Parish Council meeting minutes – 18th March 2025

BRAMLEY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Council

Date:	Tuesday 18^th March 2025	Time: 7.00pm
Place:	Bramley Room, Bramley Village Hall
Present:	Cllr Tony Durrant (Chair)	Cllr Sue Howell
	Cllr Chris Flooks	Cllr Jan Wright
	Cllr Iain James	Cllr Keith Oborn
	Cllr Alan Munday
In attendance:	Maxta Thomas (Clerk)	1 member of the public
	Cllr Rhydian Vaughan (HCC)
Apologies:	Cllr Chris Tomblin	Cllr Malcolm Bell

		*Action*
1	Apologies for Absence
	As listed above.
2	Declarations of Interest
	Cllr Durrant declared an interest in planning matters due to his position on the BDBC Development Control Committee. He took no part in any planning decisions.
3	Minutes of the Last Parish Council Meeting
3.1	The minutes of the meeting held on 18^th February 2025 were proposed by Cllr James and seconded by Cllr Howell and unanimously agreed as being a true record of the meeting. The Chairman duly signed the minutes of the meeting.
3.2	Matters arising
	None.
3.3	Outstanding actions
	· Flagpole – the Clerk has confirmed with BDBC Planning officers that planning permission is not required. The Clift Meadow Trustees (CMT) will be discussing it at their next meeting on 28^th March 2025. · Finance regulations – new amendments to the model regulations have been received and are to be reviewed by the Clerk before circulating the complete document to all councillors. · Warning signs at the Parish Green path will be erected this weekend. · Meitner headstone – the Clerk has obtained 2 quotes and will obtain a third from a local stonemason.	*Clerk* *Clerk*
4	Open Forum
	· None.
5.	County Councillor Report – see appendix A. · Nothing further to report.
6.	Borough Councillor Report – see appendix A. · Food waste collection – Cllr Oborn suggested a short explanatory video for the BDBC website. It was felt that a demonstration at a PC meeting was not an efficient use of officers or PC time. · Full Council will be on Thursday 20^th March. The BDBC approach to devolution will be under discussion.
7.	Parish Environment
7.1	Parish Green project update – warning signs for the path are to be erected shortly. A schedule of works will be agreed upon once the contractor has completed the works at the Grays Meadow allotments.
8	Events
8.1	2025 Annual Parish Meeting – the Clerk has circulated proposals for a different format for the APM in 2025. Each community group involved will be encouraged to have a stand at which they will present what their organisation does and its plans for the future. The focus of the event would very much be on ‘Bringing the Community Together’. Bramley Parish Council would also have its own stand. All organisations that have received funding from the Parish Council in the last 12 months will be invited. Cllr Wright suggested that it should be more of a networking session, with information on how to apply for grants, and information on charities and voluntary organisations. It could be framed as more of a ‘Volunteer Appreciation day’. The event could be very informal, but there is a need for something to present to people , perhaps focusing on how PC has helped people. Agenda for 8^th April – Cllrs Wright and Howell volunteered to look into it further.	*Cllr Wright/ Cllr Howell*
9	Clerk’s report & Administration
9.1	Parish magazine article – Cllr Flooks will write the article for the May 2025 issue of the Parish magazine. Copy is due by 15^th April 2025. i. Update on Vyne Park distribution – the March edition of the Bramley Magazine was delivered to Vyne Park residents at the beginning of March. So far no feedback has been received.	*Cllr Flooks*
10	Planning Committee
10.1	Cllr Flooks gave the report from the recent Planning Committee meeting. · 25/00322/ADV – Land At Stocks Farm The Street Bramley – unanimously agreed to ratify the Committee decision · T/00089/25/TPO – 5 Churchlands Bramley – unanimously agreed to ratify the Committee decision. · 25/00528/HSE – 2 Cornice Road Chineham Basingstoke – unanimously agreed to ratify the Committee decision. The Chairman thanked Cllrs Flooks, Bell and Tomblin for their continued work with Redrow on the matter of the Stocks Farm development, which has yielded positive results.
10.2	Allotments and Burial Ground i. Grays Meadow allotments work – the new fence and gates should be complete by the end of this week. ii. Grays Meadow path work – the footpath at Grays Meadow has been extremely muddy in recent weeks, but there is evidence of a solid path underneath all the mud. A quote has been received to scrape off the top layer of mud and fill in any dips with scalpings, as per the solid layer. A quote has been received of £5700 to complete this work. It was noted that it would form part of the Grays Meadow allotments improvement project, and that the footpath is part of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. Cllr Flooks proposed accepting the quote, with the expenditure coming from CIL funding as part of the Grays Meadow allotment project. Cllr Wright seconded, unanimously agreed. Work to be carried after work on Parish Green. Clerk to take forward. iii. Allotments inspection app – this app will work with the allotments software agreed at the February 2025 meeting, and provides a seamless way of carrying out allotment inspections. Photos can be uploaded directly to the administration software, and a formal framework for inspections is also made much easier. The cost is a total of £260 per year. Cllr James projosed purchasing the app, Cllr Munday seconded, unanimously agreed. Trial for one year initially. Clerk to take forward.	*Clerk* *Clerk*
