Parish Council meeting minutes – 19th May 2026

·         Clerk to speak to tree contractor re replacement tree at the Burial Ground next week.

·         Clerk to chase developer re verge repair at Minchens Lane this week.

·         Clerk to open CCLA investment fund by the end of May.

·         St James allotments car park barriers – the Clerk has reached out to a couple of firms on this but has received no reply as yet.  This will be taken further in the next couple of weeks.

·         Clerk to finish upgrading councillor tablets in the next couple of weeks.

·         Roll of Honour board – options for replacement will be circulated by the end of the week.

·         A resident asked if there were any plans to increase hedge cutting along the Cinder Track this year.  It was noted that this is the responsibility of the HCC rights of Way team and Taylor Wimpey.  Cllr Durrant also noted that many issues come from land next to the path, which Bramley PC are trying to address – there are issues with ownership.

·         Cllr Vaughan has been re-elected to Hampshire County Council in the recent local elections.

·         HCC is now no overall control.  Annual AGM is on 21^st May.

·         HCC are launching a judicial review into the Government decision for Local Government re-organisation in Hampshire.  HCC view is that decision on areas in the south of the county throws the balance of those councils.

·         Cllr Durrant has been re-elected to Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council in the recent local elections.

·         BDBC is likely to remain under the control of Independent Forum/Liberal Democrat coalition.

·         Full council meeting on 21^st May.

·         Local Plan – BDBC are challenging water companies on whether they can supply the projected houses that BDBC is obliged to build in next 10 years.

A mowing schedule needs to be set up.

The Clerk has been in touch with the HCC Countryside Services team, who have plenty of spare signposts.  However, they have said that it will be some time before they can install them, and that it might be quicker if Bramley PC can use its own contractor to install them.  This would cost £175+VAT per post.

Cllr Tomblin proposed that the signs should be obtained from HCC and installed by Bramley PC.  Cllr Howell seconded, unanimously agreed.  Clerk to action.

Clerk

Cllr Bell

None.

Cllr Tomblin proposed accepting the quote, Cllr Flooks seconded, unanimously agreed.  Clerk to take forward.

·         Cllr Bell noted resident comments that 3West have implied that Bramley PC have supported the location of a commercial unit.  This is in fact not quite the case – Bramley PC stated that the original location was too far from the centre of the village, but did not indicated where it to locate it.  Clerk to write to 3West to get the wording of this item revised.  Unanimously agreed.  Planning Officer to be copied in.

Clerk

Cllr Durrant noted upcoming changes to NPPF, which will take effect in September 2026, and is likely to be very pro-development.  At that point ward councillors will not have the power to call contentious applications in to the Development Control Committee.

Water issues – Cllr Bell has had a response from Thames Water and is meeting with them at the end of the month.

Allotments – the two empty plots have now been let, and the Bramley allotments now have full occupancy.

i.            Burial Ground headstones quote – a quote has been received for restoring the flattened headstones that were laid down in the BDBC safety check.  The bulk of the work will cost around £8000+VAT.  BDBC will be approached to cover some of this cost.

Two of the plots have kerbstone memorials.  The stonemason’s recommendation is to remove these completely and re-erect the standard memorial stone.  This will be a further cost, but the quote will come once a decision has been made on these plots.

Cllr Howell proposed and Cllr Flooks seconded going ahead with the work as quoted –more recent headstones should be addressed first.  The work should be phased the course of the year.   Clerk to write to BDBC to confirm if any funding is available from them.

Clerk

·         Main hall floor is being redone half term week.

·         The 2026 fete was a success, despite the weather.

·         Trustees meeting on 22^nd May.

·         Chase the Sun bike ride – this event will be on 20^th June.  The event has been gaining in popularity, and there are likely to be nearly 1000 participants this year.  Clift Meadow is once again acting as a refreshment stop for participants.

·         A meeting with the Trustees is being set up to discuss possible CIL spend on improving facilities at Clift Meadow.

·         The Clerk has written to Highways with major concerns about how the information on the recent road closures was handled.  She noted that the Bramley community was very frustrated by the inaccurate information circulated by Highways.  Highways has apologised, but did note that sometimes scheduled closures do have to be changed at the last moment.

·         Clerk to find out when repairs are planned for Silchester Road within Pamber Parish.

·         Clerk to check footpath vegetation cutting schedule.

·         Yellow signs for developments – the Clerk is awaiting information on where these are.  Once she has this, she will report to Highways to get them removed.

Clerk

Clerk

All / Clerk

Cllr Wright suggested a PC stall at next year’s fete.

Cllr Tomblin proposed awarding the grant, Cllr Munday seconded, unanimously agreed.  Clerk to action.

Clerk

Cllr Tomblin proposed accepting the grant in principle subject to receiving the correct paperwork, Cllr Munday seconded, unanimously agreed.  Clerk to take forward.

Clerk

The Clerk has circulated the latest update on CIL expenditure.  She noted that a further £335,205 has been received from BDBC.  The new CIL funds will be transferred into the CIL account from the current account.

Further, interest earned so far on the CIL account (a total of £7921) will be transferred from the CIL account into the Precept savings account.

Clerk

These were noted.  The first part of the precept, and the Litter Warden grant and grass cutting have been received at the end of April.  A VAT claim for the last quarter of 2025-26 of £16,100 has also been received.

Direction

Exceeding

30mph

Exceeding

60mph

Speed

Recorded

Corner

Beaurepaire

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

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

No objection

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

Objection

Proposed extension to form utility room

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.

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).

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

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).

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.

Demolition of existing outbuildings and erection of 2 outbuildings for new changing rooms and clubhouse and associated new car park spaces area

Demolition of existing barn and erection of a lifetime dwelling

Variation of S106 agreement attached to 15/02708/OUT to allow the leaseholder of the shared ownership unit 9 Meadowland Close, Bramley, to staircase to 100% equity in the property

Replace the perished area of modern flat roofing and coping stones with added thermal insulation and adjusted drainage routes