April 2026 DRAFT Minutes
MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON
Monday 20th April 2026 at 7.00pm at the Jubilee Hall, Bierton
DRAFT
Present: Cllr S Cotton in the Chair, Cllr L Fisher, Cllr S Knowles, Cllr M Grieves, Cllr S Feeney, Cllr L Harridge,
Cllr S Kennedy, Cllr J Ward (BC), Cllr K Gibbon (BC), 6 members of the public & the Clerk Mrs Wendy Tomlinson
- APOLOGIES – Cllr H Smith & Cllr C Monticolombi
- DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST – None
- MATTERS/ACTIONS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES
• All previous Councillors contacted have confirmed they do not hold any Parish Council documents/emails with any
personal information on them.
• Cllr Grieves has responded to the St Louis School consultation on behalf of the Parish Council.
• Cllr Feeney has spoken to Buckinghamshire Community Energy and reported that an assessment will cost £150.00
for both halls. All agreed to go ahead. Cllr Feeney to arrange.
• Cllr Cotton thanked Cllr Harridge for planting the flowers at Jubilee Hall.
• Clerk is in the process of arranging the Fire Awareness training. - MINUTES – The minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on the 16th March 2026 were agreed as an accurate record
and duly signed by the chair. - PUBLIC FORUM
• A parishioner raised severe concerns regarding the parking on Burcott Lane due to the new football pitch. Cllr
Cotton reported that it has been reported to planning enforcement as the original plan was for one pitch. Cllr Ward
reported that a meeting will be held urgently. In the short term, Cllr Ward has suggested marshals and cones to
create safe passing points. They are going to try to create extra parking spaces in the ground. The Parishioner
asked if some of the cars could park on the Kingsbrook side of the pitch. It is unclear if the gate that side can be
used.
• A parishioner asked if it’s possible to have some training on using the defibrillators. Cllr Cotton will arrange.
• A parishioner queried if the smoke alarms are tested on a regular basis at the Jubilee Hall. Cllr Knowles tests them
on a weekly basis and it is recorded in a logbook.
• REGULAR UPDATE FROM BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCILLORS
Cllr Ward reported that an agreement has now been signed for the Woodlands development to proceed. The
contractors will deliver the Eastern Link Road (South) although Cllr Ward reported that it is not likely that the road
will be built first. It is likely that it will be built in stages as the development progresses. - PLANNING APPLICATIONS & PLANNING MATTERS –
• PL/26/00621/FA Full Planning Permission 12 Burcott Lane, Bierton, Buckinghamshire, HP22 5AU Part single and
part double side extension – Amended plans – No further comments to be made.
• PL/26/02805/PIP Application for Permission in Principle Land at Grove Court, Bierton, Buckinghamshire,
Application for permission in principle for the erection of minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 self-build dwellings –
An outline summary of the application was given. The whole field lays outside of the development
boundary of the Neighbourhood Plan. Cllr Ward has responded that it not in accordance with the
Neighbourhood Plan. Cllr Ward explained that the Neighbourhood Plan is weighted against the Local Plan.
A discussion took place around how self-builds could cause issues for neighbouring residents. It was
agreed to object on the grounds of the Neighbourhood Plan and the issues self-builds can cause. Wording
for the objection will be drafted and sent to the Clerk for submission.
• PL/25/5751/KA Ecology & Arts Club Ltd, The Old Brick Works Office, Brick Kiln Lane, Bierton, Buckinghamshire,
HP22 5DA Application to continue thinning, general maintenance and arboreal restoration work. Operations as
before include work to remove 103 limbs of less than 20cm in diameter and 25 limbs greater than 20cm diameter. –
Request from applicant for a correction to the minutes from the January meeting. All Councillors agreed that the
minutes from the January meeting were an accurate record and that the Parish Council had not mentioned
the Site of Special Scientific Interest in their response to the application. Clerk to respond to applicant. - CLERKS REPORT –
• Two of the fire extinguishers at the Jubilee Hall need replacing. The cost will be £189.00 plus VAT. Clerk to
arrange.
• The Clerk attended the annual Clerks Seminar at Buckinghamshire Council today which was very useful and
informative. - FINANCE & ORDERS – Clerk reported 5 additional payments. Payments and receipts which had been circulated to
Councillors ahead of the meeting were agreed upon with the financial receipts, payments, and proposed payment
schedule.
• CLERK’S ANNUAL INCREMENT – It was resolved to raise the Clerk’s salary by one scale point with effect from
May 2026..
Cllr Knowles raised the Clerk’s hours and queried whether the Clerk needs an assistant. A discussion took place
around the running of both halls and if somebody should be employed. It was agreed that an online booking system
should be set up first and then further thought and discussion are required. Clerk to trial online booking system and
add to the next agenda after this has been completed. - ASSET REGISTER – Cllr Knowles queried whether the field at the Sports Centre should be added to the asset register
as it is not included in the building amount. Clerk to ask other local clerks and report back. - JUBILEE HALL ROOF – Cllr Cotton reported that we have received a quote of £4,250.00 to clear all the moss from the
roof and replace any broken tiles. To comply with the Financial Regulations, at least two further quotes must be sought.
