Parish Council meeting minutes – 16th December 2025

·         Infrastructure survey update – details of possible planning consultants have been sent to relevant councillors.  Council needs to determine what exactly is required.  January meeting agenda item.

·         Solar Farm community grant – separate bank account now set up.  Clerk is awaiting details from Cero on transferring funds.

·         Clift Meadow plans – Clerk has been in contact with the owner of Minchens Barn, and a meeting will be set up early in the New Year.

Clerk

Clerk

·         Mayoral elections – noted the delay in elections from May 2026 to May 2028.  Also noted that no-one knows at present if there will be county and district elections.  Should know more by end of February 2026

·         Noted Local Plan consultation.

·         Aquadrome refurbishment has moved forward.  Still not at building stage.

·         Pitch and Putt at Down Grange – driving range are to be put on the Leisure Park site.  Still looking for a Pitch and Putt site, which may be Down Grange.

·         Food recycling – usage is slowly growing.

·         Solar panels being placed on many community facilities in Basingstoke.

It was proposed by Cllr Durrant that the Burial Ground maintenance should be fortnightly in 2026.  Cllr Wright seconded, unanimously agreed.  Clerk to take forward.

Clerk

Cllr Wright

i.            IT Policy – the Clerk has circulated a draft IT policy, and noted that this is a required policy due to the new IT compliance regulations.  Cllr Munday proposed adopting the policy, Cllr Howell seconded, unanimously agreed.

ii.            Social Media policy – this policy goes hand in hand with an IT policy, and the Clerk has circulated a draft policy.  Cllr Munday proposed adopting the policy, Cllr Howell seconded, unanimously agreed.

Clerk to finalise both policies and publish on the PC website.

Clerk

i.            Local Plan spatial strategy regulation 18 consultation – The deadline for comments on this consultation is 23^rd January 2026.  Cllr Munday has circulated a discussion document for the Bramley PC response.  Clarification is required about the number of houses that are identified for Bramley in the coming Plan period, and which (if any) of the recent planning permissions will go towards that total.

AD stated that 85 came from a calculation based on the increased amount of houses required due the NPPF changes.

Stocks Farm will not count towards this total.  Bow Brook Farm probably will.  This leaves a net target of 35 for Bramley.  Other sites to take into account are the land next to Centenary Fields (20), and the Mekanix site (14).

Two separate sites at Skates Lane in Pamber and another site in Mortimer were noted – these have been added as strategic sites.

Also note issues with infrastructure, especially surrounding sewerage issues.

Cllr Munday to put together a response ready for submission.

Cllr Munday

i.            Allotments tenancy agreement – a simplified version of the tenancy agreement has been circulated.  If approved, this will be sent out to all tenants along with the 2026 rent invoices, with a request for everyone to sign and return it to the Clerk.  Cllr Wright proposed accepting the simplified tenancy agreement, Cllr James seconded, unanimously agreed.

·         Nothing further to report.

·          Christmas light switch on – very wet, but went ahead anyway.

·         A plaque will be placed by the Clift tree planted last month.

·         The Clerk and some Councillor have met today to discuss the ongoing issues with site traffic for the Solar Farm.  Cero Generation are very keen to ensure that their suppliers are taking note of the traffic management plan, and noted that a significant number of drivers have now been banned due to their coming into the village from the east rather than the west.  They have also ceased using 3 of their 5 suppliers for the same reason.  Wheel washers have now been installed at the compound for the site, which should help stop the amount of mud on the local roads.  Cero have accepted that communication with the local community needs to be improved, and that this will be via the Parish Council where possible.  They are planning to hold a ‘Town Hall’ event at the Village Hall at the end of January to enable them to speak directly with Bramley residents.  A further meeting between Cero and Bramley PC is planned for around the same time.  Cllrs noted that some of the conditions have been discharged since the appeal – Cllrs Durrant and Oborn to take this forward with planning officers.

·         Site traffic for Stocks Farm also continues to be an issue.  Bramley PC is liaising with both Enforcement Officers and the developer on this.  The Clerk is awaiting confirmation of a meeting between Enforcement Officers and Bramley PC – this looks like it will now be in the New Year.

