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Agenda and minutes

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38.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 483 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings of this Committee held on 3rd & 24th November, 15th December and 12th January.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman proposed that a number of clerical errors be clarified and corrected.

Councillor Howard Woollaston proposed that incorrect references to him as a member of Lambourn Parish Council be removed.

The amended Minutes of the meeting held on 3 November 2021 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman proposed that the list of Members present be corrected.

The amended Minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2021 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman proposed that a number of clerical errors be clarified and corrected.

Councillor Howard Woollaston proposed that a statement attributed to him referring to a number of football teams as “lower league” be corrected.

Councillor James Cole proposed that a question he asked regarding the microplastics be clarified.

The amended Minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2021 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Councillor Carolyne Culver proposed that a reference to the facility “not being used” be corrected to “not being needed”.

Councillor Claire Rowles proposed that a reference to her stating that she felt pressured be minuted.

The amended Minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2022 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman noted that the Minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2022 had not been finalised, and were currently with Planning for comment and approval.

39.

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:

All Members declared an interest in Agenda Item 4(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.

Councillors Howard Woollaston, Caroline Culver, Phil Barnett, Jeff Cant and James Cole 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.

40.

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).

40.(1)

Application No. and Parish: 20/02245/FUL Great Shefford pdf icon PDF 297 KB

Proposal:

Farm Shop in association with The Great Shefford Public  House

Location:

Swan Inn, Newbury Road, Great Shefford, Hungerford RG17 7DS

Applicant:

J and G (Pub) (UK) Ltd

Recommendation:

Approval

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(All Members declared that they had been lobbied on Agenda Item 4(1).)

1.     The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 20/02245/FUL in respect of Swan Inn, Newbury Road, Great Shefford, Hungerford, RG17 7DS.

2.     Mrs Sian Cutts, Senior Planning Officer, 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 planning terms and officers recommended that the Head of Planning and Development be authorised to grant planning permission, subject to the conditions outlined in the main and update reports.

3.     The Chairman asked Mr Paul Goddard, Team Leader (Highways Development Control), if he had any observations relating to the application. Mr Goddard stated that the access is existing, long-standing, and should raise no issues. Mr Goddard stated that research has shown that only 30% of traffic around a new commercial development is new to the network, and Highways had concluded that there would be no significant impact. Mr Goddard noted that there were 26 spaces of proposed parking, a reduction from 27 existing spaces. Highways does not consider that loss of one parking space enough to warrant objection. In response to objections on the basis of parking overspill, Mr Goddard stated that a proposed condition limiting open hours of the shop to prevent opening when the public house is most active should mitigate these concerns, noting that a parking survey undertaken by Highways did not find any occurrences of parking overspill.

4.     In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Ms Sharon Brentnall, agent, addressed the Committee on this application.

 

Agent Representation

5.     Ms Sharon Brentnall in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·         Since 2001, West Berkshire has lost 35 public houses, with 60% lost in the last ten years. Supermarkets are undercutting pub prices, and it is essential for rural pubs to remain viable through diversifying their offering.

·         The public house has an excellent reputation, but the Covid-19 pandemic has underlined that financial viability cannot always be guaranteed.

·         A new focus on sustainability has forced public houses to look at how they can support local areas, and this proposal for a farm shop underpinned by a local supply chain for produce supports that. This supports local suppliers and creates benefits for the wider community.

·         The farm shop will be run by the public house, and not as a separate entity, and will be a linked business so that a customer can visit both. Additionally, the produce in the farm shop will be used in the meals the public house prepares.

·         The applicant is happy to follow all conditions set by Planning, particularly the condition limiting opening hours, noting that farm shops and public houses have different peak times. To address concerns, the applicant has entered into an agreement with a local business to ensure that staff can park off-site, and the applicant is willing to address concerns about non-customers using the parking site.

·         The applicant  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.(1)

40.(2)

Application No. and Parish: 21/02668/FUL Lambourn pdf icon PDF 223 KB

Proposal:

Demolition of existing kennel facilities and erection of Class B8 commercial building

Location:

Hunt Kennels Farm, Ermin Street, Lambourn Woodlands, RG17 7TT

Applicant:

John Lock

Recommendation:

Grant planning permission

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Councillor Howard Woollaston declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(2) by virtue of the fact that he was the local Ward Member. 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.)

(Councillors Howard Woollaston, Carolyne Culver, Phil Barnett, Jeff Cant and James Cole declared that they had been lobbied on Agenda Item 4(2).)

1.     The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(2)) concerning Planning Application 21/02668/FUL in respect of Hunt Kennels Farm, Ermin Street, Lambourn, Woodlands.

2.     Ms Cheyanne Kirby, Planning Officer, 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 planning terms and officers recommended that the Head of Planning and Development be authorised to grant planning permission, subject to the conditions outlined in the main and update reports.

3.     The Chairman asked Mr Paul Goddard, Team Leader (Highways Development Control), if he had any observations relating to the application. Mr Goddard stated that the existing use of the site is for kennels holding as many as 40 dogs, and so it used to a level of regular vehicle movements. The proposal is for a lower level of vehicle movement than the use case would allow, set by a condition.

4.     In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Ms Sue Cocker, Lambourn Parish Council, Mr Tony King, objector, Mr Christopher Cary and Ms Lucy Charman, agents, addressed the Committee on this application.

 

Parish Council Representation

5.     Ms Sue Cocker, Lambourn Parish Council, in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·         The kennels are surrounded by the countryside of the AONB. The land is currently designated as agricultural.

·         Lambourn Parish Council appreciates that the application is for a family-run business, the owners of which live on the site. They have given verbal assurances that they will not be operating large transporters or allow light pollution from their warehouse. However, planning permissions run with the land, not the owners.

·         The applicants are taking an agricultural site and are repurposing it for industrial use. Lambourn Parish Council is deeply concerned about the expansion of such sites for warehousing, open storage and distribution in the AONB, particularly when planning permission is given to sites like this one which are outside the permitted employment area.

·         The scale of this new building, higher than the current ones it will encompass, and roof height four times the size of the existing footprint, shows that it will be an industrial warehouse on agricultural land. If permission is granted, it will effectively expand the industrial area, adding to the difficulties suffered by residents affected by traffic movements across local roads.

·         The Committee report raises unanswered questions, making no reference to hours of operation once construction is completed. Lambourn Parish Council requests that this be conditioned.

·         The dangerous junction onto the B4000 Hungerford Hill must also be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.(2)