Parish Council Meeting held February 17th 2026

2026

Mar 11

Minutes

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

Updates and questions from members of the Public

A member of the public addressed the Council regarding Planning Application PL/25/6644/FA and outlined their objections to the application.

A member of the public raised concern over the state of the track across the Village Green towards Brill House. The Council to review the track and then make a decision over what repair work is required.

026/101 To receive apologies for absence

Apologies were received for Cllr Slater

026/102 To receive any declarations of interest

Cllr Tuffley declared an Interest for planning application PL/25/6644/FA
Cllr Connelly declared an interest for item 026/110 – Section 137 request being on the Steering Committee for the Bernwode Rural Shed
Cllr Newman – declared an Interest in item 026/107 – Football Pitch being a Director of the Sports and Social

026/103 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 20 January 2026.

Cllr Fisher proposed the minutes as a true record of the meeting, seconded by Cllr Connelley and unanimously approved

026/104 Finance

To receive the monthly finance spreadsheet
The Clerk circulated the financial spreadsheet to all Cllrs.

026/105 Planning applications

Applications for review

Cllr Tuffley was removed from the meeting during application PL/25/6644/FA - Land Between, 3 and 5 North Hills, Brill, Buckinghamshire. Following the conclusion of the discussion and decision of the application Cllr Tuffley was returned to the meeting.

Planning Ref PL/25/6644/FA

Address Land Between, 3 and 5 North Hills, Brill, Buckinghamshire
Proposal Removal of store/sheds. Erection of part one and a half storey/part single storey dwelling
PC Comments OBJECT

Brill Parish Council objects to this application on the following grounds:

The property proposed in the application will be in an elevated position in relation to the neighbouring properties. This in conjunction with the size of the proposed dwelling would lead to a significant loss of natural light to the neighbouring properties causing negative and detrimental harm to the adjacent dwellings.
The elevated position of the proposed property would give clear sightlines and loss of privacy into the neighbouring properties.
The scale of the property on the proposed site would be a significant over-development of the site and not in keeping with the current style and development of the immediate and local rural area. The proposed development would a detrimental impact on the character and setting of the local ‘Common’ Area.

The Parish Council notes the reference in the NPPF Chapter 15 which states a need to:

‘Protect and enhance valued landscapes’
Recognise the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside’
‘Conserve and enhance the natural environment’

The Parish Council also notes that the nature and character of the site has not changed since the last application to develop to site in 2008 (08/00562/APP) which was refused following the same objections.

The Council also notes the comments made in 2008 by Bucks Highways – ‘The access leading to the plot is a private unadopted road which also serves in excess of 5 other properties. Usually an excess of 5 other properties have to be served by an adopted Highway.

The number of vehicles using the track has only increased reducing visibility, manoeuvrability and accessibility. An additional property would only increase the number of cars using the track and increase the congestion on the track, increase the difficulties for emergency service vehicles to access the properties via thee track.

The Parish Council is concerned that no explanation of provision for the use of the track for delivery of materials, parking for contractors, emergency access and the disruption to residents has been made by the applicant. The track in a single lane unadopted track on Common Land. The Council raises strong concerns to the potential disruption to residents, danger of access being hindered to the properties particularly for emergency service vehicles and damage to Common Land.

The Council has significant concern over the Bio-Diversity net gain assessment submitted as part of the application. The application clearly states that there will be a 0.30 reduction in habitat units and a 0.04 reduction in hedgerow units. The Council is aware that the NPPF clearly states that a development must deliver a minimum of 10% bio-diversity net gain. The application has stated clearly it is unable to meet this 10% target due to the small scale of the proposed plot and the inability to secure habitat creation for the required 30 Year period. The application therefore does not meet this statutory requirement.

The application states that trees will be retained where possible but this again does not provide the guarantee nor meet the mandatory 10% net gain requirement and therefor again does not fulfil the statutory bio-diversity net gain requirement.

The Parish Council would also like to bring to the attention of the planning officer and the applicant that the track which the applicant would access the property is part of Brill Common. Any access would need to be requested by the applicant to the Parish Council via a request for an Easement.

