to speaking rights were subsequently amended at the Council meeting on 10 September 2020. It was agreed that parties making written submissions in relation to a planning application would be invited to attend the Remote Meeting of the Planning Committee to answer any questions that Members of the Committee might wish to ask in order to seek clarification on any part of their statement.

In accordance with the Extraordinary Council resolution, written submissions relating to this application were received from Mr Mike Dennett, Parish Council, J and R Clatworthy, Chris Bridges, M&D Developments and Mr D A Rootham, objectors,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

29.

Appeal Decisions relating to Eastern Area Planning pdf icon PDF 377 KB

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

Minutes:

Members noted the outcome of appeal decisions relating to the Eastern Area.