Clerk to request two further quotes. - SPORTS HALL REDECORATION AND SOUND ABSORPTION PANELS – Cllr Knowles has spoken to the Sound
Absorption Panel company and given them a provisional date. Cllr Cotton reported that Hulcott Parish Council have
very generously offered £4,000.00 from their accumulated GrantScape grants to assist us. The Parish Council thanks
Hulcott Parish Council for their help with this project. There is still a shortfall and it was agreed to apply to the Mike and
Claire Griffin Trust for this. Cllr Cotton reported that the hall will be closed for 3 weeks in July/August. It will then open
for 2 weeks and then close for a further week at start of September. Cllr Cotton has advised all regular hall hirers. Cllr
Knowles to confirm the date with the Sound Absorption Panel Company. Clerk to apply to the Mike & Claire Griffin
Trust. - ‘BIERTONFEST’ – SUMMER EVENT – Cllr Grieves reported that 150 tickets have been sold to date. All entertainment
has been booked comprising of two bands, a singer and a DJ. There will be children’s entertainer, face painter, bouncy
castles together with a BBQ and other food stalls. Bierton Pop-up-Pub will be providing the bar. A website, Facebook
page and Instagram page have been created. Cllr Grieves reported that the organisers are now needing volunteers and
First Aiders need to be arranged. - MOBILE VEHICLE ACTIVATED SIGN – Cllr Knowles reported that the company that provided the sign are no longer
trading. The sign does not work very well. The batteries are flat and the back up batteries do not work. Cllr Knowles
suggested that we take it out of use. All resolved to destroy it. Cllr Knowles to arrange. Clerk to remove it from the asset
register. - UPDATES – To receive any updates on the following (If any):
• Bierton Events Group –
• Cllr Fisher reported that a cinema night was held in March. The quiz is on Saturday 25th April and a race
night is organised for 16th May. There will be an art competition in the Summer, another cinema night in
October and the Santa event.
• Bierton Annual Run will no longer be a Bierton Events event but will be organised by a separate
organisation.
• Jubilee Hall & Sports Centre/Playground –
• Cllr Cotton reported that we have a new cleaning company which are being used for both halls.
• Cllr Cotton queried if we knew if the Scouts would take on the fire alarm testing at the Sports Centre. Cllr
Harridge will ask again.
• Cllr Knowles questioned if the replacement fire doors have been organised. It was agreed that more
quotes are needed. Clerk to obtain more quotes.
• Outside organisations virtual meetings attended by any Councillors –
• Cllr Cotton attended the Kingsbrook Stakeholder Meeting. It was agreed that foliage at the dairy path can
be cut back but only at the end of the nesting season. The Road Safety Audit is currently with the civil
engineer/designer for comment. It will then go back to Buckinghamshire Council. Cllr Knowles reported
that the cycle lane on the Aylesbury Road gets very dirty.
• Cllr Cotton attended the Parish Liaison meeting and reported that 28,000 FixMyStreet reports had been
received in the first three months of this year.
▪ Cllr Cotton offered to join the FixMyStreet Improvement working party as some people have
dropped out.
▪ Buckinghamshire Council is consulting on the proposed draft charging schedule for the
Community Infrastructure Levy that would apply to new development in the North and Central
areas of Buckinghamshire (the former Aylesbury Vale district). A Community Infrastructure Levy
(CIL) is a fixed charge levied on new development (including all new dwellings) calculated per
square metre of gross internal area. 25% of CIL funding would go to the Parish Council as we
have a neighbourhood plan in place. Full consultation documents and an online
survey are available at: https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/planning/cil
▪ Cllr Cotton has a telephone number for emergency highways. This is not for public use. Cllr
Cotton will forward the number to Parish Councillors.
• Cllr Fisher attended the Planning Forum and had previously circulated notes.
• Cllr Fisher is talking to a parishioner from Watermead regarding trying to get some of the unofficial
footpaths (e.g. around fields etc) to be designated as recognised footpaths. Evidence is required showing
these paths have been used for 20+ years.
• Highways/Footpaths –
• Cllr Feeney reported the footpath along side the ponds on FixMyStreet. - MATTERS OF REPORT – For Councillors to report any outstanding issues. Items not included on the agenda which
require decisions will need to be included on the next agenda.
• Cllr Knowles questioned if the Chiltern Rally signs are allowed to be there. He does not object to them being there
but objects to them being there long after the event. Cllr Cotton will check the regulations around obtaining
permission.
• Cllr Fisher has drafted a self-guided mystery walk around the village. Copies were handed to Parish Councillors
and Cllr Fisher asked if anybody would be prepared to test it. Clerk to add to May meeting agenda.
• Bierton Open Gardens – Cllr Harridge reported that there is enough interest for this to go ahead. St James the
Great Church will be open. The program will need printing.
• Cllr Harridge and Cllr Feeney gave apologies for the May meeting. - DATE OF NEXT MEETING – The meeting closed at 8.40pm. The next Parish Council meeting will be on Monday 18th
May 2026, commencing after the Annual Parish meeting at 7pm at the Jubilee Hall.