1

Apologies for Absence

As listed above.

2

Declarations of Interest

None.

3

Minutes of the Last Parish Council Meeting

3.1

The minutes of the meeting held on 18^th February 2020 were unanimously agreed to be a true and accurate record and were signed by the Chairman. 

3.2

Matters arising

        i.            Outstanding minutes actions/task list

The list was reviewed.

• Bramley Green 40mph speed limit – the Clerk has had a reply from HCC.  Essentially, that stretch of road does not have a high enough level of density or recorded accidents to warrant a 30mph speed limit, and given those factors is a low priority for review.

4

Open Forum

Cllr Durrant invited comments and questions from the public. 

• None.

5

County Councillor Report – see appendix A.

6

Borough Councillor Report 

Cllrs Robinson and Tomblin gave a verbal report:

• Manydown DC meeting – this is due to happen on 24^th March – it is likely to happen despite Covid-19 issues.  The only thing that might stop it is if enough officers are actually ill.  POST MEETING NOTE – subsequent to the Government announcement on 23^rd March, all BDBC meetings have been cancelled for the foreseeable future.  This is being reviewed regularly.
• Site adjacent to Clift Meadow Surgery – Cllrs Robinson and Tomblin are very pleased with the outcome of last week’s DC meeting with this application being refused.  Any future applications for the site will need to be approached with care. 
• Local elections have been postponed for 12 months due to Covid-19, so current arrangements will stand for now. 
• SHELAA reviews – Members Advisory Panel has been postponed due to Covid-19, but papers have been sent out to members for comment.  Cllr Durrant asked if Bramley feedback is being taken seriously – Cllr Tomlbin stated that it has certainly been noticed and acknowledged. 

7

Parish Environment

7.1

Update on Wildflower meadow proposal for Bramley Green – Cllr James and Cllr Bell confirmed that the existing contractor for grass cutting will be unable to carry out the necessary work for the wildflower meadow.   

HIWWT have suggested leaving the cut until the summer (July/August) anyway, so existing contractors will not cut the test area for the present.  This will give time to find contractors to do just the test area for cutting.   

Stratfield Saye Estates are being kept up to date.  They are very supportive. 

Cllr James/ Cllr Bell

7.2

Climate Emergency proposals – deferred to next meeting.  Discussion via email for present.  Cllr James is heavily involved with local initiatives, and will circulate proposals. 

Cllr James

7.3

VE day celebration proposals – it was unanimously agreed that no event would be put into place, due to the current situation concerning the Covid-19 virus.

8

Clerk’s report & Administration - The Clerk gave a brief verbal report.

• The Clerk has circulated a draft policy covering what to do in the event of high consequence infectious disease outbreak, such as the current situation with Covid-19.  The policy discusses when and how the emergency measures should be triggered, and how the Parish Council will operate under those circumstances.  Cllr Durrant proposed and Cllr James seconded that the policy be adopted.  Unanimously agreed.

Cllr Durrant then proposed that the emergency conditions should be triggered at the end of this meeting for the foreseeable future.  This was seconded by Cllr Capel and unanimously agreed.  Clerk to put the policy and planned actions on the PC website. 

Clerk

8.1

Parish magazine article – the author for the next article for the Parish Magazine will be Cllr Ansell.  The deadline is 15^th March. 

Cllr Ansell

8.2

IT Project update – The Clerk gave an update. 

A launch date of 31^st March for the new website has been suggested.  The Clerk is working with Cllr Ansell and the supplier to make this happen.  Send link to new website.

         i.            Equipment procurement – this is ongoing, with suppliers being sought.  It is expected that purchase will be within the next few weeks.

Cllr Ansell/ Clerk

9

Reports

9.1

Reports from Parish Council representatives

a.

Planning Committee – see appendix B.

Site at Cufaude Lane – Mark Chapman has now left BDBC.  Clerk to check which BDBC officer is handling it.

Sewerage – Cllr Bell outlined his proposed response to officers at BDBC on why Bramley PC wish to meet with them.  Outlined reasons are:

• To find out the BDBC response to the letter from Thames Water. 
• How did conditions on Minchens and Land South of Silchester Road get lifted? 
• How can Thames Water say the sewerage arrangements in the application for Land South of Silchester Road are acceptable in view of contents of the Thames Water letter? 
• Are BDBC going to question Thames Water concerning Land South of Silchester Road after the report that Bramley PC sent them? 
• What Implications does the Thames Water have for the SHELAA. 

This was unanimously agreed – Cllr Bell to reply to BDBC as outlined above.  Thames Water letter and our original letter to go on website once meeting request has gone in. 

Local Plan Update – Cllr Tomblin stated that the first item due to be reviewed are policies with regard to climate change.

Minchens Lane s.106 – no news as yet.  Cllr Durrant noted dissatisfaction with the safety issues with the path, and again stated that if it is not resolved soon then the path and footbridge should be closed.

Cllr Bell

Clerk

b.

Neighbourhood Plan working group – no update as present. 

c.

Environment

         i.            Community Speedwatch update – see appendix A.

1. Village Gates scheme – deferred to next meeting.  To be discussed by email.

       ii.            Parking Working group update – the Clerk has contacted a consultant about a formal survey of the parking issues in Bramley, and is awaiting a reply.

d.

Allotments and Burial Ground – see appendix A.

Memorial Wall – Cllr James has found a supplier, but has taken it no further.  He will progress it.

Cllr James

e.

Village Hall Trust – see appendix A.

f.

Clift Meadow Trust – see appendix A. 

Cllrs requested an update on the Meet the Councillor event.  Cllr Robinson to check.  POST MEETING NOTE – this has been postponed due to the Covid-19 arrangements.

• Hedge cutting has been completed.
• There are two new Trustees. 
• The marketing team has now been set up and is running. 
• Youth Club meetings have been cancelled for now due to the Covid-19 arrangements. 
• Cllrs asked what is happening with the Fun day, and how much of the grant has been spent.  Cllr Capel and Clerk to investigate.

Cllr Capel/ Clerk

g.

Police & Neighbourhood Watch – see appendix A. 

h.

Highways/Footpaths – see appendix A.

Footpath behind Bromelia Close is very uneven, with trip hazards.  Clerk to report. 

Clerk

i.

Road Safety Project – no update at this time. 

Cllr Tomblin requested a meeting with HCC to ask what’s happened with schedule and budget.  Clerk to ask for review of costs and timescales. 

Clerk

j.

Chairman’s report – no report.

10

Consultation documents requiring consideration

None.

11

Grant Applications

11.1

Village Hall Trust – to replace the stage curtains – the Village Hall Trustees have submitted a grant request for this item for a total of £2957.  The stage curtains have been in place for nearly 50 years and are in urgent need of replacement to make them full compliant with current fire and health & safety requirements.

Cllrs asked for a list of who uses the stage and curtains and how often.  If they are a fire risk, then they should be taken down for now.  The Council will review the application once this information is received.

Clerk

12

Finance

12.1

Payments and reconciliation approval - see appendix C

The Clerk noted the payments on the reconciliation. 

It was unanimously agreed to approve the payments on the reconciliation.

Clerk to process.

Clerk

12.2

Acknowledgement of Receipts – see appendix C

Receipts were noted. 

13

Date of Next meeting

The next Parish Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 21^st April 2020.  However, this will depend very much on the situation with the Covid-19 outbreak.  The website will be kept up to date with updates as necessary.

14

Resolution to exclude press and public from items that may require discussion of possible legal and financial proceedings 

None.

15

Confidential Items

None. 

The meeting closed at 9.21pm