Information and News - Bramley Parish Council (Hampshire)

Information on Online Meetings

2020-07-15T17:24:24+01:00

There may be occasions when physical meetings cannot be held, and a virtual online meeting held in its place. A good example of this was during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic which caused many real-life physical meetings to be cancelled.

In order that Local Government can still function, decisions still need to be made and the public have a legal right to access any meeting in which decisions are made.

At present, Bramley Parish Council are utilising the Zoom (https://zoom.us/) platform for online meetings.

You do not need to create a Zoom account and use of Zoom to view any Parish Council meeting is 100% free. You will never need to pay to access any of Bramley Parish Council Meetings.

All that is required to participate in a Bramley Parish Council Meeting is the Meeting ID and a password.
Sometimes, a specially created Zoom Link is used that contains the Meeting ID and Password.

To reduce abuse of online meetings, Bramley Parish Council will not publish the Meeting ID’s and Password details in the public domain. When agendas of proposed meetings are published, any online meetings will have a link to a meeting request form.

The meeting request form will ask for the user’s full name, email address and postcode. This information is used to provide a basic filter against misuse of the online meeting. You do not have to be within a postcode of the Bramley Parish to participate, but we may contact those that specify certain information to determine if they are a legitimate meeting participant.

Joining an online meeting

If this is the first time you have joined an online Zoom meeting, you are advised to visit https://zoom.us/download and install the Zoom client of your choice.

Zoom is available for Desktops/Laptops, Mobile phones, Tablets (Android and iOs/Apple) or within your web browser.

If you do not pre-install Zoom prior to joining a meeting, you maybe delayed whilst any software is installed, and you will join the meeting late.

Best practice is to join the meeting 5 minutes before the actual start of the meeting. You will be held in a virtual waiting room and at the start of the online meeting, added into the main meeting room.

Requests to join the meeting after the meeting has started may be delayed until a suitable point within the meeting is reached.

Full details of the meeting will be emailed to you prior to the meeting if you have completed the online meeting request form. The normal link to join the meeting will be https://zoom.us/join

You do not need to set-up a Zoom account or have an existing Zoom account to participate in the meeting. You do not need to pay any fees to use Zoom.

Data Retention

Just as if you were attending a physical meeting, if you are merely attending as a viewer and take no part in the meeting itself, you will be listed anonymously in a count of attendees to the meeting. Any data collected in the meeting request will not be stored and deleted no more than 28 days after the meeting date.

If you have requested to speak, your name and perhaps contact details will be recorded within the minutes of the meeting as they would have been during a physical meeting. Your data will be held in accordance with the Bramley Parish Council Data Handling practices, details of which can be found at: https://bramleypc.co.uk/en/legislation-and-policies

Sovereign news - 1st June 2020

2020-06-01T18:14:01+01:00

Sovereign news

Moving out of lockdown - what it means for our customers

Following the recent easing of some of the lockdown measures by the government, we're looking at restarting some of the services that we had to stop when original lockdown rules were announced.

With 60,000 homes and 140,000 customers, and as one of the largest housing associations in the country, we're delighted that we can write to you with positive news on the next steps on the road to recovery.

We believe that Sovereign responded well to the impact of the crisis when it began in the middle of March, but we, along with our customers and anyone with an interest in Sovereign are keen to get services going again.

We're looking at the whole range of services that we had to suspend or reduce on a case by case basis and we'll only resume them when we're sure this can be done in a way that is safe for both our residents and our people.

This is going to be a step by step process, and it will be some time before we are back to normal, but we have arrangements in place that will ensure we can move quickly and respond positively to government guidelines as they change

And as an established business with strong financial foundations in place we're in a good position to support customers and people as we enter this first stage of the recovery process.

An important part of this process is about doing what we do best: providing homes for people that need them. Now that the government's eased restrictions on moves, we are able to start letting our homes again.

We continued to get our empty homes ready throughout lockdown - within the safety guidelines - and we're now busy with final preparations so customers can move in. Given safety considerations it's likely to take us longer than it used to, but it is good news and a really positive step forward.