10.3	Village Hall Trust – see appendix A
10.4	Clift Meadow Trust · Car park bollards have now been installed. · Work on straightening the path has started and should be complete next week. · The path near the Pavilion is being pushed up by tree routes and will need re-laying at some point very soon. CMT to obtain quotes.
10.5	Highways/Footpaths – the Clerk has chased the blockages of the Bramley Frith footpath. HCC Rights of Way have forwarded this issue to the landowner, who are engaging contractors to deal with the work. The Clerk will continue to chase. The Clerk reported that the roads@hants.gov.uk email address will cease to exist from 14^th April 2025, and that all Highways reporting from that date should be via the HCC website https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport . Cinder Track – a lot of overgrowth has been cut back in recent weeks, but more needs to be done.	*Clerk*
10.6	Chairmans Report i. Meeting structure – the Chairman noted a need to tighten up the PC meeting structure. There is a need to try to keep meetings to 2 hours, as per the Bramley PC Standing Orders. However, councillors do like the flexibility of how meetings are run. There are various areas of the meeting that will be tightened up, particularly around planning and briefing notes.
11	Consultation documents requiring consideration
11.1	Hampshire & The Solent devolution consultation – the deadline for comments is 13^th April 2025. The Chairman asked whether Bramley PC wants to respond to the consultation. After some discussion it was agreed that the PC would not respond, but that councillors would respond individually. Unanimously agreed.
12	Grant Applications
12.1	Bramley Youth Club grant review – a report has been submitted by RMD Learning. The Youth Club continues to grow, with up to 45 young people attending per session (the average is 35). A range of activities is available each week. However, for the 2025-2026 season, costs have risen due to the increase in Employers National Insurance contributions, and the grant request is for a total of £14,393.50 for the year. Cllr Munday proposed and Cllr James seconded giving the grant as applied for, unanimously agreed. The grant will be paid in two instalments six months apart, as per 2024. Clerk to take forward.	*Clerk*
12.2	Bramley Fete grant request – the Bramley Fete committee have submitted a grant request for £4,000. Cllr James proposed giving the grant, but that it should be stipulated that income from this year’s fete should be kept back for next year, as the Bramley PC budget for next year is less as due to no longer having large reserves. Cllr Flooks seconded the motion, unanimously agreed. Clerk to take forward.	*Clerk*
12.3	Little Apples funding request for a new storage shed – the local nursery school, Little Apples, require two new sheds for storage (one is a replacement). The total cost of the project is £2434, and further funding will be sought from Cero Generation (the solar farm company). The grant sought from Bramley PC is £1500. Cllr Durrant suggested a grant from Cero could be sought. Cllr Durrant asked if the Village Hall Trust was contributing to cost of sheds. He also enquired whether all other sources had been exhausted. Councillors also ask about alternative materials to plastic for the new sheds. It was unanimously agreed not to approve the grant at this time. Clerk to take forward.	*Clerk*
12.4	St James Church Flower Festival – the St James Church flower team are seeking a grant towards the flowers for the 2025 Flower Festival, which will this year commemorate the 80^th anniversary of VE day. The total cost of the project is £600 – £700. Cllr Durrant proposed up to £700 for the event. Cllr Wright seconded, unanimously agreed. Clerk to take forward.	*Clerk*
12.5	St James Church PCC – Cross House – St James Church PCC has submitted a grant request to allow long outstanding maintenance of the windows at Cross House. The total amount requested is £2700. It was noted that Cross House is a community facility. This grant would come from CIL if agreed. Cllr Howell proposed giving the grant, Cllr Wright seconded, unanimously agreed. Clerk to take forward.	*Clerk*
13	Finance
13.1	Approval of payments (see appendix C) – the Clerk has circulated the list of payments for approval for March. Cllr Oborn proposed and Cllr Howell seconded that the March 2025 payments be approved. Unanimously agreed. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
13.2	CIL Income & Expenditure update – see appendix D.
13.3	Receipts – these were noted.
14	Date of Next meeting
	The next full Parish Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 8^th April 2025.
15	Resolution to exclude press and public from items that may require discussion of possible legal and financial proceedings
	Cllr Durrant proposed the motion, Cllr Wright seconded, unanimously agreed. The press and public left the meeting.
16	Confidential Items
16.1	Litter Warden salary review – the Clerk noted that the National Living wage will increase in April 2025. She confirmed that the annual grant from BDBC will cover this and any increase in Employer National Insurance contributions. Cllr Wright proposed approving the increase in the Litter Wardens salary , Cllr James seconded, unanimously agreed. Clerk to take forward.	*Clerk*

