Brill Parish Council Newsletter

March 2025 (vol 6, issue 3)

A polite reminder

As the days lengthen, the sun shines and we’re drawn outdoors to our gardens, a polite - but very firm - reminder: PLEASE DO NOT DUMP GARDEN WASTE ON THE COMMON OR THE WALKS! This is (a) unsightly, and (b) risks spreading garden plant species (and diseases) to the common.

There are two excellent alternatives:

• Compost at home There’s lots of information on the Buckinghamshire Recycles website - plus money off equipment for Bucks residents to get you started.

• Bucks Council garden waste collection Fortnightly collection from your front door for a reasonable fee - plus the satisfaction of knowing that your garden waste is turned into quality peat-free compost sold at Household Recycling Centres.

10 Minutes with Cllr Liz Springs

Why did I become a councillor? Well, if there were no Parish Councils, villages would be the responsibility of the County Council* - and, with the best will in the world, county councillors are not best placed to know the area, the people and their needs. Parish Councillors who live locally and love the village are surely best placed to support their community. 

I’m proud of the 'no mow' biodiversity areas in the village. Establishing these was a real departure for Brill. The variety and quantity of wildflowers and wildlife has increased year by year and I’m looking forward to seeing what new species appear this year.

I think building good working relationships with community groups is a really important part of being a councillor. I’ve done a lot with All Saints Church, particularly Memory Lane Café - and, way back in 2022, I helped organise Brill’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. (Remember the wonderful flags?!) I now represent the PC on the Memorial Hall Management Committee (Halloween fund-raisers seem to be my speciality!) and I’ve recently taken over coordinating Brill’s Community Market. I really enjoy helping village organisations flourish and achieve their goals.

Writing Parish Council policies and procedures may sound a bit boring but they’re so important. I’m told I have a good eye for detail; maybe that’s why I find this sort of thing weirdly enjoyable…

Sadly, one of my achievements also ended up being one of my challenges. A few people in the village think that wildflowers growing on The Green and on verges make the village look neglected. Some of the comments in the last two years have been pretty hurtful. One person even removed our “Feeding the Bees” signs and put them in the bin! I found that extremely disheartening. 

What advice would I give to a new councillor?

First, don't feel you have to jump in straight away. You don't have to immediately take on a special area or project (unless you want to!) It's absolutely fine to take your time and get a feel for the role first.

Second, remember that negative voices are always louder than positive, even if smaller in number. You're never going to make everyone happy. Try to keep a sense of perspective - and don’t let the complaints drag you down. Stay true to yourself.

I’m actually surprised how much I’ve enjoyed being on the Parish Council. It’s certainly not been smooth sailing but I'm glad I've done it - so much so, I'm considering doing it again!

*This remains a danger. If fewer than three councillors are elected in May, Brill Parish Council will be inquorate and unable to function. We may be merged with another PC or business may be taken over by Buckinghamshire Council.

Democracy needs you …

Democracy - even at lowly Parish Council level - is a fundamental and essential right. Please play your part on Thursday May 1st 2025.

• cast your vote for a Buckinghamshire Council councillor to represent Waddesdon Ward (yes, the ward boundaries have changed; Brill is now in Waddesdon Ward)

• cast you votes for seven new Brill Parish Councillors*

  AND

• seriously consider standing as a Parish Councillor yourself!

This newsletter contains the fourth and final interview with current Brill Parish Councillors. We hope these candid personal accounts have helped inspire you to get involved in shaping the future of Brill.

• Cllr Emi Slater : November/December

• Cllr Steven Judge : January

• Cllr Jennifer Tuffley : February

• Cllr Liz Springs (this issue)

Please contact our Parish Clerk, Bobs Damerell to find out about the role from his perspective - or email any of the present councillors to arrange a chat:

• Steven Judge

• Emi Slater

• Liz Springs

• Jennifer Tuffley

We also recommend talking to past councillors (of which there seems to be a lot in Brill!) and reading this information on the National Association of Local Councils website.

The next step is to check your eligibility to stand for the Parish Council. (Note that this is your responsibility; the Parish Clerk cannot determine this for you.)

If you’re good to go, read the information on this page on the Buckinghamshire Council website carefully before downloading, printing and completing your nomination papers, including signatures from your proposer and seconder.

Completed nomination papers must be delivered in person to a Deputy Returning Officer in The Gateway, Aylesbury by 4pm on Wednesday April 2nd 2025.

