HARTWELL’S BARN & SAUNDER’S FIELD : FAQs
Decision making
How was the community consulted on the decision to raise the funds to purchase Hartwell’s Barn and Saunder’s Field?
The Parish Council organised a public meeting on August 5th, and a leaflet promoting this was delivered to all the houses in Brill. The meeting was also advertised on village noticeboards and on social media, including Facebook. The leaflet (see accompanying image) invited anyone unable attend to contact the sub-committee by email, using a website contact form (a QR code was provided) or by post. Thirty-six responses were received, of which six opposed the purchase. A full report of the public meeting was published shortly afterwards on this website and the Parish Council did not receive any feedback disputing this account. Throughout this time, it was made very clear that residents were welcome to contact the Parish Council independently or to put forward their views in the public session held before every council meeting, but no such feedback was received.
The Parish Council therefore concluded that, although not unanimous, there was general support from the village to try to raise the funds through voluntary donations or grants. A referendum on the issue was not considered necessary as no public money was to be spent on the project, and the role of the Parish Council was limited to supporting the appeal by participating in fund raising activities and helping to establish a Trust, as detailed in the signed Memorandum of Understanding.
The Brill Society was established to preserve and protect the community, environment, conservation and historic interests in Brill, so purchasing the barn and field is within its remit. The charity is accountable to its members, has its own constitution and is not obliged to consult the community more widely.
Could the barn and the field be registered as an asset of community value (ACV)? It is possible to apply to register the barn and the field as an ACV. However, this only prevents the landowner selling the property for six months and there is no obligation to sell to the community at the end of that period.
Other villages have had a referendum before embarking on this sort of project (buying pubs and so on). Why not in Brill? The difference here is that Hartwell’s Barn and Saunder’s Field will not be purchased with public money but through private donations. A public vote is therefore not required.
Why is the Parish Council working with The Brill Society to purchase the barn and the field jointly? The landowner initially approached the Parish Council about purchasing the barn and the field. The Brill Society, as a registered charity, has some advantages for fund raising; tax relief can be claimed on donations and the society is allowed to accept loans from individuals. The Parish Council and TBS signed a Memorandum of Understanding to consolidate this working relationship.
Isn’t this just another on-going cost for the Parish Council and so the community? Another burdensome asset? The barn and field will be managed by a Trust who will ensure that the site is at least self-sufficient..
What risks would the Parish Council bear? As explained below, responsibility for running Hartwell’s Barn & Saunder’s Field will pass to a Trust on purchase. Trust law is complex and precise arrangements and responsibilities will be agreed following legal advice.
How long is the purchase of Hartwell’s Barn going to take? The present owners would like to conclude the sale this autumn. We don’t have much time!
Public funds from DEFRA and the National Lottery were used to renovate the barn about 20 years ago. The Brill Environment Group (BEG) has also covered the cost of electricity over the years. What are the implications? Hartwell’s Barn was renovated in 2004 using grant funding obtained by The Brill Society from DEFRA and other sources, and the barn was officially opened on April 17th 2005. The intention was that the barn would be an environment centre and that it would be open to the public every Sunday afternoon (see the accompanying extract from The Brill Society Chairman’s report of March 2005).
BEG was founded to take over responsibility from the Brill Society for the barn, with a focus on education, events and talks, and has remained responsible for the barn since including paying the electricity bill. The Parish Council was not involved in this project. To the best of our knowledge, there were no conditions placed on the landowner under the rules for the grants at that time, although it is an issue that may be considered by our solicitor before exchange of contracts on the purchase.
alternatives
Couldn’t the Parish Council just refuse planning permission to any developer wanting to build on this land? Although the PC plays an important role in the planning process and its views as local experts are respected, our opinion is only one small step in the process. County, regional and national policy generally take precedence.
How would developers access the Hartwell’s Barn site? it’s surrounded by common land, isn’t it? Unfortunately, no! Brill Common only borders Saunder’s Field (in which Hartwell’s Barn stands) on two sides; the fields on the other two sides are both privately-owned offering a number of potential access routes to the site.