	The meeting closed at 9.03pm.

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

(Chairman)

Appendix A – March Briefing notes

COMMUNITY SPEEDWATCH

SIDS – The SIDs were in operation throughout February (See Table 2).

Please see Table 3 for some very concerning data regarding data recorded at Churchlands.

Recent Local SpeedWatch Activity – 3 manned Deployment were undertaken during February. A total of 28 vehicles were reported to the Police from the 505 vehicles checked – hit rate 6%. Top speed recorded 45mph. See Table 3.

The group celebrated the 100^th Deployment on the 27^th February since I became the Bramley SpeedWatch co-ordinated – 3 years ago. The table below gives a brief overview of the last 3 years.

No of Offences Recorded on deployments

offending

Max speed recorded on a deployment

No of vehicles speed checked on Deployments

Number of days both SID were deployed

1210

8.8%

13711

862/1095

The table below is SID hits per day (before SID) versus time. The chart indicates an increase in traffic flow of approx. 14% over the period.

Equipment

Camera: AutoSpeedWatch – As a result of much chasing and information/data supply to the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and our MP the PCC has instigated a review of AutoSpeedWatch. The following is from my last correspondence with the PCC.

“We have completed a comprehensive review of the Gloucestershire model and are currently exploring the legali9es and cos9ngs involved in implemen9ng a similar approach in our region. The ﬁnal decision will rest with the Commissioner once we have gathered and presented all relevant informa9on from the involved par9es”.

Some progress.

Table 1: Camera Data

The following camera data was downloaded on the 1^st of January 2025. Offenders down due to shorter daylight hours, glare on lens and fog on several days.

Month/Year	Verified Speeders =>35mph	Max Speed Recorded	Highest number of offences committed by one vehicle	Fastest Hour	Illegal Vehicles
May 2024	2752	58	15	7pm
June 2024	3338	60	17	10am
July 2024	3104	61	18	2pm
August 2024	2616	59	13	5am	73
September 2024	1087	54	7	5am	47
October 2024	1032	55	11	9am	34
November 2024	749	51	6	11am	20
December 2024	432	53	3	8am	11
January 2025	593	57	5	1pm	21
February 2025	963	50	9	12pm	32
Total Verified speeders	16,666

The Camera trigger and reporting speed are set at =>35mph. Illegal vehicles = no tax, no Mot, or no Tax and Mot.

Camera statistics for February 2025*

*Please note Camera not working for periods due to low sunlight causing glare on lens, fog & reduced daylight hours.

Table 2: Speed Indicator Device (SID) DATA February 2025:

SID

Location

Days Deployed

Traffic Direction

Exceeding 30mph

No Exceeding 60mph

Max Speed

Recorded

V85*

Average speed

Farriers

West

48%

The Street by Churchlands

East

43%

*V85: 85% of vehicles are driving slower or exactly this speed.

The following data (Table 3) is data from the SID positioned at Churchlands (east bound traffic). This shows a stepped increase in the number of vehicles exceeding 60mph. The first column is the first recording taken by the SID (mph) and the second column, a second recording taken as the vehicle approaches the SID.

