Parish Council meeting minutes – 19th March 2024

BRAMLEY PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting of the Council

Date:	Tuesday 19^th March 2024	Time: 7.00pm
Place:	Bramley Room, Bramley Village Hall
Present:	Cllr Tony Durrant (Chair)	Cllr Malcolm Bell
	Cllr Chris Flooks	Cllr Chris Tomblin
		Cllr Iain James
	Cllr Keith Oborn	Cllr Alan Munday
	Cllr Liz Capel
In attendance:	Maxta Thomas (Clerk)	0 members of the public
	Cllr Nick Robinson (Borough)
Apologies:	Cllr Colin Shimell	Cllr Rhydian Vaughan (County)

		*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. Cllr Flooks declared an interest in planning application 24/00413/HSE for Pound Close and took no part in any vote on that time.
	Minutes of the Last Parish Council Meeting
3.1	The minutes of the council meeting on 20^th February 2024 were proposed Cllr Oborn and seconded by Cllr Tomblin and unanimously agreed as being a true record of the meetings. The Chairman duly signed the minutes of the meeting.
3.2	Matters arising
	None.
3.3	Outstanding actions
	· Vehicles for D-Day event – Cllr Tomblin cannot source as many are going to France for the event. · PA system – the PC has decided not to purchase the second hand equipment offered. Clerk to write and confirm.	*Clerk*
4	Open Forum
	Cllr Durrant asked members of the public to submit any questions they might have ahead of each agenda item.
5.	County Councillor Report – see appendix A. · Councillors raised the issue of potholes in the Bramley area, which are causing increasing concerns among residents. Clerk to write to Cllr Vaughan to highlight concerns.	*Clerk*
6	Borough Councillor Report –Cllr Tomblin and Cllr Robinson gave a verbal report. · There is a Community organisations grant to increase resilience, efficiency etc. · Free solar panels available through BDBC website. · Free garden surveys are available from the Green Team to encourage wildlife. · No changes to bin schedules over Easter weekend. · A trial of electric refuse carts is being carried out. BDBC are evaluating them for 6 weeks. · Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) supply – a scheme is going live in April. · Green team had a successful period in the town centre with the eco-house. This will be repeated in June for Green Week.
7	Parish Environment
7.1	Parish Council events D-Day 80 event · Event is coming together well. · Cllr Robinson to supply tannoy system. · A site plan is being drawn up to assist traders and marquee, and to add to the risk assessment. · Cllr Bell has contacted the RBL re a possible collection on the day. · Systems are being looked at to ensure that one portion per person is allowed for fish and chips. · Greenhouse Graphics have confirmed that they can enlarge and print display material. · Cllr Bell has contacted CMT re using Brocas Hall as well as Pavilion. · Cllr Bell suggested asking the WI or Coffee Morning to supply tea and cake on the evening. It was agreed that this might be more than needed and that this would not go ahead.
7.2	Annual Parish Meeting – the Clerk reminded members that the Annual Parish Meeting will be held on Tuesday 26^th March 2024. The preliminary notice has been published, and the agenda will be published fully in due course. A number of speakers have been invited, and a keynote presentation will be made on behalf of the Bramley Greener Homes project.
	AQ monitor – Cllr Durrant noted the added expenses for sensor replacement, and the renewal fees, and asked councillors whether to go ahead with upgrade, or whether to attempt to sell the unit. Cllr Tomblin suggested taking it down and storing it. Cllr James proposed contacting supplier to see if the unit can be sold back to them, Cllr Oborn seconded, unanimously agreed. Clerk to take forward.	*Clerk*
	Bramley Green maintenance – the Clerk reported that the ground is too wet to cut at the moment. There are various options for the first cut – sight lines and the path will be maintained as soon as reasonably possible. Good communication with public necessary. Cllre Bell suggested volunteer scything of the Green – Cllr James agreed that this might be a possibility. Cllr James to take forward.	*Cllr James*
8	Clerk’s report & Administration
8.1	Parish magazine article – Cllr Tomblin will write the article for the May issue of the Parish magazine, with Cllr Durrant including a short review of the Parish Council Year. Copy is due by 15^th April.	*Cllr Tomblin*
9	Reports
9.1	Planning Committee report (see appendix B) Cllr Flooks summarised the recent Planning Committee minutes. i. 24/00413/HSE – 6 Pound Close Bramley Proposed single storey rear extension. o The Planning Committee recommendation for this application is ‘no objection’. The Committee were unable to make a final decision as it was not quorate for this item. Cllr James proposed accepting the decision of ‘no objection’, Cllr Bell seconded, unanimously agreed. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
