MINUTES of the Meeting of Great Brickhill Parish Council held on
Tuesday 7th October 2008 at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall, Great Brickhill.
PRESENT: Cllrs Mr S Elvin (Chairman), Mr M Turner, Mr R Kettle, Mrs D Richardson,
Mr N Blake, Mrs C Amies, Mr D Dumcombe
IN ATTENDANCE: Mrs K Barker (Clerk), 50-60 members of the public
1. Apologies for absence - County Cllr Jennings
2. Minutes. The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 2nd September were approved and signed as a
true record.
3. Declarations of Interest - Cllr Turner Point 5, Cllr Elvin Point 5.2, 5.5.2 and 10, Cllr Blake personal
and prejudicial Point 5.2.1 and personal 5.5.2, Cllr Dumcombe Point 5.2.1
4. Standards Board - The Chairman reported that the allegations made against Cllrs Turner and
Duncombe had been thoroughly investigated by the Standards Board. He said that the allegations had
been dismissed. He said that he had also recently been reported to the Standards Board and they would
be investigating the matter and the findings would be known at a later date.
5. Planning:
5.1 Planning Applications:
5.1.1 08/02284/APP - Bryerly Springs Farm, Galley Lane - erection of dwelling, hostel
accommodation and lecture room. Cllrs decided that a site meeting should be held
with the applicant to discuss the plans more fully. Clerk to arrange a site meeting.
(Action Clerk)
5.1.2 08/02312/APP - The Grange, Ivy Lane - two storey side extension and erection of
gates and new access. No objections.
Cllrs Blake, Duncombe and Turner left the meeting room.
5.2 Amended Plans:
5.2.1 08/00279/APP - PB Tyres, Lower Rectory Farm, Church Lane - change of use of
land for sorting and short term storage of tyres - retrospective
The Chairman said that the Parish Council should discuss the application and vote
after public submissions. The Chairman said that Mr Bruce's advisors were in
attendance at the meeting.
Meeting temporarily closed for residents to make their submissions
Mr J Cox - this is the largest planning application in the village for at least a decade. It is not about Cllr
Turner. It is deplorable that Mr Bruce has not attended. The Parish Council are our eyes and ears. We
are not unreasonable people. Have looked at a compromise at every step and at every step that
compromise has been rejected by the applicant.
Ms B Wight - will the Parish Council consider the amended plans as a new application. Mr Bruce has
illegally built the development and there have been inconsistencies in the information supplied. The
whole issue has nothing to do with the personalities involved. If the Parish Council do vote in favour of
the application then they need to give good reasons for doing so and be able to justify their reasons.
A Williams - the Parish Council need to think about precedent. The Parish Council will set a precedent
by supporting the application. How will it fit into this lovely village. It is not provided for in the Parish
Plan and is built on green field land.
S Morgan - has looked at the figures and there are many contradictions in the information. The traffic
survey numbers do not add up. The site is only operating at 20%. Witnessed 14 articulated vehicle
movements in one day. The conclusions of the survey may be wrong or the detectors were in the wrong
place. A HGV does 10,000 times more damage than a car. Four vehicles are allowed to stay overnight,
recently there were six. Can the person with the waste licence be trusted.
C Leech - if the application is approved, what consideration will be given to the users of Galley Lane
and Mill Lane. The lanes are part of the public amenity of the village. How would the Parish Council
propose to stop further development at Lower Rectory Farm.
I Williams - why did the Parish Council ask for the application to go forward to elected members of
AVDC. Cllr Blake is privately supporting the application. The Parish Council seem to be so off the
point, should they serve in office. This issue will probably go on for some time. The operation needs to
be moved to a dedicated purpose built environment. Great Brickhill will end up like some of the
villages in Milton Keynes.
Mr B Rumbold - was a nice quiet lane. Cannot justify riding a horse down the lane now as there is so
much traffic there including articulated vehicles. The Parish Council have done nothing about the
traffic issues which were in the Parish Plan.
Mr D Middleton - objects strongly to the comments made regarding the Parish Council by Mr
Rumbold. The Parish Council cannot make decisions on their own. The Parish Council's comments
are not always listened to. He resigned from the Parish Council as they do not have power. The Parish
Council have tried hard to protect that part of the countryside.
