Issue - meetings

(Councillors Jeff Beck, Adrian Edwards and Anthony Pick declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that they were members of Newbury Town Council and in Councillor Beck and Pick’s cases, members of the Planning and Highways Committee. They had previously considered the application, but reported that they would view the application afresh on its own merit. 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.)

(Councillor Billy Drummond declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that he was a member of Greenham Parish Council who had previously considered the application, but reported that he would view the application afresh on its own merit. 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.)

The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 17/03434/COMIND in respect of a proposal for the construction of a new on form entry single-storey primary school south of the existing Newbury College, with associated soft and hard landscaping, construction of a temporary access to the school from the Newbury College site and a permanent access from the A339 to serve the allocated strategic housing site and form the permanent access to the school, construction of bunds adjacent to the temporary and permanent access roads to prevent access from the roads to private land at Land south of Newbury College, Monks Lane, Newbury.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Mr Peter Norman, objector, and Mr Jon Winstanley, Mr Bill Bagnell and Mr Greg Bowman, on behalf of the applicant (West Berkshire Council), addressed the Committee on this application.

Jake Brown introduced the report to the 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.

Councillor Clive Hooker noted that a previous application for a school on the site had been approved. The school itself proposed in the original application had not changed from the previous permission and the committee should focus on the changes in respect of the bunds, roads and fencing.

Paul Goddard was invited to make a comment on the highways matters. He advised that the traffic figures remained the same from the previous application. Also as per the previous application traffic would access the suite via the Newbury College for the first two years and by 2021 traffic would access via the new A339 access.

Mr Norman in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·         It was accepted that Newbury needed a new school and the existing schools nearby were at capacity.

·         Although the land had been offered for a new primary school this did not mean the location was the right place for the new school.

·         The school’s catchment area assumed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46