Parish Council meeting minutes – 18th July 2023

BRAMLEY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Council

Date:	Tuesday 18^th July 2023	Time: 7.00pm
Place:	Bramley Room, Bramley Village Hall
Present:	Cllr Tony Durrant (Chair)	Cllr Chris Tomblin
	Cllr Chris Flooks	Cllr Liz Capel
	Cllr Malcolm Bell	Cllr Alan Munday
In attendance:	Maxta Thomas (Clerk)	0 members of the public
	Cllr Nick Robinson (Borough)
Apologies:	Cllr Colin Shimell	Cllr Keith Oborn
	Cllr Rhydian Vaughan (County)

		*Action*
1	Apologies for Absence
	As listed above.
2	Casual Vacancy – co-option of a new councillor
	A vote was held to co-opt a new Councillor to the Parish Council. There was 1 candidate, Mr Iain James. After some discussion, a vote was held, and Mr Iain James was elected unanimously to Bramley Parish Council. He duly signed his Acceptance of Office form and took his place on the Council.
3	Declarations of Interest
	None.
	Minutes of the Last Parish Council Meeting
4.1	The minutes of the council meeting on 20^th June 2023 were proposed Cllr Tomblin and seconded by Cllr Bell and unanimously agreed as being a true record of the meetings. The Chairman duly signed the minutes of the meeting.
4.2	Matters arising
	· Website migration – this is now complete. · AQ monitor – Cllr Tomblin has established the ownership of the telegraph pole near the school – it is owned by Scottish & Southern Electricity. Clerk to make contact to obtain permission to use it for the AQ monitor. · The actions list will be expanded in the future to include tasks that come up between meetings, as well as minutes actions. · Speedwatch – Clerk to take up line painting with Highways.	*Clerk* *Clerk* *Clerk*
5	Open Forum
	Cllr Durrant asked members of the public to submit any questions they might have ahead of each agenda item. · Cllr Bell raised the issue of possible pollution in the Bramley Brook on behalf of a resident. Cllr Durrant noted that BDBC officers are now involved, and they are going to carry out some testing to establish what the pollution might be, and where it might be coming from. It has been noted that the pollution incidents are far less at the weekends. Cllr Durrant will maintain pressure at BDBC.	*Cllr Durrant*
6	County Councillor Report – see appendix A.
7	Borough Councillor Report – Cllr Tomblin, Cllr Durrant and Cllr Robinson gave a verbal report. · The first Cabinet meeting of the new administration has been held. · There will be no further car park charges at Eastrop Park, and it is likely that charges for rural car parks will not happen. · Local Plan Update – draft policies have been reviewed. BDBC and officers will be looking at site allocations this week. The regulation 18 consultation is likely to be in January 2024. · The ward councillor grant system is open for applications. · Full Council to be held this week. · Cllr Tomblin has enquired whether BDBC gras cutting teams could carry out grass cutting at Bramley Green. This may be a possibility in the future. · BDBC is drawing up a biodiversity bill, ready for adoption in April 2024. · The Cost of Living Assistance Fund has re-opened. More details are on the BDBC website www.basingstoke.gov.uk/COLAF · Plastic free month – refillable cups are being given away via outlets in Basingstoke. · Big Team Challenge – this event is to encourage residents to walk, and is supported by a dedicated app. Details are on the BDBC website www.basingstoke.gov.uk/walking .
8	Parish Environment
8.1	Footpaths – vegetation overgrowth – Bramley PC’s contractor has completed clearance work on the Cinder Track. It should be noted that this would normally be the responsibility of HCC and Taylor Wimpey. However, due to the urgency of the work, Bramley PC has carried it out on this occasion. Future issues will be referred to the relevant authority. The Lengthsman will be carrying out clearance work on the roadside pavements along Sherfield Road shortly, as well as the footpath near Bullsdown Farm. The footpath from Bramley Green Road to Lane End is the responsibility of BDBC and will be reported to them in the next day or two.
8.2	Community engagement newsletter – and educational leaflet ‘what the Parish Council does’ was discussed, as was an information leaflet ‘who to report things to’. If it is to be published and distributed with the September parish magazine, then it must be ready for 15^th August. All Councillors to think about content and contact the Clerk accordingly.	*All*
8.3	Projects for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) expenditure – The Clerk has distributed a list of possible projects for CIL expenditure. Youth shelter – it was suggested that it would be worth talking to Youth Club. Cllr Munday to explore options. Village Hall chairs and tables – Clerk to contact BVHT to see if they are interested.	*Cllr Munday* *Clerk*
8.4	Community Christmas event – suggestions have been received that Bramley PC might co-ordinate a community Christmas event. It was proposed was that two Christmas trees be erected, one at the Minchens Lane triangle, and another at Bramley Green, with solar powered lights. Cllr Bell proposed, Cllr Durrant seconded, unanimously agreed. Cllr Bell and Cllr James to investigate suppliers.	*Cllr Bell / Cllr James*