With the current restrictions in mind, we have introduced virtual viewings so customers can still have a look at homes they might be moving into. We know this isn't the same as having a walk around in person, but it is a really good alternative.

We are also starting to advertise our homes via local authority lettings sites. Home ownership sales and lettings of new homes are continuing and as construction starts back on more sites we can help lead recovery and get the country building again.

There are more of our teams out and about in our communities now too. Customers will see us carrying out grounds maintenance and works on the outside of buildings. We are resuming estate walkabouts and our concierges are on site in our Housing for Older People schemes.

And with many repairs put on hold at lockdown, we've now started to contact customers to re-book them, carrying out repairs inside and outside of homes where it is safe to do. Of course, considerable constrictions remain, and we will not be carrying out any non-emergency repairs in a home where someone is shielding or self-isolating.

As we have over the last two months, we continue with gas and electrical checks in homes where it is safe to do so too.

We've emailed every one of our customers with online access, to update them with all the latest news and how it affects them. We also continue to offer help, advice, and guidance to anyone who needs it. Our message to our customers remains the same: we are here for you.

The latest government advice on coronavirus online and this letter from the Minister of State for Housing gives further guidance for landlords and residents to follow as we resume services carefully.

Housing First - Barry's story

As soon as we became aware of the impact that Covid-19 was going to have on our customers we pledged that no-one would lose a Sovereign home due to financial difficulties brought about by the virus. That's a promise we'll keep as we move into recovery.

We exist to provide homes for people that need them, and that includes some of the most vulnerable people in society. Last year we pledged to do more to use our influence and reach to support more of these people in need. We also pledged to do more to end homelessness, making a series of commitments, including creating at least 50 Housing First properties over the next five years.

This meant that even during the coronavirus pandemic we've worked closely with amazing partners to find permanent homes for four new households.

Our resident Barry Lockhart told his story to the iPaper, talking about what having his own place has meant to him.

And leading housing sector trade magazine, Inside Housing, also featured our COO, Heather Bowman, whose opinion piece shared the ways that our valuable partnerships work, and why we're keen to support other housing associations and potential partners across the south to make Housing First work happen.

Sovereign in government Homelessness Taskforce talks

Heather Bowman (COO) – alongside Head of Supported Housing Steph Wood - is now also in talks with government about how Sovereign could be involved in a Homelessness Taskforce.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, emergency measures were put in place to help rough sleepers, but while the pandemic is still ongoing, those measures have come to an end. The Taskforce will look at ways in which local authorities can be supported to implement the 'next steps and recovery' plans for people experiencing homelessness as we move into the next phase of the national recovery.

Communities Roundtable

Last week we attended a virtual Ministerial Roundtable led by Minister for Employment, Mims Davies MP and the Minister for Welfare, Will Quince MP, where discussions focused on employment and training and welfare.

The roundtable also discussed the new Housing and Employment Taskforce chaired by Communities That Work CEO, Lynsey Sweeney. We were one of a small number of housing associations invited to the roundtable as core members of Communities that Work, a national body of social landlords that looks to support people into long term employment.

The roundtable offered us a great opportunity to influence thinking and policy at the highest level

Our Communities Director Matt Buckham was delighted with how the day went: "It was great to be able to join Lynsey and the Ministers at the roundtable: both were positive advocates for social housing and our work in communities through employment and training.

"Department of Work and Pensions representatives were joined by a range of UK housing CEO's, community investment professionals and the National Housing Federation's CEO, Kate Henderson, to look at economic recovery and new funding solutions to employment and training."

Quarterly performance update

We have just published our quarterly performance update covering the 12 month period to 31 March 2020. Our performance over the year confirms our position as a leading UK housing association. While not for profit, we are a major business: our asset base would be worth over £11bn on the open market.

You can see our full performance report here. Some of the highlights are:

We completed 1,770 homes (1,702 of which were affordable) in the twelve months to March 2020 (2019: 1,549) +14.5%
There are 59,382 homes in management (2019: 57,742)
Turnover for the year was £406.9m (2019: £402.1m) +1.2%
Operating surplus for the year was £137.6m (2019: £150.8m) -8.7%
Net margin on sales was 23.5% (2019: 23.9%)
The surplus for the year was £80.9m (2019: £93.8m)
£125m retained bond due 2048 issued at record breaking all-in price of 1.974%

Happy retirement Heather!

