Agenda and minutes

To elect the Chairman of the Western Area Planning Committee for the 2020/21 Municipal Year.

Jenny Legge invited Members of the Western Area Planning Committee to nominate and vote on the position of Chairman for the coming year.

RESOLVED that Councillor Clive Hooker be elected as Chairman of the Western Area Planning Committee for the 2020/21 Municipal Year.

To elect the Vice-Chairman of the Western Area Planning Committee for the 2020/21 Municipal Year.

The Chairman invited Members of the Western Area Planning Committee to nominate and vote on the position of Vice-Chairman for the coming year.

RESOLVED that Councillor Tony Vickers be elected as Vice-Chairman of the Western Area Planning Committee for the 2020/21 Municipal Year.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 5 February 2020.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2020 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the inclusion of the following amendments:

Item 10, Declarations of Interest, Page 7, First Paragraph, and Item 11, Schedule of Planning Applications, Application No. and Parish: 19/02144/FULD, Inglewood Farm Cottage, Templeton Road, Kintbury, Page 8 First Paragraph

Councillor Claire Rowles noted that at the meeting she had stated that she had been lobbied on Inglewood Farm Cottage.

Item 11, Schedule of Planning Applications, Application No. and Parish: 19/02144/FULD, Inglewood Farm Cottage, Templeton Road, Kintbury, Page 8, Fifth Paragraph

‘Mr Power’ should read ‘Mr Powers’.

Item 11, Schedule of Planning Applications, Application No. and Parish: 19/02144/FULD, Inglewood Farm Cottage, Templeton Road, Kintbury, Page 9, No 12, third bullet point

Councillor James Cole, felt that the current wording did not fully represent his comments:

Original wording

Councillor James Cole in addressing the Committee, as Ward Member raised the following points:

·         At the site meeting it had been discussed whether there were any other properties in the vicinity that had increased their footprint by a similar, or larger amount. Members had been able to recall examples in West Woodhay and in Kintbury.

The following amendment was suggested:

Councillor James Cole in addressing the Committee, as Ward Member raised the following points:

·         At the site meeting the previous week it had been discussed that Councillor Adrian Abbs had queried whether there were any other properties in the vicinity that had increased their footprint by a similar, or larger amount. Councillor James Cole recalled examples in West Woodhay (Haywood Green) and in Kintbury and he commented that the Committee had heard the applicant’s agent list a number of cases with appeal results.

Item 11, Schedule of Planning Applications, Application No. and Parish: 19/02144/FULD, Inglewood Farm Cottage, Templeton Road, Kintbury, Page 10, No 13.

Councillor James Cole, felt that the wording did not fully represent his comments:

Original wording

Councillor Vickers concurred that he too had wondered about the idea of urbanising the area. The proposed site was next to a gateway and the function of the property was to act as a gatehouse, which traditionally were modest houses, close to the road. Councillor Cole revealed that the new design would fulfil this function in a better way.

The following amendment was suggested:

Councillor Vickers concurred that he too had wondered about the idea of urbanising the area. The proposed site was next to a gateway and the function of the property was to act as a gatehouse, which traditionally were modest houses, close to the road. Councillor James Cole revealed that the new building taken back away from the road would affect the view of the gate less than the old house.

Item 11, Schedule of Planning Applications, Application No. and Parish: 19/02144/FULD, Inglewood Farm Cottage, Templeton Road, Kintbury, Page 11, No 20.

Councillors James Cole and Claire Rowles noted that “clearing breaching policy” should read “clearly breaching policy”

Item  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

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.

Councillors Adrian Abbs, Phil Barnett, and Tony Vickers declared an interest in Agenda Items 4(3) and 4(4), 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.

All Councillors declared they had been lobbied on Agenda Item 4(1). All Councillors, apart from Councillor Adrian Abbs, declared they had been lobbied on Agenda Item 4(2).

(Councillors Phil Barnett and Tony Vickers declared a personal interest in Agenda item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that they were Members of Newbury Town Council’s Planning and Highways Committee. They had been present when the application was discussed, but would consider the application afresh.  As their interest was personal and not a prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest they determined to take part in the debate and vote on the matter).

