MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BRILL PARISH COUNCIL
ON TUESDAY March 19th aT 7.45PM
IN BRILL MEMORIAL HALL
(draft until approved at next meeting)
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.