Parish Council Meeting held December 16th 2025

Minutes

Present: Cllr Springs (Acting-Chair), Cllr Fisher & Cllr Connelly and 5 members of the public were in attendance. 

Updates and questions from members of the Public:
No questions were raised by members of the public

025/058 To receive apologies for absence.
Apologies were received for Cllrs Newman, Tuffley, Wilson & Slater

025/059 To receive any declarations of interest.
No Interests were declared

025/060 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2025.
Cllr Connelly proposed the minutes as a true record of the meeting, seconded by Cllr Fisher and unanimously approved

025/061 Finance: 

• To receive the monthly finance spreadsheet

• The Clerk to send the financial spreadsheet to all Cllrs. 

• Budget – The Clerk has worked with Cllr Wilson on the Budget and this is ready to be shared with the whole council ready for ratification at the January meeting

025/062 Planning applications
Applications for review

Planning Ref PL/25/4718/VRC
Address Hillside Farm Oakley Road Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9SH
Proposal Variation of condition 2 (approved plans) attached to planning permission 24/01796/APP (Demolition of existing buildings and erection of a single dwellinghouse and associated access, parking and landscaping) to allow for the relocation of the home office/gym/pilates studio to the site of the existing pole barn to create a wider access point set further back from the highway. Additional hedgerow planting along the roadside.
PC Comments The Council to request that any hedgerow being installed should be in keeping with native species.

Planning Ref PL/25/4611/FA
Address Hillside 23 Brae Hill, Brill, Buckinghamshire, HP18 9TB
Proposal Single storey extension to rear
PC Comments Neutral

025/082 Communications Database

• To review the recent communications 

• Community Market – The Council received a request from a resident for clarification of responsibility for the Community Market. 

• The current Community Market was set up by a former Parish Councillor but it has become unclear whether it was officially a Parish Council event.

• The Brill Society has offered to take on the responsibility of the Market and the Council unanimously agreed provisionally to work in collaboration with the Brill Society with the Brill Society taking on the responsibility of the market whilst also sharing with the Council the plans for the market going forward.

• Litter Bin – A resident suggested the installation a litter bin on Tram Hill near the bench. The Council provisionally agreed to this subject to the cost of installation and cost of the regular emptying by Bucks Council.

• Road Gutters – The Clerk has contacted Bucks Council to carry out a jetting of the drains in the village and a street sweep. The clerk to update the Council once a date has been arranged.

• Village Green – Cllr Fisher, following communication with a resident proposed closing the Village Green by the church for parking as it is becoming damaged.

• During the winter months the residents can request the use of parking on the Village Green for events including funerals, weddings etc. The Council confirmed the Memory Lane café will continue to have permission to park on the green. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Connelley and unanimously agreed.

• The Council to explore the cost of installing grids on the village green in the spring to protect the green and prevent further damage from car parking.

• Complaint from a resident – The Council received a report from the Clerk outlining the questions and answers raised by resident following a complaint. 

025/083 Football Pitch

• To discuss the situation on the football pitch and the communication with the Men’s team.

• Cllr Fisher proposed for the Parish Council to contact the Sports and Social Club to discuss the future sustainability of the football pitch including the future of the men’s team. Seconded by Cllr Connelley and unanimously approved.

025/084 The Common / The Walks

• Cuckoo Close Farm - Cllr Fisher updated the Council that he is arranging a date for the stones to be removed from the Common and placed within the boundary of Cuckoo Close Farm. Cllr Fisher confirmed this would be before the January 2026 Parish Council meeting.

• Norcott’s Close – The Council has been in discussion with BVCH regarding the fence at Norcott’s Kiln. A temporary fence has been erected in the short term with a plan for the installation of wooden bollards to delineate the area the Council would allow for cars to be parked on this section of the Common. These stobs will be placed following the completion of the current building works and the Council will work with BVCH on the exact locations.

• South Hills – UKPN – The Clerk updated the Council on the site visit with UKPN. The Clerk confirmed that the only impact on the Common would be trench to lay the cabling and that all housing and structures will be in the land owned by the applicant. This trench would be backfilled and restored to its original state by the applicant.

•  The Council unanimously approved the work to take place on the condition that a Wayleave is created for the section. The Council also re-iterated that should any residential dwelling be erected on the site, an easement to access this via the current track would be require from the Council as would any subsequent dwellings on the site.

025/085 Section 137 Request

• To review to the funding request from the Sports and Social Club. The Clerk confirmed that no update had been received regarding the questions sent to Brill Sports & Social Club and as such the request will be carried over to the next Parish Council meeting.

• Carol singing event – The Council unanimously agreed to cover the cost of the refreshments for the event up to a maximum amount of £100

Confidential Session to follow the conclusion of the public meeting if required. Not required.

Meeting closed at 20:46

025/086 Income & Expenditure

Income 
HLS - Payment £8,766.22
Heart of Bucks Grant £550.00

Expenditure
BT - Utilities £96.43
Service Charges £5.25
Land Registry - Title Deeds £14.00
Squarespace - Website Domain £172.80
BBOWT - Common Consultancy £5,357.82
Brill PCC - Xmas Market 2024 deposits £430.00
Hannah Hunter - Website £250.00
Service Charges £8.50
Ranger Salary £1,371.84
HMRC - PAYE £306.10
Gloves £80.14
HLS - Payment £8,766.22
Heart of Bucks Grant £550.00
R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,151.84
HMRC - PAYE £135.12
R Timms - Bins and Leaf Clearance £120.00
Bucks Council - Bins £35.20
Squarespace - Website Domain £8.40
HP Ink £13.49
Aspire Community Works - Grass Cutting £528.00
Briants - Gate £83.38
Briants - Gate £6.41
T&D Electrical - MUGA Floodlights £5,188.09
Briants - Gate £448.08
BT - Utilities £96.43
Amazon - Padlock £41.00
Service Charges £5.17
Electric Fence Battery £333.71

Read the financial summary for December 2025 (PDF). Please email the Parish Clerk if you need help accessing this document.

Parish Council Meeting held November 18th 2025

Minutes

Present: Cllr Newman (Chair), Cllr Springs, Cllr Wilson, Cllr Tuffley, Cllr Fisher, Cllr Slater & Cllr Connelly and 4 members of the public were in attendance. 

Updates and questions from members of the Public:
A resident enquired as to when the pea shingle on the Common will be removed from outside 1 Norcott’s Kiln. The Council advised the member of the public this is an item on the Agenda and would be discussed at that time.

025/058 To receive apologies for absence.
No apologies were received

025/059 To receive any declarations of interest.

• Cllr Springs declared an interest in item 025/052 – Village Green

• Cllr Slater declared an interest in item 025/062 – Planning Applications - PL/25/3505/HB - Waterloo House The Square Brill BuckinghamshireHP18 9RP

025/060 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 20 October 2025.
Cllr Connelly proposed the minutes as a true record of the meeting, seconded by Cllr Fisher and unanimously approved

025/061 Finance - To receive the monthly finance spreadsheet

• The Council confirmed receipt of the monthly financial spreadsheet. 

• Budget - The Clerk stated that the Budget and Precept request for 2026/27 needs to be agreed by the January Meeting. The Clerk to draft the Budget with Cllr Fisher and Cllr Wilson to finalise and bring before the full Council to ratify.

025/062 Planning applications - Applications for review

Planning Ref PL/25/3505/HB
Address Waterloo House The Square Brill BuckinghamshireHP18 9RP
Proposal Listed building consent for demolition of existing garage and replacement with new annex building ancillary to dwelling
PC Comments Neutral

Planning Ref PL/25/4917/PNC
Address Park Pale Farm, Thame Road, Brill, Buckinghamshire, HP18 9SA
Proposal Prior notification under Class R of Part 3, Schedule 2 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development)(England) Order 2015 - Change of use of 4 existing agricultural buildings into flexible commercial use (Use Class B8)
PC Comments Neutral

Planning Ref PL/25/3734/HB
Address Little Granary House , 33 The Square, Brill, Buckinghamshire, HP18 9RP
Proposal Listed building consent for replacement front sash windows
PC Comments Neutral

025/063 Communications Database - To review the recent communications 
Complaint received by the Council. Cllr Tuffley to hand deliver the response to the resident as the resident has stated that he has not received the emails sent by the Council.

025/064 Village Green
The Clerk confirmed that Rob Timms has agreed to install the grasscrete grids across the Green to the Church entrance in the spring once the growing season has started.

025/065 The Common / The Walks

Windmill car park potholes / signage Cllr Fisher updated that the Car Park will be repaired on 8 December. The signs informing the public to go up by 23rd November and car park closed late on the 7th December.

Norcott’s Shingle Cllrs Tuffley and Fisher to meet with resident at Norcott’s Kiln to confirm that the resident is required to remove the pea shingle from the Common

Cuckoo Close Farm Cllr Fisher confirmed that Mark Cherry has agreed to remove the stones from Cuckoo Close Farm once the repair to the Car Park as been complete.

Ranger Project update

• The Clerk confirmed the Ranger had started and had already been out on the Common with both BVCH and The Common Volunteers.

• The Ranger has asked to have a walk of the common with the whole Council in the spring to highlight to the Cllrs the work being done and plans for the future.

• The Ranger has also drawn to the Council’s attention some damage to the Common on North Hills. The Ranger will cut back and reseed the area and erect a small temporary fence to protect the grass whilst it is growing. 

Wayleave Agreement – North Hills The Council approved and signed the Wayleave Agreement for the installation of cables along the track at North Hills

025/066 Roads & Traffic – To discuss the following road matters in the village
Overgrown Hedges – Cllr Fisher confirmed that Mark Cherry is currently cutting hedges overhanging the roads on the approaches into the village.

Confidential Session – To follow the conclusion of the public meeting - not required

Meeting closed at 20:22

025/067 Income & Expenditure

Income 
None

Expenditure
Service Charges £4.67
Murphy's - Animal Wreath £27.50
R Timms - Bins £105.00
R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,151.84
HMRC - PAYE £135.12
Squarespace - Website Domain £19.20
Aspire - Grass Cutting -(2024) £1,056.00
Aspire Grass Cutting - October £528.00
Hannah Hunter - Website £200.00
Service Charges £8.50

Read the financial summary for November 2025 (PDF). Please email the Parish Clerk if you need help accessing this document.

Parish Council Meeting held October 21st 2025

Minutes

Present: Cllr Springs (Acting Chair), Cllr Wilson, Cllr Tuffley, Cllr Fisher, Cllr Slater & Cllr Connelly and 4 members of the public were in attendance. 

Updates and questions from members of the Public: No questions raised

025/046 To receive apologies for absence.
Apologies were received from Cllr Newman

025/047 To receive any declarations of interest.
Cllr Springs declared an interest in item 025/052 – Village Green

025/048 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2025.
Cllr Tuffley proposed the minutes as a true record of the meeting, seconded by Cllr Fisher and unanimously approved

025/049 Finance: To receive the monthly finance spreadsheet
The Council confirmed receipt of the monthly financial spreadsheet

023/050 Planning applications
There were no applications for review

025/051 Communications Database: To review the recent communications 

Fix My Street Consultation
The Clerk to register an interest in joining the ‘Fix my Street’ Working Group

BSSC cost of over seeding?
The Council requested further information regarding the cost of the Overseeding on the Football Pitch

Gigaclear work on the Common
The Council has no objection in principle to the work along the track, but to ensure the suitable Wayleave is in place, the works are confined to the track and all damage to the track is repaired as it was.

Land West of Thame Road
The Council resolved to respond to the request for information regarding the land to the west of Thame Road, informing the member of the public that records of planning enforcement will be held with Bucks Council and that they will be best placed to provide an answer to the query. 

025/052 Village Green

The installation of a path across the Green to the Church
The Clerk updated that the original contractor no longer installs grasscrete. The Council to seek alternative providers

025/053 The Common / The Walks

Windmill car park potholes / signage
Cllr Fisher has met with Mark Cherry who will provide the cost of the work to the car park. This will also include the cost of replacing the current rotten wooden posts. Cllr Springs proposed to also request Mark Cherry to install two wooden posts to demark suggested accessibility parking spaces. This was seconded by Cllr Slater and unanimously approved. The Council to put out signs two weeks in advance to confirm no parking in the car park on the date(s) of the work being carried out. Cllr Fisher to clarify with Mark Cherry regarding the removal of the shingle at Norcott’s Kiln

Cuckoo Close Farm
Cllr Fisher proposed requesting Mark Cherry to move the stones off the Common and placing them inside the property boundary of Cuckoo Close Farm. Cllr Tuffley seconded and it was unanimously approved

Drainage at Span Green
No update to report

Ranger Project update
Cllr Slater confirmed that the Ranger role had been filled, with Fiona Bennet-Meere accepting the role. Fiona has a lot of experience as a Ranger and managing a heritage lottery project. The Clerk will be the line manager, with a Primary Councillor overseeing the project as well as a secondary Councillor. Cllr Slater will be the Primary Councillor with Cllr Tuffley the secondary. The induction day will be on 3 November 2025. A full update for the village will be included in the Newsletter. Cllr Slater confirmed that at the interview process the standard of candidates was higher, with 14 applicants and 7 interviewed by Cllr Slater, The Clerk and Alex Cruickshank 

Payroll
With the increase of staff employed by the Council, Cllr Fisher proposed engaging JE Accountants to manage the Payroll for the Council. Cllr Slater seconded and was unanimously approved.

025/054 Request for the Installation of permanent Floodlights on the MUGA: To discuss the proposal for permanent floodlights to be installed on the MUGA and Parish Council funding to the project
Cllr Fisher proposed using T&D Electrics to install the permanent floodlights on the MUGA, seconded by Cllr Tuffley and unanimously approved. The Council reiterated the conditions that the floodlights would need a cut of switch stopping them from being used after 10pm and the lights being on a push button timer which would last for no longer than an hour. The Council thanked Graeme Hope and the Brill United Football Club for the hard work in establishing the quotes and additional funding for the project.

025/055 Remembrance Sunday: To confirm the arrangements for Remembrance Sunday
The Clerk confirmed that the wreaths for remembrance Sunday have been ordered. Cllr Tuffley proposed Cllr Fisher to lay the poppy wreath, Cllr Slater seconded and unanimously approved. Cllr Tuffley proposed Cllr Springs to lay the wreath in remembrance of the animal killed in service, seconded by Cllr Slater and unanimously approved.

025/056 Roads & Traffic – To discuss the following road matters in the village
Overgrown Hedges
Cllr Tuffley proposed Mark Cherry cutting the hedges on all routes in to and out of the village, seconded by Cllr Slater and unanimously approved       

Confidential Session: To follow the conclusion of the public meeting if required. No Confidential Matters were raised.