Table 3: SID recordings +60mph Churchlands February 2025

30.01.2025 16:32	74	28	+
31.01.2025 16:12	62	59	+
02.02.2025 20:27	64	53	+
04.02.2025 19:49	67	48	+
11.02.2025 12:53 12.02.2025 19:01	70 65	49 47	+ +
14.02.2025 15:45	77	42	+
16.02.2025 19:44	72	54	+
16.02.2025 21:00	63	64	+
17.02.2025 19:18	69	53	+
22.02.2025 16:59	80	61	+
24.02.2025 22:20	81	57	+
27.02.2025 11:04	62	62	+

ALLOTMENTS/BURIAL GROUND

No written report received.

VILLAGE HALL TRUST

There are some potentially expensive maintenance items coming up.

The Trust has had the various roofs inspected, and the outcome is:

Main hall roof largely OK, some flashing needs refixing
Bramley Room roof in poor condition, damp penetration, needs to be stripped and could mean replacement joists
Flat roof over entrance etc there is some remediation needed. Some flat roof areas are not draining properly because of bumps and obstructions.
Downpipes variously poor or inadequate.

A quick verbal quote from the inspector “could be £40k if the joists need replacing”

The Trust has had good meetings with Redrow. The track will be tarmacked, with an agreement to be drafted for restitution to a good standard by a fixed date – estimated 1st August 2025.

There will once again be problems with contractors and HGVs ignoring vehicle rules. It has already started apparently. Bramley PC advised that they, and the wider community nearby, needs to keep tabs and report back to Redrow via BVHT.

CLIFT MEADOW TRUST

No written report received.

BOROUGH COUNCILLOR REPORT

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has opened its Strengthening Communities grant scheme for 2025, providing funding of up to £15,000 in a year to successful applicants.

Grants can be used to support a range of organisational development activities such as creating new income streams, improving efficiency, redesigning services or upskilling staff and volunteers. Funding can also be used to support service development, such as expanding already successful services into new parts of the borough or developing new services to address gaps in what is currently provided.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 23 April 2025. The full criteria, details about information sessions and guidance on applying are on the website at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/funding

Food waste rollout this September – March next year is government deadline – Alternate weekly collection of grey bins / recycle bins from sept 2026

Re-organisation – Making the case for four new unitary councils for mainland Hampshire, including a Northern Hampshire unitary council encompassing the existing boroughs and districts of Basingstoke and Deane, Hart and Rushmoor, will be discussed by councillors next week.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Cabinet will consider a report on local government reorganisation in the county on Tuesday 18 March and all councillors will discuss it at a meeting on Thursday 20 March

Councils in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have until Friday 21 March to submit initial plans and Friday 26 September to submit a full proposal, after the government announced its plans for local government reorganisation, as well as separate plans for devolution. The government is expected to make a final decision in early 2026 on the future shape of local councils.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Leader Cllr Paul Harvey said: “The only thing that matters is what is in the best interest of the residents of Basingstoke and Deane.

THAMES sewage – Monitoring the Sherfield on Loddon water treatment works has shown more than 28 outflows of sewage into the river since April 24 alone. Mostly in batches of days of heavy rain that we are witnessing more often.

COUNTY COUNCILLOR REPORT

Hampshire County Councillor Update, March 2025 – Calleva Division

There is a major Government consultation about Hampshire devolution, which closes on 13^th April 2025. More details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/hampshire-and-the-solent-devolution/hampshire-and-the-solent-devolution-consultation and https://www.hants.gov.uk/aboutthecouncil/governmentinhampshire/devolution

Highways Information

Reporting Highway Problems . The more that is reported, the quicker things get done.

Links to report road issues are here:

Potholes: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/highways/report-a-problem/potholes
Tree/hedge problems: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/highways/report-a-problem/treehedge
Flooding/drainage issues: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/highways/report-a-problem/flooding
Pavement problems: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/highways/report-a-problem/paving
Broken or missing signs: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/highways/report-a-problem/brokensigns
Faulty street lights: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/highways/report-a-problem/streetlight
Faded or missing road markings: https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/highways/report-a-problem/road-markings
Problems with rights of way: https://www.hants.gov.uk/landplanningandenvironment/rightsofway/reportaproblem

When reporting an issue, you’ll be sent an email confirming a reference number for the report. If you would like me to follow this up for you then do please forward that message to me and I will chase for you.