9	Clerk’s report & Administration
9.1	Parish magazine article – the next issue will be the September issue, and Cllr Capel will write the article. The deadline is 15^th August 2023.	*Cllr Capel*
9.2	Parish Council insurance – the Clerk reported that she is in the process of reviewing the PC insurance provision, with a view to changing suppliers. The insurance is due on 1^st October 2023. Therefore, the decision will need to be made at the September meeting. The Clerk will be in touch with Councillors in due course with various options.	*Clerk*
10	Reports
10.1	Planning Committee Report (see appendix B) – Cllr Flooks summarised the recent Planning Committee meeting. · Cllr Tomblin noted that the solar farm judicial review is scheduled for 17^th October for 3 days in London. · Land adjoining Clift Surgery – Cllr Tomblin attended a meeting with the developer and the surgery re access to site via the surgery car park, which is unsuitable as a site access. Cllr Tomblin and Cllr Vaughan are liaising with Highways to see if the access can be organised via Minchens Lane rather than the surgery car park.
10.2	Allotments & Burial Ground – see appendix A · Discussions are ongoing about the security arrangements for the St James Park allotments car park. · There is a weed infested area of hard standing at the end of the St James Park allotments. The proposal is to scrape back the existing hogging, lay a weedproof membrane and then limestone scalpings (which generally deter weeds), then an area of flagstones and a picnic table/bench. The project still needs to be costed, but there is room in the setup budget for the allotments for the expenditure. It was unanimously agreed to move forward with this proposal. · Cllr Bell asked if something similar could be done at Grays Meadow, perhaps in the car park area. Clerk to take forward. · Burial Ground – hedging both sides has been attended to. The footpath on by the Burial Ground has been cleared of vegetation by the Parish Council. · The Clerk has received a quote of £550 for clearance of the rubbish area. It was unanimously agreed to accept the quote. Clerk to take forward.	*Cllr Shimell* *Clerk* *Clerk*
10.3	Village Hall Trust – see appendix A.
10.4	Clift Meadow Trust – see appendix A. Cllr Capel gave a very update. · At the recent AFM, Graham Auld was re-elected as Chair, and all Trustees were re-elected. · Chase the Sun event was a success. · There are a couple more events in the pipeline for later in the year. · The Fete was a financial success.
10.5	Policing – see appendix A. Cllr Durrant that a new police sergeant, Sergenat Evans, has taken over the Bramley beat. He is based out of Tadley Police Station.
10.6	Highways & Footpaths – see appendix A. · A resident has again raised an issue with the state of disrepair of the bridleway between Folly Lane and Mill Lane. This has again been reported to HCC Highways, who have responded – in 2021 an order was raised to infill a number of the very deep ruts with a limestone aggregate thereby removing some of the hazards for pedestrian users. HCC Highways regrets that in terms of maintenance there is little that that would be effective in improving the quality of Green Lane whilst it is open for use by agricultural and 4×4 type traffic. Clerk to contact Highways and note that local foot users would be happy with the closure of the path to vehicles, and pass contact details of Highways on to residents. · A resident has again requested a dog litter bin at bottom of the access road for the Substation for dog walkers. The Clerk noted that this has been suggested before, without success. It may be possible to place one near the corner of Burlington Avenue. Clerk to approach BDDBC and National Grid to explore the possibilities.	*Clerk* *Clerk*
10.7	Chairman’s Report Nothing to report.
11	Consultation documents requiring consideration
11.1	HCC Budget Consultation – the Clerk has distributed details of this consultation. The closing date for comments is 23^rd July. The Clerk thanks councillors who have already sent through their thoughts. Councillors to review and send comments to Clerk for collation and response by Friday 21^st July. Clerk to respond with what responses are in by that point.	*All*
12	Grant Applications
	None.
13	Finance
13.1	Approval of payments (see appendix C) – the Clerk has circulated the list of payments for approval. Cllr Capel proposed and Cllr Munday seconded that the July payments be approved. Unanimously agreed. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
13.2	Receipts – these were noted.
14	Date of Next meeting
	The next full Parish Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 19^th September 2023.
15	Resolution to exclude press and public from items that may require discussion of possible legal and financial proceedings
	None.
16	Confidential Items
	None.
	The meeting closed at 8.52pm.

