Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 13 October 2021.

Minutes of the meeting held on 3 November 2021 will be available for the next meeting of this Committee.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2021 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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, Lynne Doherty, Clive Hooker and Tony Vickers 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 Dennis Benneyworth, James Cole and Claire Rowles 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.

(Councillor Clive Hooker declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1). 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 Lynne Doherty declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that as Leader of the Council she had been party to conversations on the proposed development, including some with Sport England, but she had never been the Executive Portfolio Holder for the project. As her interest was personal and not prejudicial or a disclosable pecuniary interest, she determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.)

(Councillor Tony Vickers declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that he was a Member of Newbury Town Council, which had a well-known position on the proposed development. As his 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.)

(Councillor Adrian Abbs declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that he was Chairman of Greenham Parish Council’s Planning and Highways Committee, which had previously considered the proposal. He was also a Ward Member for the 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 Phil Barnett declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that he was a patient Falkland Surgery and a member of its Patient Participation Group. Also, he was a Member of the Planning and Highways Committees for Greenham Parish Council and Newbury Town Council, which had previously considered the proposal. 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 Adrian Abbs, Dennis Benneyworth, Carolyne Culver, Lynne Doherty, Claire Rowles and Tony Vickers declared that they had been lobbied on Agenda Item 4(1).)

1.     The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 21/02173/COMIND in respect of Newbury Rugby Football Club, Monks Lane, Newbury.

2.     Mr Masie Masiiwa, 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 Service Director – Development and Regulation 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 Highways Officers had no objections, and were satisfied with the proposed layout of the application. However, further work was required on pedestrian routes to the building, which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.(1)

(Councillors Dennis Benneyworth, James Cole and Claire Rowles declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(2) by virtue of the fact that they were Local Ward Members for the site and had attended meetings at Hungerford Town Council where the proposal had been discussed. 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 21/01868/FULD in respect of Hungerford Old Peoples’ Home, Chestnut Walk, Coldharbour Road, Hungerford.

2.     Mr Masie Masiiwa, 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 Service Director – Development and Regulation be authorised to grant planning permission, subject to the completion of a S106 legal agreement by 15 March 2022 (or such other date to be agreed in writing by the Service Director – Development and Regulation in consultation with the Chairman of the Western Area Planning Committee) and in accordance with 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 Highways had no objection. However, the required parking spaces were not an ideal distance from some dwellings, but this was not a substantial reason for refusal.

4.     In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Mr John Downe, Hungerford Town Council, addressed the Committee on this application.

Town Council Representation

1.     Mr John Downe, Hungerford Town Council, in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·         The Town Council had seen a great deal of interest in the application over the past year, and were keen to see the derelict care home site used and improved. Additionally, affordable homes were much needed, as well as the addition of eight modestly-sized homes.

·         The Town Council had an issue with the design of the homes, and some concerns regarding sustainability. However, these had been addressed and the Town Council had no objections to the development.

·         However, the Town Council wanted to raise with the Committee that in discussions with Homes for West Berkshire they were repeatedly assured that the houses would be built with heating systems that would be in line with the Government’s standards. To make that happen, the Council was asked to accept a lower value for the land. However, the Town Council believed that it was necessary to provide the heating as it was a standard that the Council had set in declaring a climate emergency.

·         The Town Council pleaded that the electric vehicle charging points have electricity come from the occupants’ homes, as handing it to a private company would significantly increase their energy costs, and asked that it be made a condition.

Member Questions to the Town Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.(2)

1.     Due to time constraints, the Committee was unable to consider Agenda Item 4(3) concerning Planning Application 20/01336/OUTMAJ in respect of the Institute for Animal Health, High Street, Compton. It was agreed that the item should be deferred and considered at the next meeting of the Committee.