Parish Council Meeting held March 17th 2026
Minutes
Present: Cllr Springs (Acting Chair), Cllr Fisher & Cllr Tuffley and 9 members of the public were in attendance.
Updates and questions from members of the Public - None
026/112 To receive apologies for absence
Apologies were received for Cllrs Newman, Connelly & Wilson
026/113 To receive any declarations of interest
No Interests were declared
026/114 To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 17 February 2026
Cllr Fisher proposed the minutes as a true record of the meeting, seconded by Cllr Tuffley and unanimously approved
026/115 Finance
To receive the monthly finance spreadsheet
The Clerk circulated the financial spreadsheet to all Cllrs.
026/116 Planning applications
Planning Ref PL/26/00651/FA
Address Butterfield House, Oakley Road, Brill, Buckinghamshire, HP18 9SH
Proposal Internal and external alterations to the existing outbuilding, including the installation of skylights
PC Comments Neutral
Planning Ref PL/26/00466/FA
Address Hartwells Barn South Hills Brill Buckinghamshire
Proposal Change of use to dance, yoga, well-being fitness studio (class E(d)) with canopy to existing memorial meeting area with sedum roof and parking area
PC Comments Objection
The Parish Council objects to this application based on a number of factors including:
The Ecology Report: The Council noted discrepancies in the Ecology report to which the applicant had ticked ‘no’ to all questions. The Council has noted on site:
There is a large, active, badger sett on site with runs around the site at both edges
There are mature hedgerows and veteran trees that border the site
An owl box in one of the trees on site
A large tree (beech or oak), with a hollow centre. Healthy and potential for roosts within the hollow which would require an ecologist to survey.
Car Parking – The Council has also asked the Planning Officer’s attention be drawn to the location of the proposal. The Applicant has requested parking on site. The site currently can only be accessed via pedestrian means as there is no established road or track, only grassland. The proposed access would be over Common Land which has significant restrictions on what works are permitted which include the installation of vehicular accessways.
025/117 Communications Database
To review the recent communications
South Hills Track – The Cllrs reviewed a request for repairing the track on South Hills. The Councillors requested a meeting with the resident and the contractor to discuss and confirm the proposal
Following this item Cllr Slater made the following statement resigning from the Parish Council:
After four years as an elected Parish Councillor and nine months as a very low key co-opted one, the time has come to resign my post. I am lucky enough to have a fabulous new job which is wonderful but demanding. Timewise it is unrealistic to do both.
Being on Brill PC has been quite a journey and I thank the many people that have supported me along the way. I have learnt so much about myself and the village of Brill. I would particularly like to take the opportunity to give a shout out to Bobs Damerell who does the thankless job of Parish Clerk with a determined patience and calm. Most people in Brill have no idea how challenging a Parish Clerk job is – it’s certainly not boring that’s for sure!
As most people know I have been involved in the lottery application which has resulted in the Brill Common Wildlife and Community Ranger project (all details on PC website). Fiona has been in post now since last November. She is dedicated, knowledgeable, and full of enthusiasm and ideas. She has been finding her way through the winter months and working out plans and strategies to carry out the wide ranging project that it is. The Brill Common and Village Greens Advisory group (minutes available to all) was created when I started on the Parish Council nearly 5 years ago to bring together the various volunteer groups to work together to ensure the management of the Common going forward which they have managed to do very effectively since the groups inception .
I hope that now Fiona is in post they will all support her (in the same way they supported me to make the lottery application which funds her role in the first place) and alongside the current and future Parish Councils will help her nurture and care for Brill Common for the children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and so on, of it’s volunteers and villagers as well as the wildlife in a way that reflects the important and beautiful place that it is.
As I am sure you all know Common land in England has faced significant depletion over the last 50 years. The 20th century saw 90% of grassland in England lost, often converted to intensive agriculture or developed. Many surviving commons are experiencing significant degradation due to a decline in traditional management, such as grazing. Scientists, researchers and conservationists from across the UK have announced in the latest State of Nature report that the nation's wildlife is continuing to decline at a deeply concerning rate despite efforts to reverse these trends.
I wish the current PC all the luck in the world in looking after our Common, I know they will take this huge responsibility very seriously and make sure to do their part in the ever more important nature recovery our country so badly needs.
026/118 The Common / The Walks
Request to plant a memorial tree in the Walks
The Council resolved to approve a memorial tree being planted in the Walks. The Council made a condition that the tree is a native species and The Council to seek advice from the Ranger over the most suitable species.
Access to remove bricks from a resident’s property
The Council resolved to approve the request to access the Walks to remove the bricks from their patio. The Council stated its condition that the resident would need to ensure no damage should be caused to the Walks.
Flail Mower
The Council resolved to lift the mower off the ground. Cllr Tuffley to also explore a possible suitable tractor or other similar vehicle to pull the mower to cut the Walks and or the areas of the Common cut by the Commander Mower. Cllr Tuffley to measure the current garage used to store Common Volunteer equipment to ascertain if this would be suitable to store the vehicle.
Sheep on the Walks
The Council agreed for the Sheep to be placed on the Walks. Cllr Fisher to contact the shepherd to establish the timescale and ensure all paper work including grazing license and insurance documents are complete and have been received by the Parish Council prior to the sheep being placed on the Walks.
026/119 Enquiry about the parcel of land, forming part of the Memorial Hall car park
To review the enquiry about the parcel of land, forming part of the Memorial Hall car park
The Parish Council reviewed the request to purchase the small parcel of land adjacent to the Memorial Hall Car Park.
The Council resolved not to sell the parcel of land
026/120 Insurance
To review quotes for Insuring the Windmill
Cllr Fisher and the Clerk confirmed that quotes are still be sourced and should be available for presenting to the Council at the April Parish Council meeting.
026/121 Playing Field
To review the request from Parents at Brill School for a ‘Leavers Event’ on the Playing Field including placing inflatables on the Playing Field.
The Council resolved to approve the request following the receipt of the insurance certificates.
026/122 Section 137 Request
To review to the funding request from the Bernwode Rural Sheds
Cllr Fisher proposed removing the item from the Agenda as the applicant did not attend the meeting to answer the questions from the Cllrs. The Council would review and consider a request for a Section 137 grant should another application be made. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Tuffley and unanimously approved.
Confidential Session – To follow the conclusion of the public meeting
Not required
Meeting closed at 20:52
025/122 Income & Expenditure
Income
None
Expenditure
Safty First - First Aid Kit £55.08
Rake for Common £49.67
Transfer Between Accounts £49.67
Transfer Between Accounts £55.08
Tim Patrick - Petrol £20.00
F Bennett - Meere - Common Equipment £88.90
Service Charges £8.50
Transfer Between Accounts £62.97
Transfer Between Accounts £223.12
Stow Agricultural - Fence Posts £223.12
Cotswold Seeds – Common Grass Seed £62.97
Hannah Hunter – Website / newsletter £200.00
Amazon – Laptop Charger £14.44
Bucks Council – Bins £35.20
Aspire – Grass Cutting £528.00
Hannah Hunter – Website / Policies £550.00
James Tuffley – Box for Poppies £17.99
Parish Online – New Emails £192.00
R Damerell – Clerk Salary £1,025.83
Squarespace – Website £8.40
Bucks Council – Dog Bins £960.00
HP – Ink £13.49
BT – Utilities £96.43
Bank Charges £5.25
Read the financial summary for March 2026 (pdf opens in new tab)
Please contact the Parish Council if you need help accessing this document
