Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 30 June 2021.

The Chairman proposed a non-notice procedural motion for standing orders be suspended, to permit Members (including those who are not Members of the Committee), officers and members of the public engaging remotely to speak at the option of the Chairman.

The motion was seconded by Councillor Hilary Cole.

At the vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 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, Carolyne Culver 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 Adrian Abbs and Phil Barnett declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that they were members of Greenham Parish Council. Councillor Abbs also declared that he was the Chair of Greenham Parish’s Planning Committee. 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 Tony Vickers declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that he was a member of Greenham Parish Council and Newbury Town Council. 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 Carolyne Culver declared that she had been lobbied on Agenda Item 4(1))

1.      The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 20/02779/COMIND in respect of a Section 73 variation of conditions 2 (plans), 3 (boundary treatments), 4 (hardscaping), 6 (BREEAM), 7 (external lighting), 9 (noise from services), 11 (sport England), 12 (travel plan), 13 (cycle and scooter parking), 17 (landscaping) and 24 (E V charging points)  of approved  17/03434/COMIND - Construction of a new 1 FE 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, on land South of Newbury College, Monks Lane, Newbury.

2.      Mr Simon Till, Team Leader (Western Area Planning), 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 Head of Planning and Development be authorised to grant planning permission subject to the conditions outlined in the main and update report.

3.      In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Mark Lewis (WBC Education Place Planning and Development Manager and Project Sponsor) and Mr Greg Bowman (WBC Property Project Officer), applicant, addressed the Committee on this application.

Applicant Representation

4.      Mr Lewis and Mr Bowman in addressing the Committee raised the following points:

·       Mr Bowman noted that the Committee had visited the site and would have seen what an inspiring addition the development would be to Newbury and West Berkshire, and how it would benefit children for generations to come.

·       The purpose of the application was two-fold, to provide information required to clear outstanding conditions as appropriate, and to bring to the Committees attention some minor amendments to the existing permission.

·       As the case officer has outlined, these amendments included the introduction of lighting to the north-south path between the college and the school to allow safe pedestrian and cycling  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.(1)