Planning Ref PL/26/00776/CONDA

Address 17 The Green Brill Buckinghamshire HP18 9RU
Proposal Approval of details subject to condition 4 (ironmongery) of planning approval ref. 25/00946/ALB
PC Comments NEUTRAL

Planning Ref PL/25/6405/HB

Address Temple House , 2 Temple Street, Brill, Buckinghamshire, HP18 9SX
Proposal Listed building application for internal alterations to bathroom and plaster finishes, rewiring existing electrics and renovating existing windows
PC Comments NEUTRAL - in keeping with listed building requirements

Planning Ref PL/25/6255/HB

Address 61 Temple Street, Brill, Buckinghamshire, HP18 9SU
Proposal Listed building application for replacement of roof
PC Comment NEUTRAL

025/106 Communications Database

To review the recent communications

The Clerk updated the Council that the new .gov email addresses for Councillors had been created.
The website as part of this has been under an accessibility review which has been completed.

026/107 Football Pitch

To provide an update on the meeting held with the Sports & Social Club and discuss next steps

Following his Declaration of Interest, Cllr Newman was removed from the meeting.
Cllr Tuffley updated the Council on the meeting held between the groups who use the field, Brill Sports & Social Club (BSSC) and the Parish Council, following the increased recent rainfall and potential clashes for usage of the pitches. There has also been a request from the Youth football club to expand to U6 & U7 Teams.
As the owner of the pitches the Parish Council has a responsibility to manage the asset and grass to prevent this being damaged.
The Clerk and Cllr Tuffley will draft the memorandum of understanding with the BSSC and share this with the Council for review at the March Parish Council Meeting.
The Council agreed to inspect the pitch prior to matches and if they deem playing the match will cause damage to the pitch, the council can write to the men’s team and confirm the pitch is not playable.
The Council to review the possibility as the landowner to charge the men’s team for each match played on the pitch. Should the Council charge for the use of the pitch the money would be ringfenced for the maintenance of the pitch.
Cllr Tuffley updated that comparable pitches can have charges between £50 - £100.

Cricket Pitch

It was confirmed that Lease for the cricket pitch is in the name of the Parish Council, but the payment of the lease is met by the BSSC. The Parish Council to understand its responsibility for the land.
As part of the responsibility, Cllr Tuffley raised the concern about using ‘Weed & Feed’ on the cricket pitch as the land is under the remit of the Parish Council lease.
Cllr Tuffley proposed prohibiting the use of herbicides on the cricket pitch seconded by Cllr Fisher and approved by four votes to one with Cllr Wilson abstaining.

Other matters

The Council updated that they have been notified of a possible insurance claim regarding an incident at the 2025 Brill Festival over which the Council is liaising with the Sports & Social Club.

To review the request from Brill United Youth Football Club for U6 & U7’s teams – Cllr Tuffley proposed supporting the introduction of the U6 & U7 teams seconded by Cllr Connelley and unanimously approved.

Following the conclusion of the item, Cllr Newman was returned to the meeting

026/108 The Common / The Walks

Cuckoo Close Farm – Cllr Fisher proposed removing the stones and replacing with stobs, seconded by Cllr Tuffley and unanimously approved.

026/109 Insurance

To review the insurance for the Windmill – The Clerk to work with Cllr Fisher to source three quotes to insure the windmill and bring back to the Council to review.

To review the insurance renewal quote for the Hall – Following a number of queries raised over the insurance policy offer, Cllr Fisher to contact the Hall committee to raise these questions.
To review the request from the fete – The Parish Council approved the request to include the fete under the Council’s insurance policy

026/110 Section 137 Request

Following the declaration of Interest Cllr Connelly was removed from the meeting.

To review to the funding request from the Bernwode Rural Sheds
The Council had a number of questions regarding the application from Bernwode Rural sheds and resolved to carry the item over to the March meeting and invite representatives from the Bernwode Rural shed to the meeting.
Following the conclusion of the item Cllr Connelly was returned to the meeting.

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

Meeting closed at 20:52

025/111 Income & Expenditure

Income

Expenditure

Service Charges £5.25

British Legion - Large poppies £212.50

R Timms - Bins £135.00

R Timms - Bins / Gates / Fences £300.00

British Legion - Large poppies £39.50

Aspire - Grass Cutting £528.00

HMRC - PAYE £788.65

HMRC - PAYE £718.56

MP Printers - DEC - BPC Newsletter £50.00

R Damerell - Dec Underpay £22.84

Sparx - Street Lighting £282.00

R Damerell - Clerk Salary £1,065.59

Hannah Hunter - Website £200.00

Service Charges £8.50

Land Registry - Title Deeds £14.00

Squarespace - Website £8.40

Bucks Council - Bins £35.20

HP - Ink £13.49

Land Registry - Cricket Pitch £14.00

Website - Changover to .gov £230.40

BT - Utilities £96.43