Meeting closed at 21:16

025/057 Income & Expenditure

Income 17 September – 20 October 2025
Precept – 2nd Instalment £28,000

Expenditure 17 September 2025 – 30 September 2025
Service Charges £5.67
EDF - Street Lights £77.92
R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,109.13
HMRC - PAYE £118.58
BVCH Quarterly Payment £765.00
Service Charges £8.50

Expenditure October 2025 – 20 October 2025
Bucks Council – Emptying Bins £38.35
AJ Gallagher – PC Insurance £3,285.08
Aspire – Grass Cutting – Walks Cut £576.00
Aspire – Grass Cutting – September £528.00
Hannah Hunter – Website £200.00
MP Printers – Bus Timetables £49.00
Sparkx – Street Light assessment & repair £282.00
HP – Ink £13.49
Squarespace - Website £8.40
Rob Timms – Bins and fence repair £135.00
Rob Timms – Emptying bins £120.00
James Tuffley – Common Volunteers First Aid Kit £55.08
Open Spaces Society – Annual Subscription £45.00
The Brill Society – S137 Request £1,000
BT - Utilities £96.43
Oxford Oak Tree – Tree Work in the Walks £1,440
Bank Charge £4.67

Read the financial summary for October 2025 (PDF). Please email the Parish Clerk if you need help accessing this document.

Parish Council Meeting held September 16th 2025

Minutes

Present: Cllr Newman (Chair), Cllr Wilson, Cllr Tuffley, Cllr Springs, Cllr Fisher, Cllr Slater & Cllr Connelly and 33 members of the public were in attendance. 

Updates and questions from members of the Public

• The Chair of Brill Sports and Social Club addressed the Parish Council outlining the long standing relationship between the club and the maintenance of the playing field, particularly given the upturn in sport being carried out on both the football pitch and the King George V.

• The Sports & Social Club shared a list of reasons to carry out the ‘Weed & Feed’ program and a number of photographs with the Parish Council detailing the current wear and tear on the pitches. These demonstrate the challenges being faced maintaining the pitches particularly after a long, hot, dry summer and then intense heavy rain.

• The Club in 2022 invested significant funds into the playing field and undertook the application for a grant from the FA for a four figure sum, to enhance and maintain the fields.

• A copy of the pitch impact report was shared with Councillors at the time of application and the application received support from the previous Parish Council.

• The Chair of Brill Cricket Club supporting the application for the use of ‘Weed & Feed’ stated two years ago there was only one team playing on the pitch, now there are multiple teams including a new U11’s team. Whilst this is hugely positive, the engagement of more people, including children, in sport does come with the increased challenges of maintenance to the pitches. 

• The Secretary Brill Utd Youth Football Club, supporting the use of ‘Weed & Feed’, shared that the football club was founded in 2024 after decades without a Brill football team. This initially started with one U11’s team with 95% Brill based payers and coaches, but this, in one year, has now expanded to three teams with the inclusion of an U9’s and U10’s teams. The Club uses both the men’s football pitch and King George V for matches. 

• The reception and environment has only highlighted the positivity around the club, but an increase in teams leads to an increase in usage and a necessity for additional maintenance to the pitches. The club is committed to giving the very best and safest opportunity to all children.

• The Co-organiser of the Touch rugby group – also supporting the use of ‘Weed & Feed’ stated that the touch rugby sessions have been run on an informal basis using King George V field for approximately the last 15 years. It has been very successful in bringing youth to the game as well all age groups, encouraging people to be outside on a weekly basis.

• A resident – reiterated to the Council that the request is not about making the pitches look good. It is essential to make the fields functional and safe for participation in a variety of sports.

• A resident asked for clarity from the Council if there are requests which are supported by significant proportion of the village.

• If there was a canvassing of opinion regarding the use of herbicide on the fields, would the large number of children who are not from Brill but use the field be part of this canvassing.

• Would the Council need a majority of the village or a majority of the responses on which to base their decision?

• The Council responded that at this time there was no intention to carry out a canvas of the village on this matter. 

025/032 To receive apologies for absence
No apologies were received

025/033 To receive any declarations of interest

• Cllr Newman raised an interest in item - 025/040 Brill Sports & Social Club as a Director of the Brill Sports & Social Club

• Cllr Tuffley declared an interest in item 025/042 – New equipment for the work carried out by the Common Volunteers

025/034 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 15 July 2025
Cllr Tuffley proposed the minutes as a true record of the meeting, seconded by Cllr Connelley and unanimously approved

025/035 Finance : To receive the monthly finance spreadsheet
The Council confirmed receipt of the monthly financial spreadsheet. 

023/036 Planning applications : Applications for review

Planning Ref 25/02393/APP
Address 58 The Firs Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9RY
Proposal Householder application for two storey side extension
PC Comments Neutral

025/037 Communications Database : To review the recent communications 

• It was confirmed that a survey of the use of the MUGA was run in the summer with overwhelmingly positive results. The only concerns raised were regarding the tennis net as this can be time consuming and cumbersome to put up.

• The Clerk has forwarded to all Cllrs the cost of a new lightweight tennis net and new netball post which had gone missing. These came in after the agenda was published so will be discussed at the October meeting.

• Cllr Springs raised a request which had come via the Parish Council’s Facebook page requesting to light a lantern and release this on the Common – The Council unanimously voted against this request on the grounds that it would be unsafe to have any open flame near historic, listed buildings, livestock and in windy conditions.

025/038 Village Green : To review the installation of a path across the Green to the Church
The Council resolved for the Clerk to instruct the contractor to provide a quote to install the grasscrete across the village green from the path to the church entrance. 

025/039 The Common / The Walks

Windmill car park potholes / signage 

• Cllr Fisher has contacted a company regarding the Windmill car park. The suggested idea would be to scrape and compact the existing area and relay. Once the quote has been received Cllr Fisher to circulate this to the Cllrs.

• Cllr Spring has drafted wording for signs for the Common outlining the Common and how to respect the Common when being used. Cllr Springs to circulate the wording to the Cllrs.

Installation of new water pipe across the common at South Hills

• Following the email received by the Councillors that the current pipe is collapsing and a request to replace it like for like. The Council approved the request with the proviso that the Common is restored to its original state and to ensure that no flora and fauna are damaged during the work.

Reinstatement of gateway off Houndsmoor Lane

• The Council after reviewing the email request had no objection to the re-instatement of the gateway on Houndsmoor Lane

Installation of wooden stobs at Engimer Lane

• The Council after reviewing the email request had no objection to the installation of the stobs. The Council did impose the condition that the stobs were those sourced and installed by the Council – Cllr Fisher to source the wooden stobs and the metal inserts.

Grass / Sheep in the Walks

• The Council resolved to hold a meeting with the shepherd to discuss the future of the sheep on the Walks and to source a grazing license between the Council and Shepherd. 

Cuckoo Close Farm

• The owner of Cuckoo Close Farm addressed the Council stating that he has been maintaining the section of Common in question for 35 years. The resident stated that the stones has been placed on the common to stop vehicles parking, mounting edge and damaging the Common.

• The Council explained that whilst the resident may have had the best intentions they do not have the legal right to place the stones on the Common without the permission of the Council which he can seek in writing.

• The Council resolved that the stones be removed from the Common and the site be reviewed on a regular basis. Should there be further instances of damage to the site from vehicles then the Council will review whether it will install wooden stobs on the site. 

Drainage at Span Green

• Cllr Fisher stated that he was arranging to meet with the owner of the adjacent land to discuss the drainage on Span Green and would report back to the council following the meeting.

Ranger Project

• Cllr Slater confirmed that the deadline for applications is Friday 19th September. Shortlisting will take place on Monday 22 September with interviews on 29th September

• It was confirmed that Cllrs Slater & Tuffley with Alex Cruickshank and the Clerk will form the interview panel.

Marquee on the Walks

• Following the complaint received by the Council of the party held on the Walks with multiple marquees, the Council resolved that any subsequent applications if granted would be done so with more prescriptive conditions.

• The Clerk to respond to the complainant to inform them of the decision.

• The Clerk to also contact those who were the subject of the complaint to inform them of the complaint and the subsequent decision.

025/040 Brill Sports & Social Club : To review the recent communication from the Sports & Social Club regarding the use of Weed & Feed on the Playing Field

Cllr Newman declared an Interest in this item as a Director of Brill Sports & Social Club and removed himself from the voting on this matter. Cllr Newman stated that as part of his declaration of Interest in this item he would continue as Chair to facilitate the discussion but would not take part in the final vote.

• The Council heard the appeal against the Parish Council’s decision in July 2025 to refuse permission to use ‘Weed & Feed’ on the Football Pitch and King George V. The Council heard testimony from Brill Sports and Social Club, Brill United Youth Football Club, Brill Touch Rugby and Brill Cricket Club. 

• Cllr Slater again stated her concern regarding the use of a toxic herbicide on an area used by children and animals.

• Cllr Slater also reminded all present that Parish Councils have a legal obligation to promote bio-diversity and move away from chemical herbicides.

• Cllr Tuffley expressed opposition to the use of chemicals on the football pitch and King Geroge V field. He reiterated the requirement should the ‘Weed & Feed’ be used on the Cricket pitch that the Council would require a copy of the COSHH certificate, signs to inform the public and notice of the date the ‘weed & feed’ will be carried out.

• Cllr Fisher thanked those who had made representations to the Council but had still not been given any evidence to demonstrate how using a herbicide will ensure the field will not become muddy and damaged following usage by the football and rugby teams.  

• Cllr Fisher had no objection to the use of feed or reseeding the football pitch and King George V, but does object to the use of herbicides.

• Cllr Wilson expressed his support for the proposals put forward by Brill Sports and Social Club for the use of ‘Weed & Feed’ on the Football Pitch and King George V.

• Cllr Connelley expressed his full support for the efforts to get children spending time outside and playing sport, but also reiterated he does not support the use of herbicides on the playing field.

• Cllr Fisher proposed supporting the use of feed, reseeding and maintenance of the football pitch and King George V except the use of herbicides. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Slater and passed with five votes in support with Cllr Wilson objecting and Cllr Newman abstaining.

025/041 Request for the Installation of permanent Floodlights on the MUGA : To discuss the proposal from Brill United Youth Football Club for permanent floodlights to be installed on the MUGA and Parish Council funding to the project

• The Council reviewed the request from the club and unanimously agreed in principle to the installation of permanent floodlights on the MUGA but would review the decision again once further information has been received.

• The Council were keen to stress that once the floodlights were installed it must be available for use by all residents and not for one group.

025/042 New Equipment for the work done by the Common Volunteers : To review the request for a new electric hedge Cutter and Bow saws

Cllr Tuffley declared an interest in this item and removed himself from the discussion.

• The Council reviewed the request for the new equipment and unanimously approved the purchase of the new equipment.

• Following the conclusion of the meeting, Cllr Tuffley was returned to the meeting

025/043 Fencing around The Walks : To review the current fencing and gates on The Walks

• Cllr Tuffley carried out a review of the fencing in the Walks following a number of incidents of sheep escaping. There are a number of which require replacing.

• The Five barred gate also needs replacing

• The Clerk to contact a contractor to provide a quote for the repairs. 

• The Council also suggested enquiring with the contractor about installing a five bar gate near the entrance by the pond to allow access for contractors such as tree surgeons, grass cutters etc.

• The Clerk to also enquire with the contractor the cost of installing fencing along the boundary of the Common and Hybanks

025/044 Roads & Traffic : To discuss the following road matters in the village

Overgrown Hedges – The Council noted areas within the parish where the hedgerows are encroaching and narrowing the roads. The Council resolved to ask Mark Cherry to cut back these hedgerows       

Confidential business: No Confidential Matters were raised.

Meeting closed at 21:16

025/033 Income & Expenditure

Income: 15 July 2025 – 16 September 2025

BMH – Electrical Work re-imbursement £934.00

Expenditure: 15 July 2025 – 15 September 2025

EDF Street Lights £16.28
EDF Street Lights £90.13
BT - Utilities £96.43
Amazon - Padlock £13.09
Service Charges £5.25
R Timms - Bins (May) £105.00
R Timms - Bins (June) £150.00
R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,131.19
HMRC - PAYE £54.84
Service Charges £8.50
The Pheasant - Ragwort Pulling refreshments £139.50
Bucks Council - Bins £38.25
Squarespace - Website Domain £8.40
HP Ink £13.49
Brill Pre-School - S137 Grant £500.00
Hannah Hunter - Website £200.00
Brill United Youth Football Club - S137 Grant £1,000.00
Oakley Informer - Ranger Advert £60.00
Sonite - Fire Alarm Testing £1,120.80
EDF Energy - Streetlights £17.23
EDF Energy - Streetlights £94.66
BT - Utilities £96.43
Service Charges £4.25
Laminator £18.74
Net World - Tennis net handle £37.69
R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,109.13
HMRC - PAYE £118.58
Overdraft Interest £0.05
Service Charge £8.50
Hannah Hunter – Ranger Advert £40.00
Hannah Hunter – Ranger work £212.50
N Misselbrook – War Memorial plants £120.00
Aspire – Grass Cutting (June) £528.00
Aspire – Grass Cutting (July) £528.00
Countryside Jobs – Ranger Advert £90.00
ESPO – Refuse Bags £30.00
PKF Littlejohn – External Audit £378.00
Hannah Hunter – August Website £200.00
HP – Ink £13.49
Bucks Council – Election Costs £348.00
BT - Broadband £96.43

Read the financial summary for September 2025 (PDF). Please email the Parish Clerk if you need help accessing this document.

Parish Council Meeting held July 15th 2025

Minutes

Present: Cllr Newman (Chair), Cllr Wilson, Cllr Tuffley, Cllr Springs, Cllr Fisher & Cllr Connelly and 3 members of the public were in attendance. 