9.2	Allotments & Burial Ground – see appendix A Burial Ground – the Clerk reported that the new contractor has already started carrying out maintenance at the Burial Ground. The Clerk is also looking at checking the surface water levels in the ‘rubbish area’ for possible cremation interment site. Allotments – nothing to report.	*Clerk*
9.3	Village Hall Trust – see appendix A. · No report.
9.4	Clift Meadow Trust – see appendix A. Cllr Capel gave a verbal report. · Trustee Meetings are often at lunchtimes, which are problematic for the PC representative. · Several events are organised for the next few months. · Cllr Capel noted that the maintenance team work very hard with a lot of success, and thanked them. · Playground inspections is scheduled for May. · Clerk to look for different suppliers for playground surface.	*Clerk*
9.5	Highways & Footpaths – see appendix A. i. Footpath Map noticeboard – this would be placed somewhere near the station. The county footpath map would be a starting point. Clerk to investigate suppliers and content. Also check with Network Rail if they would permit such a map.	*Clerk*
9.6	Chairman’s Report – nothing to report.
10	Consultation documents requiring consideration
10.1	HCC Future Services consultation – this consultation has been launched by HCC, and looks to see where savings can be made on the services they provide. The consultation runs until 31^st March 2024. The Clerk reminded members to submit any comments to her for collation and submission to HCC.	*All*
11	Grant Applications
11.1	Bramley Youth Club funding – a recent report from the managers of Activ8, the Bramley Youth Club, show that numbers attending sessions continue to rise as a result of an extended advertising reach. Numbers for spring 2023 were at around 28 young people per session, and are now at around 35 per session and occasionally exceeds 40 per session. The club has been able to purchase new equipment in the last year, in part due to Bramley PC funding and also parent donations. Costs for 2024-25 have risen slightly, due to an increase in the insurance premium for the club. The total grant requested is £13,107, which will pay for the salary of three youth workers, the insurance, the hall hire, and a small sum for equipment. After some discussion, Cllr Munday proposed funding the Youth Club as requested. Cllr Tomblin seconded, unanimously agreed. Payment of the grant will be on a six monthly basis as for last year. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
11.2	Bramley Show – the Bramley Show is now under new management, with a completely new committee. Website fees and new insurance have already been financed out of left over funds from the previous incarnation of the Bramley Show. However, there are now no funds left to take the Show forward in 2024. The Show will fold if funding for this year cannot be obtained. The Management Committee are looking at ways of fundraising for future years. A grant request for £700 for the 2024 show has been received. Cllr Tomblin proposed giving the grant as requested, Cllr Capel seconded, unanimously agreed. Bramley PC to be credited in the Show programmes and schedules. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
12	Finance
12.1	Approval of payments (see appendix C) – the Clerk has circulated the list of payments for approval. Cllr Durrant proposed and Cllr Munday seconded that the March payments be approved. Unanimously agreed. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
12.2	CIL Income & Expenditure update – see appendix D.
12.3	Receipts – these were noted. The Clerk reported that NS&I are now no longer automatically issuing paper statements, and that the Bramley PC investment account is now considered a legacy account . A paper statement has been requested for 2023. The Clerk noted that the rate of interest is very poor on this account, at 0.6% for 2022. Give the increasing difficulty of managing this account, she strongly recommended that the account should be closed, with funds being amalgamated with general reserves for now. In the future, it would be worth considering an instant access savings account with Unity Trust Bank. Cllr Durrant proposed closing the NS&I investment account and amalgamating funds with general reserves. Cllr Oborn seconded, unanimously agreed. Clerk to take forward.	*Clerk*
13	Date of Next meeting
	The next full Parish Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 16^th April 2024.
14	Resolution to exclude press and public from items that may require discussion of possible legal and financial proceedings
	Cllr Durrant proposed excluding the press and public for the confidential item, Cllr Oborn seconded, unanimously agreed. The press and public duly left the meeting.
15	Confidential Items
15.1	Litter Warden salary increase – the Clerk noted the increase in the national living wage from April 2024, and recommended that the Litter Warden’s salary be increased to reflect this. Cllr Durrant proposed this motion, Cllr Capel seconded, unanimously agreed. Clerk to take forward.
	The meeting closed at 8.36pm.

