PLANNING COMMITTEE

Minutes of a meeting of the Planning Committee held in the Council Chamber at the Council Offices, Radstock Lane, Earley, Berkshire, on Tuesday, 13 May 2008 which commenced at 7.30 pm.

Present

Councillors J Armstrong, A Bradley, Ms P Dunn and N Preston.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs L Chambers, T Chambers, Mrs P Jorgensen, Mrs J Lissaman and Ms C Mitchell.

__________________________________________________________________________________

1.         APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN

            In the absence of the Committee Chairman, on the proposition of Councillor J Armstrong, seconded by Councillor Ms P Dunn, it was

            RESOLVED that Councillor A Bradley should Chair the meeting.

2.         MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 15 April 2008 were confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

3.         VICE CHAIRMAN

On the proposition of Councillor J Armstrong, seconded by Councillor Ms P Dunn, it was

RESOLVED that Councillor T Chambers be appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee for the ensuing Municipal Year.

4.         APPOINTMENT OF SUB-COMMITTEES & WORKING PARTIES

4.1        Plans Working Party

It was

RESOLVED that

1.         Councillors J Armstrong, Ms P Dunn, and Mrs J Lissaman be appointed to the Plans Working Party.

            2.         Councillors Mrs P Jorgensen and Ms C Mitchell be invited to stand on the Working Party for the ensuing Municipal Year.

4.2        Street Furniture Working Party

It was

RESOLVED that the Street Furniture Working Party be suspended and be reconvened as needed.

5.         APPLICATIONS FOR PLANNING PERMISSION

5.1.       Decision Notices

RESOLVED that the Decision Notices as reported to the meeting be noted.

5.2.       Affected Neighbour Notifications

RESOLVED that the Town Council’s Affected Neighbour notifications be sent as appropriate.

5.3.       “No Objection” Recommendations

            RESOLVED that no objections be made to the Local Planning Authority in respect of the following applications:

5.4        Applications Requiring a Committee Decision

RESOLVED that the observations and comments as listed below be sent to the Local Planning Authority in respect of the following applications:

            Councillors considered that this application should be refused, since the plans indicated that if the proposal was to proceed there would not be a one metre gap to the boundary.

            The Town Council Planning Committee had no objection to this application providing that the Planning Officer was happy that it would not create an encroachment on the building line.

Councillors considered that this application should be refused, since the plans indicated that if the proposal was to proceed there would not be a one metre gap to the boundary. 

            Councillors considered that this application should be refused, since, if allowed to proceed, there would be insufficient appropriate onsite parking available.

            Councillors were concerned about this proposal.  Because of the location of the property in the road, it was felt that the proposed new garage would be a predominant feature which would be of detriment to the street scene.  Furthermore, it appeared that the proposal would encroach onto amenity land, which was deemed to be unacceptable and may well result in part of the garage being built over a service strip.

For these reasons, it was requested that the application should be refused.

            Councillors considered that this application should be refused since it was felt that the proposed dormer windows in the loft conversion would be unneighbourly. 

            Councillors considered that this proposal would create a cramped appearance, would have a terracing effect, and would be unneighbourly.  It was, therefore, requested that the application should be refused.

            Councillors considered that this application should be refused, since it was felt that there was insufficient appropriate onsite parking to avoid encroachment onto the shared driveway.

5.5.       Applications Withdrawn by the Applicant

            Councillors noted that application O/2008/0771, which was in respect of an Outline Application of the erection of a dwelling on land at 7 Northam Close, had been withdrawn by the applicants.

5.6        Appeals

5.6.1     New Appeals

5.6.1.1  F/2007/2790 – Hilltop Christian Centre

It was noted that an Appeal had been lodged against the Borough Council's refusal to allow the proposed erection of two blocks of flats, each containing five flats with parking and cycle storage and demolition of the main buildings with retention of the hall.  It was further noted that the Appeal would be heard by means of an Informal Hearing at a date to be advised.

5.6.1.2  A/2007/2978 – Island Site, London Road

It was noted that an Appeal had been lodged against the Borough Council's refusal to allow planning permission for the erection of a free standing poster billboard.