A Newell - we do not have enough information about the issue. There is very little power or authority
in the Parish Council.
Mrs J Blake - is a District Cllr and wife of Cllr Blake. Speaking as a resident. She has a letter from a
Mr Morgan. He was at home on 25th June and witnessed at least 14 articulated HGV vehicles pass his
property and turn into Mill Lane to PB Tyres. Do Berry's have any records which support or deny this.
Ian Johnson (Berrys) - the planning application went to Development Control on 8th May and a site
meeting was held on 12th May. On 29th May the decision was deferred. Surveys were commissioned
and they were asked to do more work on the application. At the request of AVDC and the Highways
Authority the application was re advertised. There are four two way traffic movements. A speed
survey has been done. The area in question is restricted in vehicle numbers and hours of operation of
HGV's. There can be certain other areas of control and they would accept that it can be conditional to
tyres only. PB Tyres are required to keep records to show movements of vehicles in and out of the site
and on the day of 25th June they show two articulated vehicle movements.
Resident - there are other HGV movements and these may be associated with other companies at
Lower Rectory Farm. These businesses should be placed in the correct area and not in a village. Has
another site been looked at.
Mr J Cox - all the rigid HGV's bring back tyres. How can they say that only three bring in tyres when
Mr Bruce has contradicted this. Berry's have been aware of misuse, the site is illegally used.
Cllr Amies - she said she originally voted against the application. She said she did not want it to appear
on any plans or maps. Cllr Amies asked whether 3 Counties Tyres had been included in the traffic
survey and whether the information they have supplied to AVDC is adequate.
Resident - concerned that Berrys are suggesting that 3 Counties Tyres are nothing to do with the
operation.
Ms B Wight - the conditions regarding vehicle movements are unenforceable and this sets a precedent.
Mrs J Blake - refutes this as there was a case in Stewkley where a second company tried to get a waste
management licence and were refused.
VOTE:
The Chairman voted in favour and the three remaining members voted unanimously to oppose the
application. The Clerk to write to AVDC informing them of the Parish Councils decision to oppose the application and the reasons why in conjunction with Cllrs Amies, Kettle and Richardson.
(Action Clerk)
Cllrs Blake and Duncombe returned to the meeting room.
5.3 Planning Appeals:
5.3.1 07/03265/APP - Land Adjacent to 18 Cuff Lane - Erection of No 3 terraced
cottages and associated parking. The Chairman read a letter sent to the Planning
Inspectorate regarding the appeal which said that the Parish Council wished to make
further comments. The bulk and height of the proposed terrace of three dwellings
would look out of place in the street scene. The design is too complicated when
compared with the simple form of dwellings on either side. Squeezing in three
properties across the site gives the impression of overdevelopment, the dwellings sit
further back into the site than No 22, parking and turning arrangements are not
satisfactory and there is insufficient room for visitor parking or manouvering on site.
Cuff Lane is particularly narrow in the vicinity of the development and it is felt that to
introduce at least six vehicles to the traffic movements in the lane would be unsafe
and a particular danger to the pedestrian and equestrian use of the lane
5.4 Planning Decisions:
5.4.1 08/01859/APP (renewal of 05/02299/APP) Blossom Hill, Partridge Hill - two storey front extension, conservatory with balcony above and alteration to roof. Permitted.
Noted by the Parish Council.
5.4.2 08/02090/ATP - Quinkan, 2 Pennycuik, Pound Hill - fell 2 Sycamore. Refused
Noted by the Parish Council.
5.5 Other local planning matters:
5.5.1 Land adjacent 1 Home Farm Lane
Nothing further to report.
5.5.2 Cricket Club - proposed improvements
Nothing further to report.