Signed: …………………………………………………………………. Date: ………………………………………

(Chairman)
Appendix A – July Briefing notes

COMMUNITY SPEEDWATCH

Concerning speeds –

From SID data

Village Speeding Hot spots:

Silchester Road between Bramley Corner and Tudor Farm (Both directions)
Sherfield Road, Smithy and Farriers (West Bound).
Village Hall (East Bound)

A request was received from a resident along the Silchester to place a SID between Tudor Farm and Bramley Corner. The data from them (East and West bound) indicates that that there is a significant problem with speeding in this area (both directions). I have previously contacted a resident in the area to see if they would allow SpeedWatch to undertake a Manned Deployment from their property, despite complaining about the speeding they were unwilling to allow SpeedWatch to use their property for a Manned Deployment.

Due to the concerning recent SID data I have contacted the Police to see if they could risk assess a location in that area to enable Speedwatch to conduct some manned deployments. The Police are currently looking into the possibility.

It is very noticeable that the road markings throughout the Village are in a very poor state and most are barley legible. Could the PC please bring some pressure to bear with Highways to re-paint as necessary.

SIDs –Both SIDs were in use throughout May at various locations throughout the Village. See Table 1.

Recent Local SpeedWatch Activity – 4 manned Deployments were undertaken during May. A total 49 Vehicles were reported to the Police from the 548 vehicles checked – hit rate 9%. Top speed recorded 50mph. The driver of the vehicle recorded at 50mph was visited by the Police.

Equipment – The SpeedGun continues to be a good asset.

The batteries for the SIDs will require replacing shortly as the charge capacity is reducing.

General – Village fete again was a great success.

AutoSpeedWatch Camera – As I have still not heard back from Highways I contacted Ranil regarding the issue. I have previously copied in Maxta with the response.

ALLOTMENTS/BURIAL GROUND

No written report received.

VILLAGE HALL TRUST

No written report received.

CLIFT MEADOW TRUST

No written report received.

POLICING & NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

No written report received

HIGHWAYS/FOOTPATHS

No written report received.

BOROUGH COUNCILLOR REPORT

No written report received.

COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORT

No written report received.

