Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 31 October 2018.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 31 October 2018 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the following amendments:

Page 6, paragraph 5: replace the paragraph with the following:

Councillor Garth Simpson commented that the Parish Council had a major concern with Condition 11, specifically Access and potential loss of an existing mature hedgerow. A site survey the previous weekend led him to the conclusion that the proposed three-access treatment was not realistic and that a valuable signature of the eastern gateway to Cold Ash was at risk. The Committee raised concern that in achieving three sets of visibility splays for the proposed driveways much of the mature hedgerow could be lost. Councillor James Cole said that there was a distinct possibility that the entire hedgerow could be lost

Page 10, second bullet from the top: replace ‘OBS5’ with ‘OV35’.

Page 10, paragraph 6: delete ‘from top down’.  

Page 11, paragraph 14: replace ‘50mm’ with ‘0.5m’.

Page 12, paragraph 33: replace three references to ‘river’ with ‘River Bar’.

In reference to Agenda Item 4 (1) (18/01564/FULD - The Coach, Worlds End, Beedon) which was considered at the meeting on 10 October 2018, it was recalled that the Committee’s disappointment with the absence of the Parish Council had been recorded. It had subsequently come to light that Mr Steve Price, the Chairman of Beedon Parish Council, had sent an email to the Chairman of the Committee which advised he had not known he was permitted to speak at the meeting and enclosed his views. The Chairman wished to record his apologies to Mr Price. In addition, he requested that any persons wishing to address the Committee at a future meeting contact the Planning Registration Team via email at planapps@westberks.gov.uk or via phone on 01635 519148.

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 James Cole declared an interest in Agenda Item 4(1) and reported that, as his interest was an other registrable interest, he would not participate in the Committee’s discussion but would address the Committee as the Ward Member.

(Councillor James Cole declared an other registrable interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that he owned land which abutted the site. As his interest was personal and not a disclosable pecuniary interest, he would stand down from the Committee during the course of consideration of the matter and would take no part in the debate or voting on the matter, but would remain present and address the Committee as Ward Member.)

1.    The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 18/01441/HOUSE in respect of the demolition of a garden store, external alterations to the Eastern Pavilion including the provision of rooflights (retrospective), the erection of new Western Pavilion to provide home office facilities at ground level, guest accommodation at first floor and a basement level garage at Hayward Green Farm, West Woodhay.

2.    In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Robert MacDonald, Parish Meeting representative, Mr Ewan Christian and Mr Harry Henderson, objectors, and Mr Steven Sensecall, agent, addressed the Committee on this application.

3.    Matthew Shepherd introduced the report to Members, which took account of all the relevant policy considerations and other material considerations. In conclusion the report detailed that the proposal was acceptable and a conditional approval was justifiable. Officers on balance recommended the Committee grant planning permission.

4.    Mr Macdonald in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·         The Parish Meeting objected to overdevelopment of the AONB.

·         The site was previously a farm before permission was granted for a small dwelling. There had been 25 planning applications under different names in recent years. There had been no engagement with the neighbours or Parish Meeting for any of the applications.

·         It was unlikely that the applicant would comply with conditions.

·         The dwelling on the site was already having an impact on neighbours’ boreholes, ponds and aquafers.

·         It was disappointing that there had been no consultation response from the SUDS officer or AONB board.

·         A near identical application submitted the previous year had been refused.

·         The internal and external lighting would have an adverse impact on the dark night skies.

·         There was inconsistency in the planning approach as an underground car park was proposed for permission whereas an application for a four bedroom house in West Woodhay had recently been refused additional parking spaces.

·         There were inconsistencies around the presentation of the building’s residential curtilage, including apparent increases over time.

5.    Councillor Paul Bryant asked why there was a concern regarding water when Thames Water had raised no objections. Mr Macdonald responded that there were pumps under the existing dwelling on the site which neighbours believed was having an adverse impact on boreholes in the area. Boreholes were not Thames Water’s responsibility and a full survey should be carried out before the application was determined.

6.    Councillor Anthony Pick asked whether the strict lighting conditions were satisfactory. Mr Macdonald expressed the view that the applicant had previously demonstrated poor compliance with conditions and he was concerned that the additional pavilion would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.(1)

1.    The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(2)) concerning Planning Application 18/01864/HOUSE in respect of the proposed first floor extension to current bungalow and associated alterations, new sauna, plus rendering of the entire property and widening of the existing access at Glendale Manor, Collaroy Road, Cold Ash.

