Annual Town Meeting 2026 - Thank You

Posted 1 hour ago in Brackley Town Council

A big thank you to everyone who attended this year’s Annual Town Meeting. The evening brought together residents, councillors, community groups, and local organisations for a series of informative presentations and discussions focused on biodiversity and the environment. The meeting was opened by the new Mayor, Cllr Jason Kew, who welcomed everyone and thanked residents for attending before introducing guest speakers from across the local area. 

Kerry Moore, Waste Reduction and Recycling Officer from West Northamptonshire Council, gave an engaging presentation about recycling and food waste. Residents heard about the importance of recycling correctly, the benefits of separating food waste, and the modern recycling facility in Daventry that processes materials exclusively within the UK. Kerry also highlighted helpful services available through West Northamptonshire Council, including clothing collections and the council app, which provides useful reminders about bin collections.

Ruth Rolls from West Northamptonshire Council then spoke about the Local Nature Recovery Strategy and shared practical ways residents can support biodiversity in everyday life. Simple actions such as planting flowers, adding window boxes, creating wildflower areas, and leaving spaces for wildlife can all help create valuable habitats for local species across Brackley.

Stewart Manly, Chair of the Biodiversity and Environment Committee, noted that the meeting had taken place on World Bee Day and spoke about the vital role bees play as pollinators. He explained that while large environmental projects can sometimes feel out of reach, small actions can still make a meaningful difference for insects and wildlife in Brackley.

Councillor Manly also spoke about the creation of Brackley Town Council’s Biodiversity and Environment Committee. Originally formed as a small task and finish group, the growing importance of environmental issues locally led to the group becoming a dedicated council committee.

The meeting then heard from Mark Stopps, Brackley Town Council Estates and Operations Manager, who discussed the wide variety of green spaces across Brackley and explained how wildflower areas support insects, birds, and small mammals throughout the seasons.

Residents also learned about the extensive care given to local trees and wooded areas. Regular surveys help monitor tree health, and techniques such as pollarding and branch supports are used where appropriate to help preserve mature trees for as long as possible.

Mark explained that the team avoid felling trees wherever possible, and only do so for safety, damage prevention, or the health of surrounding trees. Touching on ash dieback, he explained that trees in lower-risk areas are sometimes given the opportunity to recover rather than being removed immediately.

The presentation also highlighted that the grounds team have almost completely stopped using weed killers, except in very limited circumstances where it is essential, such as dealing with invasive species like giant hogweed. Residents also heard about the council’s work with schools and young people to help teach the importance of biodiversity and caring for the environment from an early age.

Following the presentations, the Mayor opened the floor to residents for questions and discussion. Topics included bin collections, highways matters, and dogs on leads in public spaces. Cllr Richard Butler responded to highways questions, while Cllr Andrew Last answered questions relating to waste and bin collections. The evening concluded with residents taking the opportunity to visit stalls, speak with local groups, ask questions, and share ideas.

Thank you once again to everybody who attended and contributed to such an informative and positive evening. We would also like to thank all speakers, volunteers, and organisations involved for the time and effort put into the presentations and discussions.