(All Councillors declared a personal interest in Agenda Item (4)1 by virtue of the fact that they had been lobbied. 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.)

1.     The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 19/00832/REM in respect of the approval of reserved matters following outline permission 16/02529/OUTD - Change of use of part of existing agricultural field to residential and the erection of 5 no. detached dwelling houses with ancillary garages, access, parking, landscaping and associated works. Matters seeking consent - Appearance, landscaping and scale

2.     David Pearson 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 acceptable and a conditional approval was justifiable. On balance, officers recommended that the Committee grant planning permission.

3.     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.

4.     In accordance with the Extraordinary Council resolution, written submissions had been received from Cold Ash Parish Council, Mr and Mrs Vanstone, Mr John Berry, Mr Paul Shave and Mr Bernard Clark, objectors, and Katherine Miles, agent.

5.     Written submissions were read out by the Clerk to the Committee:

Parish Representation

The written submission of Bernard Clark, Vice Chair of Cold Ash Parish Council was read out as follows:

Let’s start with the good news: West Berkshire Council OWN the hedge next to Summerfield. From the definitive map that Highways provided on 16th March, this is 100% certain.

By magnifying that map, it’s easy to measure the width of West Berkshire’s ownership of the verge, and the width of the hedge. (Also, there’s a wire fence on the field side that delineates the boundary between the West Berkshire owned verge and the farmer’s field).

So, the hedge is 100% within West Berkshire’s verge, that’s 100 per cent certain; West Berkshire Council OWN the hedge, as West Berkshire Officers have known for some time.

Why is this important? For two reasons.

Firstly, because West Berkshire, like all owners, have total rights over it. Preservation of the hedge is not only a planning matter,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.(1)

(Councillors Phil Barnett and Tony Vickers declared a personal interest in Agenda item 4(2) by virtue of the fact that they were Members of Newbury Town Council’s Planning and Highways Committee. They had been present when the application was discussed, but would consider the application afresh. As their interest was personal and not a prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest they determined to take part in the debate and vote on the matter).

(All Councillors, apart from Councillor Adrian Abbs, declared a personal interest in Agenda Item (4)2 by virtue of the fact that they had been lobbied. 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.)

1.     The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(2)) concerning Planning Application 19/02850/FULMAJ in respect of the approval of the proposed conversion and replacement of agricultural buildings to residential use, including parking, landscaping and associated works, plus the construction of one new-build dwelling

2.     Masie Masiiwa 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 unacceptable and a conditional approval was unjustifiable. Officers recommended the Committee refuse planning permission and advised that if Members were minded to approve the application in its current form, the Development Control Manager would refer it to District Planning Committee.

3.     The Chairman thanked the planning officer for their presentation. He noted that no highway issues had been raised in relation to the application, but asked the highways officer if he wished to comment. Paul Goddard confirmed that the Highway Authority had no objections, since traffic levels would be similar or even reduced compared to the current use, with fewer large agricultural vehicles using Elton Lane. He confirmed that the proposed highway layout and parking arrangements were acceptable.

4.     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.

5.     In accordance with the Extraordinary Council resolution, written submissions had been received from Mr David Hunt (Chairman) Welford Parish Council, Kirsteen Roberts and local residents, objectors, and Mr J Puxley and Marbus Developments Ltd, applicant and agent.

6.     Written submissions were read out by the Clerk to the Committee:

Parish Representation

The written submission of Welford Parish Council from David Hunt (Chairman) was read out as follows:

As Chairman of Welford Parish Council I am writing on their behalf in strongly supporting the planning application. Throughout the planning process the council have been directly involved in discussions and we see this proposal as a satisfactory outcome for all stakeholders.

On 20th June 2018 a site  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.(2)

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the Committee concluded that the remaining business could not be concluded by 10.30pm, and therefore decided to close the meeting at 9.45pm. The Chairman asked that this item be deferred to the next Western Area Planning Meeting.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, the Committee concluded that the remaining business could not be concluded by 10.30pm, and therefore decided to close the meeting at 9.45pm. The Chairman asked that this item be deferred to the next Western Area Planning Meeting.