Hampshire County Council’s Budget

At our budget setting meeting Hampshire’s Full Council

agreed our budget for the year ahead which sees an increase of 4.99% in Council Tax. We had asked the government to increase it by a larger amount and they refused our request.

Why did we ask for a larger rise?

None of us want to increase Council Tax. But, the County Council’s services are underfunded, and the reason for that in large part is our historically low Council Tax rate, which is why we needed to request an above 5% increase from Government.

Hampshire’s Council Tax this financial year is £1533.24 for a band D property – the second lowest in the country. In Surrey the equivalent rate is £1,758.60, West Sussex £1,714.95, and Oxfordshire £1,820.56 for example.

Each 1% of Council Tax increase in Hampshire nets an additional £8million in revenue for the Council. So, a 5% increase results in £40 million in additional revenue this year.

Offset that against the ever rising cost of social care. Every month in Hampshire we see a net increase of 30 people living in care homes who become reliant upon the County Council to pay their costs – even at the most basic level of care these 360 people add a further £18.7 million of cost to our budget each year.

Every month we are seeing an additional 200 applications for Education Health and Care Plans – the first step for children to register for SEN support. That exponential rise is the reason our budget for Home to School transport (for which SEN children qualify for free) has increased from £24 million per year at the end of the pandemic to £105 million next year.

Add to this the effect of employers National Insurance, which will cost us £10.5 million this year – we will get a one off reimbursement of £8 million from Government with nothing for future years.

Consider inflation or pay rises – these of course add further to the bill. We have cut over £700million from our budgets in the last 10 years, and will continue to look for further savings, but frankly there is little left to find and our reserves will, by 2026/27, be exhausted. This is the context within which we find ourselves and the background to both well founded concerns around services and council tax.

For months now, we have tried to engage with this government about our financial situation and have asked for meetings to discuss a positive way forward in partnership. In all that time we have been ignored despite huge pressures on our budget from adult social care and special education costs.

The County Council does not want to raise council tax above the 5% limit. We want to be given the tools to become more entrepreneurial, be given powers to decide where to spend and raise money free of Whitehall diktat. Perhaps our residents will not be surprised – given the present economic management of the country – all these suggestions were ignored too.

We were left with no choice but to agree to give the government our reasons to increase Council Tax above the referendum limit because it is all they asked us to do after finally replying to our letters calling for a meeting.

However, the government has said it will take money from shire counties like ours and give to councils in the midlands and north – some of them bankrupt. It has burdened us with increased costs via employer national insurance and living wage increases we will not get back. The situation is now much worse.

Hampshire County Council is well run. It has the second lowest council tax nationally. As you can see, we sought the increase only due to the rising costs of social care, special educational needs and those increased costs and lack of funding from the government. We have used our reserves to balance the budget so far but this is not sustainable and by the end of the next financial year they will be gone.

So, we present a budget which will include proposals for more savings and an undertaking that while we look for more ways to reduce our costs we will also be promising to continue to spend our budget wisely, protecting our most vulnerable residents, fixing the roads as best we can and looking after our children who are at risk of harm.

Stubbington Outdoor Centre and proposed Secure Children’s Home

There is much misinformation circulating about the proposals for a new Secure Children’s Home at Stubbington.

Once a consultation has commenced there is a process through which we must go to reach a decision. So, let me be very clear:

NO decision has been taken.
The consultation responses have NOT been ignored.
Both the forthcoming Select Committee and Cabinet meetings will be held in public and will be broadcast on the HCC Youtube channel.
There are confidential appendices to the report which include commercially sensitive information, and we will only need to go into a private session of either the Select Committee or Cabinet if anyone wishes to interrogate the information contained within these. Frankly, there is no need to do this as they are in large part not material to the eventual decision.

We are working very hard to find a solution to the challenge we face over balancing the need for a Secure Children’s Home (taking into account the constraints the Department for Education are placing on us in attempting to do so) vs the desire to maintain a study centre at Stubbington.