5.5.3 Planning Bulletins 36, 37, 38, 39 and 40 to be circulated.
6. Matters arising:
6.1 Poors Acre - Nothing further to report.
6.2 Copywrite - The Chairman read out a letter received from Copywrite in response to Mr
Raven's comments at the last meeting. It said that it takes three hours each month to maintain
and update the Parish website for which they charge £50 per month which is considerably less
than their normal rate for that type of work. The Local Channel is not user friendly and all
minutes and agendas have to be re-formatted. They endeavour to insert information on the
website within 24 hours of receipt, many organisations in the village have still not provided
information about their group, the village diary is updated immediately any new events are
notified to them. They asked whether the Parish Council wished them to continue. The
Chairman said that he had enquired about costs for maintaining and updating Parish websites
and the cost would be considerably more than £50 elsewhere. Cllrs agreed that they were
happy for the newsletter to continue maintaining the website. Cllr Amies said she would speak
with the newsletter about alternative websites. The Chairman suggested putting the website
details in the newsletter.
7. Reports County and District Councillors
7.1 District Cllr Blake said that the Community Chest had issued £162,000 of grants to local
communities. Canvassers will be out chasing those who have not completed their local
election forms. A full report will be placed in the Parish newsletter.
8. Finance:
8.1 Bank balances and Bank Reconciliation:
8.1.1 Barclays
Community a/c 70043818 £21,018.92
Business Reserve a/c 60095893 £36,107.97
Business Premium a/c 00058068 £ 5.50
Parish Hall Investment Income Bus. Prem a/c 10893439 £ 312.67
£57,445.06
8.1.2 Abbey
Business Reserve a/c 43581748 £100,328.41
Business Bond a/c 43613851 £300,000.00
TOTAL £457,773.47
8.2 Interest - end June to end Sept:
8.2.1 Barclays Business Reserve a/c 60095893 £1,265.37
8.2.2 Barclays Business Premium a/c 00058068 £ 0.01
8.2.3 Barclays Parish Hall Invest Income Bus. Prem a/c 10893439 £ 0.73
8.2.4 Abbey Business Reserve a/c 43581748 £ 328.41
£1,594.52
8.3 The following payments were approved:
8.3.1 Clerks Salary £ 255.00
8.3.2 Clerks Expenses £ 22.32
8.3.3 Wicksteed - new play equipment £15,642.62
8.3.4 J R Keel - grass cutting £ 510.00
8.3.5 S G Davies - toddler play area turf and topsoil £ 147.82
8.3.6 E.on - electricity Bill £ 202.89
£16,780.65
8.4 Other financial matters:
8.4.1 AVDC Dog Waste Bin Charges - The Clerk reported that the charges had been
reduced to £1.89 plus VAT per empty per bin effective from 1st October 2008.
8.4.2 Asset Register/Risk Assessment - to be reviewed at the next meeting.
8.4.3 Precept - second half (£9,000) received 29/09/08
9. Review of Projects and Grant Monies
(Parish Plan, Church Bells, Play Areas, Youth Café, Parish Hall Extension)
9.1 Church Bells - David Middleton said that the Heritage Lottery Fund had not yet responded so
he was not aware whether the PCC have got the £50,000 grant.
9.2 Parish Hall extension - Stephen Agambar said that the Parish Hall Committee propose that the
construction of the extension proceed with a budget set at £73,320 (including 10%
contingency), Leighway Developments Limited be appointed as builder subject to satisfactory
references, they accept the generous offer from Brian Richardson to project manage the project
on behalf of the Parish Hall Committee with the construction to start in March 2009. A
separate assessment of the project by Fineline Developments identified the specific
requirements for disabled access. The Parish Hall Committee will determine the cost of
providing a smooth surface drop-off car park area adjacent to the front entrance with a view to
making a further project proposal. Cllr Amies suggested that tarmacing the car park be
considered and Brian Richardson offered to obtain some quotes.
9.3 Youth Café - Cllr Amies said that the Youth Café was launched 10 days ago and the children
seemed to really enjoy it. There were about 10 children who attended. The official starting
date is Friday 17th October, 6pm to 9pm during term time for secondary level children only.
The school charge £45 per night for the hire of the room. This has been covered for this term
as it is a trial period but if the Youth Café continues this would be a high cost. Mr Muldownie,
Chair of Governors said that the issue would be discussed at the next meeting of the School
Governors.