Updates and questions from members of the Public: No questions were raised by the public. One member of the public stated that they would be recording the meeting

025/021 To receive apologies for absence.
Apologies were received for Cllr Slater

025/022 To receive any declarations of interest.
Cllr Newman raised an interest in item - 025/030 Brill Sports & Social Club as a Director of the Brill Sports & Social Club

Cllr Fisher declared an interest in item 025/028 Section 137 Requests - To review the Section 137 request from The Brill Society as the Chair of the Brill Society

025/023 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 27 May 2025.
Cllr Fisher proposed the minutes as a true record of the meeting, seconded by Cllr Tuffley and unanimously approved

025/024 Finance: 

• To receive the monthly finance spreadsheet

• The Council confirmed receipt of the monthly financial spreadsheet. The Clerk and Cllr Wilson to review the Spreadsheet to see any improvements can be made in order for this to be more accessible for residents

• Financial Reports for the website

• The reports for the website will form part of the review by the Clerk and Cllr Wilson

023/025 Planning applicationsApplications for review

Planning Ref 25/A0946/DIS
Address 17 The Green Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9RU
Proposal Application for approval of details subject to condition 4 (details of door, architrave and ironmongery of listed building consent 25/00946/ALB
PC Comments Neutral

025/026 Communications Database
To review the recent communications No matters were raised that are not already on the Agenda

025/027 Village Green

The installation of a path across the Green to the Church The Clerk to check on the progress made by the previous Council on the installation of the grasscrete across the green to the church path 

025/028 The Common / The Walks

To receive an update on the Common:

• Windmill car park potholes / signage

• The Clerk to chase Mark Cherry on the Potholes and removal of the Pea shingle.

• Cllr Fisher to also explore other contractors who could provide a quote to carry out the work.

• Motorhomes – The Clerk raised the concern of a resident about a recent motorhome in the Windmill Car park, who also were lighting barbecues on the Common

• The Council resolved during the summer months to install a temporary sign at the entrance to the car park stating no overnight parking in the car park.

• Fencing erected at Norcott’s Kiln

• Cllrs Fisher & Connelly met with residents, who requested the fencing be moved back to facilitate more parking.

• The Cllrs had no objection to move the fence back approximately 8ft, to allow an emergency vehicle turning circle.

• The Council re-iterated that much of this topic could have been avoided had there been better communication between parties.

• The new resident at Number 3 Norcott’s Kiln has agreed to install a stock proof fence around their boundary of the Common.

• The Council noted the approval of the planning application at Number 3 Norcott’s Kiln by Bucks Council. The council also noted the condition which stated: ‘The applicant is reminded to check and obtain the necessary approval/confirmation prior to any works taking place on or near the 'Common Land'. For clarity, this permission does not remove or override the need to seek confirmation and /or approvals on any restrictions already in place’.

• The Council resolved to write a letter to the residents at 3 Norcott’s Kiln to remind the residents of this condition.

• The Council agreed that should this be satisfied that they would not have any objection to a skip being placed on the Common or building materials on a temporary basis but the Council would require notice of the arrival of the skip and materials and a clear determined area where these could be placed.

• Sheep in the Walks

• Cllr Fisher updated the Council that he had met with shepherd and has received assurances that that they have the relevant insurance and movement documents. The Council requested that they receive copies of these documents and in regards to the insurance on an annual basis whilst sheep graze in the Walks.

• The shepherd has requested that communication of the movement of the sheep is more widely spread on social media / website etc. The Council agreed but would require a week’s notice of the sheep’s movement.

• The Shepherd would also require a week’s notice should the Council request for the sheep to be removed from the Walks.

• The Council agreed for temporary signs to be on the gates when the sheep are in The Walks.

• The shepherd asked for the gate between the two field in the Walks be locked whilst the sheep are in the field as it is often left open meaning the sheep move between the fields. The Council noted the current gate post is broken but will look into repairing this.

• The shepherd confirmed that the timings for the sheep to be placed on the Walks depends on their grazing at that time, but this will generally be between April – May and late autumn & early winter. 

• The Council agreed to install a coded padlock to the entrance gate on the Windmill side of the Walks.

• A member of the public asked if the sheep were a part of the Common Management Plan, if the Walks are over grazed and raised concern about the amount of time the sheep are spending in the pond area which is currently dry.

• The Council responded that it would check the use of sheep in the Management Plan, whether the use of the sheep does over graze the Walks and if there are any issues with the sheep being in the dry area of the pond.

• Cuckoo Close Farm

• Cllr Tuffley confirmed he had visited the site on four occasions, however each time the owner was not present.

• The Council resolved to write to the owner to inform them that if the stobs are not removed within 28 days the Council will remove them from the Common and place them within property boundary

• Grass Cutting on the Walks

• The Clerk to chase quotes for a cut of the grass in the Walks.

• Hybanks Fence

• Cllr Tuffley visited the site and spoke to the resident without resolution

• The Council resolved to contact BVCH to request they install a section of electric fence across the gap in the hedge.

• Bollard by Monks Hill Corner

• The Clerk and Cllr Fisher have discussed the installation of a bollard in a metal sleeve by Monks Corner.

• The Council to also obtain a quote to install bollards on the corner of North Hills adjacent to the Walks, following a number of motorhomes using the area for overnight stays.

• Drainage at Span Green

• Cllr Fisher to contact the land owner of the neighbouring field to progress the situation regarding clearing the ditch, with the Clerk to contact the Land Manager.

025/029 Section 137 Requests

Cllr Fisher removed himself from the discussion and vote on this item

• To review the Section 137 request from The Brill Society

• Following a review and questions of the application, Cllr Springs proposed approving the application, seconded by Cllr Connelly and unanimously approved and Cllr Fisher not voting.

Cllr Fisher was returned for the remainder of the meeting

• To review the Section 137 request from Brill Pre-School

• Following a review and questions of the application, Cllr Springs proposed approving the application, seconded by Cllr Fisher and unanimously approved.

025/030 Electric Bikes on the Common : To review the use of electric bikes on the Common

• Cllr Fisher raised the concerns over the use of electric bikes on the Common following incidents of near misses by riders of the bikes almost colliding with other users of the common.

• The Council agreed to draft wording for a sign to be installed on the Common

• Cllr Springs to draft the wording to send to Councillors to review and comment

025/031 Brill Sports & Social Club

Cllr Newman declared an interest in this item and removed himself from the discussion and vote.

• To review the request from the Sports & Social Club regarding using the Village Green for the Brill Festival

• The Council approved the request to use the Village Green for the Brill Festival

• To discuss the use of Weed & Feed on the Playing Field

• Cllr Tuffley proposed against the use of Weed & Feed on the Playing Field, seconded by Cllr Springs and unanimously approved, with Cllr Newman not voting.

• The Council also resolved as a neighbouring land owner to the cricket pitch, to request form the Sports & Social Club the COSHH documentation of the products used on the field, notice of the use of the product and to ensure that adequate signage is erected informing any users of the playing field that the product is being used.

Cllr Newman was returned for the remainder of the meeting.

025/032 Roads & Traffic – To discuss the following road matters in the village

• Surface of the Oakley Road entrance to the village

• Cllr Connelly raised a concern by a resident of a large pothole on the Oakley Road in the approach to the village. 

• The Council resolved that the best approach is for the resident and as many other residents to report the pothole and surface to Bucks Council via ‘Fix my Street’.

• Damage to the safety barrier/ handrails on Temple Street, opposite Temple Farm

• Cllr Connelly raised the damage to the safety barrier.

• Cllr Newman has been informed that Bucks Council have been on site to assess the damage.

• The Clerk to contact the Bucks Council LAT (Local Area Technician) to ensure this has been raised to be repaired 

• Vehicle Weight Restriction through the village

• Cllr Connelly raised the concern regarding the level of HGV’s using the village as a cut through and the danger, damage and disruption this causes.

• The Clerk confirmed that a consultation had been distributed previously for an HGV exclusion triangle between Aylesbury, Bicester and Thame. This consultation has been placed on hold.

• The Clerk to contact Ashley Waite to establish when this will consultation will be restarted.

• Possible introduction of 20mph limit through the village

• Cllr Connelly enquired at the possibility of lowering the speed limit in the village to 20mph.

• The Clerk confirmed that Bucks Council’s position is that they have no objection to the reduction of speed limit to 20mph, but the Parish Council would have to pay for the survey’s, assessments and infrastructure.

• Cllr Springs also added that it would also not be legally enforceable.           

No Confidential Matters were raised.

Meeting closed at 21:16

025/033 Income & Expenditure

Income: 27 May 2025 – 15 July 2025

Bucks Council - Devolved Services Payment £1,984.93
UKPN - Wayleave £220.05

Expenditure: 27 May 2025 – 15 July 2025

R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,131.19
HMRC – PAYE £54.84
Bucks Council - Bins £131.70
Graeme Hope - Flood Light £55.00
Squarespace - Website Domain £8.40
HP Ink £13.49
Canva - Subscription £100.00
BT – Utilities £96.43
Service Charges £4.25
EDF - Street Lights - Windmill £17.98
EDF - Street Lights £99.46
Dropbox - Additional License £430.34
Aspire - Grass Cuting £528.00
Aspire - Grass Cuting £528.00
Hannah Hunter - Website £200.00
R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,131.19
HMRC – PAYE £54.84
BVCH - Quarterly Payment £765.00
Bucks Recycling – Fly Tipping removal £696.00
Bucks Council - Bins £35.20
Gordon Govier £30.00
MP Printers – Ragwort Event Poster £15.00
Sqaurespace – Website £8.40
HP – Ink £13.49
EDF – Windmill lighting £16.28
EDF – Street Lights £90.13
BT – Broadband £96.43

Read the financial summary for June 2025 (PDF). Please email the Parish Clerk if you need help accessing this document.

Read the financial summary for July 2025 (PDF). Please email the Parish Clerk if you need help accessing this document.

Parish Council Meeting held May 27th 2025

Minutes

Present: Cllr Newman (Chair), Cllr Wilson, Cllr Tuffley, Cllr Springs, Cllr Slater, Cllr Fisher & Cllr Connelly and 14 members of the public were in attendance. 

Updates and questions from members of the Public

• A resident requested the minutes be added to the noticeboard and website a bit earlier for residents to see.

• Another resident enquired about if there was an update on the possible mirror at the road at the end of the lane leading to Norcott’s Kiln. The Clerk confirmed this had been submitted to Bucks Council who are now carrying this forward.

• The resident enquired about strimming at the entrance to the footpath at Norcotts Kiln to the Walk’s. The Clerk confirmed this was on the list of areas to clear.

025/001 To appoint the Chair of the Parish Council
Cllr Newman was nominated as Chair of the Parish Council, seconded by Cllr Tuffley and was appointed as Chair of the Parish Council with two votes. Cllr Fisher stated he was not comfortable with the appointment

025/002 To appoint the Vice-Chair of the Parish Council
Cllr Springs was nominated as the Vice-Chair of the Parish Council seconded by Cllr Newman and was appointed 

025/003 To review the applications for Co-option onto the Parish Council.
Following deliberations and voting, the following were co-opted onto the Parish Council:

• Jason Connelly

• Emi Slater

• Malcolm Wilson

The Council thanked all those who applied for co-option and were unsuccessful in their application

025/004 To receive apologies for absence.
No Apologies were received

025/005 To receive any declarations of interest.
No interested were declared by members

025/006 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2025.
Cllr Springs proposed the minutes as a true record of the meeting, seconded by Cllr Slater and unanimously approved

025/007 To approve the Council’s Standing Orders
Cllr Springs proposed approving the Standing Orders of the Council for 2025/25 seconded by Cllr Newman and unanimously approved.

025/008 To approve the Council’s Financial Regulations
Cllr Springs proposed approving the Financial Regulations of the Council for 2025/25 seconded by Cllr Newman and unanimously approved.

025/009 To Review the Council’s Asset Register
Cllr Springs proposed approving the Asset Register of the Council as a working document for 2025/25 seconded by Cllr Slater and unanimously approved.

025/010 Finance: 

• To receive the monthly finance spreadsheet

• No questions were raised by Cllrs

• To receive the internal auditors report

• The Internal Auditors report has been passed to Hannah Hulme Hunter to be uploaded to the website. [Now available HERE]

• To appoint signatories of the Parish Council Bank Account

• The Council resolved for Cllrs Newman, Tuffley and Fisher to become signatories of the Parish Council Bank account

• To approve and sign the Annual Governance Statement 2024/25

• The Annual Governance Statement was approved and signed and is to be uploaded to the website. [Now available HERE]

• To approve and sign the Accounting Statements in the Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2024/25

• The Accounting Statement was approved and signed by the Council and to be uploaded to the website [Now available HERE]

023/069 Planning applications

Applications for review

Planning Ref 25/01082/APP
Address Rids Hill Farm Wotton Road Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9UB
Proposal Replacement roof, solar panels with associated internal and external works 
PC Comments Neutral

Planning Ref 25/01328/APP
Address 3 Norcott Kiln Cottages North Hills Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9TJ
Proposal Householder application for construction of two-storey side extension, proposed replacement of existing conservatory with brick-built orangery and part conversion of small garage. 
PC Comments Object. The Council noted that the proposed extension is currently slated to be built on Common Land. Whilst the land may have been registered under the ownership of the applicants, the restrictions of building on Common Land under the Commons Act and Inclosure Act still apply. The Land Registry title register for this parcel of land also state that the land is subject to such restrictive covenants as may have been imposed thereon before the land was registered and are still subsisting and capable of being enforced

Planning Ref 25/01347/APP
Address 52 Brae Hill Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9TF
Proposal Householder application for proposed demolition of existing single storey side outbuilding and erection of two storey side extension.
PC Comments Neutral

Planning Ref 25/01495/COUAR
Address Houndsmoor Field South Hill Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9TQ
Proposal Prior notification application (Part 3, Class Q) for change of use and conversion of an existing agricultural barn into 1no. dwelling
PC Comments Neutral. The Parish Council though would remind the applicants that any current prescriptive rights to access the current barn would be ended if permission is granted to convert the barn into a residential property. Should permission be granted the applicants would need to apply to the Parish Council for a residential easement over the Common

Planning Ref 25/01543/ALB
Address Temple House 2 Temple Street Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9SX
Proposal Listed building application for internal alterations to create an ensuite shower room
PC Comments Neutral 

025/014 Communications Database
To review the recent communications 

• Cllr Springs proposed Hannah Hulme continue to manage and update the website and newsletter, seconded by Cllr Newman and unanimously approved.

025/015 The Common / The Walks
To receive an update on the Common

• Windmill car park potholes

• The Clerk updated the Council that he had met with Mark Cherry who will provide a quote for the Windmill car park and the removal of the pea shingle at Norcott’s Kiln.

• Fencing erected at Norcott’s Kiln

• The resident made representations to the Council regarding the fencing that was erected at Norcott’s Kiln.

• The Council resolved for two Councillors to meet with the resident and Tim Patrick on site to discuss the possibility of moving the fence back.

• Sheep in the Walks

• Cllr Slater updated the Council over the difficulty to contact and meet with Shepherd and sign a grazing license for sheep on the Walks.

