Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 23 September 2020.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 23 September 2020 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Councillor Carolyne Culver asked whether Conditions regarding the underpass had been omitted from the minutes for Items (4)1 and 2. Planning officers were asked to investigate and confirm at the next meeting.

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.

Councillor Carolyne Culver declared an interest in Agenda Items (4)2, 3 and 4, but reported that, as her interest was a personal or an other registrable interest, but not a disclosable pecuniary interest, she determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

Councillor Phil Barnett declared an interest in Agenda Items (4)2 and 3, 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.

Councillors Adrian Abbs and Howard Woollaston Barnett declared an interest in Agenda Items (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.

The Chairman informed the Committee that, due to the priority of the application and his concerns regarding the time available to discuss all four Items, he had decided to bring forward Item (4)4 to second in the running order. This decision was made under section 7.3.3 of the West Berkshire Council Constitution.

(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).

1.         The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 20/01083/FUL in respect of Quill Cottage, Craven Road, Inkpen. The application sought permission for a replacement dwelling and was brought to Committee as a result of call-in by ward members.

2.         Simon Till 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 not acceptable in planning terms and officers recommended the Committee to refuse planning permission.

Removal of Speaking Rights

3.         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.

4.         The above changes to speaking rights were subsequently amended at the Council meeting on 10 October 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.

5.         In accordance with the Extraordinary Council resolution, written submissions relating to this application were received from the applicants. The written submission was read out by the Clerk as follows:

Applicants Representation

Clearly the Planning Officer (PO) has spent a lot of time on this but none of it in consultation with us. Despite the Committee’s recommendation there has been a refusal to engage. I’ve tried to concentrate below on responding to the main points.

Procedural Matters

The PO quotes two Appeal Cases in support of her argument but they are quite different to our application; one sites the proposed dwelling in an entirely different location to the existing and the other application proposes a property with a footprint 260% larger! We propose 10% larger

Appraisal – Principle of Development

Effectively what we’re doing is adding a floor to a bungalow. The only difference is we’re starting from scratch rather than using the old inefficient building.

Measurements and drawings have been supplied and for the most part adopted by the PO. Previously the figures were misleading to committee, giving the impression we wanted to build something far larger and grander than we do. This is not a ‘substantial house’. I’d like to draw your attention to two drawings:

·         Amended 062 A – Pro Street Scene

·         Amended 060 B – Pro Elevations

Both drawings clearly show a comparison between existing and proposed dwelling as seen from the front. We propose an extra 10% on the footprint and less than 50% increase in height.

C7 has a presumption in favour of replacement dwelling but I agree it must be proportionate. We’ve gone to great lengths to make  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.(1)

(Councillor Phil Barnet declared a personal interest in Agenda Item(4)2 by virtue of the fact that he was often called onto site. 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.)

(Councillor Carolyne Culver reported that she had been lobbied on Agenda Items 4(2)).

1.     The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(2)) concerning Planning Application 20/01658/FUL in respect of external works to include new external chemstores/storage/chiller containers positioned outside unit 4, 5, 6 and 7, 8, 9. New adjoining covered walkway/canopy between 4, 5, 6 and 7, 8, 9. Building alterations to include new extraction ductwork, fan and general fittings. New retaining wall to east (outside unit 6), Internal modifications to floor plans, replacement external doors to rear elevation to Unit 4, 5, 6.

2.     Matthew Shepherd 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.

3.     Officers recommended the Committee to delegate to the Head of Development and Planning to grant planning permission subject to the conditions listed in the main report and in the update report.

4.     The Chairman invited the Highways Officer to comment. Paul Goddard noted the Highways Officers had originally raised an objection, as car parking had been an issue on the site for years, to the extent that vehicles parked along the access to the site. However, it was pointed out by the applicant that this was no longer an issue as the majority of employees were working from home, due to changes in working practices caused by Covid-19. He had therefore content to agree for a two year temporary consent for the units to be in situ in the parking spaces.

Removal of speaking rights

5.     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.

6.     The above changes to speaking rights were subsequently amended at the Council meeting on 10 October 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.

7.     In accordance with the Extraordinary Council resolution, written submissions relating to this application were received from Compton Parish Council (Mr Keith Simms), Mr Keith Simms, Mr David Vaughan and Mrs Helena Vaughan, objectors, Mr Jannis Kuepper and Ms Vanessa Eastwick Field, (Biosynth Carbonsynth), applicants,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.(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 10.12pm. The Chairman asked that this item be considered at the next Western Area Planning Meeting.

(Councillors Adrian Abbs, Carolyne Culver and Howard Woollaston declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(4) by virtue of the fact that they had been lobbied on the application. As their interests were 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(4)) concerning Planning Application 18/01657/COND1 in respect of details reserved by Condition 4 - External Materials Schedule and samples, 7 - Construction Method Statement, 8 - Surfacing for driveways/access points, 10 - Vehicle parking and turning, 11 - Access details, 12 - Cycle storage, 13 - Refuse storage and 15 - Boundary hedge of planning permission reference 16/02529/OUTD. The application was brought to Committee as a result of ward member’s call-in.

2.         Simon Till 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 in parts, but not in others.

3.         Officers recommended the Committee to delegate to the Head of Development and Planning to make representations at appeal to recommend a split decision comprising part approval and part refusal.

Removal of Speaking Rights

4.         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.

5.         The above changes to speaking rights were subsequently amended at the Council meeting on 10 October 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.

6.         In accordance with the Extraordinary Council resolution, written submissions relating to this application had been received from Cold Ash Parish Council (Bernard Clark), Mr Simon Vanstone, objector, and Ms Katherine Miles (Pro Vision) agent.

7.         The written submission from Cold Ash Parish Council was read out by the Clerk as follows:

Parish Council’s Representation

In the view of Cold Ash Parish Council (CAPC), the ‘Discharge of Conditions’ you are being asked to consider is legally questionable and flies in the face of the decision the WAPC took on 20th May 2020 and the timing seems inappropriate. Both the Reserved Matters and Discharge of Conditions are now the subject of Appeals with the Planning Inspectorate (APP/W0340/W/20/3257645 and APP/W0340/W/20/3256565).

The most notable condition to be discharged is Condition 11. Access. West Berkshire Planning Officers had vigorously denied that Access was still an issue, verbally and also in writing. In the advice to Councillors for the meeting on 20th May 2020,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.(4)

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

No appeals were available to be considered by Members relating to the Western Area.