Planning Committee Minutes – 15th January 2020

·         Cllr Munday noted that there appears to be new activity on site at QPS House, despite the planning application being refused.  This should be monitored.

Cllr Tomblin

Change of use from home office to 1 no. two bed dwelling

Cllrs felt the application should be a retrospective application.  However, no objection unanimously agreed.  Clerk to process.

Clerk

None.

This application for the formation of an access track and associated works, was refused by BDBC in August 2019.  It is related to 17/00942/FUL, for which the multiple appeals were dismissed.  An appeal date has been set, although the Clerk is awaiting confirmation of the date.

Residents have been very vocal by email, sending in their opposition to the developer and to both the Borough and Parish Council.

There is no validated planning application as yet.

BDBC tree officers have stated that Bramley was due a complete ward tree inspection as part of a rolling programme of ward tree inspections which was commenced last year.  This was completed at short notice by an independent Arboricultural Consultant due to the departure of the BDBC officer handling it.

Notification letters are sent out to all residents that may be within close proximity to works being undertaken near to their properties so that if they need to they can either access the council’s website through the link provided on the letter to find out which trees are being worked on or they can contact BDBC to find out about the works and raise any concerns they may have.  Due to the scale of the tree inspection and number of trees growing on council land in Bramley there is inevitably a lot of works being carried out (mostly general tree maintenance works).

Some residents have raised concerns that the tree work seems extensive and possibly unnecessary in some instances – this is being followed up with BDBC.  It also appears that some debris is not being cleared up properly after tree work – this is also being followed up with BDBC.  Trees have also been felled that were not originally identified.  Clerk to check.

Clerk

An article about the event will appear in the February edition of the Parish Magazine, and a poster is ready to put up on noticeboards and the website/social media.

Some large maps (A1) of the Bramley areas need to be sourced, and also Sherfield, Old Basing, Silchester and other parishes in the new Ward (from May 2020).  2 copies of each map will be required.

All councillors will be advised to attend, and an informal information session will be organised.

A leaflet drop to Vyne Park and Cufaude Lane is planned – this is an area not covered by Parish Magazine.

Possible banners for Bramley Green and the Church were proposed.  The wording is to be agreed by email.

It was also suggested that the event should be highlighted to surrounding villages as well, especially Sherfield.

Clerk to take forward.

Clerk

Once the model is validated, and it accurately predicts existing flow behaviours, Thames Water will use it to simulate future potential scenarios.  However, no expected date of completion has been given.

Cllr Bell has replied to them with details of the sites put forward in the SHELAA, and requesting a timescale on the model’s completion.  He will continue to chase.

Cllr Bell

Issues at Bow Brook by Bromelia Close were also noted.

Clerk to contact Highways re drainage on Bramley main road.  This has already been reported, but there has been no action to date.

Clerk

·         Bollard on bridge – BDBC has chased the developer to do finishing work.  This has been partially done, but there is still some finishing to be done.

·         Footpath lighting – BDBC are following this up with the developer.  They have noted that the issue needs to be raised between the Clift Meadow Trustees and the developer, particularly with regards to ongoing maintenance once the development is complete.  BDBC believe the responsibility for this to rest with the developer.  A formal lighting scheme is awaited; however it should be noted that the developer does have the option to request that the condition requiring a lighting scheme be lifted.

·         Footpath flooding issues – BDBC has advised the developer that the PC accepts that small amounts of re-landscaping to provide a raised footpath to avoid it flooding will be required, and that this will require additional PC land.  The developer has been advised to contact the PC directly and liaise with them on this matter as landowners.  It should be noted that the planning permission only requires that the footpath be constructed which technically the developer has done.  Photos were submitted to BDBC today showing the extent of the flooding issue.

·         No reply on lack of barriers opposite the Dr’s surgery.

·         Not completed and ineffective right turn measures – BDBC contacted Nick Gammer at HCC in relation to this matter because these works would have been covered by the section 278 agreement.  He advised that “This is a point we will be revisiting. The HCC Engineer overseeing the scheme has made the developer aware that the left out/ right in arrangement need to be strengthen. HCC have advised of some measures to be implemented here. These will be expected prior to issue of the Certificate of Completion for the works, so that their effectiveness can be reviewed during the maintenance period.”  BDBC have advised that any highways issues fall under the s.278 agreement and should be address to HCC Highways.  Clerk to contact County Councillor seeking further action.

·         Biodiversity plans to the brook to the south for hedge and ditch management – BDBC have stated that no specific details for this area form part of the approved ecological enhancement strategy.

·         Balancing pond fencing – BDBC has stated that there is no fencing around the balancing pond that forms part of any approved landscaping scheme.

Cllr Tomblin to continue to liaise with BDBC for further action.

Issues at other sites have also been raised and are being followed up.

Cllr Tomblin

Meeting closed at 8.51pm

Erection of two no. 4 bedroom barn-style dwellings and access

Objection

Change of use of ground floor of building from a Barber shop (A1) and Tanning Salon ( Suis Generis) to a two bedroomed flat (C3) on one side and a 3 bedroomed flat (C3) on the other

Objection

Variation of conditions 1 and 8 and removal of condition 9 of permission 14/01458/FUL to allow alternative access arrangements with the original southern access re-opened for ingress only and the ‘new’ northern access used for egress only

Extension and alteration of existing village hall to provide improved facilities and an additional function room. Resurfacing of the existing car park. (Amendment to planning consent 18/01623/FUL)

Erection of a single storey front and side extension

Formation of vehicular and pedestrian access

Erection of a single storey dwelling

Removal of condition 2 of planning consent BDB/32775 which restricted the barn to agricultural use only

Prune 13 trees