9.4 Play Areas - The Chairman reported that the Toddler Play area had been completed. He said
that the contractors had made some mess in the surrounding areas and this had been fenced off
but should be fully operational within two weeks. New turf had also been laid. He said that he
and Cllrs Kettle and Turner had met with another play equipment supplier regarding the tennis
court area. They had quoted £72,000 plus VAT which was more expensive than Wicksteed.
The Chairman said that confirmation of planning had still not yet been received from AVDC
but that hopefully it was just a formality. Cllr Amies said she would like to thank the
Chairman for organising the turfing of the Toddler Play area.
10. Cuff Lane Chapel Site
10.1 Cllr Blake said that John Matthews had agreed to lay the tablet and will put the old stones
around it. Details of the church service still need to be confirmed.
Cllr Turner returned to the meeting room
11. Transport, Roads, Road Signs, Safety:
11.1 Residents parking in front of the bungalows - nothing further to report.
11.2 Ditches - Galley Lane - the Clerk said she had again written to Mr Rumbold and W.E.S.
Development Consultants who had since written to say they no longer represent the interests of
the Galleyside Trust. The Clerk to inform Bucks CC if no action is taken by mid October.
(Action Clerk)
11.3 Brown Tourist Attraction Sign - the Clerk said she had again sent a letter.
11.4 Junction Mill Lane/Galley Lane - the Chairman read an email from Paul Foot at Bucks CC
which said that he had consulted the Traffic Engineer for the area and he would approve of the
installation of conventional warning signs at the junction and the bend nearer the village
together with a refurbishment of the existing road markings (the latter at CC expense). The
liberal use of verge marker posts was not advised but could possibly be used to highlight the
location of the school bus hard standing area. A rough estimate for the traffic sign element
would be in the order of £800. The cost of providing a hard standing area (to footway
specification) may vary considerably depending on whether the Fitzpatrick or other approved
contractor carries out the work. The Chairman said that he would also ask Paul Foot about the
road surface as this needs attending to. He said that the Parish Council are happy to set aside
funds and push for simple measures including road surfacing. Cllr Blake said that it was
disgraceful that the Parish Council are still waiting for the decision regarding the movement of
the 30mph signs
11.5 Junction Lower Way/Rotten Row - the Chairman read a letter from resident, Mrs Newell
regarding some incidents at the corner of Rotten Row. The Chairman said that a meeting had
previously been held with Bucks CC and they had not been prepared to take action. He said
that he would revisit the issue with Bucks CC and would arrange to meet with Bucks
Highways again.
12. Correspondence:
12.1 The Chairman summarised the correspondence, to be included in the Circulation Folder.
(Action Clerk)
13. Public Participation
13.1 Mr Raven said that he had had no problem finding the Local Channel website for Parish
Councils and it was easy to get in to.
13.2 A resident suggested that if the Parish Hall car park was tarmaced, this should be done during
school holidays as some parents use the car park.
13.3 Resident, Mrs Newell asked the Parish Council for assistance regarding the junction at Lower
Way/Rotten Row. She said that people use it as a straight road and not a junction.
13.4 Resident, Mr Johnson Cox said that he would like to thank the Parish Council for looking into
traffic calming measures and finally getting things moving.
13.5 A resident reported a pothole in Little Brickhill Lane. The Chairman said he would inform
Paul Foot at Bucks CC.
13.6 A resident mentioned a grass cutting problem in Stoke Lane. Cllr Blake said that he had
received a complaint regarding Stoke Lane and other areas. He said he had reported it to the
County Cllr and that Bucks CC will be coming out to look at the area.
14. Any Other Business
14.1 Aylesbury Vale Assoc of Local Councils AGM - Saturday 8th November at 10.00am at
Civic Centre, Aylesbury
14.2 Local Council Communication Group meeting - 23rd October
14.3 Cllr Kettle asked for volunteers for the working party to clean up the village. Anyone
interested should let him know.
14.4 Cllr Amies said that she had reservations regarding the minutes going into the newsletter
before approval. Cllrs agreed to continue placing the minutes with the newsletter but
suggested that the editors make it clear that the minutes are only in draft form. Cllr Amies
said she would speak with the editors.
15. Date of next meeting - Tuesday 4th November 2008
16. The meeting closed at 10.30pm.