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Find more info & advice at Hitting the Cold Spots – the Environment Centre (tEC) and the council’s website, including energy efficiency tips and grant details: https://hantscoldspots.environmentcentre.com

My County Councillor’s Grant

For 2024/25 I have given financial support to the following Parishes;-

Sherborne St John – Entrance protection Chute Pavilion

Hartley Wespall – Church organ restoration

Sherfield on Loddon – Christmas Reindeer Trail

Mortimer West End – Car park entrance protection gate

Silchester Group – Equipment for Roman Wall clearance

Sherfield on Loddon – Sleepers for Allotment Association

Silchester Village Hall -Refurbishment funding

Hartley Wespall – Speed gun

Hannington – Notice Boards & Bench

Pamber – Entrance Gate barrier

Cllr Rhydian Vaughan MBE

Fb.com/tellrhydian

Appendix B – Planning Committee Minutes

Date:	11^th March 2025	Time: 8.00pm
Place:	Bramley Room, Bramley Village Hall
Present:	Cllr Chris Flooks (Chair)	Cllr Malcolm Bell
	Cllr Alan Munday	Cllr Chris Tomblin
In attendance:	Maxta Thomas (Clerk)	2 members of the public
Apologies:

			*Action*
1	Apologies for Absence
	As listed above.
2	Declarations of Interest
	None.
3	Minutes of the Last Planning Committee Meeting
3.1	The minutes of the meeting held on 11^th February 2025 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.	25/00322/ADV – Land At Stocks Farm The Street Bramley Proposed non-illuminated signage comprising 2 Flag and pole signs, 1 Fascia Sign and 2 stand alone signs. · No objection unanimously agreed. Comment that they will neighbour a conversation area and therefore consideration should be shown to this. Lighting bollards should be switched off overnight, especially is this part of the village is dark elsewhere. Clerk to take forward.		*Clerk*
b.	T/00089/25/TPO – 5 Churchlands Bramley Lawson Cypress (T1-T5): This row of Cypress trees: crown reduce. · Defer to Tree Officer unanimously agreed. Clerk to process.		*Clerk*
c.	Any other new applications 25/00528/HSE – 2 Cornice Road Chineham Basingstoke Proposed single storey rear extension. · No objection unanimously agreed. Clerk to take forward.		*Clerk*
4.2	Approvals/Refusals/Pending (see appendix A) These were noted.
5.		Appeals
a.		APP/H1705/W/24/3355280 – Locksbridge Farm Cufaude Lane Bramley Application number 24/00407/PIP – Permission in Principle for 2 no. dwellings with separate car port, bin/cycle store and landscaped garden · This appeal is still awaiting the Planning Inspector’s decision.
b.		APP/H1705/W/25/3360191 – Locksbridge Farm Cufaude Lane Bramley Application number 24/01966/PIP – Permission in Principle for the residential development of 1 no. dwelling (Class C3) · The deadline for comments on this appeal is 19^th March 2025. · It was unanimously agreed to make no further comments.
6.		Update on letter re Stocks Farm
		Stocks Farm – Cllr Bell has met with Redrow representatives and can confirm that the amendments to the plans are being made, and that the plans for dwellings is being moved as requested. Redrow has stated that they cannot move dwellings any further due to area restrictions. A design, construction and management plan is still required – Cllr Tomblin to chase, and also check out the application with regards to the appeal conditions. Redrow has sent a newsletter to neighbouring properties to Stocks Farm detailing the changes in their plans for the development. An amended planning application is expected. Meanwhile, it appears that building work has begun. There is no update on the sewage situation – Thames Water has not yet confirmed the date they are due to start the upgrade later this year. Bramley PC is unsure on whether new owners can move in if the upgrade is not in place. Bramley PC and BDBC need to query what Redrow’s contingency plans are if the Thames Water upgrade to sewerage is delayed – Cllr Bell to take forward. Bramley PC also need to meet with Thames Water to discuss the sewerage drainage from Stocks Farm, as there are issues of concern that Thames Water are ultimately responsible for. Cllr Bell to take forward. It was suggested that getting the owner of Minchens Court involved with meeting with Thames Water and Redrow might be beneficial as he has specialist knowledge of the flooding issues in the area. It was noted that the attenuation pond should be put in place early in the development due to the drainage issues. Cllr Tomblin to check with planning officer.	*Cllr Tomblin* *Cllr Bell* *Cllr Bel* *Cllr Tomblinl*
7.		Water Issues
		No reply has been received to the letter to the Lead Flood Authority. Clerk to resend email to the Lead Flood Authority copying the HCC ward councillor, requesting acknowledgement and a reply. HCC Highways will carry out work to cleanse the highway drainage system from Burlington Way to the outfall opposite the pond. However, this work is unlikely to be carried out until at least May 2025.
8.		Local Plan Update
		Cllr Tomblin noted that a BDBC Cabinet briefing is expected at the end of March to review possible sites for housing from the recent call for sites consultation.
9.		Neighbourhood Plan
		No update at present.
10.		Date of Next Meeting
		The next Planning Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 8^th April 2025, to be held at the Bramley Room at Bramley Village Hall. Meeting closed at 21.31pm.

