Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 19^th December 2023. The Minutes from the previous meetings on 21^st February and 20^th March 2024 are not yet available. They will be provided at the next meeting.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 19 December 2023 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Minutes from the meetings held on 21^st February and 20^th March 2024 would be brought to the next meeting in May 2024. 

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 Denise Gaines and Billy Drummond declared that they had been lobbied on agenda item 4(1) by one of the Ward Members regarding the application.

Councillors Dennis Benneyworth, Parick Clark, Paul Dick, Clive Hooker and Antony Amirtharaj declared that they had been contacted by individuals both for and against the application for agenda item 4(1).

Councillor Antony Amirtharaj referred to a document that had been posted to him by the applicant regarding the site and queried if it was publicly available. Mr Bob Dray confirmed that it was not part of the applicant documents and therefore should be disregarded.

Councillor Phil Barnet declared a personal interest in agenda item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that he was also a Member of Newbury Town Council and its Planning Committee, where the application had been discussed, along with Greenham Parish Council. Furthermore, he had lived in Andover Road 50 years ago and had been a governor at Park House School for almost 30 years. Councillor Barnett declared that he was also a patient at Falkland Surgery. Councillor Barnett stated that he would weigh up all the evidence placed before the Committee and would vote accordingly.

Councillor Carolyne Culver declared that she had also been lobbied on the item however, would form her decision based on the paperwork, site visit and discussion that took place at that evening’s Committee meeting. 

(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).

1.      The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(1)) concerning Planning Application 23/01585/OUTMAJ in respect of an outline application for the phased delivery of up to 360 dwellings; demolition of Warren House and other buildings; widening of Warren Road to provide access through to Andover Road to the west; emergency access via Kendrick Road; provision of open space; drainage, walking, cycling, green and other associated infrastructure, including 40% affordable housing provision. All matters to be reserved, except access into the site for vehicles, pedestrians and cycles along the Warren Road corridor.

2.      Niko Grigoropoulos 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 conditions and the satisfactory completion of a Section 106 Legal Agreement (or refuse outline planning permission if the S106 Legal Agreement was not completed).

3.      The update report provided detail on additional consultation responses and an amended version of condition 14.

4.      The Chairman asked Paul Goddard, Highways Officer, if he had any observations relating to the application and Mr Goddard took the Committee through the highways matters set out in the report in detail (page 52). In conclusion, Highways Officers supported the overall conclusion reached by the Council’s appointed transport consultants, to raise no objection.

5.      It was proposed and seconded by a Member of the Committee that standing orders be suspended to enable a representative from Newbury Town Council to speak on the application, as a request had not been received until after the deadline. At the vote the proposal was carried.

6.      It was proposed and seconded by a Members of the Committee that standing orders be suspended to increase the permitted speaker time to ten minutes. At the vote the motion was carried.

7.      In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Mr Roger Hunneman, Town Council representative, Mr Tony Hammond, objector, Mr Christopher Tricky (on behalf or Fr. Zbigniew Budyn), supporter, Mr Tim Burden, Mr Chris Long, Mr Giuseppe Zanre and Mr Mark Norgate, agent, addressed the Committee on this application.

Town Council Representation

8.      Mr Roger Hunneman addressed the Committee and his full representation can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/nzzSCihcWsI?t=5667

Member Questions to the Town Council

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

·     Regarding where the Town Council would like to see air monitoring take place, it was stated that preferably this would be in the vicinity of Park House School. This was where the majority of the receptors would be. 

·     Regarding the situation outside of the school during drop and pick up times, it was clarified that all collection and drop offs of pupils occurred outside of the school on the road. Park House School had a considerable catchment area and there were often several buses parked up in laybys, which added to the general state of confusion. 

·     Although an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.(1)