Our Chief Operating Officer Heather Bowman is to retire later this year after a career in housing spanning more than three decades.

Heather joined Sovereign as Head of Supported Housing in 2001 and became a member of the Executive Board in 2009, playing a key role in making Sovereign one of the leading housing associations in the country today.

She will leave us in September, but will continue to head up the organisation's response to the Covid-19 pandemic until her retirement.

She said: "Throughout my career it's been my fundamental belief that everyone has the right to their own home. As a good landlord, it's our responsibility to make that home safe, secure and somewhere that people feel proud of. In short - a place where people love to live.

"I'll be sad to go, but I am confident that I leave the organisation in great shape moving forward."

Our Chief Executive Mark Washer, said: "I know that Heather will be hugely missed by everyone at Sovereign; personally, I will be incredibly sad to see her go. Her successor will inherit a team that is in fantastic shape, ready to play its role in delivering Sovereign's exciting plans for the future."

Sovereign in the news

Building Today: Housing associations plan for site restarts. Some of the UKs biggest developing housing associations are planning a cautious reopening for construction in May.

WhatHouse: New shared ownership homes in Hampshire - Sovereign launches new homes for shared ownership in Woolston, Southampton

Inside Housing: The role of compliance teams has changed significantly. What does it look like now? Matt Greaves, Safety and Assurance Director, Sovereign talks about the vital role his team plays

This is Wiltshire: Six year-old saw the Trafalgar Square celebrations Residents turned to other ways to celebrate VE Day as street party celebrations up and down the country are cancelled.

iPaper: I went from being a married homeowner to sleeping rough

Isle of Wight County Press: Ryde family rehomed and helped after their house burnt to the ground in devastating fire

Housing Today: Associations target £2 trillion investment market to fund homes

Bristol Post: You could get a Bristol Harbourside flat with £5,000 deposit.

Didcot Herald: Sovereign launches photo competition with 'heart of my world' theme

You can read all of our latest news releases here.

Please keep in touch

We hope you found this useful and please do keep in touch if you have any questions or want to know more.

We will continue to keep you updated later this month with news from Sovereign.

For more information please visit our website

Sovereign Housing Association
Woodlands, 90 Bartholomew Street
Newbury
RG14 5EE

Tel: 01635 572220
www.sovereign.org.uk

Planning Open Day

2020-02-08T18:04:00+00:00

Statement regarding Bramley Level Crossing Footbridge

2019-02-06T19:54:49+00:00

A recent debate about the provision of a footbridge at Bramley level crossing on the Bramley Community Facebook page has been brought to the attention of the Parish Council. In particular a number of claims have been made about the role of the Parish Council in the ongoing debate about a footbridge from as far back as 2014. The Parish Council would like to address these claims.

It is claimed that there have been a number of accidents and fatalities over the years at the level crossing. It is true that there have been a few accidents, but these have been due more to careless driving than with any issue with the crossing itself. The last fatality at Bramley Station was back in 1974, and occurred on the railway line between the platforms at Bramley Station. This had little to do with the level crossing. It should be noted that Network Rail has in their safety studies not declared Bramley level crossing as anything more than a medium risk level crossing.
(see the Hansard reference: https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1974/nov/05/railway-accident-bramley )

It has also been implied that Bramley Parish Council, in collusion with Labour ward councillors at Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council (BDBC), opposed a Local Infrastructure Fund (LIF) submission for funds for a footbridge in 2014/15. This is not the case. The Ward Councillor at the time, who opposed the LIF submission for funds, was in fact an Independent and thus not allied to either of the main political parties. At the BDBC Scrutiny Committee meeting in November 2014 he, amongst others, outlined a number issues and flaws with the LIF application for funds which were supported by other party councillors. In addition to this, Bramley Parish Council remains politically neutral, and party politics have no part in the Parish Council’s meetings or decision processes.