Appendix B – Planning Committee minutes

Date:	11^th July 2023	Time: 7.00pm
Place:	Bramley Room, Bramley Village Hall
Present:	Cllr Chris Flooks (Chair)	Cllr Malcolm Bell
	Cllr Keith Oborn	Cllr Chris Tomblin
	Cllr Alan Munday
In attendance:	Maxta Thomas (Clerk)	0 members of the public
Apologies:

		*Action*
1	Apologies for Absence
	As listed above.
2	Declarations of Interest
	Cllr Oborn and Cllr Tomblin declared an interest in item number 4.1.f, and took no part in the vote on that item.
3	Minutes of the Last Planning Committee Meeting
3.1	The minutes of the meeting held on 11^th April 2023 were unanimously agreed to be a true record of the meeting and were signed by the Chairman.
3.2	Matters arising
	None.
4	Planning & Development
4.1	New Applications
a.	23/01515/ROC – Middle Farm Cottage The Street Bramley Variation of Condition 1 (plans) and 5 (Ensuite window) of 22/01377/HSE to retain the side window with a 2 pane window · Replacement window is in keeping with existing. · No objection unanimously agreed. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
b.	23/01584/HSE – Latchmore Barn Ash Lane Latchmere Green Little London Installation of a ground solar system array comprising of 6 rows of 4 all black solar panels on a site area of 11 metres by 8 metres. · No objection unanimously agreed. Members would like mounting units/tubs to be green if possible. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
c.	T/00242/23/TCA – The Vicarage Silchester Road Bramley T1. Acer- clear roof line by 1.5m T2. Hazel- Clear garage roof line and security light by 1.5m T3. Fell one dying Eucalyptus · Defer to tree officer unanimously agreed. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
d.	T/00244/23/TPO – Outside Boundary Of 9 Wallis Drive Bramley 2 trees: prune. · Defer to tree officer unanimously agreed. Note that there is little information in the application – there is no indication as to what the trees are, or whether they are diseased or not. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
e.	23/01602/PIP – Land To The West Of Little Oak Silchester Road Bramley Permission in principle for the erection of a minimum of 1 no. and maximum of 3 no. residential dwellings · ‘Creeping’ development along Bramley Road. · The access statement should be questioned– the development is isolated, despite the bus stop nearby. There are no pavements for some distance from this proposed development. · Bramley does not have a ‘locally agreed need’ – it has already been more than adequately exceeded. There is no identified need in Bramley. · Access is onto a road with a well know speeding issue. · The site is not within the Settlement Policy Boundary (SPB), and is just outside the Conservation Area and will affect the views from the Conservation Area. · The proposals are against policies H1, H2, D1 and D2c and d of the Neighbourhood Plan. D1 – area is particularly rural and new houses will detract from that. · Objections unanimously agreed. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
f.	23/01646/FUL – Land Adjacent To Cufaude Manor Cufaude Lane Bramley Erection of a single storey 3-bedroom dwelling together with hard and loft landscaping and on-curtilage parking · This would be an Isolated home in the countryside. · The site is a known migratory route for toads. · The proposals will have a direct negative impact on the nearby scheduled ancient monument. · The proposals will have a direct negative impact on the nearby Grade 2 listed building. · The site is outside the SPB. · There is no local need for new housing. · The proposals are contrary to policies D2c and d of the Neighbourhood Plan, as well as D1. The proposed building will not enhance the area for the reasons above. · Objections as above unanimously agreed. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
g.	Any other new applications – None.
4.2	Approvals/Refusals/Pending (see appendix A) These were noted.
5.	Water Issues
	Cllr Bell has been in touch with the engineer at Thames Water, requesting an update on the sewerage upgrade project. Cllr Bell has also highlighted recent planning conditions attached to several permissions granted on various planning applications for Bramley, and requested clarification on how these may affect the building and occupation process.
6.	Minchens Lane s.106 issues
	Clift Meadow lighting – the Clerk has contacted Persimmon with queries about the proposed new lights, asking about their robustness and expected life. A response is awaited. The Clerk continues to chase. St James Park Allotments– all Persimmon work is now complete, the signed lease has been exchanged, and allotment holders took tenancy at the beginning of May. The allotments are now completely under the control of Bramley Parish Council.	*Clerk*
7.	Local Plan Update
	Cllr Tomblin gave an update – members of BDBC have spent a day going through all the policies. New policy wording should be improved. BDBC is looking at zero carbon housing where the nett gain must be more than 10%. Cllr Tomblin and BDBC have acknowledged issues with Transport policies as these are constrained by HCC Highways budgets. Policies should be much stronger than originally planned when the Regulation 18 consultation stage is reached, probably in January 2024.
8.	Neighbourhood Plan
	No update at present. Cllr Tomblin noted that any policies should be viewed with a view to nett zero carbon usage and biodiversity.
9.	Date of Next Meeting
	The next Planning Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 8^th August 2023, to be held at the Bramley Room at Bramley Village Hall. Meeting closed at 8.11pm.