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

(Chairman)
Appendix A – January Briefing notes

COMMUNITY SPEEDWATCH

Concerning speeds – There are still some high-speed recordings at the Village Hall with 1 vehicles recorded at 82mph. Farriers continues to be an issue.

I have received an unsatisfactory response from the Police regarding the concerns I raised with them about excessive speeding in the vicinity of Farriers. I have gone back to them expressing my disappointment in the response, if the response is again unsatisfactory, I will forward the data and Police responses to the Crime Commissioner and our MP.

SIDs – The SIDs were in operation throughout February at Farriers and the Village Hall. See Table 1

Recent Local SpeedWatch Activity – 3 manned Deployment were undertaken during February. A total of 29 vehicles were reported to the Police from the 426 vehicles checked – hit rate 7%. Top speed recorded 37 mph.

Equipment – Nothing to report.

AutoSpeedWatch Camera – The camera is ready to be installed once the insurance cover is implemented. Just awaiting a revised quote from the Broker. (Note: the camera may be installed at the time of reading this).

Table 1: Speed Indicator Device (SID) DATA February 2024:

SID Location	Days Deployed	Traffic Direction	% Exceeding 30mph	No Exceeding 60mph	Max Speed Recorded	V85*	Average speed
Farriers	15	West Bound	47%	0	58	35	30
The Street Village Hall	15	East Bound	38%	4	61	34	30
Farriers	16	West Bound	46%	2	63	35	30
The Street Village Hall	16	East Bound	38%	6	82**	34	30

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

**82mph recorded 14^th at 21:23hrs. 76mph recoded 27^th at 17:00

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

County Council Budget Consultation

I talked about the ongoing consultation on the County Council’s future services in my last report. That consultation is seeking Hampshire residents’ views on proposals to change and reduce some local services and help the Authority address a £132 million budget shortfall faced by April 2025.

You can read more about the consultation here: https://www.hants.gov.uk/aboutthecouncil/haveyoursay/consultations/future-services-consultation

A reminder about the areas covered by the consultation – road maintenance and winter gritting, public transport, street lights, school crossing patrols, parking charges at rural countryside car parks, homelessness support, library stocks levels, adult social care contributions, grants for voluntary and community organisations, funding to Hampshire Cultural Trust and changes or closures of Household Waste Recycling Centres.

Many people have already responded. The consultation runs until the end of the month so if you have not responded yet, I do encourage you to take part. This affects us all. A number of people have emailed me with thoughts – again, do still reply to the consultation or email any thoughts to the Council’s Insight & Engagement Unit on insight@hants.gov.uk

HCC budget 2024-25

The County Council’s budget for the next financial year has been approved by council. This budget covers £2.6 billion of public spending on the ongoing delivery of important local services to Hampshire’s 1.4 million residents.

From 1 April 2024, Hampshire County Council’s portion of council tax will increase by a total of 4.99%, of which 2% will go specifically towards adults’ social care and supporting the county’s higher numbers of older people and adults with complex needs and disabilities – in line with Government policy. This equates to an annual charge of £1,533.24 for a Band D property – an increase of £72.99 per year or approximately £1.40 a week.

The increase will generate an extra £39 million of vital income towards the delivery of crucial services to the people of Hampshire in 2024/25, and still means that Hampshire has one of the lowest council tax precepts of any county in England. Even with this increase, there is still a significant gap in the budget which will be filled from reserves – dedicated funds set aside specifically to address such shortfalls.

The County Council also approved the spending of £880.6 million over the next three years on capital programmes to help boost jobs and the local economy, the quality of the environment and contribute towards the County Council’s commitment to tackling climate change. This provision for Hampshire’s infrastructure, including more school places, improving roads and bridges and investing in the fabric of Hampshire’s older people’s social care estate, is one of the largest in the country, and brings the County Council’s four-year total investment in the fabric of Hampshire to £1.4 billion, providing a huge boost to the local economy through jobs, skills and construction.

Transforming in-house care for older people

I have referred previously to the proposed changes to how the County Council operates its in-house care homes for older people. The plan is to focus on specialist nursing and complex dementia care, as well as short term pre and post-hospital support, to better meet the needs of the county’s ageing population.

These plans have now been approved, comprising a £173 million investment programme. It will increase the overall number of beds available to local people from 900 to 1,000, within a reduced network of 13 homes. Approving these plans secures the long-term future of our in-house homes ensuring they remain in the Authority’s ownership – in stark contrast to the many other local councils who have sold their homes in recent years.