5.6.1.3  A/2007/3118 – 658-660 Wokingham Road

It was noted that an Appeal had been lodged against the Borough Council's refusal to allow planning permission for the erection of two internally illuminated, single-sided, free standing display units.

5.7        Cross Party Inquiry into Childhood Leukaemia and Power Lines

Councillors were asked to consider the content of the letter from Dr Howard Stoate MP, Chairman of the former Cross Party Inquiry into the above, which had been circulated with the agenda for their consideration.  Councillors’ attention was also drawn to the fact that a copy of the report mentioned in the letter was available for their perusal on request.  It was

RESOLVED that the Deputy Town Clerk be requested to write to the Borough Council asking it to ensure that in view of the findings of the Inquiry, its Planning Guidelines were worded appropriately to avoid residential development too near to high voltage power cables.

5.8        Alleged Breach of Planning Conditions – ASDA

Councillors noted that further complaints had been received from a local resident concerning alleged breaches of planning conditions relating to the times which lorries could deliver to the ASDA site.

Councillors were advised of the current situation, and that the matter was being investigated by the Borough Council.

5.9.       Planning Application CLE/2008/0372

Councillors were reminded of the request contained within part 1 of the resolution recorded at Minute 159.1 of the Meeting of the Committee held on 15^th April, concerning the Borough Council’s refusal to grant a Certificate of Lawfulness for a proposed outbuilding within the rear garden ancillary to the main house at 2 Ramsbury Drive.  Councillors noted the reasons for the refusal, which had been circulated with the supplementary agenda for their information.

6.         VEHICLE FOR LITTER PICKER

Councillors were advised that the vehicle used by the Litter Picker had been sent for a pre MOT check, and had failed on a number of fronts.  Attention was drawn to the 08/09 Budget which had allowed the sum of ₤6,000 for the purchase of a replacement vehicle. 

Councillors were advised that in view of the fact that it was necessary to find a replacement vehicle for the Litter Picker quite quickly, the Chairman of Council and the Chairman of Planning Committee using the urgency powers afforded to them, had approved the purchase of a two-wheel drive Ford Ranger at a cost of £5,200 plus VAT.  Approval had also been given under the urgency powers for the suspension of financial Standing Order 11.1 (b)(i) negating the need to seek two further quotations.   It was

RESOLVED that the actions of the Chairman of Council and the Chairman of the Planning Committee in this matter be endorsed.

7.         HIGHWAY MATTERS

7.1        Woodley Area Cumulative Traffic Impact Study

Councillors’ attention was drawn to the recommendation recorded at Minute 136.6 of the meeting of this Committee held on 12^th February, when the Deputy Town Clerk had been requested to write to the Borough Council highlighting deficiencies in the Woodley Area Cumulative Traffic Impact Study and requesting that a similar study should be carried out in Earley.

Councillors were advised that a response had been received indicating that the Woodley Study had been commissioned by the Borough Council for Woodley because much of the new development in this area was infilling and some major schemes on brown field sites were being brought forward.  The communication continued by indicating that there were no plans at present to carry out a similar study in Earley, since it was felt that this area had almost reached its capacity for additional development and was not experiencing the same sort of development as Woodley.

The communication concluded by stating that the report now needed to be taken to the next stage of the highways process, but before that could take place confirmation was required by the Borough Council that Earley Town Council was happy with the comments that had been made with regard to the report.  It was

RESOLVED that the Town Council should not raise any further objection to the report but should request that the increasing traffic problems experienced in Earley should receive special attention in the Borough Council’s Draft Core Strategy.

7.2        Town Council's Highway “Wish List” – Pepper Lane

Councillors were advised that following the discussions at the meeting of this Committee held on the 15^th April, part one of the resolution recorded at Minute 163.2 was communicated to the Borough Council.  Subsequently a communication had been received which indicated that the Town Council's request had prompted further questions from the Traffic Management Department, who were seeking clarification before proceeding with the request.

Councillors’ attention was drawn to an e-mail received from a Member which indicated that the request he had received was mainly from residents of Harcourt, Falstaff, Flaxman, Felstead and Rowland to allow them to cross Pepper Lane to get to and from the University site or return from the bus stop.  However, he was also aware of travel to and from Maiden Erlegh School and some in the opposite direction to Leighton Park School.

