MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BRILL PARISH COUNCIL

ON TUESDAY March 18th 2025 aT 7.45PM

IN BRILL MEMORIAL HALL

(draft until approved at next meeting)


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

1.Planning Ref 25/00224/APP

Address 28 Thame Road Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9SA

Proposal Householder application for single storey side extension

PC Comments Neutral

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

            

Confidential Session – To follow the conclusion of the public meeting if required

Confidential business: No Confidential Matters were raised.

Meeting closed at 22:12

024/078 Income & Expenditure

March 2025 Income

March 2025 Expenditure