• Cllr Newman proposed to ask shepherd to remove the sheep from the walks at the end of the two weeks it was stated in the original email, Cllr Springs seconded and was unanimously approved

• Cuckoo Close Farm

• The Council agreed that the stones need to be removed from the Common and if the owner does not remove them then the Council will remove the stones and place these within the owner’s boundary. Cllr Tuffley and Cllr Fisher to meet with the owner to inform them of the Council’s decision. 

• Grass Cutting on the Walks

• Cllr Springs proposed obtaining a quote from Aspire for one cut of the Walks, seconded by Cllr Tuffley and unanimously approved.

• ROW rep 

• Following the decision of the current Right of Way rep to step down from the role, Cllr Newman confirmed that he may know a possible replacement and would report back to the Council at the next meeting.

• Hybanks Fence

• The Council resolved for Cllrs Tuffley & Springs to meet with the resident at Hybanks to establish the situation and the quotes required.

• BVCAG

• The Council resolved and agreed for the BVCAG to continue working with the Parish Council. Cllrs Springs & Slater to attend on behalf of the Parish Council

• Ranger project

• Cllr Slater updated that the new advert for the Ranger role will be submitted in mid August, closing on the 19th September and interviews to take place on the 29th September.

024/016 King George V Field – Request from Brill Utd Youth Football Club
To review a request from the Brill Utd Youth Football Club for an additional Team (U9) to use King George V

• The Parish Council unanimously agreed for the U9 team to use the King Geroge V field. 

• The Club and the Council to liaise over the season to ensure the field does not have too much wear and tear

025/017 Request for use of Parish Council Bank Account and Insurance from the Fete committee

• The Parish Council resolved to allow the fete to use the Parish Council insurance.

• The request to use the Parish Council bank account was withdrawn.

025/018 Footpath Clearance

• To assess the need for strimming the entrances to footpaths in the parish

• The Council resolved to request the Common Volunteers to clear the footpath entrances.

025/019 Parish Council Meeting Frequency

To review the success of the trial to reduce the frequency of Parish Council meetings

• Cllr Springs proposed returning to monthly Parish Council meetings. This was seconded by Cllr Fisher and passed by four votes with two against and one abstention.

• Cllr Fisher also asked about the possibility of moving the meetings to a different day of the week. The Clerk to check the Hall calendar to assess what options are available.

Meeting closed at 21:16

025/020 Income & Expenditure

APRIL & MAY

Gears 4 Music - Recording Equipment reimbursement from Brill Society £1,482.50
Bucks Council - Precept 1st Installment £28,000.00
Hannah Hunter - return of overspend £200.00
Hannah Hunter - Ranger Advert Work £350.00
Bernwode Rural Sheds - S137 Grant £909.00
Crendon Crier - Community Market Advert £14.00
Crendon Crier - Ranger Advert £98.00
MP Printers - Ranger Advert £108.00
Bucks Council - Bins £22.55
Squarespace - Website Domain £8.40
HP Ink £11.99
BALC - Annual Subscription £198.22
BVCH - End of Year payment £75.00
Gordon Govier - MUGA Slabs £30.00
J Tuffley - APM Posters £8.40
Dropbox - Online Storage £864.00
BT - Utilities £96.43
Service Charges £4.25
R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,131.19
HMRC - PAYE £54.84
Bridget Knight - Internal Audit £130.00
2023/2024 BMH Grant £2,500.00
2025/2026 BMH Grant £1,000.00
Brill SSC - APM Refreshments £235.00|
Hannah Hunter - Website £200.00
Hannah Hunter - Website £200.00
MP Printers £30.00
N Misselbrook - War memorial Plants £140.00
EDF - Street Lights £22.80
EDF - Windmill Lights £109.57
Bucks Council - Bins £36.40
Sqaurespace - Website £8.40
HP Ink £11.99
Land Registry - Title Register £7.00
Land Registry - Title Register £7.00
Land Registry - Title Plan £7.00
Land Registry - Title Plan £14.00
EDF Energy - Windmill £17.08
EDF Energy - Streetlights £92.02
Hannah Hunter - Website £200.00
Hannah Hunter £50.00
Aspire - Grass Cuting £528.00
BBOWT - Common Consultancy £1,087.42
ESPO - Bin Bags £30.00
Helpful Hirings - Water Bowser £109.20
MP Printers £40.00
Playsafety - RoSPA Report £172.80
R Timms Bins - Apr £105.00
R Timms Bins - May £145.00
Amazon - Lever Arch Files £17.41
Service Charges £5.67
BT - Utilities £96.43
R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,131.19
HMRC - PAYE £54.84

Read the financial summary for May 2025 (PDF). Please email the Parish Clerk if you need help accessing this document.

Parish Council Meeting held March 18th 2025

Minutes

Present: Cllr Judge (Chair), Cllr Slater, Cllr Tuffley, Cllr Springs and 4 members of the public were in attendance. 

Updates and questions from members of the Public

Cllr Judge welcomed everyone to the meeting. He reiterated that elections for the Parish Council will be held on 1st May and that nomination papers need to submitted between the 18 March – 2 April 2025 with further details available on the Buckinghamshire Council website. 

Cllr Judge also expressed on behalf of the Council their thanks and congratulations to Cllr Slater and all members who secured the grant from the Lottery Heritage Fund, to secure longer term maintenance of the Common including a Ranger.

The Council also expressed its thanks to Hannah Hunter for her work on the website, newsletter, advertising for the Ranger advert and publication of the information on the Local Elections.

Bucks Council. Cllr Rand announced that he would not be standing in the Local Elections for Bucks Council in May and would be retiring from Bucks Council. Cllr Rand confirmed that Bucks Council have signed a partnership with the Kyiv region in Ukraine. This reflect the hard work carried out by Bucks Council working with Ukrainian refugees including the Brill with Ukraine group. The Council expressed its thanks to Cllr Rand for his service, attendance and advice over the last 18 years.

024/065 To receive apologies for absence.
No apologies were received from members

024/066 To receive any declarations of interest. Cllr Slater made a statement regarding the ambiguity of Declaring an Interest, specifically regarding whether this interest is required to be stated at each meeting or is a standing interest from when first declared. No Interests were declared by Members.

024/067 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2025.
Cllr Tuffley proposed accepting the minutes as a true record the meeting, seconded by Cllr Slater and unanimously approved.

024/068 Finance
The Councillors received the monthly finance spreadsheet

023/069 Planning applications

Applications for review

Planning Ref 25/00224/APP
Address 28 Thame Road Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9SA
Proposal Householder application for single storey side extension
PC Comments Neutral

Planning Ref 24/A1117/DIS
Address 18 South Hills Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9RR
Proposal Application for approval of details subject to Condition 4 (materials ) of planning approval 24/01117/APP
PC Comments Neutral

Planning Ref 25/00459/ALB
Address Temple House 2 Temple Street Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9SX
Proposal Listed building application for demolition of existing pantry and construction of single storey rear extension, internal alterations 
PC Comments Object

Planning Ref 25/00448/APP
Address 15 Church Street Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9RT
Proposal Householder application for proposed demolition of existing single storey rear extension and construction of a single storey ground floor and first floor rear extension, and external alterations
PC Comments Neutral

025/070 Community Board Update - Feedback from the recent Community Board Meeting

• Cllr Rand updated that following the presentation by Bucks Energy, it may be worth exploring insulation possibilities for the Hall. Cllr Springs to contact Bucks Energy to establish any possible options for the Hall to pursue

025/071 Communications Database - To review the recent communications 

• Weed and Feed – The Council reiterated its stance against the use of Weed & Feed on King George V field following a request from the Sports & Social Club to use it this year on the football pitches.

• Wild Areas – The Council confirmed that the Wild areas in the village stay same again this year as the grass cutting season approaches.

• Grass Cutting – The Walks -The Council also resolved to employ Aspire to cut the Walks through the Grass Cutting Season. 

• Windmill car park – Cllr Tuffley proposed employing a contractor to fill the potholes in the car park with Type 1. The Council re-iterated that the work will be overseen by the Clerk and/or a Cllr. The Council resolved to try and complete this work before the end of April 2025. 

• Floodlight – The Monday Night footballers requested a contribution of £55 towards a new floodlight. The Council agreed following the receipt of a completed Section 137 form.

025/072 Memorial Hall Update - To receive an update on the Memorial Hall and the proposed car park re-surface

• Cllr Springs confirmed that there was no update to report back to the Council

• Cllr Springs has asked if the “weeds from common” can be disposed of in the Memorial Hall bins, but is waiting for conformation from the Hall Committee

025/073 The Common / The Walks - To receive an update on the Common

• Lottery Heritage Fund

  Cllr Slater pointed out that the lottery heritage grant would probably not have been secured without the heritage of “commoning” (grazing rights on common land) and thanked Pat Stone for her role in grazing the common over the years. Cllr Slater updated that following the placing of an advert for a Ranger, the Council received over 30 applicants which have been shortlisted to 10. Interviews of these 10 candidates will take place on the 24th March with Cllr Slater, Alex Cruickshank and the Clerk. Each candidate has been sent a number of pre-questions should any candidates be neuro divergent. The candidates will also spend time with both BVCH and a rep of the Common Volunteers. Cllr Slater will also be contacting those not shortlisted for an interview and ask if they would like to volunteer on the Common instead.

• Garden Waste on the Common & Walks

  Cllr Slater expressed her thanks to Hannah Hunter for posting in the newsletter that it is illegal to deposit garden waste on the Common or the Walks.

• Sheep in the Walks

  The Council resolved following previous attempts to contact the shepherd to write the shepherd a letter to inform them that they cannot place rams on the Walks in the future and will also need to inform the council when the lambs will be put on the Walks

• Hybanks

  Cllr Slater confirmed a visit has taken place with her and Alex Cruickshank. It was agreed where the resident would need to put a fence and Cllr Slater quoted the law which states the resident is obliged to put a stock proof fence on their boundary with the Common. 

• Cuckoo Close Farm

  Stones on the Common. The Council resolved to send the owner of Cuckoo Close Farm phase two of the encroachment policy a letter to inform them to remove the stones within 14 days and if this is not done then the Council will arrange for them to be removed. As per our encroachment policy. The Council have also been informed that the owner may be living on the site in a caravan. The Council resolved to inform the Planning Enforcement at Bucks Council and ask them to investigate if this is the case. 

• Harris Close

  The Clerk confirmed that Bucks Council have been informed about the dangerous fence which may fall onto the pedestrian access at Harris Close.

025/074 Section 137 Applications

Bernwode Shed – Cllr Judge updated those present that following further details provided by the Bernwode Sheds the Council is satisfied that the grant requested will be used for the accountancy and insurance of the group.. The Council recognise the value of the initiative and has now approved the application. Supporting the group will be a positive benefit for the village. The group is aware that should they require further funding in the future they will need to apply for each grant and this cannot be provided on a rolling basis.

Cllr Judge also confirmed to those present that the Council has not received a revised application from the Brill Society regarding the Midsummer Music event. Cllr Judge also reiterated that the criteria for a s137 application can be found as an appendix on the January 2025 Parish Council minutes. 

025/075 Trees
To review and discuss the request for new trees in the village and the suggested locations

• Cllr Tuffley proposed following the request from a resident to plant a tree in memory of their father, to use this to replace one of the trees planted in the Walks as part of the Queen’s Jubilee which has died. This was seconded by Cllr Slater and unanimously approved in principle following a site visit with the applicant.

025/076 Road & Traffic
To receive an update on the current projects in the Parish

• New village signs – Cllr Judge to chase for an update on the installation of the new village signs.

• EV Points in the Hall Car Park - 

025/077 VE Day 80th Anniversary
To review what options if any to explore for the village to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of VE Day

• Cllr Springs has been in discussion with residents and groups in the village about events for the VE Day 80th Anniversary. This will include Bell ringing at 6:30pm and the lighting of a beacon at 9:30pm

Meeting closed at 22:12

Read the financial summary for February 2025 (PDF). Please email the Parish Clerk if you need help accessing this document.

Read the financial summary for March 2025 (PDF). Please email the Parish Clerk if you need help accessing this document.

Parish Council Meeting held January 28th 2025

Minutes

Present: Cllr Judge (Chair), Cllr Slater, Cllr Tuffley, Cllr Springs and 11 members of the public were in attendance. 

Updates and questions from members of the Public:

Cllr Judge welcomed everyone to the meeting. He said that elections for the Parish Council will be held on May 1st ; further details are available on the Buckinghamshire Council website. In order to encourage people from across the community to put their names forward for election, Cllr Judge emphasised to all present that Parish Council meetings are held in the spirit of co-operation and thoughtfulness. Whilst of course there may be differing points of view these should still be expressed with courtesy.

A resident expressed their concern regarding an overgrown hedge obstructing the pavement on Brae Hill. The Council resolved for Cllrs Tuffley and Slater to visit the site and check the vegetation and speak to the resident. If there is no action following the meeting then the Council will write to the resident to ask this to be cut back and if no further action following this then the Council will contact Bucks Council to enforce action. (This issue is now resolved and the PC extend thanks to the resident for their swift action.)

024/050 To receive apologies for absence.
No apologies were received from members

024/051 To receive any declarations of interest.
No Interests were declared by Members

024/052 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2024.
Cllr Tuffley proposed accepting the minutes as a true record the meeting, seconded by Cllr Slater and unanimously approved.

024/053 Finance
The Councillors received the monthly finance spreadsheet

To review and approve the 2025/26 Precept Request

• The budget for 2025/26 had been reviewed by the finance sub-committee (Cllrs Tuffley and Judge, and the Parish Clerk).

• The budget had been checked both ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’ and the finance sub-committee had agreed that it was difficult to identify significant cost savings. Many costs are fixed (for example, street lighting, insurance, clerk’s salary) and there is little flexibility.

  Cllr Tuffley proposed increasing the precept by 5% to £56,000 for 2025-26 (approximately by inflation), Cllr Slater seconded and was unanimously approved.

To review and approve the 2025/26 Parish Council Budget

• Cllr Judge proposed approving the draft 2025-26 Parish Council Budget. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Tuffley and unanimously approved.

023/054 Planning applications
Applications for review

Planning Ref 24/03503/APP
Address Springfield Cottage North Hills Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9TH
Proposal Householder application for erection of outbuilding 
PC Comments The Parish Council was Neutral on the application to erect the shed, however raised concern over the plan submitted with the application. This raised the concerns of the accuracy of the ownership marked on the map. The Council expects the resident to resubmit the plan with an accurate representation of the ownership boundaries. The Council will also check the land registry to reaffirm the correct boundaries of the property.