Planning Summary

Approvals/Refusals*

T/00615/24/TPO – Street Record North Row Bramley

T1760 Tree tag: 2260 North Row 6 Height: 21m English oak Crown spread: 17m Veteran: crown reduce.

Granted

Defer to Tree Officer

T/00001/25/TPO – Street Record North Row Bramley

T1756 Tree tag: 2263 Species: English oak: crown reduction

Granted

Defer to Tree Officer

T/00044/25/TCA – St James Church Church Road Bramley

T1 – Yew – Reduce canopy on S-W side ( over church roof ) by approx. 1 – 1.5 metres. This is to prevent the trees branches damaging the roof of the church.

The final height of the tree will remain the same.

Raise no objection

Defer to Tree Officer

Pending Applications*

1.	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
2.	24/00075/FUL – Land To The East Of Ash Lane And Ash Park Business Centre Ash Lane Little London Construction of a battery Storage Facility with ancillary development	Objection
3.	24/00446/FUL – Cufaude Cufaude Lane Bramley Change of use of land from Residential to Agricultural with erection of tractor shed on site. Change of use of land from Agricultural to Residential.	No objection, comments
4.	24/01165/OUT – Bow Brook Farm Vyne Road Bramley Outline planning application for the construction of 50 dwellings with all matters reserved except for access	Objection
5.	24/01913/FUL – Withy Place Bramley Road Silchester Installation and operation of a 50MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), including access and associated infrastructure.	Objection
6.	24/02041/FUL – Site At Minchens Lane Bramley Installation of access track and associated works.	Objection
7.	24/02019/OUT – Land At Goddards Farm Reading Road Sherfield-on-loddon 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.	Objection
8.	24/02487/LDEU – Park Gate Farm Bramley Corner Bramley Certificate of Lawfulness for the existing use of land as residential and barn/large shed for ancillary domestic purposes in association with Park Gate Cottage.	No objection, comments
9.	24/02502/LBC – Grays House The Street Bramley Various internal alterations to amend internal layout, bring the annexe back into main property and reinstatement of fireplace.	No objection, comments
10.	24/02660/ROC – Bramley Battery Storage Minchens Lane Bramley Variation of Conditions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 18 of 21/00349/FUL (Installation of a battery storage facility with associated works) – Amendment to site layout and wording of conditions.	Objection
11.	24/02846/FUL – Land At Upper Cufaude Farm Cufaude Lane Bramley Full planning application for Phase 2 at Upper Cufaude Farm delivering 302 residential dwellings, community building, associated infrastructure, landscaping, car parking, and public open space (including a MUGA, LEAP and kickabout area). Access approved under Outline permission: 19/00018/OUT and Phase 1 Reserved Matters permission: 23/02003/RES.	Objection
12.	24/02800/FUL – Minchens Court Minchens Lane Bramley Conversion of 4 no. office units (B1), to 2 no. one-bed dwellings, 2 no. two-bed dwellings. Installation of porch/balcony projections, velux conservation roof lights, high-level windows, formation of garden areas, stores, parking, and landscaping	Objection
13.	25/00036/HSE – 20 Moat Close Bramley Demolition of existing single storey side annex and garden shed. Erection of single storey front and side extension. Widening of dropped kerb and partial removal of hedges to north and west property boundary.	No objection
14.	24/02996/HSE – 33 Longbridge Road Bramley Double-Storey Rear Extension and Alterations.	No objection
15.	25/00260/VLA – Land At Stocks Farm The Street Bramley 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	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 – March Finance Statement

The March 2025 finance statement can be viewed here.

Appendix D – March CIL Summary

The March 2025 CIL Summary can be viewed here.