Are developers really eying up Hartwell’s Barn? Surely they wouldn’t get planning permission? Like much of the open ground within and surrounding Brill, Saunder’s Field is potentially a prime site for development. Furthermore, even green belt land in Buckinghamshire is not protected from development (see http://savelittlechalfont.org.uk). If the land is purchased by a developer they may wait ten, even twenty years for conditions to be right to build. The Parish Council and The Brill Society consider that the best way to protect the land in perpetuity is to place it under community ownership.
Are developers already looking at Hartwell’s Barn? We only know that a pending sale is now common knowledge, even though the land has not actually come on the market.
fundraising
What would happen to my money if the village doesn’t buy Hartwell’s Barn? If the purchase doesn’t go through, for whatever reason, all donations will be returned. But let’s make sure that doesn’t need to happen!
Do I have a share in Hartwell’s Barn if I donate? One option that The Brill Society and the Parish Council considered was setting up a Community Benefit Society which would enable people to hold shares (see this Plunkett Foundation guide to possible legal structures in these situations. This is an attractive option but it is mostly used for commercial initiatives such as a village shop or pub (the Chandos Arms in Oakley is an example of where this approach has been successful). In an ideal world, these opportunities might be explored further but it is not clear if they are suitable for Hartwell’s Barn - plus there is time pressure to complete the purchase. We therefore think a straightforward appeal for donations, similar to the purchase of The Walks, will stand a better chance of success.
Is the price of £150k fair? The price is based on valuations by local estate agents.
Why has an appeal for donations been launched when similar initiatives in the area have been funded by grants? Buckinghamshire Council and other bodies such as the Plunkett Foundation and the National Lottery have been consulted on options for raising the money but some grants are designed for assets such as community shops or pubs, and matching funding from donations is usually needed. Yes, there are options such as a Public Works Loan or establishing a Community Benefit Society and, in the ideal world, the Parish Council and The Brill Society would explore these routes further, but the decision-making process takes several months and there is time pressure from the landowner to finalise the purchase.
Will money from local taxes (the precept) be spent on the purchase? No. The intention is to raise the money by voluntary donations. The precept and any reserves held by the parish council are intended to maintain existing village assets, such as Brill Common.
The future
Who will look after the barn and the field? A protective Trust will be set up to look after the barn and the field in perpetuity. Trustees will include representatives from the Parish Council, The Brill Society and other community groups representatives from the wider community of Brill.
Will the Parish Council have a say in running Hartwell’s Barn in the future? Yes, as the elected decision-making body in the community, the Parish Council will still be involved, through their representatives on the planned Trust.
What changes would be seen if the barn and field are purchased? Initially, some further improvements to the barn would be needed such as installing sanitation. Any other changes, such as limited improvements to access, would be agreed by the Trust taking into account the wishes of the community and the sensitive nature of the area.
How might Hartwell’s Barn and Saunder’s Field be used if purchased by the community? In the past, Hartwell’s Barn hosted the Midsummer Music event and plays staged by the Windmill Players and visiting companies. Its use declined in recent years due to Covid and uncertainty over the future of the site. If - when! - we own the barn, the intention is to open it up to benefit the community more widely. Many suggestions have been received, including more regular concerts and plays, an educational hub, and a venue for workshops teaching traditional crafts. Saunder’s Field has a quiet area for contemplation (set up by the Fathers Against Tedium group, the Fat Daddies, in remembrance of a member of the group) and there are the beginnings of a community orchard in one corner.
Purchase of the barn and field is only the first step. The Trust will be tasked with considering a range of suggestions, balancing the needs and expectations of the whole community, and exploring grant funding. We can’t say what exactly will happen; we just know it will be the start of a new and exciting venture for Brill.
How will the running and maintenance costs for the barn and the field be covered in the long term? The intention is that the running and maintenance costs will be funded from the income from events such as concerts, plays and workshops. Options for grant funding will also be explored. The Trust will be responsible for funding arrangements. The Trust will be able to apply to the Parish Council for Section 137 grants in the same way as other village organisations such as the Memorial Hall.
Maintenance and running costs are estimated to be low once any initial repairs have been completed using grant funding or The Brill Society resources; they will certainly be lower and carry much less risk to the community than Brill Windmill. In the worst case, as a contingency plan, the area will be treated as an extension to the Common, with land made available for grazing.
Most importantly: The area would be owned by the community so future generations will be free to use the area according to their wishes and needs, rather than being permanently closed off by private ownership.