Planning Ref 24/03783/APP
Address 27 Temple Street Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9SU
Proposal Householder application for demolition of existing single storey rear and side extensions and erection of two storey rear and single storey side extensions
PC Comments The Council noted that a similar application for a neighbouring property had been rejected. The Council agreed to visit the site to further understand the application and submit a response via email

Planning Ref 24/03483/COUA
Address Little Annie Acres Wotton Road Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9UA
Proposal Prior notification application (Part 3, Class Q) for change of use and conversion of existing agricultural barn into 3 dwellinghouses
PC Comments For Information Only – Refused by Bucks Council

Planning Ref 24/03401/APP
Address Land West Of Ludgershall Road Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9TZ
Proposal Barn conversion into residential dwelling self/custom build with associated internal and external works, removal of existing stores and stables 
PC Comments For information only – Approved by Bucks Council

025/055 Community Board Update
Feedback from the December Community Board Meeting

• Cllr Tuffley fedback to the Council that the primary focus of the meeting was on planning, and there is expected to be increase pressure from Central Government to build extensively in rural areas.

025/056 Communications Database
To review the recent communications 

• VE Day – The Clerk updated the Council that there are suggested VE Day celebrations on the VE Day website to celebrate the 80th Anniversary (https://www.veday80.org.uk).

• Thames Valley Authority – The Clerk updated the Council on the proposed Authority which would include Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and parts of Berkshire under the auspices of a mayor. This has received positive reception from Oxfordshire County Council, but Buckinghamshire Council has yet to confirm its position. 

• Bollard by Monks Hill – The Clerk updated the Council that following numerous attempts to arrange the bollard to be installed on the Common by Monks Hill he has now been informed the ground is now too wet and will be reviewed again in a month.

025/057 Additional Defibrillator  
To discuss an additional defibrillator on the Pheasant

• Cllr Springs proposed match funding a defibrillator with The Brill Society on the condition that the Council is provided with evidence from the Pheasant confirming the defibrillator can be attached to their external wall. Cllr Slater seconded and the proposal was unanimously approved.

025/058 Memorial Hall Update
To receive an update on the Memorial Hall and the proposed car park re-surface

• Cllr Springs fed back that the Memorial Committee were assessing the general damage to roof.

• The Committee carried out a number of fundraising events in 2024.

• The Committee is reviewing a number of quotes on the refurbishment of the Hall.

• A new design of the car park may be needed taking into account the EV charge points scheduled for installation in 2025.

• Cllr Judge re-iterated that some funding may be available from Parish Council reserves to support refurbishment of the car park. 

• Cllr Springs to check if BVCH can use the Hall’s Grundon commercial bin to dispose of the Green Waste.

025/059 Hartwell’s Barn Project
To receive an update on the Hartwell’s Barn Project

• The Chair of the Brill Society updated the Council that the deal to purchase Hartwell’s Barn had been cancelled. 

• Cllr Tuffley confirmed that she had spoken to the vendors and her understanding was that another buyer had been found.

• Cllr Tuffley asked the Chair of the Brill Society about the money that had been donated to the Hartwell’s Barn appeal and asked how this money will be repaid.

• The Chair of the Brill Society explained that the trustees had had a meeting about refunding the donations. The Society has a database of everyone who has donated and will be sending out a message to all of them by end of the week or early the following week. The message will provide an explanation of what happened with the project, and how to have their donation returned.

• The Chair expressed thanks on behalf of the Council to the Brill Society for all their efforts trying to purchase Hartwell’s Barn. 

025/060 The Common / The Walks
To receive an update on the Common

• To discuss the concerns about the lack of stock proof fencing on the Common

• The Council invited a member of BVCH to address the Council regarding their concerns over the lack of stock-proof fencing at Hybanks.

• BVCH have provided electric fencing as a short-term measure to stop the cows from escaping, however this is not a permanent solution. There needs to be stockproof fencing to ensure the cows do not escape.

• The Council resolved to meet by the end of February with the resident to inform them of the legal requirement for stock proof fencing when bordering the Common.

• Should the resident not comply then the Council will write to them outlying the deadline to erect the fence.

• Windmill Car park potholes

• This item was carried forward to the next meeting

025/061 Path Across the Village Green to the Church – Disabled Access
To review which surface is legal and effective

• The Parish Clerk reported that he had contacted the solicitor about the surface that could be installed across the village green. Permanent surfaces such as tarmac or recycled rubber were not allowed; gravel was a possibility but is not suitable for wheelchairs, or a product such as ‘grasscrete’.  

• Cllr Tuffley therefore proposed the installation of 5m x 2.1m of grasscrete across the Village Green at the entrance to the church to make this more accessible. This could be done quickly and at low cost (about £300).

• The proposal was seconded by Cllr Springs and unanimously approved.

025/062 Section 137 Applications

As several applications had been received, Cllr Judge explained the main requirements for Section 137 grants, to help with assessing them (see Annex to these minutes below). The Clerk recommended that the regular financial support for the Memorial Hall is no longer considered as a Section 137 grant, as the Parish Council owns the building (subject to formal confirmation by the solicitor) and governance is assured by having a parish councillor on the Memorial Hall Committee. The support for the Memorial Hall would then appear as a separate line in the budget. Cllr Judge proposed this change, it was seconded by Cllr Springs and pass unanimously

To review the Section 137 applications received

• Brill Society: £750 towards the cost of £1500 for recording equipment for the recorded history project. The project was welcomed by the Council, it was considered that the project has clear benefits for this and future generations, and the request was for funding for specific equipment. In addition, support for the proposal was demonstrated as half of the cost was covered by another donation. Cllr Springs proposed approving the request, Cllr Slater seconded and unanimously approved.

• Brill Society: £3000 towards the cost of running a larger-scale Midsummer Music Event. The event would be over two days, and would involve  other village groups and incorporate the 60th Anniversary of the Brill Society. The Council asked how this event will differ from the Brill Festival, the fete, and Big Brill Camp. The Brill Society confirmed that this event would be free of charge to all whereas the others are pay for entry. The Council asked how the additional funding will be sourced. The Brill Society replied that the much of the funding will come from the Brill Society, confirmation of sponsorship has been received from the Vale Brewery and further sponsors are being approached. The Council confirmed that it would need to have a clearer breakdown of exactly how the money will be spent before it can consider providing the funding and suggested bringing the funding request back to the March meeting with a further breakdown of the costs for the Council to review. 

• Bernwode Rural Sheds – Community Interest Group: £1200 towards the cost of tools and running costs

  The establishment of this new group was welcomed by the Council, and its value to the community was clear. At present, 8-12 people attend meetings of the group each week and it is looking to expand to two sessions a week in the summer. The Council agreed to revisit the application at the next meeting as it needs further information on exactly what the money will be spent on. It was agreed for Cllr Judge & Clerk to visit the group to gather further information.

025/063 Vandalism to the Windmill
To review and discuss the recent vandalism to the Windmill

• The Chair of the Brill Society updated the Council on the recent vandalism and how the vandals had accessed the windmill through roundhouse.

• The Chair of the Brill Society suggested the installation of a net to the round house from the inside.

025/064 King George V Field
To review and discuss the request for Brill United to use King George V Field for a new Under 10’s Team

• Cllr Tuffley proposed approving the request, Cllr Judge seconded and was unanimously approved.

• The Council resolved to contact the Sports & Social Club regarding a complaint about bonfires burning green waste (creating a nuisance to local residents) and suggested alternatives including composting instead.

025/065 Road & Traffic
To receive an update on the current projects in the Parish

• No update to report

Meeting closed at 22:12

024/066 Income & Expenditure

November 2024 Expenditure

BT – Utilities £89.96
R Timms - Handywork £130.00
R Timms - Bins £105.00
Drax - Street Light £130.96
Squarespace - License £172.80
Hannah Hunter - Website £200.00
Liz Springs - Xmas Market Expenses £58.28
R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,098.37

December 2024 Income

HMRC - VAT Reclaim £7,662.80
Interest £0.40

December 2024 Expenditure

Bucks Council - Bins £33.50
Sitebox - 3 x Floodlights £1,004.04
Aspire - Grass Cutting £528.00
Return of Xmas Mkt Deposit £20.00
Return of Xmas Mkt Deposit £30.00
Return of Xmas Mkt Deposit £30.00
Return of Xmas Mkt Deposit £30.00
Return of Xmas Mkt Deposit £15.00
Return of Xmas Mkt Deposit £25.00
Return of Xmas Mkt Deposit £30.00
Return of Xmas Mkt Deposit £30.00
Return of Xmas Mkt Deposit £30.00
Lawsons - Stakes £25.35
Squarespace - Website £6.62
R Damerell - LA Pay Award £295.98
Remembrance Wreath £30.00
HMRC - PAYE £157.07
HP – Ink £11.99
BT - Utilities £89.96
BALC - Training £40.00
BBOWT - Common Advice £3,124.56
Hannah Hunter - Website £200.00
Oakley Informer - Community Market Advert £108.00
R Damerell - Stamps £13.65
Taplns - Digger Hire VAT £20.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,131.19
HMRC - PAYE £54.84
EDF - Street Lights £16.52
EDF - Street Lights £21.53
EDF - Street Lights £79.88
EDF - Street Lights £104.19
Bucks Council Street Signs £3,457.81
BVCH Quarterly Payment £765.00

January 2024 Income

RPA £8,766.22

January 2025 Expenditure

Bucks Council – Street Lights £106.77
Bucks Council – Final Drax Street Light Payment £912.00
J Tuffley – Padlocks for Bollards £37.77
Squarespace – Website £6.62
HP - Ink £11.99
EDF – Street Lights £21.53
EDF – Street Lights £104.19
AJ Gallagher – Speed Sign Insurance £29.47
Aspire – Grass Cutting £528.00
Hannah Hunter – Website Maintenance £200.00
Liz Springs – Carol Service refreshments £53.45
Ed West - Floodlight £420.00
BALC – Subs £40.00
BMH – Office Hire £50.00
BT – Utilities £89.86
BVCH – Quarterly Payment £765.00
MP Printers – Printed Newsletters £40.00

Annex: Statement on Section 137 Grants by Cllr Judge

“Section 137 grants are covered in the Local Government Act of 1972. This is several pages of detailed legal requirements. Any grants made by a Parish Council can be challenged by an auditor. The maximum amount we can offer spend per financial year is about £10 per elector, in total roughly £8k. This sets the absolute maximum, but we are also constrained by money available from the precept. Under the regulations, grants over £2k come with strict conditions. There must be auditable 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. This is not something that the Parish Council asks for on a whim, it is a condition of the grant set in the regulations. It would also be prudent to ensure there is evidence to support the spend of lower amounts.

Parish councils in the area have written policies setting out the conditions (for example, see https://www.waddesdonparishcouncil.gov.uk/the-council/grants/). As Section 137 is complex, I can’t say whether their conditions are set in the regulations or best practice. Either way, following similar policies would be sensible. Conditions include:

- It must be possible to have proof that the money has been spent as described
- There must be proof that the application is widely supported in the village
- The funds must be spent within the financial year
- Grants cannot be given to individuals, only to organisations that operate bank accounts that require two signatories

Grants are normally low in value - a few hundred pounds seems to be normal in the area. The main beneficiary in Brill has been the Memorial Hall. 
Given all these constraints, applications for grants should be clear, auditable and very specific, with evidence to demonstrate support in the community, and at a modest cost to the taxpayer.”

Read the financial summary for December 2024 (PDF). Please email the Parish Clerk if you need help accessing this document.

Read the financial summary for January 2025 (PDF). Please email the Parish Clerk if you need help accessing this document.

Parish Council Meeting held November 19th 2024

Minutes

Present: Cllr Judge (Chair), Cllr Slater, Cllr Tuffley, Cllr Springs and seven members of the public were in attendance. 

No updates and questions were presented by members of the Public:

A resident addressed the Council about their request to remove a sycamore tree adjacent to their property, being deemed too close to the house. The Resident informed the Council that they were in possession of the surveyor’s report which confirmed the high possibility of damage to the foundations of the house if allowed to remain in situ. The Council resolved to agree to the request in principle but agreed with the resident for Cllr Slater to visit the site and the tree to carry out an assessment.

024/023 To receive apologies for absence
No apologies were received from members

024/024 To receive any declarations of interest
No Interests were declared by Members

024/025 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2024
Cllr Tuffley proposed accepting the minutes as a true record the meeting, seconded by Cllr Slater and unanimously approved

024/026 Finance: 

• The Councillors received the monthly finance spreadsheet

• It was agreed for Cllrs Tuffley & Judge and the Clerk to meet to draft the Budget and propose the Precept for 2025-26. The deadline to submit the precept is 31 January 2025.

023/027 Planning applications

Planning Ref 24/03333/APP
Address Temple House 2 Temple Street Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9SX
Proposal Householder application for demolition of exiting pantry and erection of single storey rear extension, internal alterations and new conservation roof light
PC Comments Object. Brill Parish Council objects to this application. The Parish Council is very concerned about the removal of areas of a Grade II listed building being replaced with modern alterations which are also not in keeping with the local area. The Council is also aware of a significant bat population in the area behind the house and reports that these bats nest in the gable that has been identified to be removed. The Parish Council is also concerned by the heritage and ecology reports which do not seem to highlight any relevant information related to the application. The Parish Council requests that this application along with application 24/03334/ALB be called before committee.

Planning Ref 24/03334/ALB
Address Temple House 2 Temple Street Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9SX
Proposal Listed building application for demolition of exiting pantry and erection of single storey rear extension, internal alterations and new conservation roof light 
PC Comments As above

Planning Ref 21/A4309/DIS
Address Springfield Cottage North Hills Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9TH
Proposal Application for approval of details subject to Conditions 5 (Ecology) 6 (Tree Protection) 7(Tree Pruning) of planning approval 21/04309/APP
PC Comments For information only

Planning Ref 24/02933/APP 
Address 27 Temple Street Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9SU
Proposal Householder application for demolition of existing single storey rear and side extensions and erection of two storey rear and single storey side extensions 
PC Comments Refused

Planning Ref 24/02901/COUAR
Address Fir Tree Farm Wotton Road Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9UA
Proposal Determination as to whether prior approval is required in respect of transport & highway impact, noise, contamination risk, flooding and locational considerations for the conversion of part of agricultural barn into 1no. dwellinghouse (Class Q(a)) and in relation to design and external appearance of the building (Class Q(b)). 
PC Comments Neutral

024/040 Communications Database
No issues raised. 

024/041 Section 137 Requests

• The Parish Council expressed its thanks to Hannah Hulme Hunter for the hard work on the Newsletter and approved the request to have the newsletter printed in Thame for approximately £30/mth.

