Agenda and draft minutes

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

The chair welcomed everyone to the meeting, outlined the procedure to be followed and advised on the emergency evacuation arrangements.

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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Max Thompson, who was substituted for by Councillor Paul Barrow.

To adopt and sign as a correct record the Planning Committee minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2025. 

RESOLVED: to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 26 February 2025 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.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby declared that in relation to agenda item 7 application number P25/V0063/FUL, she was a member of Wantage Town Council but was not part of their Planning Committee. Councillor Hannaby was confident that this did not pre-determine her decision, and that she felt confident to take part in the debate and vote on the application.

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 members of the public who had registered to speak at the meeting.

Provision of two uncovered Padel courts and one Pickleball court to replace one existing tarmac tennis court to an existing established tennis club. Courts to be surrounded by new chain link fencing to match the style, colour and height of the existing chain link fencing. The works will include the relocation of two existing floodlight columns.

The committee considered planning application P25/V0063/FUL:

Provision of two uncovered Padel courts and one Pickleball court to replace one existing tarmac tennis court to an existing established tennis club. Courts to be surrounded by new chain link fencing to match the style, colour and height of the existing chain link fencing. The works will include the relocation of two existing floodlight columns.

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 presented the report to members.

The application was to replace one of the existing tennis courts with two padel ball courts and one pickleball court, with the existing court area to be extended by seven metres to the west.

Existing and proposed site plans were shown. The padel courts would be enclosed by glass and metal mesh panels, four metres in height. A retaining wall of 0.5 metres in height would be erected around the top corner of the pickleball court and the existing chain link fencing, of 2.8 metres high, would be extended to enclose the site. Two existing floodlights would be relocated on the site.

Example images from the submitted application of pickleball and padel ball were shown. Pickleball could be played on the existing tennis courts with additional lines and temporary nets and would use a plastic ball with holes. Padel ball would be played on an enclosed court and would use a ball similar to tennis but less pressurised and slightly smaller size.

Main concerns raised related to neighbour amenity, specifically noise disturbance and potential traffic issues. The Lawn Tennis Association had been consulted and they had provided the Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) code of practice which advised that padel courts be located at least 30 metres from neighbouring properties to ensure there is no noise disturbance. The closest properties to this application would be 60 metres away.

The scheme would meet SAPCA standards for padel ball and while there did not appear to be any specific SAPCA standards for pickleball this could already be played on the existing tennis courts. The Environmental Protection team had raised no objection on noise grounds or relating to the floodlights. No objection had been received from Oxfordshire County Council as highway authority.

The proposal aligned with the development plan and was recommended for approval.

Sarah Simmonds spoke in objection to the application.

Members asked who owned the car park at the application site and were advised that the Council owned the land but Wantage Tennis Club managed and maintained the site.

Members requested clarification on the noise levels, specifically the minimum recommended distance to neighbouring properties. The planning officer explained that the SAPCA guidance stated that for properties within 30 metres of the court, a noise assessment would need to be carried out. For this application the nearest properties were 60 metres away and as such no noise assessment would be required. If there were any  ...  view the full minutes text for item 194.

Installation of freestanding electric vehicle charger.

The committee considered planning application:

Installation of freestanding electric vehicle charger

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 presented the report to members.

The application was for a freestanding electric vehicle (EV) charging point to be located within the curtilage of a listed building. The application site was located within the conservation area.

Site plans were shown highlighting the proposed position of the EV charger and indicative images of the type of charger to be used.

The conservation team had raised no objections and the proposal was recommended for approval.

Members asked whether the reason this application had been presented to the Planning Committee was because the applicant was a district councillor. The officer confirmed that was correct.

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

Members acknowledged that no objection had been raised by the conservation team.

RESOLVED: to approve planning application P25/V0153/HH subject to the following conditions:

1. Commencement 3 yrs - Full Planning Permission

2. Approved plans

3. Materials in Accordance with application

To receive the appeals information report from the head of planning.

Recommendation: to consider and note the appeals information report.

The committee received the appeals information report from the head of planning.

Members asked if the performance rate, relating to appeals, was in line with other districts. The Head of Planning advised that while there had been an increase in appeals, due in part to the changes put forward by government, we were in a good position nationally. The committee were advised that the quarterly performance data would be presented to the committee at a future meeting.

A member queried the appeal for 16 Cumnor Hill which stated it had been a delegated decision, however it had gone to committee. The Head of Planning advised they would follow that up.

Following the meeting, the Head of Planning confirmed that the original decision relating to the appeal for 16 Cumnor Hill was a committee decision.

The committee agreed to note the report.