New Local Transport Plan approved

The County Council’s new local transport plan (known as LTP4) has been approved. Its aim is the boost economic prosperity, reduce carbon pollution and help promote healthy lifestyles and build stronger communities over the next ten years. It is guided by two principles, widening the choice of travel options that people can use and providing a transport system that puts people first and creates high quality and prosperous places.

Schools

Funding of £5.9 million has been approved by the County Council to help more parents access childcare before and after school, following a grant from the Department for Education. This will enable the provision of childcare which ‘wraps around’ the school day, enabling parents and carers of primary school-aged children to access and pay for term time childcare from 8am-6pm. The scheme will start in September this year and run for two years.

In separate school news, 90.71% of the 14,587 online applications for a secondary school place in September have been offered a place in their first preference school, whilst more than 98% were offered one of their top three preferences.

Cllr Rhydian Vaughan MBE

Fb.com/tellrhydian

Appendix B – Planning Committee draft minutes

Date:	12^th March 2024	Time: 7.00pm
Place:	Bramley Room, Bramley Village Hall
Present:	Cllr Chris Flooks (Chair)	Cllr Alan Munday
	Cllr Keith Oborn (sitting in for Cllr Bell)
In attendance:	Maxta Thomas (Clerk)	0 members of the public
Apologies:	Cllr Chris Tomblin	Cllr Malcolm Bell

		*Action*
1	Apologies for Absence
	As listed above.
2	Declarations of Interest
	Cllr Flooks declared an interest in planning application 24/00413/HSE at Pound Close and took no part in the decision on that application.
3	Minutes of the Last Planning Committee Meeting
3.1	The minutes of the meeting held on 13^th February 2024 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.	24/00270/HSE – Lyndale Sherfield Road Bramley Erection of a single storey rear extension. · No objection unanimously agreed. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
b.	T/00100/24/TCA – Church Farm Bungalow Silchester Road Bramley Pollard 3 lime trees from approximately 16 meters to approximately 10 meters · Defer to tree officer unanimously agreed. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
c.	24/00335/ROC – Cedarwood Silchester Road Bramley Variation of condition 4 (arboricultural report) of 23/00780/FUL for the erection of 1 no dwelling and garage to replace arboricultural report with an updated version · Defer to tree officer who should ensure that any conditions are adhered to. Unanimously agreed, Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
d.	24/00367/HSE – 4 Leighton Close Bramley Single storey front and rear extensions · No objection unanimously agreed. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
e.	24/00382/LDPO – 5 Bartlett Close Bramley Certificate of lawfulness for the proposed loft conversion with rear dormer with rooflights on the front slope · No objections unanimously agreed. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
f.	24/00407/PIP – Locksbridge Farm Cufaude Lane Bramley Permission in Principle for 2 no. dwellings with separate car port, bin/cycle store and landscaped garden. · The proposed dwellings will add extra traffic access onto a single track lane, which is also a national cycle route. · The proposed dwellings are creeping development into the strategic gap. This is contrary to Local Plan policy EM2. · The proposed dwellings are overdevelopment of the site, which is in the countryside. This is contrary to Local Plan policy SS6. · There is a perceived lack of mains drainage for this location. New drainage into the mains systems is problematic as the system is already overloaded. · Objection on grounds above unanimously agreed. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
g.	24/00413/HSE – 6 Pound Close Bramley Proposed single storey rear extension. · Cllr Fooks declared and interest in this item and did not vote. The Committee decision will need to be approved by full council at the committee is not quorate for this item. · No objection unanimously agreed. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
h.	24/00421/RET – 17 The Smithy Bramley Retrospective application for the erection of a pergola · No objection unanimously agreed. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
i.	24/00493/HSE – 17 Wallis Drive Bramley Installation of air source heat pump · No objection unanimously agreed, but ask the manufacturers to specify the distance that sound levels are measured. Clerk to process.	*Clerk*
k	Any other new applications
	None.
4.2	Approvals/Refusals/Pending (see appendix A) These were noted.
5.	Water Issues
	Issues continue and Centenary Fields and North Row, with the ongoing bad weather.
6.	Local Plan Update
	The Regulation 18 consultation is now over. Bramley PC has submitted it comments.
7.	Neighbourhood Plan
	Cllr Munday to take NDP update forward in the light of the Local Plan Update consultation.
8.	Date of Next Meeting
	The next Planning Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 9^th April 2024, to be held at the Bramley Room at Bramley Village Hall. Meeting closed at 7.44pm.

