To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Clark and McWilliams. Councillors Greg Jones and John Bowden were substituting.

To receive any declarations of interest.

Councillor Bhangra declared a personal interest as he had attended meetings at Maidenhead Mosque on the proposed development at the Magnet Leisure Centre. He would be attending the Committee with an open mind.

Councillor G Jones also confirmed that he had attended meetings with the Mosque. He would be attending the Committee with an open mind.

The Chairman informed those present that David Hunt was married to a serving Member of the Council, Councillor Maureen Hunt. All those present confirmed that they knew Councillor Hunt but this would not influence their judgement of the application and they were attending with an open mind, the declaration had been made in the interests of transparency.

In addition to this, Councillor Walters confirmed that he also knew David Hunt. He was attending the Committee with an open mind.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 17 November 2021 as a true and accurate record.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the minutes of the meeting held on 17^th November 2021 were approved as a true and accurate record.

The minutes were proposed by Councillor Bhangra and seconded by Councillor Walters.

PROPOSAL: Variation (under Section 73A) of planning permission 418365 to remove condition 5.

RECOMMENDATION: Permit

APPLICANT: Mr Hunt

MEMBER CALL IN: N/A

EXPIRY DATE: 26 August 2021

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the order of agenda items was changed, with the Magnet Leisure Centre being the last application considered.

Councillor Maureen Hunt who was attending in the public gallery and who was the wife of the applicant, left the room at this point to ensure transparency throughout the discussions on the application.

A motion was put forward by Councillor Walters to permit the application, in line with officer’s recommendation. This was seconded by Councillor Hill.

A named vote was taken.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Committee authorised the Head of Planning to determine the application in accordance with the recommendation.

The Committee was addressed by the applicant, David Hunt.

PROPOSAL: x3 new dwellings with associated access, parking and landscaping following demolition of existing dwelling and outbuildings. 

RECOMMENDATION: Permit

APPLICANT: King Charles Homes

MEMBER CALL IN: N/A

EXPIRY DATE: 20 September 2021

A motion was put forward by Councillor Reynolds to refuse the application, against officer’s recommendation. In putting forward the motion, Councillor Reynolds said that the development was out of character with the surrounding area and would cause significant harm to the streetscape. The motion was seconded by Councillor Brar.

A named vote was taken.

The motion fell.

A second motion was put forward by Councillor Hill to permit the application, in line with officer’s recommendation, with the addition of an Informative to secure the submission of permeable gravel or gravel-like finish for the proposed areas of hard-surfacing to accommodate the proposed car parking pursuant to condition 6 of the permission. This was seconded by Councillor Walters.

A named vote was taken.

RESOLVED: That the Committee authorised the Head of Planning to determine the application in accordance with the recommendation, with the addition of the Informative referred to above.

The Committee was addressed by Jamie Fitzroy, objector, James Gellini, applicant, and Councillor Del Campo.

PROPOSAL: Construction of x5 buildings to create x439 homes (use class C3) with car and cycle parking, pedestrian and vehicular access alterations, landscaping works and boundary treatments, following demolition of all existing buildings and structures.

RECOMMENDATION: Defer & Delegate

APPLICANT: N/A

MEMBER CALL IN: N/A

EXPIRY DATE: 19 May 2021

A motion was put forward by Councillor Baldwin to refuse the application, against officer’s recommendation. Councillor Baldwin believed that the application had not considered the Maidenhead Town Centre Area Action Plan 2011, particularly MTC6 which restricted the development of tall buildings to two distinct areas of Maidenhead. There had been two developments approved outside of these areas, but both developments had considered MTC6 in the officer report. Councillor Baldwin quoted paragraph 134 of the 2021 NPPF which stated that development that were not well designed should be refused, especially where they did not reflect local design policies. Councillor Baldwin stated that around 30% of the dwellings at the development would fail to meet the daylight standards, in paragraph 7.16 of the Boroughwide Design Guide, it was recommended that dark, overwhelming spaces were not created.

This motion was seconded by Councillor Hill. He added concerns around highways and due to the increased number of cars in the surrounding areas that would use local roads to access the proposed development.

A named vote was taken.

The motion fell.

A second motion was put forward by Councillor Bowden to defer and delegate the application, in line with officer’s recommendation. The Update Report listed changes to conditions 2 and 17, changes to condition 7 and the addition of a new condition to assess whether wheelchair accessible units could be added to the development. This was seconded by Councillor G Jones.

A named vote was taken.

RESOLVED: That the application was deferred and delegated to the Head of Planning.

The Committee was addressed by Sajid Khan, objector, Malcolm Wood, applicant, Councillor Singh and Councillor Stimson.

Committee Members to note report.

There were no reports for the Committee to note.