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Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Stephen Chard / Charlene Hurd / Jessica Bailiss 

Items
No. Item

86.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 117 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 22 March 2017.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2017 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the following amendments:

Item 1, page 7, 5th paragraph after the bullet points: change ‘a double garage’ to ‘outbuilding’

Item 1, page 7, 3rd and 5th paragraphs after the bullet points: change ‘garage’ to ‘outbuilding’.

87.

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:

Councillors Keith Chopping, Graham Pask and Marigold Jaques declared an interest in Agenda Item 1, 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.

88.

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.)

88.(1)

Application No. & Parish: 17/00351/FULD - Barn south of Butlers Farm, Back Lane, Beenham pdf icon PDF 127 KB

Proposal:

Conversion of existing barn into residential dwelling with ancillary parking and amenity space.

Location:

Barn south of Butlers Farm, Back Lane, Beenham,

Reading

Applicant:

Mrs T Palmer

Recommendation:

To DELEGATE to the Head of Development and Planning to REFUSE PLANNING PERMISSION for the reason for refusal set out in section 8.1 of this report.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Councillors Keith Chopping and Marigold Jaques declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4 (1) by virtue of the fact that they knew the applicant. 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.)

(Councillors Keith Chopping and Graham Pask declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4 (1) by virtue of the fact that they knew a speaker, through Council business. 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(1)) concerning Planning Application 17/00351/FULD in respect of the conversion of an existing barn into a residential dwelling with ancillary parking and amenity space.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Peter Alder, Michael Collins and Cordelia Middleton, supporters, Susannah Palmer and Mrs Palmer, applicant, addressed the Committee on this application.

Cheryl Willett introduced the report to Members, which took account of all the relevant policy considerations and other material planning considerations. In conclusion the report detailed that the proposal was unsatisfactory and a conditional approval was not justifiable. Officers strongly recommended the Committee refuse planning permission.

Mr Alder in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·                    He had lived in the Beenham for 48 years.

·                    Many years ago the barn had become dilapidated and had since been repaired and much improved into a modern barn.

·                    The Palmer farm was one of the oldest in the parish and they had improved the site greatly by planting and maintaining trees and hedges.

·                    He felt the conversion would be beneficial, as having the building occupied would give a level of security to the nearby allotments.

Mr Collins in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·                    He had moved to the area three years ago and also worked there.

·                    He felt that providing a house was a sensible idea.

·                    There was one local pub and it relied on local people for its custom. He believed that an extra family would benefit the local economy.

Ms Middleton in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·                    Her house was almost opposite the barn and she didn’t see anything wrong with the proposed conversion. She had spoken with her neighbours, who concurred.

Councillor Alan Law asked for clarification on the siting of the allotments, as he had not noticed them on the site visit. Mr Alder explained that they were near to the sewage works. There were 24 allotments that were approximately 200 yards from the barn. People working in the allotments could see the barn.

Mrs Palmer in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·                    She was the co-owner of the farm and ran the UK Wolf Conservation Trust (UKWCT) on the land. The trustees of the charity were investigating ways of increasing the charity’s income and had noticed two barn conversions had been completed to the east of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.(1)

89.

Appeal Decisions relating to Eastern Area Planning pdf icon PDF 40 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.