• The Parish Council also approved the Section 137 request to support the Brill Community Market for £1,650

024/042 Memorial Hall Update
To receive an update on the Memorial Hall and the proposed car park re-surface

• Cllr Judge updated the Council that he contacted Buckinghamshire Council for contractors to re-surface the car park. Two companies were suggested and their details had been passed to the manager of the Memorial Hall to take forward. The chair of the new Memorial sub-committee ‘Fit for the Future Together’ will be contacted in addition.

• The Parish Council confirmed that it is open to requests for funding repairs or improvements to the Memorial Hall car park, subject to agreement on the funds that could be allocated and the details of the work.  

024/043 Hartwell’s Barn Project
To receive an update on the Hartwell’s Barn Project

• The Chair of Brill Society confirmed that, at the time of the meeting, the process to purchase Hartwell’s Barn and Saunder’s Field is still ongoing, but there are legal issues raised by the vendor concerning overage that must still be resolved.

• The intention is that the barn and the land will be purchased by a local landowner. On completion of the sale, the landowner will lease the property to the Brill Society which will have the right to purchase the property outright at the original purchase price. This effectively gives the village several years to raise the funds needed. 

• The Brill Society confirmed that permanent vehicle access across the Common to Hartwell’s Barn would be needed, to facilitate maintenance and for village events. It was confirmed that this was not a precondition of the sale but would become essential so as not to unduly restrict use of the new amenity.

• The Parish Clerk explained that an easement of this type cannot be granted to an organisation: an easement concerns the property not the owner. It was therefore not possible to start the legal process for an easement at this stage.

• There was, to the best of the knowledge of those present, no legal mechanism to bind the current or future Parish Council to granting an easement in due course.

The Parish Council confirmed it was extremely supportive of the project. To demonstrate its commitment, Cllr Tuffley proposed that the Parish Council should contribute to the cost of leasing the property as co-owners with the Brill Society, to demonstrate the Parish Council’s commitment. Cllr Judge commented that, split in this way, the lease cost of £4,000 per annum (split evenly between the Brill Society and Brill Parish Council) was low and would not impact the precept significantly, and any associated risks would be balanced by the benefit to the village of acquiring the amenity. 

• The motion for the Parish Council to offer to contribute 50 % of eventual cost of the lease was proposed by Cllr Tuffley, seconded by Cllr Judge s and unanimously agreed. The Chair of the Brill Society would take this proposal forward for discussion with the landowner and the vendor.

024/044 King George V Field update

• The Clerk fed back a request from a number of residents who use the MUGA asking if another storage shed could be purchased to store additional sports equipment separately from the floodlights.

• It was agreed that Cllr Tuffley would check whether an additional shed is needed or whether it is feasible to rearrange storage.

024/045 The Common / The Walks

• Fly Tipping  on the Common – The Council expressed its thanks to Cllr Tuffley for volunteering to clear the fly tipping. The debris has now been removed by Bucks recycling. Cllr Slater proposed having an agreement with Bucks Recycling to remove any fly tipping dumped on the Common. The was seconded by Cllr Judge and unanimously approved. 

• Discussion regarding the spread of sycamore in the village. Following the meeting of the Brill Common and Village Greens Advisory Group there have been 65 sycamores identified, some of which are significantly large. Twenty of the smaller seedlings have been removed by Hugh Rowley. Cllr Slater proposed allocating funding of up to £1,000 to the removal of sycamore seedlings. Cllr Springs seconded and the motion was unanimously carried.

• Span Green – The Clerk updated that the Estate Manager has been contacted to view the ditch clearance on Span Green, and this will be followed up again.

• Ranger – Cllr Slater updated that The Lottery Heritage grant has been submitted and will hopefully have an answer before Christmas.

• Rams – A number of residents have complained about the rams particularly the aggressive behaviour and inadequate signage, Cllr Slater proposed meeting the shepherd with the Parish Clerk to discuss the situation regarding the sheep, rams, notification and signage.

• Jo Woodman – Cllr Slater confirmed that Jo Goodman has asked to carry out bird ringing on the Common again. This will entail putting up nets 30 mins prior to sunrise and will be completed by late morning. There will also be a number of signs to ask for dogs to put on leads. The Council approved the request.

• Bollards on the Common – The Council also agreed to install a bollard on the Common near Monks Hill to control vehicle access near Hartwell’s Barn.

024/046 Devolved Services Agreement
To review the email from Bucks Council regarding the option of 4 Year devolved Services Agreements

• Cllr Tuffley proposed continuing a 1-year Devolved Services agreement from Bucks Council and not the four-year agreement. This was seconded by Cllr Slater and unanimously approved.

024/047 Road & Traffic
To receive an update on the current projects in the Parish

• Cllr Judge expressed his thanks to Steve Smith from Buckinghamshire Council for arranging the finance for EV charging points.

• Cllr Judge also confirmed that Buckinghamshire Council have agreed a budget of £2,000,000 for installation of EV charging points across the County of which Brill has been allocated two charging points.

• Survey – The Waddesdon Area Freight Zone project is on pause to allow for more time to see the impact the similar project in the Ivinghoe area before implementing in the Waddesdon Zone. 

• Dropped curb – Cllr Springs contacted Cllr Rand about the shortage of dropped curbs in the village. He recommended contacting the Local Area Technician regarding the possibility of including further dropped curbs in the village particularly following a near miss of wheel chair user.

024/048 Church Request for path across the Village Green

• The Church provided a letter to the Parish Council requesting a path across the village green to the church.

• The Council expressed its support of the project in principle however would need to establish the legal position if this is possible and, if so, what surfaces would be permissible. 

• Cllr Tuffley proposed inviting the Bucks Disability Service to establish as to whether ‘grasscrete’ would be a suitable surface for those with disabilities to cross safely.

• Cllr Tuffley will also investigate the use of a wheel chair on grasscrete.

Meeting closed at 22:12

024/049 Income & Expenditure

September 2024 Expenditure

BT - Utilities £89.96
Drax - Street Light £162.16
Amazon - Laptop Case £19.99
R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,098.37

October 2024

Interest £0.01
Bucks Council - Precept £26,666.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00

October 2024 Expenditure

Bucks Council - Bins £33.50
Aspire - Grass Cutting £528.00
ESPO - Laminating Pouches £23.94
Hannah Hunter - Website £200.00
HMRC - PAYE £41.99
MP Printers - Banners £36.00
N Misselbrook - Plants £200.00
AJG - Liability Insurance £3,168.55
Squarespace - Website £6.62
R Timms - Bins - Sept 2024 £135.00
HP - Ink £11.99
Hannah Hunter - Website £200.00
Core Event - Midsummer Music Stage £1,053.88
BT - Utilities £89.96
Bucks Council - electricity £156.96
HM Land Registry - Property Search £6.00
HM Land Registry - Property Search £6.00
HM Land Registry - Property Search £6.00
HM Land Registry - Property Search £6.00
HM Land Registry - Property Search £3.00
Drax - Street Light £86.05
Bucks Council - Bins £73.27
R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,098.37
Squarespace - Website £19.20
R Timms - Bins and Bench repair £130.00

November 2024 Income

Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Interest £0.29
Brill Society Contirbution to Midsummer Music Stage £878.24
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00
Xmas Market Stall deposit £30.00

November 2024 Expenditure

Aspire - Grass Cutting £528.00
Bison - Bollards on Span Green £1,125.00
HMRC - PAYE - Oct 2024 £41.99
Huw Rowley - Footpath clearance £90.00
PKF Littlejohn - External Audit £378.00
Bucks Council - Bins £36.40
HP - Ink £11.99
Squarespace - Website £6.62
Bucks Recycling - Fly Tipping Clearance £330.00
Taplins - Portable Toilet £90.00
Taplins - Digger Hire £100.00
MP Printers - Xmas Market Banner £91.20
MP Printers - Xmas Market promotional cards £96.00
BT - Utilities £89.96

Read the financial summary for November 2024 (PDF). Please email the Parish Clerk if you need help accessing this document.

Parish Council Meeting held September 17th 2024

Minutes

Present: Cllr Springs, Cllr Slater, Cllr Tuffley, Cllr Judge (Chair) and seven members of the public were in attendance. 

No updates and questions were presented by members of the Public:

No questions were raised by the public. Members of the public were able to ask questions and make comments during the item on ‘Encroachment on North Hills’

024/022 1 Discussion on whether to co-opt for the last 6 months of the Council Term. 

• Cllr Judge expressed his thanks to all applicants who put themselves forward for Co-Option and encouraged these to also stand for election onto the Parish Council in May 2025 regardless of the outcome of the meeting.

• The Council confirmed that currently there is no official policy on Co-option for Brill Parish Council. Following research Cllr Judge confirmed that it is the practice of some other Parish Council’s not to Co-opt on to the Parish Council for the final few months of the term. Some have stated this in a Co-option policy.

• Cllr Tuffley expressed that when the Council originally advertised for residents to put themselves forward for Co-option this was following the resignation of two councillors in August 2023 with nearly 2 years left of the Council term.

• Cllr Tuffley expressed that this Parish Council is focussing on trying to complete the current open projects and not look to start new projects. The Council is also currently organising the administrative side of the work to ensure a smooth transition.

• Cllr Tuffley stated her feeling of the importance of the need for a mandate from the village to serve on the Parish Council and co-opt only when absolutely necessary. 

• Cllr Slater agreed stating that Co-option in her view is an undemocratic concept best avoided unless absolutely necessary. Cllr Slater also continued that it would be better use the remaining term to focus on the current projects and use the democratic method to determine who should be on the Council at the Local Election in May 2025. 

• Cllr Springs expressed her support for co-opting new Councillors. She stated this would reduce the risk of meetings becoming inquorate. 

• Cllr Springs also stated that those joining the Council in May 2025 may not go through an election should there be the same number or fewer applicants to the number of seats.

• Cllr Judge brought the discussion to an end and raised the motion that ‘Brill Parish Council will co-opt new applicants onto the Parish Council in the final seven months of the term’

• The Motion was defeated with Cllrs Tuffley & Slater voting against the motion and Cllr Springs voted in favour. Cllr Judge highlighted the strong feelings and abstained from the vote, having been co-opted himself onto the council. 

• Following the vote Cllr Judge reiterated his earlier hope that the applicants would still put themselves forward for election in May 2025. Cllr Judge also expressed a desire to work closely with the applicants on any future Parish Council. 

2. Co-option of prospective Cllrs on to the Parish Council

• This item was no longer required due to the resolution on Item 1

024/023 To receive apologies for absence

No apologies were received from members

024/024 To receive any declarations of interest

No Interests were declared by members

024/025 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 1 May 2024.

Cllr Springs proposed accepting the minutes as a true record the meeting, seconded by Cllr Slater and unanimously approved

024/026 Finance: 

• The Councillors received the monthly finance spreadsheet

• The Council resolved to accept the 2024/25 Insurance Quote

023/027 Planning applications

Applications for review

Planning Ref 24/02485/ATC
Address 28 Temple Street Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9SX
Proposal T1 Silver Birch - Crown Reduce - Reducing the height and spread of the tree by up to 1 metre. Ensure a good, natural shape and balance. G1 Willow x2 - Fell to ground level. T2 Holly - Fell to ground level. G2 Leyland Cypress - Fell to ground level. T3 Viburnum - Fell to ground level. T4 Holly - Fell to ground level. T5 Holly - Fell to ground level. T6 Holly - Fell to ground level. T7 Bay - Pollard/ Coppice tree at 1 metre from ground level. T8 Bay - Fell to ground level. Reason for the Work: The works are necessary because the trees have outgrown the space and are unsuitable species for the narrow garden, as they block out the light. Our client plans to remove these trees to allow for the replanting of more suitable species. 
PC Comments Neutral – The Parish Council though expresses its disappointment at the loss of the number of trees and habitat this application is requesting 

Planning Ref 24/02326/APP
Address Badgers 38 The Lawns Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9SN
Proposal Householder application for proposed first floor extensions to the rear and one and half storey extensions to the front 
PC Comments Neutral

Planning Ref 24/02432/ATC
Address Brill Memorial Hall Church Street Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9RT
Proposal T1 Yew - Fell to ground level 
PC Comments Application approved – For information. No Consultations requested by Buck Council

Planning Ref 12/A1753/DIS
Address Hybanks North Hills Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9TH
Proposal Application for approval of details subject to Conditions 3 4 (materials) 5 (planting) 6 (Landscape) of planning approval 12/01753/APP 
PC Comments Neutral

Planning Ref 24/02168/APP
Address 19 High Street Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9ST
Proposal Householder application for single storey rear extension and loft conversion with rear dormer and front roof light 
PC Comments Neutral

024/028 Communications Database

To review the recent communications

• Zip Line – The Council following a report from a member of the public regarding the lack of tension on the zip wire. The Council resolved to contact Discovery to fix the zip line.

• Accessibility to the Church – Cllr Springs enquired about the possibility of extending the path from the church across the village green to meet the pavement in order to improve accessibility for all residents. The Council considered the request and suggested sourcing quotes for a path and type of surface and to check the legal status of installing a path on the Village Green.

• French Drains – The Parish Council confirmed its agreement for the installation of French drains under the Common as a flood defence to the property on the Chapman’s Lane Crossroads. The resident has confirmed that the Common will be reinstated to its original state after the completion of the works

024/029 Hartwell’s Barn Project

• Due to the late hour the Council was updated briefly by the Chair of the Brill Society that the contract has been sent and is currently with the landowner.

• Both solicitors have been going through this in detail. The has been drawn up but will only be considered and signed at the exchange of contracts.

• The Council expressed its thanks to Brill Society for the perseverance and hard work to secure Hartwell’s Barn and Saunders Field.

• The Chair of the Brill Society also updated the Council that he has met with Directors of the Lottery Heritage Fund. He will also soon be to take through the process for application form for future funding but it was unclear to the council what the application would be for and Cllr Slater expressed a desire to discuss the intended application further with the Brill Society and understand better how it would link in with our current heritage application for a Wildlife Ranger to ensure that both applications are well thought through and complement each other.

024/030 King George V Field update

To receive an update on the King George V Field

• Parish Council was sad to note the recent vandalism on the playing field, to both one of the benches and a picnic table

024/031 Bucks Energy opt in

To confirm the Council’s decision to opt in Energy Contract regarding the street lights in the village.

024/032 The Common 

To receive an update on the Common including:

• Feedback from BVCAG – Cllr Slater updated the Council on the main points of the most recent BVCAG meeting:

• Walks Committee disbandment – The Parish Council notes that the Walks Committee have made the decision to disband and the Council expressed its thanks the Committee for its hard work over the years.

