Agenda item

The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 18/01657/COND1 in respect of land adjacent to Summerfield, the Ridge, Cold Ash.

Derek Carnegie introduced the report and update sheet to Members.  He highlighted that there was an unusual situation with the application, as it would require a split decision because the detail was not available for two of the conditions and they could not be discharged. These were Condition 4 (materials) and Condition 12 (cycle storage). Officers were dissatisfied with the situation but as the application had received 47 objections, officers in the Legal Service had advised it should be brought to Committee.  He therefore asked Members how they would like to deal with the application as they did not have the detail they required, which would have been set out in the reserved matters.

The Chairman then asked the Committee if they were able to approve the application before them.

Councillor Paul Bryant agreed that it was an unusual and unacceptable situation and he proposed that the matter should be deferred until the reserved matters had been agreed.  The proposal was seconded by Councillor Hilary Cole.

Councillor Garth Simpson commented that the Parish Council had a major concern with Condition 11.  The Chairman responded by advising that if the Committee was in favour of the proposal to defer, it would not be possible for the speakers to address the Committee.  Councillor Simpson enquired whether this meant the conditions would be agreed at the same time as the reserved matters.  Derek Carnegie confirmed that this would be the case and they would both come back to the Committee at the same time.

Councillor Hilary Cole noted that the Committee had never looked at a discharge of conditions and added she could understand residents’ confusion, as they had not been provided with all the information on the application.  She asked if the Council’s Legal Service could look at the Constitution and decide what matters could and could not be taken to Committee to avoid a similar situation occurring.

Councillor Anthony Pick pointed out there was no information in the report on landscaping and the Chairman advised that this would be addressed in the reserved matters.

Councillor Jeff Beck noted it was a hopeless situation with Members being asked to make a split decision.

Councillor James Cole stated he agreed with the proposal but he had been confused at the site meeting, as the plan had shown a small access and he would like this clarified.  Councillor Clive Hooker advised he had already passed this request on.

Councillor Adrian Edwards noted it was possible for the Committee to vote on some of the conditions.

Councillor Simpson pointed out that the residents who had attended the site meeting had been told the application would be considered at this meeting.  Councillor Hooker replied that it was necessary to attend the site meeting as it would not have been possible to advise residents that it was not taking place.

The Chairman invited the Committee to vote on the proposal of Councillor Bryant, as seconded by Councillor Hilary Cole, to defer the application until the reserved matters had been agreed.  At the vote the motion was carried.  Councillor Edwards voted against the proposal.

RESOLVED that the Head of Development and Planning be authorised to defer the application until the reserved matters had been agreed.