Parish Council Business

Read the minutes for the May meeting of Brill Parish Council. Our next meeting is Tuesday September 17th. Here is the agenda.

The Annual Governance Statement, Accounting Statements and Annual Internal Audit Report 2023/2024 are now available on this website. These documents were approved and signed at the May meeting of Brill Parish Council. Please address any concerns or questions to the Clerk in person during office hours, by email or use the ‘send a message’ link at the foot of this page.

Note that the Parish Council has a NEW PHONE NUMBER. Please amend your address book or contacts deleting the old number and adding 01844 335444

Pension Credit & Winter Fuel Payment

According to Age UK, 39% of pensioners entitled to Pension Credit (which includes several other benefits such as Winter Fuel Allowance) have not yet claimed. Maybe you can help a family member or neighbour get the help to which they are entitled?

1. Check eligibility (you will need National Insurance number and information about any income, savings and investments)

2. Apply online or call the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234

3. Wait to hear from the Department of Work & Pensions; the claimant will be notified by letter

Some people are put off by the complexity of the process but help is available. Age UK offer comprehensive advice and a free advice line: 0800 678 1602 (lines open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year).

BPC & Pesticides

Brill Parish Council is committed to promoting biodiversity throughout Brill. An crucial part of this is avoidance of pesticides on the land we own (Brill Common and most of the Playing Fields) or manage (grass verges within the village). We will be drawing up clear guidance on this topic in the coming months to add on our Biodiversity Policy.

Our ultimate aim is to inspire all Brill residents to work with us in making Brill village a pesticide-free zone in a couple of years. To get us all thinking, we’d like to recommend two excellent resources:

• The Pesticide Action Network (PAN) UK website

• A brilliant interview withNick Mole, PAN’s Policy Officer, explaining how communities can be affected by pesticide use, why pesticides should be banned from our built-up spaces - and (most importantly) the practical alternatives that really do work.

Please do listen to the 20 minute interview - it starts at 18 minutes and you can listen right now on your laptop or phone - and join the debate in Brill in Autumn 2024.

Out & About?

Plenty of rain and some sunshine - so grass, nettles and brambles are still rampant. Here’s what to do if your walk is spoilt by a blocked path in Brill Parish.

• Problem with pavements or alleys within the village? Report to the Parish Council.

• Problem with roadside vegetation outside the village? Report to Bucks Highways using the Fix My Street website.

• Overgrown path on Brill Common? Report to the Parish Council. Remember that the Common includes Tram Hill, Span Green, and the Oakley Hill track; see this map - and a big thank-you to our volunteers and contractors who help with this task.

• Overgrown Right of Way (footpath or bridleway) further afield? Report online to the Bucks RoW team or call 01296 382416. The team will then work with the Parish Council and/or the landowner to resolve the problem.

Read more about caring for Brill’s open spaces and promoting biodiversity. The Bucks Council RoW pages are also well worth a visit.

New to Brill?

Just moved? Got questions? Not sure where to start? Drop us a line using the contact form below and we’ll try and help.

For Bucks Sake

Bucks Council is one of the first councils to use new powers of higher fines (up to £500) for littering. They’ve also introduced a quicker route to catching and punishing the culprits, using photographic evidence submitted by the public.

People are invited to upload dashcam footage and photos of littering to a new webpage. Car registration details will enable the Waste Enforcement Team to trace and prosecute culprits through the civil process, meaning it will be the vehicle owner who will be liable, whether they threw the litter or not. The reporting process will be confidential.

Stop, hang up, call 159

159 is a security scheme launched in conjunction with major UK banks. Calling 159 puts you directly in touch with your bank.

If you receive a phone call and you think someone is trying to trick you into handing over money or personal details: STOP, HANG UP & CALL 159.

159 will never call you, but you can rely on 159 to get you through to your bank. Call 159 if

• someone contacts you saying they’re from your bank, even if they are not suspicious

• you receive a call asking you to transfer money or make a payment, even if it seems genuine

• you receive a call about a financial matter and it seems suspicious

See our Community Safety page for more information on personal security.