Planning Summary

Approvals/Refusals*

23/02385/HSE – High View The Street Bramley

Demolition of existing conservatory and erection of new 1.5 storey gabled extension to front and rear of existing chalet bungalow . Relocation of photvoltaic panels, new solar thermal panels and air source heat pump.

Granted

No objection

T/00467/23/TPO – 7 Oakmead Bramley

T1 Oak: prune. T2 Oak: prune.

Granted

Defer to Tree Officer

23/02858/HSE – 5 Wallis Drive Bramley

Installation of Air Source Heat Pump (AHSP) to replace current gas boiler, to be sited to rear of property underneath kitchen window (with a max volume of 62 dBA)

Application withdrawn

No objection

24/00066/HSE – Rathdair The Street Bramley

Erection of a single storey rear extension following demolition of conservatory. Installation of side window.

Granted

No objection , comments

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.	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
3.	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	Objection
4.	23/01897/FUL – Land Adjacent To Ridgewell Cufaude Lane Bramley Erection of 1 no. 4 bed dwelling and detached garage following demolition of existing outbuildings/stables	Objection
5.	23/02051/HSE – 3 Churchlands Bramley Proposed loft conversion with front dormer and creation of front porch	No objection
6.	23/02091/VLA – Land At Minchens Lane Bramley Variation of Section 106 agreement attached to 14/01075/OUT to allow an amended Mortgagee Exclusion Clause	No comment
7.	23/02528/VLA – Land To The North Of Sherfield Road Bramley Variation of section 106 agreement and deed of variation attached to 15/02708/OUT to update the mortgagee exclusion clause (MEC)	No comment
8.	T/00478/23/TPO – 5 Oakmead Bramley T1 – Oak: Prune. T2 – Oak: Prune.	Defer to Tree Officer
9.	23/02766/FUL – Land At OS Ref 463458 160065 Ash Lane Little London Erection of 3no bedroom dwellinghouse on existing hard standing	No objection, comments
10.	23/02793/FUL – Barn Adjacent To Latchmere Green Farm Ash Lane Little London Demolition of existing barn and erection 1 no. 4 bed dwellinghouse	No objection
11.	23/02868/RES – Land At Stocks Farm The Street Bramley Reserved matters application submitted pursuant to outline planning APP/H1705/W/22/3302752 for 140 dwellings, Class E Community building, public open space, landscaping, drainage, parking, and associated infrastructure works.	Objection

12.	23/02907/FUL – Meadow View Sherfield Road Bramley Replacement detached dwelling following the demolition of the existing bungalow and workshop and garage.	Objection
13.	23/02912/OUT – Boarsbridge House Bramley Road Little London Erection of one detached dwelling and garage access utilising an existing access to the south of Boards Bridge Road on land adjacent to Boars Bridge House, to include access and layout	Objection
14.	23/02946/FUL – Meadow View Sherfield Road Bramley Erection of 2no semi-detached 2no bedroom bungalows and creation of a new access following the demolition of an existing green house	Objection
15.	23/02948/LDEU – Stables At Bow Brook Farm Vyne Road Bramley Certificate of lawfulness for the existing use of part of an existing stable block as a single dwellinghouse.	Objection
16.	23/03051/FUL – Land North Of Sherfield Road And To East Of Strawberry Fields Sherfield Road Bramley Proposed development of 20 residential dwellings, vehicular access from Sherfield Road, public open space, landscaping, ancillary works and associated infrastructure on land North of Sherfield Road, Bramley.	Objection
17.	T/00583/23/TPO – 8 Oakmead Bramley T1 Oak: prune.	Defer to tree officer
18.	T/00007/24/TPO – 4 Oakmead Bramley T1 – Oak: prune	Defer to tree officer
19.	24/00049/RET – 32 Coopers Lane Bramley Erection of a lean-to veranda rear of the dwelling over part of the existing patio.	No comment
20.	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
21.	T/00043/24/TPO – 16 St James Close Bramley Fell 1 Lime.	Defer to tree officer
22.	24/00240/HSE – Rosemary Cottage Bramley Corner Bramley Single storey rear extension to replace existing conservatory. Assorted internal and external alterations.	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 2024 finance statement can be viewed here.

Appendix D – CIL statement

The March CIL Statement can be viewed here.