Agenda and minutes

To receive any announcements from the chair, and general housekeeping matters.

The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and outlined the meeting procedure to be followed. He also explained the emergency evacuation procedure.

To record apologies for absence and the attendance of substitute members. 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mike Pighills, who was substituted for Councillor Andy Cooke, and Councillor Cheryl Briggs, who was substituted for Councillor Sarah James.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Planning Committee minutes of the meeting held on 31 May 2023.

RESOLVED: to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 31 May 2023 as a correct record and agree that the Chair sign these as such.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests, other registrable interests and non-registrable interests or any conflicts of interest in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive notification of any matters which the chair determines should be considered as urgent business and the special circumstances which have made the matters urgent. 

There was no urgent business.

To receive any statements from members of the public that have registered to speak on planning applications which are being presented to this committee meeting. 

The committee noted the list of the members of the public who had registered to speak at the meeting.

Approval of Reserved Matters (all matters) for a new community hub, secure outdoor spaces, associated landscaping and car parking pursuant to planning permission ref: P21/V2544/FUL; along with details to discharge conditions 8, 17, 19, 20, 21, 24, 31, 33, 34, 35, 38 and 53 of P21/V2544/FUL. (As amended by plan received 02 May 2023).

The committee considered planning application P23/V0865/RM for the approval of reserved matters (all matters) for a new community hub, secure outdoor spaces, associated landscaping and car parking pursuant to planning permission ref: P21/V2544/FUL; along with details to discharge conditions 8, 17, 19, 20, 21, 24, 31, 33, 34, 35, ,38 and 53 of P21/V2544/FUL. (As amended by plan received 02 May 2023), on land south of Civic Square, Crab Hill, Wantage, OX12 7GS.

Consultations, representations, policy and guidance, and the site’s planning history were detailed in the officer’s report, which formed part of the agenda pack for the meeting.

The planning officer introduced the report and highlighted that the development was part of the wider site allocation. The application was before the committee due to the objection of Wantage Town Council. The officer highlighted that the application site was to the south of the existing Civic Square and was the building was positioned to front the square. The planning officer informed the committee that the building provided a main hall, café, mid-sized function room and breakout space outside on the ground floor. The first floor provided further function rooms and links to the business hub and co-working space as set out in the design and access statement. The planning officer noted that solar panels were proposed on the roof of the building. The planning officer highlighted that a bus stop was located close to the entrance of the building and as well as the existing parking spaces provided to the north of the building in the Civic Square which included 2 disabled spaces and 2 wider parking spaces, an additional 22 spaces were proposed to the south of the site which included a disabled parking space. In addition to this, 6 parallel parking spaces had been approved at the nearby care home which could be used by users of the community hub. The planning officer went on to confirm that 20 cycle parking spaces would be provided and there were an additional 12 bike parking spaces already near the site.

The planning officer informed the committee that the application was in accordance with all relevant policies of the local plan and the approved site-wide development strategies. The application before the committee was to determine access, appearance, scale, layout and landscaping, all of which officers felt were acceptable. The officer went on to note that the Highway Authority had no objections to the application and that the level of car parking provision was acceptable for the reasons set out in the officer’s report and that the parking strategy could be secured by condition. Furthermore, he confirmed that further details on lighting could also be secured by condition to address the concerns of the landscape architect and Wantage Town Council. The planning officer noted there were no technical issues with the application and therefore the application was recommended for approval, subject to the conditions set out in the officer’s report.

Councillor Erik Johnston spoke on behalf of Wantage Town Council, objecting to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

Removal of fence at side of property dividing front and rear gardens. Erection of new dividing fence in new position nearer the front of the house.

The committee considered planning application P22/V2718/HH for the removal of fence at side of property dividing front and rear gardens. Erection of new dividing fence in new position nearer the front of the house, on land at Northcourt Lodge, 106 Oxford Road, Abingdon, OX14 2AG,

Consultations, representations, policy and guidance, and the site’s planning history were detailed in the officer’s report, which formed part of the agenda pack for the meeting.

The planning officer introduced the report and highlighted that the application was before committee as the applicant was an elected member of the council. The application was for the removal of a boundary fence and replacement with a fence four metres in length to the south of the existing fence line, in like-for-like materials, in order to increase the usable private garden space serving the dwelling.

The planning officer informed the committee that planning permission was required as the fence applied for exceeded the relevant parameters of Class A Part 2 of the General Permitted Development Order namely that the height was higher than that permissible adjacent to the highway. In addition to this planning permission was granted in 1988 for the erection of two new dwellings to the north of Northcourt Lodge which included a condition requiring the retention of the parking provision for the dwellings on the site. The proposed fence would slightly project into part of the parking area for Northcourt Lodge and therefore permission was required for its erection.

The planning officer noted that the main areas of assessment for the proposed fence were visual amenity of the area, highway safety including parking provision, and neighbour amenity. The planning officer confirmed that the fence would be set 45cm back from the highway and the materials to be used were timber panels and concrete posts ensuring the fence would blend seamlessly into the residential surroundings as well as being acceptable in design terms. The officer went on to confirm that in accordance with Oxfordshire County Council Parking Standards 2022, at least two parking spaces would be available for use by Northcourt Lodge.

The planning officer informed the committee that no objections had been received in relation to the proposal and that officers considered the application to be compliant with policies in the adopted local plan.

The committee enquired as to the impact the proposed development would have on neighbours. The officer confirmed that the proposal would not interfere with neighbouring amenity.

The committee reflected that it was clear the application was only before them due to the constitutional requirement as the applicant was an elected member of the council and this was clear from the fact there were no objections to the application.

A motion, moved and seconded, to approve the application was carried on being put to the vote.

RESOLVED: to approve planning application P22/V2718/HH, subject to the following conditions:

Standard:

1.  Commencement of development within three years

2.  List of approved plans

Compliance:

3.  Materials in accordance with application details