Agenda and draft minutes

The Minutes of the meetings held on 22 May 2024 and 19 June 2024 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings of this Committee held on 22 May 2024 and 19 June 2024.

Councillors Tony Vickers, Nigel Foot and Phil Barnett declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that they were members of Newbury Town Council. 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 Paul Dick declared that he had been lobbied on Agenda Item 4(2)

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 Tony Vickers, Nigel Foot and Phil Barnett declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4(1) by virtue of the fact that they were members of Newbury Town Council. 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 Paul Dick declared that he had been lobbied on Agenda Item 4(2)

(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 the erection of a new building containing 5 two bedroom flats with associated infrastructure and landscaping on land adjacent to Greenham House, Greenham Road, Newbury.

2.      Cheyanne Kirby 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, and the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement or Unilateral Undertaking as outlined in the heads of terms.

3.      Or, if the Section 106 legal agreement or Unilateral Undertaking is not completed, to delegate to the Development Manager to refuse planning permission.

4.    In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, James and Kay Lipscombe, objectors, addressed the Committee on this application.

Objector Representation

5.      Mr and Mrs Lipscombe addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording:

Western Area Planning Committee - Wednesday 24th July 2024 (18:40)

Member Questions to the Objector

6.    Members asked a question of clarification and received the following response:

·       The exit leading onto the A339 was very dangerous. There was no pedestrian access on to Station Road so all pedestrians were to be directed through the same route as the vehicles.

Member Questions to Officers

7.    Members asked questions of clarification and received the following responses.

·       Paul Goddard advised that whilst an access onto Station Road would have been ideal, he considered that the entrance onto the A339 was wide enough to accommodate both pedestrians and traffic due to the limited vehicle numbers expected.

·       Cheyanne Kirby advised that there had been in depth conversations with the drainage team over this application. They had highlighted their feeling that the scheme was not good enough, however the approved scheme on the previous application was the same as the one included on this proposal.

·       Debra Inston advised a condition could be added which required sustainable drainage measures be applied.

·       Cheyanne Kirby believed that the main concern of the drainage team was that there was not enough surface drainage. She noted that she was unsure why SuDS had refused this scheme given that an identical scheme had previously been approved. She highlighted that she could not provide more clarity as she was not a drainage engineer.

·       Paul Goddard advised that the Station Road access was removed by the applicant.

·       Debra Inston noted that this was the first time that she had been made aware of the presence of Japanese Knotweed and suggested that the public protection team would know if it was present on the property. She advised that a condition could be placed on the application stipulating that, if Japanese Knotweed was found, a management plan for its removal would be implemented.

Debate

8.      Councillor Paul Dick opened the debate by advising that his concerns, which related to the drainage of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.(1)

19. The Committee considered a report (Agenda Item 4(2)) concerning Planning Application (2) 23/02802/FUL in respect of the change of use of land to provide up to 84 storage containers for self-storage use (B8) and erection of boundary fence (part retrospective) at Priors Court Farm, Priors Court Road, Hermitage.

20.   Debra Inston 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 Development Manager be authorised to grant planning permission subject to the conditions outlined in the main and update reports.

21. The Chairman asked Paul Goddard if he had any observations relating to the application. He noted the following:

·       The existing access was suitable for the size of vehicle that had been on the site before and was expected with this proposal.

·       The sight line was compliant with standards.

·       There were six Vehicles in and six Vehicles out expected per day.

22.   In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Howard Williamson, objector, and Kerry Pflegger, agent, addressed the Committee on this application.

Objector Representation

23. Mr Williamson addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording:

Western Area Planning Committee - Wednesday 24th July 2024

Member Questions to the Objector

24.Members asked questions of clarification and received the following responses:

·       Mr Williamson’s clients were residents who lived locally to the area.

·       The site had been operational for some time so the lack of data relating to the site was confusing. He highlighted the lack of accurate traffic count records.

·       There were several similar facilities in the area, with limited take up. He questioned whether this site was sustainable for this type of business.

·       The fence along Old Street was subject to a separate application. Highways England had submitted a statement which indicated that there was no consent for closed board fencing which was being used to comply with AONB regulations.

·       The Planning Officer had received photo evidence of large HGVs which had entered the site and parked on the blind corner. He informed Members that the site was proposed for commercial use but there was an incident on a Sunday morning of a commercial vehicle attending the site when it should have been closed.

Agent Representation

25.Ms Pfleggeraddressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording:

Western Area Planning Committee - Wednesday 24th July 2024

Member Questions to the Applicant/Agent

26.Members asked questions of clarification and received the following responses:

·       The dark green colouring of the containers was conditioned in the update report.

·       Highways England had stated they had no objection to the fence being constructed.

Ward Member Representation

27. Councillor Dick addressed the Committee. This representation can be viewed on the recording.

Western Area Planning Committee - Wednesday 24th July 2024

Member Questions to the Ward Member

28.   Members did not have any questions of clarification.

Member Questions to Officers

29.Members asked questions  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.(2)