Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 5 March 2025.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 5 March 2025 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.

There were no declarations of interest received.

1.    The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 24/02658/FULMAJ Thatcham in respect of Section 73: Vary conditions 2 (approved plans), 9 (landscape and ecological management plan), 10 (soft landscaping) and 20 (footpath) of permission 21/02137/FULMAJ: flood alleviation scheme and new three lane non-turf cricket practice net and non-turf pitch, Thatcham Memorial Playing Fields, Thatcham

2.    Gemma Kirk 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.

3.    In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Mr Simon Pike Town Council representative, Ms Vicky Caws and Ms Lyndsey Hadley, objectors, Mr Nathan Gregory, supporter, Gareth Hardwick, agent, addressed the Committee on this application.

Parish/Town Council Representation

4.    Mr Pike addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording: Eastern Area Planning Committee – Recording

Member Questions to the Parish/Town Council

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

·       Condition 20 had been modified in the update report, which addressed the concerns about the free movement of residents. The Town Council would be satisfied if Condition 20 were adopted.

·       The Town Council proposed an additional condition to ensure access from all current entrances to the site.

Objector Representation

6.    Ms Caws and Ms Hadley addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording: Eastern Area Planning Committee – Recording

Member Questions to the Objector

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

·       Planning permission for car boot sales on the site required measures to keep the site accessible.

·       The objectors were not aware of any issues regarding health and safety on the site, including with the other flood defences. Similar flood defences on Agricola Way and Harts Hill Road had public areas next to them and did not have fences surrounding the flood defences.

·       Various accesses to the site had been altered or blocked. The access on the west of the site from Beverley Close had been blocked due to another ongoing issue not related to the flood defences. The access to the south of the site had been bricked up, which prevented people with restricted mobility from entering the site. However, this should be improved with the new path that would be built. No connectivity between western access and northern access, which would prevent access for those with restricted mobility in the winter months when the ground was saturated with water. However, a path had been on the original plans but had since been removed.

Supporter Representation

8.    Mr Gregory addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording: Eastern Area Planning Committee - Recording

Member Questions to the Supporter

9.    Members did not have any questions of clarification.

Applicant/Agent Representation

10. Mr Hardwick addressed the Committee. This  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.(1)