Ilmer Past

Parish Council Minutes

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING LONGWICK-CUM-ILMER PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 20TH JANUARY 2009 AT 7.30 PM IN LONGWICK VILLAGE HALL

PRESENT

Cllr G Harper (Chairman)

Cllrs I Walker, Mrs J Rogers, Mrs P Priestley, Mrs V McPherson and G O'Neill

Mrs S Griffiths (Clerk)

1/ APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Mrs D Brock.

2/ MINUTES

The Minutes of the previous meetings of the Parish Council, having been circulated were approved by the Meeting and signed by the Chairman.

3/ DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were asked to declare any personal interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting. Cllrs Mrs P Priestley declared an interest in item 13, Planning Applications.

4/ MATTERS ARISING NOT OTHERWISE ON THE AGENDA

Pruning of the trees and hedge in the Playing Field: the Clerk has not had a reply to the letter sent to the Nursing Home concerning the pruning of the trees and hedge in the Playing Field abutting their property. After a short discussion, it was agreed that the decision whether to prune the trees and hedge will be deferred until the spring.

5/ FINANCE

Accounts for Payment:

Bank Balance £10,648.83 (allowing for the above entries). The income and expenditure for January was examined by the Council. All present agreed that the necessary cheques be signed.

6/ CAPITAL ITEMS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES

Playing Field – Cllr G Harper reported on the meeting that he had with Briant's concerning the erection of the fence on Parish Council land behind Briants of Risborough. All present agreed that the Clerk is requested to write to Briants of Risborough formally noting the erection of the fence on Parish Council land and advising that any future work is to be agreed by the Parish Council first.

Cllr Mrs V McPherson requested that the ditch in the playing field is cleared out. After a short discussion it was agreed by all present that as there is no problem with flooding and it has not been precepted for in the budget, the decision to clear the ditch could be delayed.

Children's Play Area – Cllr G Harper confirmed that he has removed the damaged tree that had branches protruding into the slide area.

7/ ROADS, VERGES AND RIGHTS OF WAY

The Clerk is requested to contact B.C.C. to receive an update on the installation of the white gates and the relocation of the 30MPH sign at the entrance to the village from the Thame direction. Notice had been given by the B.C.C. that the gates were to be installed 18 months ago.

The Clerk is requested to raise the following concerns with the relevant local authority:

It was agreed by all present that litter is becoming a problem and that an article highlighting the problem should be included in the next newsletter.

Cllrs G Harper and Mrs P Priestley had been approached by a resident suggesting that parking for the post office should be provided away from the main road. After a long discussion, it was agreed by all present that the provision of such a car park was not feasible. The Clerk is requested to advise the resident accordingly.

8/ CORRESPONDENCE

Items of general interest on the table. Correspondence to be discussed: a consultation on the code of recommended practice on local authority publicity (noted); a consultation on the Buckinghamshire Joint Commissioning Strategy for Physical & Sensory Disability (noted).

Risk Assessment Report: the Chairman confirmed that the high risk issue concerning the tree had been dealt with. The Clerk is requested to arrange for a quotation to repair the missing rung on the log frame and investigate the cause of the frame being wobbly. If the quotation is at or below £200.00, the Clerk is requested to issue a work order for the repair work to be done.

9/ THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MEMBERSHIP OF A WORKING GROUP TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE DESIGN FOR THE PARISH COUNCIL WEBSITE

Cllrs Mrs V McPherson and Mrs J Rogers agreed to form a working party to decide on the layout and design of the website and report to the next council meeting their recommendations. All present agreed.

10/ THE BUDGETS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2009/2010 AND THE SETTING OF THE PRECEPT

In recognition of the economic climate, the councillors were mindful to reduce the precept from its current level. The meeting recommended that the Council continued to hold sufficient reserves to cover unexpected expenditure and Cllr G Harper proposed the precept for 2009/2010 should be £16,500.00. Seconded by Cllr G O'Neill. All present agreed and a resolution was passed.

11/ THE EXPENDITURE ALLOWED UNDER L.G.A. 1972 SECTION 137

Cllr G Harper advised the members that included in the budget for 2009/2010 is a sum of £20.00 to be charged against expenditure allowed under Section 137 as listed in the attached report. He proposed that this be accepted. Seconded by Cllr Mrs J Rogers. All present agreed and a resolution was passed agreeing this expenditure.

12/ REPORTS

Cllr Mrs P Priestley left the meeting.

13/ PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Progress on applications already considered:

New Applications to be considered:

14/ AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING

Report from the Website Working Group (Cllr Mrs V McPherson).

15/ DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on 17th February 2009 in Longwick Village Hall at 7.30pm.

There being no further business to discuss the Meeting closed at 9.25 pm.

Chairman………………………………………… Date…………….