MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF BRILL PARISH COUNCIL

ON TUESDAY November 19th 2024 aT 7.45PM

IN BRILL MEMORIAL HALL

(draft until approved at next meeting)

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