• Ranger Application: Cllr Slater has progressed through to the second stage for the application for the Ranger. Cllr Slater re-iterated the requirement for the Parish Council to provide match funding in support of the application. Cllr Tuffley proposed approving the request to Match fund 10% of the precept per year over a five-year period. This was seconded by Cllr Judge and unanimously approved.

• Cuckoo Farm – Following investigation of a possible encroachment of stones being placed on the Common the Council initiated the Encroachment Policy by sending a letter to residence in question.

• Fly Tipping – The Clerk raised this with Bucks Council and enquired with Street Scene as to whether they would be willing to remove the Fly tipping and invoice the Parish Council. No response has yet come through. Cllr Springs to make an enquiry with a contact within Bucks Council.

• Easement – Easement required under Local Government Act 1972 in order to have vehicular access across the Common. The new property being constructed on South Hills may require an Easement. The Clerk has contacted the owner of the property and will contact them again following the meeting.

• Encroachment on the Common

• A number of residents enquired about how the Council had followed its Encroachment Policy and were confused and disappointed not to have been informed about the decision prior to the encroachment being removed in order to have the opportunity to appeal the decision.

• Cllr Slater clarified the actions carried out by the Council as set out in the May 2024 Parish Council Minutes. 

• Cllr Slater confirmed that the original request to repair the track was received by the Parish Council in November 2023. This stated a desire to fill the current potholes causing problems on the track. The Parish Council considered and approved the request and pledged £250 towards this work. The area of encroachment was not part of the original request. However, the Parish Council, accepted this encroachment was done in error and not a malicious act, but acted to restore the area which had not been part of the original request.

• The primary reason for a letter not being sent to individual residents was that as this encroachment did not relate to a single property, there was not a direct residence to which the letter could be sent. 

• The Councillors accepted that the encroachment was carried out in good faith and not an intentional act to cause encroachment. Rather than attributing blame to any one person the Council felt it best to remove the Encroachment

• The letter was to also inform that there would be disruption not an accusation of an individual of encroachment. The Council accepted that this letter could have been sent sooner.

• Cllr Slater explained that the Parish Council has a statutory responsibility to protect the Common from encroachment

• A resident stated that on this section of land was a house between 9 North Hills and the Graft House and it is still possible to see where the roof line was even following its demolition. Additionally the resident stated their greatest concern was the treatment of Paul Godwin as he is known to be a considerate and hard-working, resident who would not have acted unless there was a legitimate reason. 

• Another resident felt at the time it was an aggressive act to turn up with the digger. Subsequent discussions with the Parish Council have mollified this view and appreciate the chance to have dialogue and be able to move forward positively and amicably.

• Cllr Judge said it was accepted that there are lessons to be learned from this case, as it was a more unusual situation than a resident simply extending their own boundary. This has been taken on board by the Council: should another similar situation arise, for example, track re-surfacing on other areas of the Common, there should be a clear documented scope of work agreed in advance.  

• Cllr Judge also restated that it is the Council’s responsibility to ensure the protection of the Common and to balance the requirements of the common and the use of public funds. It is the Council’s opinion that all actions from both the Parish Council and residents are done in good faith, and that in carrying out its decision the Council followed professional advice from Bed, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) on how to best resolve this situation. 

• Cllr Judge ended the item by thanking all those that took part in the conversation and it was time to draw the matter to a close. 

024/033 Road & Traffic

To receive an update on the current projects in the Parish

• The Council extended its thanks to Alison Poland and Bucks Council for the installation of bollards outside the Memorial Hall, completing a project first started in 2011.

• SiDs -  Following recent thefts of Speed Indicator Signs / batteries and vandalism in the local area, Cllr Judge contacted Truvelo to install additional security measures.

• Memorial Hall Car Park - The Clerk has asked Rob Timms to secure the parking sign on the Memorial Hall car park as this has fallen off.

• Installation of EV charging points – Cllr Judge updated that a supplier has been chosen to install the charge points, but the process is still going through the contract process, which is estimated to be complete in October 2024. The tentative target date for installation has been advised as is July 2025.

• Memorial Hall car park resurfacing - Cllr Judge to contact Alison Poland to obtain quotes to resurface the Village Hall carpark with new drainage.

• Village Signs - The Parish Council approved the cost of the new signs which have been confirmed as being classified as low cost (£0 - £5,000)

024/034 Parish Council Meeting Frequency Trial

To review the success of the trial to reduce the frequency of Parish Council meetings

• The motion was raised to continue the two month meeting frequency with additional Working Together meetings if required was put to the Council. The motion was carried with Cllrs Slater and Tuffley in support, Cllr Springs opposed and Cllr Judge abstaining

Meeting closed at 21:56

024/034 Income & Expenditure

June 2024 Income

Interest £23.95
Interest £0.01
Interest £7.73
Transfer from Closure of Santander Account £27,090.12
Bucks Council - Devolved Services Payment £1,891.12

June 2024 Payments

Bucks Council – Bins £129.45
Phillipa Tawn - BWU English Lessons £650.00
Phillipa Tawn - BWU English Lessons £650.00
Rob Timms – Bins £105.00
Squarespace – Website £6.62
Canva - Annual Sub for online posters / posts etc £100.00
BT – Utilities £89.96
E Springs - Stob padlock £21.00
Hannah Hulme – Website £200.00
N Misselbrook – Plants £160.00
Playsaftey - Play Area Inspection £170.40
J Tuffley - BWU Expenses £80.00
J Tuffley - BWU Expenses £21.90
Drax - Street Light £162.16

July 2024 Income

Interest £0.01
Brill Sports & Social - Weed & Feed 50% contribution £225.00

July 2024 Expenditure

R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,098.37
HMRC - PAYE £41.99
Jane Varney - Hustings Refreshments £250.00
Brill Memorial Hall - Hall Hire £75.00
Bucks Council - Bins £33.50
Rob Timms - Bins £135.00
Squarespace - Website £6.62
L Springs - Annual Parish meeting Expenses £53.39
Tim Patrick - Tractor Diesel (Walks Mowing) £37.80
DE & BE Philllips - Weed & Feed £540.00
Phillipa Tawn - BWU English Lessons £760.00
Gordon Govier - Harris Close Strimming £25.00
Trade & DIY - Bench £396.29
BT – Utilities £89.96
Brill Youth United - Section 137 Grant £590.52
Hannah Hulme - Website £200.00
Drax - Street Light £156.96
Aspire - Grass Cutting £528.00
R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,098.37
HMRC – PAYE £41.99
R Damerell - Printer Ink £35.97

August 2024 Income

Interest £0.01
UKPN - Wayleave £220.05

August 2024 Expenditure

Bucks Council – Bins £36.40
HP - Ink £11.99
Squarespace – Website £6.62
BT – Utilities £89.96
Drax - Street Light £162.16
BBOWT - Common Consultation £561.00
BVCH Q1 Payment £765.00
Tim Patrick - Diesel Oil £36.12
Hannah Hunter – website £200.00
M Cherry - Common Repair £150.00
R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,098.37
BVCH Q2 Payment £765.00
R Timms – Bins £105.00

Read the financial summary for September 2024 (PDF). Please email the Parish Clerk if you need help accessing this document.

Read the financial summary for October 2024 (PDF). Please email the Parish Clerk if you need help accessing this document.

Parish Council Meeting held May 21st 2024

Minutes

Present: Cllr Springs (Chair), Cllr Slater, Cllr Tuffley, Cllr Judge and seven members of the public were in attendance.

Updates and questions presented by members of the Public:

• A resident brought to the attention of the Council that the Footpath sign on Chapman’s lane is missing. The resident has reported it missing but it has yet to be replaced.

• A resident asked the Council where conservation area is and what can or can’t be done in the area. The Council resolved to add a map of the Conservation Area and the rules to the Parish Council website.

• A resident asked the Council regarding the works on North Hills track why the Parish Council never attended to view the works being carried out, especially as work that was not requested has been carried out and what is the Parish Council going to do about it?

024/001 To appoint the Chair of the Parish Council

• Cllr Tuffley proposed Cllr Judge to be Chair of Brill Parish Council, seconded by Cllr Slater and unanimously approved with Cllr Springs abstaining

• The Parish Council expressed its thanks to Cllr Springs for her hard work and dedication as Chair of the Parish Council during 2023/24

024/002 To appoint the Vice-Chair of the Parish Council

• Cllr Judge proposed Cllr Tuffley as Vice-Chair of Brill Parish Council, seconded by Cllr Slater and unanimously approved

024/003 To receive apologies for absence.

No apologies were received from members

024/004 To receive any declarations of interest.

No Interests were declared by Members

024/005 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2024.

Cllr Tuffley proposed accepting the minutes as a true record the meeting, seconded by Cllr Slater and unanimously approved

024/006 To approve the Council’s Standing Orders

The Council resolved to approve and adopt the Council’s Standing Orders.

024/007 To approve the Council’s Financial Regulations

The Council resolved to approve and adopt the Council’s Financial Regulations

024/008 To Review the Council’s Asset Register

.The Council reviewed and confirmed the Council’s Asset Register is complete and up to date

024/009 Finance: 

• The Councillors received the monthly finance spreadsheet

• The Council reviewed and approved the annual accounts including receipts & payments account and bank reconciliation for the year ended 31st March 2024

• The Council reviewed and approved the Annual Governance Statement 2023/24

• The Council reviewed and approved the Accounting Statements in the Annual Governance and Accountability Return 2023/24

023/010 Planning applications

Applications for review

Planning Ref 24/01117/APP
Address 18 South Hills Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9RR
Proposal Householder application for two storey side extension. Demolition of existing conservatory and partial rebuild of existing single storey side extension. First floor front protrusion
PC Comments Neutral

Planning Ref 24/01163/ALB
Address 14 The Square Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9RP
Proposal Listed building application for repairs and internal alterations including the replacement of 2no. first floor rear windows, infilling of open section of party wall in roof space, addition of new first floor partition to form new bedroom and removal of a section of ground floor wall to form larger opening between kitchen and dining area, and installation of a new wood burning stove in existing fireplace
PC Comments Neutral

Planning Ref 24/01383/APP
Address Land West Of Ludgershall Road Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9TZ
Proposal Conversion and alteration of barn to form residential dwelling with ancillary amenity area
PC Comments Neutral

024/011 Communications Database

To review the recent communications 

• The Clerk to contact Aspire and request the contact the grass areas in Harris Close and the Donkey Field.

• The Council approved the request to use the Common for Orienteering on 9 July 2024.

• The Council confirmed that the request to cut the hedge back on South Hills could not be approved at this time as it is illegal to cut the hedge back during the growing season. The Council did however approve the request following the end of the growing season.

• Write to resident to raise concern about the fence and needing repair.

• Cllr Springs feedback from a meeting with … The Council had no objection for… to carry out their work.

• Request for funding to print additional signage for directions in the village. The Council suggested observing how long the current sign would last and then review the situation.

024/012 Village Green

To consider the request from a resident to restore their path across part of the Village Green. The Parish Council resolved to agree to the residents request with the stipulation that the path must be repaired with like for like material and width.

024/013 Hartwell’s Barn Project

To receive an update on the Hartwell’s Barn Project

• The Council encouraged all members of the public who are interested in receiving an update on the Hartwell’s Barn project to attend the Brill Society AGM on 29 May 7pm at Brill Sports & Social Club 

024/014 King George V Field update

To receive an update on the King George V Field

• MUGA Tennis net: Cllr Tuffley brought a concern from users of the MUGA for tennis and the difficulty in erecting the tennis net. The Council resolved to not purchase any new equipment for the MUGA at this time but will continue to monitor the situation.

024/015 Trees in the Play Area

To review the intention of residents to remove the trees backing on their fence.

• The Council resolved to object to the residents intention to remove the trees in the Play Area as these trees are currently on Parish Council owned land. 

024/016 The Common 

To receive an update on the Common including:

• Statement for Cllr Slater on the Encroachment on North Hills (Appendix A)

• Re-laid track on North Hills

• The Council expressed its disappointment that no communication was received to carry out the additional work for drainage and the additional parking space.

• Cllr Tuffley proposed tightening the Commons Policy including the requirement that type 1 is used for all repairs to tracks on the Common, this was seconded by Cllr Judge and unanimously approved.

• Cllr Tuffley proposed paying the agreed nominal £250 stating that this was agreed for the repair of the potholes on North Hills. 

• Cllr Tuffley also proposed for the Council to invoke its Encroachment Policy as there has been a concern raised by a member of the public and additional works carried out without prior notification or agreement. These proposals were seconded by Cllr Judge, Cllr Slater abstained with Cllr Springs opposing.

• Request to re-lay the track on South Hills and Hillbreak

• Cllr Slater proposed approving the work requested at the lower end of North Hills and the proposed work on South Hills. Cllr Tuffley seconded, and was unanimously approved. 

• Beating of the Bounds

• The Council resolved to hold the Beating of the Bounds at 1pm on 30 June 2024.

• Dead bees on the common 

• Following a number of bees being found dead on the Common, Cllr Slater asked that it be reminded that all forms of pesticides are prohibited and forbidden to be used on the Common.

• Update on the Ranger

• Cllr Salter updated that the application has been submitted for funding for a 5 year Common and Wildlife conservation Ranger and three interpretation boards. The total amount requested is  £105,815.76. Cllr Slater confirmed that the application was submitted in April and can take up to three months before confirmation is received whether the application was successful or not.

• Rights of Way 

• The Council received a request from the village Rights of way Officer for Huw Rowley to strim and clear the Rights of Ways pinch points in the village.

• The Council resolved to raise this matter at the next BVCAG meeting and to invite the Rights of Way Officer to attend and to feedback to the Council.

024/017 Grass Cutting in the Parish

To receive an update on the meeting with Aspire

• Cllr Springs updated following her meeting with Aspire. The same areas as 2023 will be left to grow again this year with some minor tweaks. The edge of the Village Green will be cut to allow greater visibility. The Village Green adjacent to the church will be cut in preparation for each village market.

• It was also confirmed that the Green will be cut in preparation for the Brill Festival in August

024/018 Roads & Traffic

To receive an update on the current projects in the Parish

• Electric Vehicle Charge Points: Cllr Judge confirmed that the proposal for the charge points has been approved and been put out to tender. The Council agreed to use Wellers Hedley solicitors as recommended by Bucks Council.

• Cllr Judge confirmed there had been no update regarding the quotes for the renovation of the Memorial Hall Car Park.

• The brown tourist sign for the Windmill on Temple Street has been added to the schedule for replacement

• Windmill Street pothole: It was confirmed that the issue was a burst water main which Thames Water refused to accept until Bucks Council had dug up the road. Thames Water have no taken responsibility.

