Ilmer Past

Parish Council Minutes

1/ PRESENT

Cllr G Harper (Chairman)

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

Mrs S Griffiths (Clerk)

9 members of the public

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

No apologies were received.

2/ MINUTES

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Parish Council on the 15th June 2010, 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. Cllr Mrs P Priestley declared an interest in Planning Applications.

4/ MATTERS ARISING NOT OTHERWISE ON THE AGENDA

The piece of land at Bell Crescent/Chestnut Way: the Clerk informed the members that Andy Sherwood, Green Space Team Leader, Wycombe District Council, having considered the Parish Council's proposal to lease the public open space at Bell Crescent, does not feel the scheme would be a suitable option for this small area of public open space. Cllr I Walker had obtained a quote for the scheme in the region of £15,000.00.

Meeting with Jerry Unsworth concerning a way forward for future Gypsy encampments: Cllrs J Rogers and P Priestley represented the Parish Council at a meeting with other Parishes to discuss a way forward. A summary will be issued by Jerry Unsworth in due course.

Map of the Parish on the Website: a map has been placed on the website as a link from the Publications page. A suggestion from the webmaster is to place a small photograph of the map on the "About" page and link it from there. All present agreed to this suggestion. Cllr V McPherson informed the members that the map was not very clear and suggested using a different map for clarity. A member of the public kindly offered to create one especially for the Parish Council website and will circulate it for the members' consideration before the next meeting.

5. FINANCE

Accounts for Payment:

Cheque Payee / Description Net VAT Total
377 MH-P Design & Set up costs Annual Updating Contract £510.00 £89.25 £599.25
378 K Dobson – Risk Inspection Fees £14.10 £14.10
379 WDC – RoSPA report £64.00 £11.20 £75.20
380 Manor Estates – Grass cutting June 2010 £348.90 £61.06 £409.96

Income: £0.01p interest – Bank of Ireland.

Bank Balance £4,570.38 (allowing for the above credits and cheques).

6. CAPITAL ITEMS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES

Playing Field – Cllr G Harper confirmed there were no issues highlighted in the Risk Inspection Report. Cllr G Harper informed the members of an incident in the playing field one evening resulting in broken car park lights, which have now been repaired; broken glass bottles were also left, which Cllr G Harper cleared up together with other litter. Cllr P Priestley thanked Cllr Harper for his hard work in ensuring the playing field was safe and tidy. It was agreed by all present that it would be beneficial for a meeting with the police to be arranged with the residents and councillors to discuss the anti-social behaviour in the playing fields, as members of the public had voiced concerns in the Public Forum at the beginning of the meeting; the Clerk is requested to arrange this meeting, book the village hall and invite the residents that had left their details for contact.

Cllr G O'Neil has received a request for more seats to be placed around the playing field. All present agreed that this request is to be considered at the Estimates meeting in November when the council sets the precept for the next financial year, as an amount has not been budgeted for in this financial year to provide additional seats.

All present agreed to issue a work order for the clearance of nettles around the village hall and to cut back two elder bushes.

Children's Play Area – Cllr G Harper informed the members that the bi-monthly Risk Inspection Report had highlighted the wooden frame that had become wobbly as a low risk. This has been inspected by RoSPA who has agreed it is a low risk and recommends monitoring; the rest of the equipment was also checked by RoSPA and found to be satisfactory, and the report stated that the playground is in a good condition and well maintained. The Skatepark was found to be in a satisfactory condition, meeting the requirements of EN 14974, and no remedial maintenance work is required at present; however the summary showed the Skatepark to be a high risk, which is due to the activity on a Skatepark and cannot be reduced to a lower risk.

7. ROADS, VERGES AND RIGHTS OF WAY.

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

These concerns have already been reported to BCC Highways under the following reference numbers and are still outstanding:

The Clerk is requested to contact the Local Area Technician to discuss the outstanding concerns.

8. CORRESPONDENCE.

9. REPORTS

10. THE 2011 COUNCIL ELECTION.

Cllr G O'Neill agreed to write an article on the forthcoming Parish Council election in May 2011. Cllr G Harper informed the members that Cllr Dorothy Brock will retire as a Parish Councillor in September 2010, having served on the Parish Council for over 50 years. The Parish Council thanked Cllr Brock for her work and the wealth of experience she has brought to the council, and advised her that she will be very much missed.

11. THE FOOTPATH TO DORRELLS ROAD.

Cllr G O'Neill has received a request from the school to widen the footpath by the scout hut towards Dorrells Road. All present agreed to defer this item to the next agenda to enable the councillors to visit the footpath and make an informed decision.

12. A RESPONSE TO THE CONSULTATION ON 'THE FUTURE OF DAY SERVICES IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE'.

The consultation will continue through to the 25th August 2010. All present agreed to send a Parish Council response deploring the proposal to close several Day Service Centres, especially the ones in Princes Risborough and Haddenham, which would have an impact on the residents of the Longwick-cum-Ilmer Parish.

13. SPEEDING IN LOWER ICKNIELD WAY

Cllr V McPherson has been approached by residents complaining of speeding in the Lower Icknield Way. Cllr McPherson has notified the police and it was agreed to discuss this issue when the councillors, residents and police meet.

14. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Progress on applications already considered:

New Applications to be considered: none.

16/ AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING

To discuss the footpath to Dorrells Rd. (Cllr G O'Neill)

17/ NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Tuesday 17th August 2010 in Longwick Village Hall at 8.00pm. There being no further business to discuss the Meeting closed at 10.10pm.