2.    In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Mr Philip Greatrix, objector, and Mr Stephen Hammond, applicant, addressed the Committee on this application.

3.    Derek Carnegie introduced the report to Members, which took account of all the relevant policy considerations and other material considerations. In conclusion the report detailed that the proposal was acceptable and a conditional approval was justifiable. Officers strongly recommended the Committee grant planning permission.

4.    Mr Greatrix in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·         His wife had intended to address the Committee but had had to go home to look after their two young children.

·         They had lived next door to the property for two and a half years. In that time there had been ten applications to respond to.

·         They were not opposed to development so long as it was considerate. The Council’s policy regarding home extension advised that the impact on neighbours should be a primary concern.

·         The bedroom window would overlook Mr Greatrix’s property and the sauna would be located 30ft from his children’s bedrooms.

·         A condition had been removed from the previous permission which would impact on overlooking. The previous application had also included a restriction on outbuildings.

·         The applicant had made no attempts to address their neighbours’ views and had not been considerate.

·         There would be a detrimental impact on their privacy; Mr Greatrix’s son had already been subject to the Hammonds’ CCTV. This had been reported to the government watchdog.

·         Mr Greatrix and his family were being forced to change the way they lived in their own home as a result. This impacted upon his human right to live a private and family life.

·         Another developer on the road was unable to stand up to Mr Hammond because he was seeking an extension on his home.

·         The obscure glazing had been removed from the previous permission.

·         It would be possible for the applicant to amend the internal dimensions and move the proposed bedroom to the front of the property in order to reduce the impact on privacy but they had not.

5.    Councillor Beck asked Mr Greatrix to expand on his objection to the location of the sauna. Mr Greatrix explained that the sauna wound be sited on a lower ground level than the waste water pipe so when it was cleaned water would need to be pumped uphill. No account had been taken of the noise impact. The applicant had sent letter regarding the noise of Mr Greatrix’s children playing in the garden; their noise would not overshadow the noise of sauna parties.

6.    Councillor Bryant asked whether there was an objection to the simplified roof lines of the extension; Mr Greatrix advised that it was not a concern.

7.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.(2)

1.    The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(3)) concerning Planning Application 18/02595/HOUSE in respect of a two storey rear extension at Cobb Cottage, Lambourn Road, Weston.

2.    In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Ms Caroline Conran, objector, addressed the Committee on this application.

3.    Derek Carnegie Derek Carnegie introduced the report to Members, which took account of all the relevant policy considerations and other material considerations. In conclusion the report detailed that the proposal was acceptable and a conditional approval was justifiable. Officers recommended the Committee grant planning permission.

4.    Ms Conran in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·         There had been a significant number of objections to the application. Many were anonymous due to their sensitive nature.

·         The extension was not inkeeping with the area.

·         The application was retrospective to change the material of construction from brick to breeze block and render.

·         The grey colour was intrusive and visible from the riverbank. The plans were incorrect.

·         The Parish Council signed off the application without hearing the objections, possibly because the applicant was a councillor and the meeting was not quorate.

5.    Councillor Anthony Pick asked in what way the plans were incorrect. Ms Conran replied that she did not know but had been told that by others in the village. The Chairman recalled from the site visit that a door had not been bricked up.

6.    Councillor Pick asked why render would be unsuitable. Ms Conran expressed the view that brick would be softer and more countrified.

7.    Councillor Pick asked whether residents had been consulted, Ms Conran advised they had not.

8.    Councillor James Cole asked I the objections would stand if the extension was painted white. Ms Conran suspected they would.

9.    Councillor James Cole asked how long the cabin had been in the property’s garden. Ms Conran estimated around a year.

10.Councillor Garth Simpson noted that the property next door to the site was render with imitation mortar lines and was not clear what the objection was.

11.Councillor Anthony Stansfeld in addressing the Committee as Ward Member raised the following points:

·         The extension had been constructed cheaply but render would be inkeeping with the area.

·         There were other issues at play which were not planning matters.

·         There was a hut with a chimney in the rear garden which was close to the river, a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI). He hope that the Council’s planning enforcement officers would investigate.

12.Turning to questions for officers, Councillor Pick sought clarification that this was a retrospective application. Derek Carnegie explained that the extension already had planning permission and this application was retrospective to seek a change in materials.

13.Councillor Clive Hooker queried how far a developer could go using the wrong materials. Derek Carnegie advised that the applicant would know they were taking a chance and the Council had to deploy resources to enforce planning conditions carefully.

14.Councillor James Cole asked whether a decision had been taken not to enforce. Derek  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.