Whilst the Parish Council is not against a footbridge in principle (as noted in the minutes of the PC meeting held on 17^th November 2014), it opposed the footbridge project proposed in 2014/15 on several counts;

Most importantly the proposed bridge was NON inclusive; ie, people with disabilities, mobility issues, with pushchairs and young children would be, by design, excluded. This would be against BDBC’s and Network Rail’s inclusivity policies and also against the views of many responsible and morally concerned citizens.
The match funding from Network Rail detailed in the LIF submission was not forthcoming. In October 2014 £450,000 of LIF funding was ring-fenced by BDBC for 12 months whilst a feasibility study for the footbridge project was carried out by Network Rail. Network Rail confirmed in July 2015 that the proposed scheme could not be supported, and therefore would not put any funding towards the project. Without the match funding in place, BDBC withdrew the ring fencing and did not continue with the LIF application. Network Rail confirmed again to the Parish Council on 18th December 2018 that they do not currently have the resources to fund a bridge.
The LIF application, submitted by one of the then Borough Councillors was not completed correctly, and was identified as flawed and lacking factual detail and evidence.

In 2014/15, Bramley Parish Council submitted its own application for LIF funding, to create a safe route to school and improve road safety in the level crossing area. This project is ongoing, and details can be found on the Bramley Parish Council website, in the meeting minutes section.

You can perform a search for "Road Safety Project" or you can click "Road Safety Project" to see the results of the search.

Unmanned Aircraft and Drone Regulations

2018-04-16T11:38:55+01:00

When you fly a drone in the UK it is your responsibility to be aware of the rules that are in place to keep everyone safe. Follow these simple steps to make sure you are flying safely and legally:

http://dronesafe.uk/drone-code/

Message from the Flood and Water Management Team - September 2017

2017-09-06T18:01:50+01:00

Unfortunately it is fast becoming the time of year when we need to think about the state of Hampshire’s land drainage network. As the rain begins in earnest and leaves begin to fall, all riparian owners (those who have watercourses on or bordering their properties) across Hampshire, and beyond, should be looking at the state of their drainage ditches, culverts and other watercourses to ensure the clear transference of rain water and a reduced risk of localised flooding.

Bramley Litter Picker - Area of Cover

2016-03-22T15:12:56+00:00

Litter Warden – 2016

Litter Warden Round

Bramley Green & Lane End (including the pond area)
Cinder track
Village Shop and Longbridge Road
Bramley Lane from The Street to the School
Footpath from North Row past Strawberry Fields, and field behind school
Clift Meadow
Coopers Lane (every 2 or 3 weeks)
The Street – from St James Church to Bramley Green (occasional)
Other areas on request if there is a specific problem
Folly Lane, Olivers Lane, and Cufaude Lane checked periodically for fly tipping

All areas listed above are litter picked at least weekly unless otherwise stated.

Schedule varies according to litter pickers own personal schedule.

Litter picker works 10 hours per week.

Any large items are reported as fly tipping directly to Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council.

Strawberry Fields - Potential Development of Land North of Sherfield Road

2014-06-17T09:43:53+01:00

Following a meeting between Parish Cllr Tony Durrant and James Hare the Stratfield Saye Estate manager, the Parish Council can confirm the following:

Gleeson are working for the estate and their remit is to obtain outline planning permission for up to 200 dwellings on the site and then promote that land with planning permission to developers. There is as yet no developer identified.

It is the intention of the estate to retain, for the time being, the eastern end of the site for agricultural use and not create open green public space as the colour key on the map suggests.

The master plan drawing recently circulated by Gleesons to households within Bramley therefore is only indicative of what may be developed on the site.

Should approval be given for the outline plan there will follow a process between the developer and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council officers that will determine the detail, that is to say layout, style, content and any facilities etc.

The Parish Council are in regular discussion with the Estate and its agents

Bramley Parish Council’s response to application: 13/00998/FUL

2013-07-29T16:31:55+01:00

The parish council has submitted its response to the planning application for: Change of Use of land to use as a residential gypsy caravan site for one family with two caravans, including one static caravan/mobile home, laying of hard-standing, erection of utility building and improvement of existing access.

The Parish Council has OBJECTED on the following grounds.