Planning Summary

Approvals/Refusals*

23/01129/LDPO – 9 Pound Close Bramley

Certificate of lawfulness for the proposed erection of single storey side/rear extension

Granted

No objection

23/01237/HSE – 27 St Marys Avenue Bramley

Erection of a first-floor side rear extension to include front dormer and rear roof terrace with fenestrations

Granted

Objection

23/00858/FUL – Land At Latchmore Farm Latchmere Green Little London

Construction of a manege

Granted

No objection

T/00183/23/TPO – 22 Wallis Drive Bramley

Sycamore: prune

Granted

Defer to tree officer

Pending Applications*

1.	T/00583/20/TPO – Middle Farm The Street Bramley T1, T2, T3 – Western Red Cedars: prune.	Defer to tree officer
2.	20/03204/VLA – Land At Minchens Lane Bramley Variation of Section 106 agreement attached to 14/01075/OUT to enable the transfer of the Equipped play area, northern kick about and southern kick about areas to the existing management company instead of the Parish Council	No comment as PC has interest in application
3.	22/01703/VLA – Land At The Street The Street Bramley Variation of section 106 agreement attached to 15/02682/OUT to insert mortgagee in possession clause	No comment
4.	23/00063/ROC – Land At Latchmere Green Ash Lane Latchmere Green Little London Variation of condition 1 of 21/01147/FUL to amend drawing numbers to allow for change in design and alterations to front porch, additional rooflights and adjustment to elevational window locations	No objection
5.	23/00658/RES – Land Adjacent The Street Bramley Reserved matters application for the erection of 4 dwellings including appearance, landscaping, layout and scale (pursuant to outline planning application 20/01097/OUT)	Objection
6.	23/00690/FUL – Locksbridge Farm Cufaude Lane Bramley Conversion of an existing barn into a residential dwelling	Objection
7.	23/00751/ROC – Locksbridge Farm Cufaude Lane Bramley Variation of Condition 1 of 21/00521/FUL – Erection of 1no. dwelling and associated parking – Increased Gnd and 1st Floor area and addition of carport	Objection
8.	23/00780/FUL – Cedarwood Silchester Road Bramley Erection of 1 no. 4 bed dwelling and detached garage including associated landscaping and access following demolition of existing stables/home office	Objection
9.	23/00741/HSE – Olivers Farm Olivers Lane Bramley Conversion of loft to create additional living space, including creation of 2 no. dormers, interior alterations and addition of window to rear elevation	No objection
10.	T/00197/23/TPO – 12 Taylor Drive Bramley Oak trees: prune back from property boundary	Comments, defer to tree officer
11.	23/01294/FUL – Meadow View Sherfield Road Bramley Erection of two blocks of flats (4+3 no. flats) following the demolition of existing detached bungalow	Objection
12.	23/01315/FUL – Land Adjacent To Bramley National Grid Substation Minchens Lane Bramley Installation of underground cable	No objection
13.	23/01316/HSE – 3 The Barracks Bramley Green Erection of rear first floor extension with gable roof to match existing and single storey rear extension with lean-to roof.	Comments, no objection
14.	23/01373/FUL – Land At Former Air Products Site Crockford Lane Chineham Erection of 2 no. employment units for Use Class B2/B8/E(g)(iii) together with access, parking, landscaping and associated works	Comments, no objection

*Objections/no objections listed are the decision of Bramley Parish Council only, and do not reflect any submissions placed by members of the public or other bodies with Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council.

Appendix C – Finance

The July 2023 finance statement can be viewed here.