Agenda and draft minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 10 July 2024.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 10 July 2024 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to the inclusion of the following amendments:

·       ‘Warren Davies’ corrected to ‘Warren Richards’ who was from Transforming Developments ltd, not the Care Quality Commission.

·       Final line, specialist transport would be from the applicant Transforming Developments Ltd or the Local Authority. 

·       Page 10 – Second bullet point Paragraph 30 amended to say “members were advised to consider”

·       Final sentence was amended to say, “He had listened to concerns”.

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 Justin Pemberton declared an interest in Agenda Item 4 (1) by virtue of the fact that he used to live in the next door property, however, he did not know the applicant. He reported that, as his interest was a personal or an other registrable interest, but not a disclosable pecuniary interest, he determined to remain to take part in the debate and vote on the matter.

(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).

The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 24/00378/HOUSE in respect of a Retrospective New patio and garden works, 49 Abbey Gardens, Woolhampton, Reading, RG7 5TZ.

1.    Mr Simon Till 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 Development Manager be authorised to grant planning permission subject to the conditions outlined in the main and update reports/for the reasons listed in the main and update reports.

2.    In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Dr Diana Davies, supporter, and Ms Helena Reid-Hinchcliffe, applicant/agent, addressed the Committee on this application.

Supporter Representation

3.    Dr Diana Davies addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording: Eastern Area Planning Committee

Member Questions to the Supporter

4.    Members asked questions of clarification and were given the following responses:

·       No further additional applications would be made such as a gazebo.

Applicant/Agent Representation

5.    Helena Reid-Hinchcliffe addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording: Eastern Area Planning Committee

Member Questions to the Applicant/Agent

6.    Members asked questions of clarification and were given the following responses:

7.    The applicant had not been informed by the Estate Management Company that any development would need planning permission as there were no permitted development rights in place.

Ward Member Representation

8.    Councillor Christopher Read addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording: Eastern Area Planning Committee

Member Questions to the Ward Member

9.    Members did not have any questions of clarification.

Member Questions to Officers

10. Members asked questions of clarification and were given the following responses:

·       Mr Till stated that there was a drain channel to the rear of the site. Planning would extend to the matter of strategic drainage issues and flood risk. The planning application was a localised drainage issue in an area without existing drainage issues. Drainage in this case would be a civil matter between the landowners concerned, rather than a planning matter to consider.

·       Mr Till noted that as part of the conveyancing of properties, Solicitors are required to assemble the correct planning permissions in relation to properties that is compiled into an information pack that would be passed on to the buyer of the property. In this case the removal of permitted development rights featured within the original planning permission for redevelopment of the site into residential, and would have been within the information pack passed on to the prospective buyer at the time.

·       Mr Till noted that regarding the removal of permitted development rights, it applied to all extensions, outbuildings, and alterations to the exterior of the properties and would cover development of a permanent nature outside of the property. Temporary structures were a different matter which Planning could not apply control over, unless they were sited in such a manner as to effectively constitute a permanent structure. There were controls in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.(1)