Cllr Durrant/ Cllr Oborn

All

Cllr Durrant proposed awarding the grant as applied for, Cllr James seconded, unanimously agreed.  Clerk to take forward.

The group was set up with much the same aims as the Friendship Walks group; that is to promote contacts for isolated people, and to provide support for those people as well.

Cllr James proposed giving the grant for 12 months, Cllr Howell seconded, unanimously agreed.  Clerk to pay hall hire charges directly to the Village Hall.  Review after 6 months.

Clerk

The Clerk has circulated the latest update on CIL expenditure.

Cllr Durrant proposed giving the grant, Cllr Wright seconded, unanimously agreed.  Clerk to take forward.

Clerk

Cllr Howell proposed going forward with the expenditure, Cllr Wright seconded, unanimously agreed.  Clerk and Cllr Howell to take forward.

Cllr Howell/ Clerk

Clerk

These were noted.

=>35mph

Location

Exceeding 30mph

Corner

Beaurepaire

Outline planning application for residential development, with vehicular access to be provided from the access approved under Outline permission: 19/00018/OUT and Phase 1 Reserved Matters permission: 23/02003/RES; and the provision of; cycle and pedestrian accesses, open space, landscaping, SuDS, and other associated infrastructure. All matters reserved except for access.

·         CT – Highways.  Proposing diverting cycle route through new estate, but northern exit onto Cufaude Lane will be onto a bend on a single track lane with poor visibility.

·         Doesn’t offer anything in the way of community facilities

·         Unsustainable location – infrastructure – Drs, school places, traffic and lack of road improvements, buses.

·         Historical localised flooding on the proposed site.

·         Appear to be a high number of 2.5 storey houses proposed – this is not in keeping with the Bramley Village setting.  They also appear to be excessively high ridgeline compared to other 2.5 storey buildings.

·         No interconnectivity between open space for this development and Upper Cufaude Farm.

·         Objection unanimously agreed.

These were noted.

·         Phasing occupation at Stocks Farm has been agreed, and the Thames Water Project Manager should be reaching out to Bramley PC to update.  This has not yet happened.

·         Possible upcoming development West of Minchens Lane – Thames Water has confirmed that they have concerns about capacity for this development.

·         Bramley Meadows – Thames Water has said that their plant at Sherfield would need to be upsized to accommodate this development should it go ahead.  It is unknown at this time if there are any plans to do so.

Meeting closed at 9.07pm.

Reinstate existing site access/current building works access to be used as the permanent private residential access and repositioning of outbuilding. Outbuilding to be a garage rather than the previously approved car port (part retrospective).

Objection

Request for a Screening Opinion for residential development of up to 100 no. dwellings, open space, landscaping and servicing

EIA requested

Erection of a part single storey/part first floor loft extension to rear, construction of 2 no. loft dormer windows to front elevation and new porch.

No objection

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

Outline planning (including access and strategic landscaping for approval) for up to 130 market and affordable homes, a commercial and/or community building, public open space, off-site highway improvements plus access from Reading Road.

Variation of Section 106 agreement attached to 21/03758/OUT to allow an amendment to the occupation trigger associated with the delivery and availability for use of the equipped play space as part of the development

Proposed non-illuminated signage comprising 2 Flag and pole signs, 1 Fascia Sign and 2 stand alone signs.

Proposed Battery Energy Storage System Facility and Substation Compound including ancillary equipment and infrastructure, together with landscaping and biodiversity enhancements

Erection of four no. poles with floodlighting and CCTV cameras and 3 no. poles with CCTV cameras. (retrospective).

Installation of 20 no. solar panels on the roof at the rear west facing elevation

Construction of access track to fishing pond, including car parking and associated works.

Installation of 2 no. heat pumps within the grounds, located on the south facing rear side of building, the other on east facing side

Two storey side extension & single storey rear extension following demolition of existing conservatory

Erection of replacement porch to front; erection of replacement porch to rear with pergola; Increase size of existing aperture to Living room to allow for installation of new doors to rear. Replacement door

Installation of fence, concrete pillars and metal gate (part retrospective).

Proposed single storey side extension to form ancillary accommodation

Conversion of garage into habitable accommodation and single storey rear extension following demolition of existing conservatory.