• Village signs: Bucks Council confirmed that a process has finally been put in place for ordering village signs. The request has been sent through to David Cairney at Bucks Council

• Bollards outside the Memorial Hall: The bollards were marked but these markings have been washed away and will need to be re-marked.

• Foliage on Temple Street: The LAT and Cllr Judge have been in contact with the resident following the foliage from their garden covering the children crossing sign with no success

024/019 Parish Council Meeting Frequency Trial

To review the success of the trial to reduce the frequency of Parish Council meetings

• This item was moved to the July 2024 meeting to be reviewed.

024/020 Brill Hustings Event

To receive an update on the Brill Hustings event scheduled for 9 June 2024

• Cllr Judge updated the Council on the upcoming Hustings Event. It was agreed for all questions from the public to be sent to the Clerk and shared with Cllr Judge.

• The Council approved expenses of up to £250 towards refreshments for the event

024/021 Income & Expenditure

April 2024 Income

Bucks Council - Precept £26,666.00
Brill Sports & Social - Mower 50% Invoice £1,354.35

April 2024 Payments
Squarespace - Website Annual Domain £158.40
BVCH - Q4 Payment £765.00
Squarespace - Monthly License payment £6.62
Hannah Hunter - Website maintenance £200.00
J Hope - Play Area Expenses £44.50
PKF Littlejohn - External Audit £1,008.00
BBOWT - Common Consultation (Jan - Mar) £3,276.30
BT - Utilities £89.96
J Tuffley - BWU Expenses £79.13
J Tuffley - Dropbox £1,400.00
R Timms - Bins £105.00
Tim Patrick - Link Pin £9.45
Tim Patrick - Link Pin Assembly £23.75
Tim Patrick - Link Lower Link - Mower £22.10
Tim Patrick - Diesel Oil £39.48
Hannah Hunter - Additional website maintenance £200.00
Hannah Hunter - Website maintenance (Error payment repaid 01/05/2024) £200.00
HMRC - PAYE £43.99
Briants - Fence Panel £137.81
Briants - Fence Fixings £21.53
P Tawn - BWU English Lessons £510.00
R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,096.37
R Damerell - Printer Ink £11.99
Sparkx Ltd - Street Light repair £601.80
Drax - Street Light £163.44

May 2024 Income

Hannah Hunter – overpayment reimbursement £200.00

May Expenditure 2024

Rt Machinery – Mower Service £3,250.43
Bucks Council - Bins £33.25
Squarespace - Website £6.62
R Timms – Fence repair & Bins £165.00

Appendix A

Common Notes for BPC  meeting on 21st May 2024

“We know from village surveys undertaken by the PC that most people choose to live in Brill because of its beautiful vistas and natural environment. Many people however still cannot see the link between incremental encroachments (e.g a tiny bit extra on a track or laying a tiny bit of hard standing for parking) and the eventual loss of that natural environment for ever. Having beautiful common land on your doorstep is an incredible and rare privilege in this country and we all need to take more of responsibility in protecting it.

1. The recent work undertaken by Paul Godwin in good faith on the track at the top of North Hills has resulted in the enlargement/creation of a parking space outside Mr Andy Fishers house which has caused some concern. It is unclear to me at this stage whether the hardcore under it was actually laid by Mr Wheeler when he originally laid the track or not. I believe the dispute about whether or not this is an encroachment has come about because I did not walk the track and agree in detail with Mr Godwin in advance of doing the work which had been agreed by the PC. The photos he sent to the PC (on which we based our decision) were of potholes only – there was no mention of extra parking spaces. I take full responsibility for not checking with Mr Godwin in more detail before the work started and for trusting only in photos. It also looks as if some rubble/bricks have been thrown casually onto the common which Mr Godwin describes as drainage channels. There was no mention of rubble or drainage channels in the proposal submitted to the PC. It is true to say that the volunteers working on the Common have worked very hard over the years to prevent the Common from becoming a dumping groud and it is disheartening to see bricks just dumped like that – it may well encourage others to do the same which is exactly what we need to avoid. There is also a question about whether this rubble was put in the correct place for a drainage channel anyway as the water is more likely to run off on the corner further down the track where it is lower. I am very unclear how to move forward on this. One thing I do know is that it is completely unacceptable for any village residents to harass any individuals in connection with this as has been the case to date. 

2. Regarding another request to repair/make good the track with potholes at the bottom of North Hills outside the Keepings house. I walked the track with the residents and Mr Godwin (who has been asked by the residents to do the work) on Monday 13th May. I am satisfied that the agreed work will not be an encroachment as long as it is carried out in accordance with the photographs taken by me on that day and uploaded for fellow Cllrs on Dropbox. The work will fulfil a genuine need for post and emergency vehicles to turn safely when rain and mud is prevalent as it has been so much lately. The work agreed will use Type 1 to fill pot holes, expose drainage manholes and we agreed 8 drainage channels to the left of the track (walking from Brill to Tramhill). I emphasised that any track laying should be made with respect to the wildflowers coming up at this time of year and that the track laying should follow advice from Natural England to keep grass growing in the middle to maintain it as country track – this grass will grow back naturally when cars drive up the track. 

3. I also walked the track on South Hills with a resident from 18 South Hills and am satisfied that the request to fill in the potholes with Type 1 and add 3 or 4 drainage channels is reasonable and sensible to ensure safety of residents and emergency vehicles and also to prevent the widening of the track (which would be an encroachment in itself) which is clearly occurring every time a car avoids the potholes by driving up onto the Common on either side. Repairing the track will prevent this happening. I also made sure the new resident was aware of the Common and Walks Policy on the PC Website. Again it was emphasized that the grass must be allowed to grow back in the middle of the track. 

4. Of more concern is the concrete aggregate that someone (we don’t know who) has laid on the track leading up from South Hills to Colley Close. The PC did NOT give permission to do this. Please could ALL residents of Brill remember that permission must be sought from the Parish Council by residents for ANY track maintenance on Common land. “

Cllr Emi Slater. 21/5/24

Read the financial summary for May 2024 (PDF). Please email the Parish Clerk if you need help accessing this document.

Parish Council Meeting held March 19th 2024

Minutes

Present: Cllr Springs (Chair), Cllr Slater, Cllr Tuffley and three members of the public were in attendance.

No updates and questions were presented by members of the Public:

023/112 To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllr Judge

023/113 To receive any declarations of interest.

No Interests were declared

023/114 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2024.

Cllr Springs proposed the Minutes be approved as a true record of the meeting, seconded by Cllr Tuffley and unanimously approved.

024/115 Finance: 

To receive the monthly finance spreadsheet. The finance spreadsheet was received and reviewed by the Councillors.

• It was decided that the Clerk will set up a new account to be used for project work, to simplify the accounts and ringfence the finances

• It was agreed that the proposed new procedure for Purchase Orders will be discussed in detail at a future meeting 

023/116 Planning applications

Applications for review

Planning Ref 24/00762/ATC
Address 18 Temple Street Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9SX
Proposal We seek to reduce the crown of the cherry tree by 4m in height and 2-3 meters of lateral growth. Crown raise to 4m. The tree is twin stemmed with poor union attachment and included bark. A reduction will substantially reduce the risk of failure. The tree is growing under a boundary wall between 18 and 20 Temple Street Brill, causing the wall to fall down.
PC Decision & Comments Neutral – The Council reminds the applicant regarding the laws surrounding tree work in the nesting season.

Planning Ref 22/A3473/NON
Address 1Ley Hill 21 South Hills Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9TQ
Proposal Proposed non-material amendment to planning permission 22/03473/APP (Demolition of garage workshop and greenhouse. Erection of detached dwelling
PC Decision & Comments No comment required

Planning Ref 24/00524/APP
Address James Farm (Formerly The Old Stables) Ludgershall Road Brill HP18 9TY
Proposal Erection of barn, associated menage and track
PC Decision & Comments Neutral

024/117 Communications Database

To review the recent communications 

• Request from Art on the Hill – The Council resolved to refuse the request from Art on the Hill to use the Village Green for parking during the event due to the amount of rain and mud. The Council did though suggest using the Memorial Hall Car Park.

• The Council confirmed it has received a reference request from a neighbouring Council for Aspire Community Works. The Cllrs agreed to provide a reference following this request.

024/118 Brill Energy Event

To receive an update on the Brill Energy Event held in February 2024.

The report under Appendix A was received prior to the meeting from Cllr Judge

024/119 Brill Parish Council Devolved Services Agreement

To review and approve the Devolved Services Agreement from Bucks Council.

The Council resolved to approve and sign the 2024/25 Devolved Services Agreement with Bucks Council.

024/120 Hartwell’s Barn Project

To receive an update on the Hartwell’s Barn Project

The Brill Society is continuing to lead the efforts to purchase Hartwell’s Barn and Saunder’s Field, with the support of the Parish Council. The Chair of Hartwell’s Barn Sub-Committee fedback to confirm the upcoming fundraising events and Grant applications:

• Gravity Race with Sponsorship: Further details to follow but it is hoped this will become an annual event

• Midsummer Music – Planning is underway and an agreement has been struck for the stage with a local company.

Two grant applications are underway. The Plunkett Foundation have confirmed they are very keen to assist with further funding applications of up to £240,000 along with other grants for admin costs etc. Fundraising still ongoing, and the groups are still working together on an application to the Community ownership fund. The sale was extended to facilitate the raising of the funds to purchase the barn.

024/121 King George V Field update

To receive an update on the King George V Field

BSSC asked for permission to weed and feed the adult football field. 

Cllr Springs proposed to respond to the club to not have the weed and feed on KGV or play area prefer not use Depitox (a selective herbicide) on the adult football pitch due to the glyphosate and would recommend Westland Triple Care - Lawn Feed or Finalsan Weed Control which the Council would be willing to fund. Cllr Slater seconded and unanimously approved

024/122 Trees in the Play Area

To review the request to re-site a tree in the Play Area. 

The Council Resolved to require the resident to provide a copy of the legal document granting a right of way from their property onto the Playing Field. Once the Council receives this, it will make a decision over the request to re-site the tree.

To review the request regarding trees backing on to a resident’s fence.

It was confirmed that Cllrs Judge and Springs will visit the residents to discuss the impact the trees on the playing field are having on their fence.

024/123 The Common 

To receive an update on the Common projects and the BVCAG December meeting.

• Cllr Slater confirmed that The BVCAG meeting took place on the 11 March where the following items were discussed:

• The Council has started the preparations to apply for the Countryside Stewardship Agreement and is working closely with Alex Cruickshank to draft the items to be included.

• Cllr Slater proposed applying to the National Lottery Heritage Community Fund for £100,000 towards the cost of the Ranger who will work closely supporting all the volunteer groups working on the Common.

• The Walks – Jon Vaile and Tim Patrick will be collecting the flail which will be stored on the Walks on two sleepers. Tim and Ken Furminger will then use the BVCH tractor with the flail to cut the nettles in the Walks as and when this is required.

• Elaine Dickinson is checking with Brill School as the area used by the Forest School has developed a gap in the fence where sheep can escape from the Walks onto the Common.

• South Hills Hedge – Cllr Slater proposed ensuring that when the proposed hedge is received in Autumn, the Council ensure that this must come directly from the Woodland Trust. 

• The Council received a request from Brill Environment Group for tree protection in both the Walks and Playing Field. Cllr Tuffley proposed approving the request for funding to the protective measures for the trees in the Playing Field and the Walks.

• Thanks to the residents who highlighted the problem and then collected close to 100 bags of dog poo off the Common.

024/124 Grass Cutting in the Parish

The Council resolved to use the same areas of the village as 2023 to leave to grow during the growing season. The Council to advertise in the same way as last year on the Bernwode News, noticeboard and website. The Council will also publish the dates for the areas will be cut in August in good time for the Brill Festival.

The Council to also encourage residents to put forward other suitable locations for the project for future years.

The Clerk confirmed that Cllr Judge and the clerk to meet with Aspire to discuss the grass cutting in the village. The date for the meeting to be confirmed.

024/125 Road & Traffic

To receive an update on the current projects in the Parish

No parking options update

The Council agreed to contact Fairhive to enquire whether they would be willing to install a moveable bollard at the entrance to the garages to stop unauthorised parking next to the school.

024/126 Date for Annual Parish Meeting

To arrange and agree a date for the Annual Parish Meeting

14th May 2024 APM – 7pm

023/101 Income & Expenditure

February 2024 Payments

Rob Timms  - Bins £105.00
Bucks Council - Bins £33.25
Squarepace - Website £6.62
Squarepace - Website £57.60
BT - Utilities £82.57
P Tawn - BWU English Lessons £480.00
R Damerell - Printer Ink £59.94
Bucks Council £690.57
Hannah Hunter - Website £200.00
R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,092.48
Drax - Utilities £163.44

March 2024 Payments

Bucks Council - Bins £30.70
Squarepace - Website £6.62
London Hearts - Defibrillator £753
J Hope – Play Area Expenses 302.19
Steven Judge – Brill Energy Event Expenses £77.85
R Timms – Bins £122.89
R Timms - Bins £135.00

February 2024 Income

Interest £24.93
2D Energy Solutions £50.00

March 2024 Income

Interest £25.98

Appendix A : Report on Brill Energy Event

The Brill Energy Event was held on 18 February in response to an enquiry from a resident about the possibility of community energy scheme. The Community Board was contacted for advice, and it was found that a community energy scheme would be complex, but there were other shorter-term opportunities that could be of interest to residents.

A meeting was organised for residents, with help from Buckinghamshire Council and Buckinghamshire Community Energy and the support of a physicist and public speaker. The meeting was advertised on noticeboards, on Facebook and to Community Board contacts. About 35 residents attended, and a report has been published in the newsletter (the presentations can be seen on the PC website). 

As part of the Parish Councils remit to support local businesses, companies working in the sector were offered space for an exhibition stand at the event. Companies were identified through web searches, Brill Business Facebook and contacts of Buckinghamshire Community Energy, but it was not possible to identify all the companies in the area. Four companies asked to participate, one had to drop out at the last minute due to illness.

The companies paid a small contribution towards the cost of running the event; the payments covered the hire of the Memorial Hall and a small gift to thank the speakers (who refused to accept a fee or travel expenses). The event was therefore cost neutral to the Parish Council.

Thanks are due to the speakers, Kirsty Shanahan, Vicki Nash and Michael de Podesta, to Elaine Hassell from the Community Board for her support and to Brill Cinema for the loan of the projector and screen. 

Energy efficiency is a topic of interest to Buckinghamshire Council, and other opportunities to contribute to the debate will be explored.

Read the financial summary for March 2024 (PDF). Please email the Parish Clerk if you need help accessing this document.