During the discussions which then followed, Councillors identified that there was a significant amount of foot traffic travelling in both directions in the vicinity of Elm Lane and Pepper Lane accessing nearby secondary and infant schools and University.  It was, therefore,

RESOLVED that the Borough Council be asked to carry out a foot traffic survey in the vicinity of Pepper Lane and Elm Lane to provide evidence in support of the concerns which had been raised by local residents.

7.3        Waiting Restrictions – Saffron Close and Amber Close

Councillors were reminded that the Town Council had been consulted on proposals to introduce “no waiting” restrictions at the junction of the above two roads with Wokingham Road in January 2008.  A communication from the Borough Council indicated that it had received several objections to those proposals and, almost without exception, those responding asked that the parking restrictions be extended further into the roads concerned, to prevent commuter vehicles being parked outside their frontages.

The Borough Council had, therefore, come up with an alternative proposal, details of which had been circulated with the agenda which, it was hoped, would address the concerns raised by residents.  It was

RESOLVED that the Borough Council be advised that the Town Council fully supported the latest proposals.

7.4        Pedestrian Crossing – Silverdale Road

Councillors were advised that a communication had been received from a local resident expressing concern at the safety of the pedestrian crossing near to The Parade in Silverdale Road.  The resident had advised that he had observed many near misses, including a car trying to overtake a bus which was waiting to allow people to cross at the pedestrian crossing.

In discussing this matter, Councillors felt that the problem in this area was exacerbated by the close proximity of the bus stop to the pedestrian crossing.  It was

RESOLVED that the Deputy Town Clerk be requested to write to the Borough Council highlighting the concerns raised by the resident, and asking the Borough Council for its view of how these concerns could be best alleviated.

7.5               M4 Junction 11 Improvements

Councillors received details of two Public Exhibitions which were being held to allow the opportunity to view the proposed improvements to junction 11.

8.         STREET NAMING AND NUMBERING

8.1.       329 – 333 Wokingham Road

It was noted that the nine new dwellings erected on this site would be known as 329–333 Wokingham Road and 1–6 Matthews Close.

8.2        2 Stanton Close

It was noted that the flats built on the site formerly occupied by 2 Stanton Close would be known as 1-6 Stanton Mews.

9.         TREE PRESERVATION ORDERS

9.1        New Orders

It was noted that two new Tree Preservation Orders had been made in respect of trees in the rear gardens of 42-52 Silverdale Road.

9.2        Confirmation of Tree Preservation Order – TPO/1218-2007 – 1 Woodmere Close and 21 Radstock Lane

It was noted that the above Order had been confirmed without modification.

9.3        Consent for Works to be Carried Out by Trees Covered by TPOs

9.3.1     TPO/1177/2007 – 75 Eastcourt Avenue

            It was noted that permission had been given for the English Oak Tree covered by this Order to be selectively pruned, reducing the southern canopy by no more than 15% and giving a 5 metre clearance from the ground.

9.3.2     TPO/1113/2006 – Land between 5 Gardner Place and 29 Eastcourt Avenue

            It was noted that permission had been granted for the English Oak, covered by this Order, to be pruned giving a 5 metre clearance all round and selectively reducing lateral branches by no more than 30%.

10.       PUBLICATIONS

10.1      SLCC Regional Conference

Councillors’ attention was drawn to two planning related publications which were obtained by the Deputy Town Clerk at her recent attendance at the SLCC Regional Conference. These are:

            Information on the Planning Portal (www.planningportal.gov.uk) which was a nationwide service giving information on items relating to the Planning Sector.

            “The Handy Guide to Planning” which was a booklet produced by the Urban Forum and explained what planning meant, why it was important and how planning linked in with other strategies.  Councillors noted that a copy of the booklet was held in the Town Council Offices, and electronic copies were available at  www.urbanforum.org.uk.

10.2      Other Publications

            It was noted that the following publications had been received and were held in the Council Offices:

11.       ONGOING MATTERS

12.       PRESS RELEASES

            No press releases were requested.

13.       TERMINATION OF MEETING

            The meeting was declared closed by the Chairman at 9.00 pm.

Back to previous page