After you’ve met the April 2nd deadline, you might like to consider canvassing residents or at least publishing some sort of personal statement in support of your candidacy, maybe on the three community bulletin boards. This is not compulsory - many Parish Council candidates rely on reputation or word-of-mouth recommendation - but it does add to the quality of the campaign.

*There are seven seats on Brill Parish Council. If seven or fewer candidates stand, there won’t be an election - but we think democracy would be better served by a healthy campaign, don’t you?

Thank you - and good luck!

EV Charging Points in Brill

Two electric vehicle charge points will be installed in the car park behind Brill Memorial Hall during the summer. This is part of a wider Buckinghamshire Council project. Just two spaces will be reserved initially for electric cars but, since each point can charge two cars, two more spaces could be reserved in the future when electric vehicles become more common. 

We all know that the Memorial Hall car park is badly in need of repair. The current Parish Council has set aside some funding to support the renovation but nothing can be done at the moment as the surveyors have not yet decided where to run the cables. 

Funding for local organisations
or community events

The Parish Council is allowed to offer grants to support local organisations or one-off events. These are called Section 137 grants after the relevant section of the Local Government Act of 1972. 

Section 137 is several pages of detailed legal requirements. In brief, the maximum amount the Parish Council can offer per financial year is about £10 per elector, in total roughly £8k. This sets the absolute maximum, but the council is also constrained by money available from the precept.

Under the regulations, grants come with strict conditions. First, grants cannot be awarded to individuals, only to organisations. Second, there must be evidence to show what the money has been spent on - for example, if the grant is to buy some equipment, the Parish Council (or our auditor) must be able to see the invoice. Third, there must be proof that the application is widely supported. Some parish councils in our area have written policies explaining the conditions in more detail; here is one example, from Waddesdon.

The Parish Council is always pleased to support local organisations and events, but legal and financial constraints mean that applications for grants should be clear, auditable and specific, with evidence to demonstrate support in the community, and at a modest cost to the taxpayer. Recipients of recent 137 grants include:

• The Brill Society to help purchase audio-recording equipment for the Brill Oral History project

• Bernwode Rural Shed to support this valuable new community group combating social isolation and loneliness

To apply for a Section 137 grant, please use the form on the Brill Parish Council & Community website.

VE 80th Anniversary Celebrations

Current international events have focused our minds on peace in Europe; a peace hard won during the Second World War. Thursday May 8th marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.  

In line with Buckinghamshire’s Armed Forces Covenant, Buckinghamshire Council will be supporting residents, organisations and community groups to hold VE Day 80 events and street parties. While VE Day itself is Thursday May 8th, the bank holiday on Monday May 5th has been officially dedicated to community celebrations. Bucks Council will be waiving the associated fees to host an event on a public highway between Monday May 5th and Sunday May 11th 2025 inclusive. Visit this page on the Bucks Council website to find out more about planning a community event.

Please get in touch with the Parish Council ASAP if you are interested in commemorating VE Day with a public event on May 5th - or building and lighting a beacon on the evening of May 8th. Brill has a proud tradition of impressive beacons and bonfires!

Save-the-date for a very special
Midsummer Music

Another anniversary - this time The Brill Society, local history and heritage group, 60 years old in 2025 and celebrating with TWO days of magical Midsummer Music.

TBS are looking for local people to help make this a truly memorable occasion for the whole community. If you feel you can contribute ideas, time or donations to kick-start events, please contact Maggie Robins, The Brill Society Secretary.

The society also needs help opening Brill Windmill to the public during the Summer - and turning the sails on the last Sunday of each month. If you have a free hour or so on Sunday afternoons (Easter to the end of September) please consider joining their loyal team of volunteers. Training given - and all ages welcome, particularly young people participating in The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. Please contact Maggie, as above.

Finally!

Please tell others about this e-newsletter. Lots of people aren’t on Facebook or comfortable with social media, and we want to reach all parishioners equally.

Tell friends, family or neighbours to email hannahbrillcommunity@gmail.com or fill in the newsletter form on the welcome page of the Brill Parish Council & Community website. Alternatively, if they’d like to read a paper copy, please tell them there are always copies of the newsletter on the Parish Council noticeboard (on the front wall of the Memorial Hall), in the pouch on the door of the Parish Office (near the Memorial Hall kitchen), and in All Saints Church, the shops and the surgery.

Remember you can read past issues of the newsletter on the Brill Parish Council & Community website.

All good wishes
Brill Parish Council