Application 13/00998/FUL is somewhat disingenuous, being a likely ‘test-case’ for the whole site which has been sold by an online agent as 48 similar-sized plots without planning permission. It is believed that, should planning for the change of use for this plot be granted, a clear precedent will be set for the remaining 47 plots. This would in time lead to a significant development of gypsy caravans akin to the ‘’Dale Farm’ site where there were fewer than 48 approved plots over a site which grew beyond all reasonable management.

There is a genuine concern that the development of this site by individuals does not address infrastructure needs and does not offer the Borough an opportunity to manage the site development through planning policy. There is local experience of the failure of similar traveller site as there was an authorised site at Peak Copse to the south of Basingstoke near to the Junction 7 of the M3 motorway in 1992 which was owned and managed by Hampshire County Council. However, following a number of violent disturbances the county council decided to close it in 1996.

The Parish Council OBJECTS on the following grounds:

• Previous planning decisions: This site was subject to a previous planning application which was rejected on environmental grounds including flooding. The applicant has stated that this problem remains and that the site does flood regularly. They have stated that they do not mind because travellers are used to packing up and moving quickly, which is not a satisfactory response since up to 48 traveller families will then disperse into the local community and set up unauthorised encampments.

• Noise and disturbance resulting from use.

• Effect on green belt and nature conservation: The local traveller policy states that inappropriate development is harmful to the Green Belt and should not be approved, except in very special circumstances. Traveller sites (temporary or permanent) in the Green Belt are inappropriate development.

• Layout and density of building (across the whole site of 48 plots): The total sum of the smaller plots, once developed, would create a dense living environment with insufficient mixed-use. There would be no central amenities such as play areas, open kick-about space, organised storage, or parking.

• Scale: The Local Traveller Policy states that local planning authorities should strictly limit new traveller site development in open countryside that is away from existing settlements or outside areas allocated in the development plan. Local planning authorities should ensure that sites in rural areas respect the scale of, and do not dominate the nearest settled community, and avoid placing an undue pressure on the local infrastructure. This site once fully occupied would further stretch resources within Bramley which are already struggling to meet local need, and with the imposition of further development through the Draft LDP Bramley will not be able to meet healthcare, schooling and other needs directly arising from the scale of this development site.

• Design, appearance and materials: There is likely to be a mix of design materials and layout of plots across the whole site which will lead to a disorganised ‘shanty town’ type layout with no overall infrastructure design and layout potentially leading to poor access to some plots including for emergency vehicles.

• Local, strategic, regional and national planning policies: The Borough’s Local Plan Traveller Policy states that there is a need for up to 17 transit sites across the Borough. It also states that there is a need for only 7 permanent plots within the Borough. This overall site comprising 48 plots in total far exceeds the evidence-based local need.

• Highway safety: It was noted in 2009 when the previous application was rejected that the location of the access from Cufaude Lane into the site was potentially dangerous. It is clear from from assessment of the overall site plan that this problem is exasperated by the further 47 plots using the same access to the overall site.

• Traffic: This development will create traffic in all directions and most certainly towards Bramley centre.

• Schooling and Health Care: Bramley Primary School has recently been asked to accommodate higher numbers of intake. There are further proposed developments within the Local Plan which will stretch the school and other services beyond predicted capacity.

Horse Chestnut tree on Minchens Corner

2012-12-07T16:43:15+00:00

Hampshire County Council's arboriculture specialists have informed us that unfortunately it will be necessary to fell the large Horse Chestnut on the green at the junction of Minchens Lane and The Street, near The Granary, for highway safety under the Highways Act (1980). Investigations of the stem base last summer, and again a few weeks ago, indicate there is a significant area of decay in the stem base. This is increasing and the County's arboricultural team do not feel that a moderately heavy crown reduction on this tree would yield satisfactory results, leaving removal and replanting as the only viable option.

The work is planned to take place on 28th January between 9am and 3pm. SSE will need to organise a power shutdown to enable contractors to carry out these works and any residents affected by this have been written to.

Along with other planned planting schemes throughout the village, they are planning for a replacement tree to be planted in this winter's planting season.

A local photographer visited the tree before it was felled and has allowed us to put some photos on our Bramley, Hampshire facebook page: click here to see the stunning photos