Parish Council Minutes
Cllr G Harper (Chairman)
Cllrs G Walters, Mrs J Rogers, I Walker and Mrs V McPherson
Susanne Griffiths (Clerk)
Members of the public
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received and accepted from G O'Neill.
2/ MINUTES
The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Parish Council on the 20th September 2011, having been circulated, were amended and 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. None were declared.
4/ MATTERS ARISING NOT OTHERWISE ON THE AGENDA
The Clerk is requested to seek confirmation from the applicants to ascertain if they are still interested in becoming a councillor after receiving the information sent to them concerning the role.
All present agreed to invite Mr W Croake to lay the wreath on behalf of Longwick-cum-Ilmer Parish Council at the War Memorial on Remembrance Day.
All present agreed to purchase 80 mince pies for distribution at the Carol Service on the 13th December. Cllr J Rogers agreed to organise the purchase.
5. FINANCE
A/ Accounts for Payment:
| Cheque | Description | Net | VAT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S/O | S Griffiths - Oct Salary | £341.27 | £341.27 | |
| 447 | TBS Hygiene - collection of dog waste and bins June-August 2011 | £182.00 | £36.40 | £218.40 |
| 448 | Lamps - Bulbs for Car Park | £10.08 | £2.02 | £12.10 |
| 449 | WDC - Elections 05/05/2011 uncontested | £60.52 | £60.52 | |
| 450 | M Rixon - work order to repair as highlighted on the risk inspection report | £110.00 | £110.00 | |
| 451 | C Page - Relief cover for Clerk whilst on holiday | £27.60 | £27.60 | |
| 452 | Manor Estates - Grass cutting September 2011 | £358.32 | £71.66 | £429.98 |
| 453 | RBL - Wreath for Remembrance Day | £20.00 | £20.00 |
B/ Income received: Bank interest £0.46; Precept £8,250.00.
C/ Bank Balance £12,079.27 (allowing for the above cheques).
The income for September and expenditure for October was examined by the Council. All present agreed that the necessary cheques be signed.
6. CAPITAL ITEMS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES
A. Playing Field. Cllr I Walker was pleased to inform the councillors that the Playing Field is in excellent condition. All present agreed to purchase 6 deciduous trees to replace the trees that had been lost in the Playing Field in the previous year. Cllr J Rogers agreed to seek advice as to the most suitable type of tree for this area. All present agreed that the purchase of trees was not to exceed £200.00.
B. Children's Play Area. Cllr G Harper confirmed that all the issues in the last Risk Inspection report have now been actioned.
7. ROADS, VERGES AND RIGHTS OF WAY.
The Clerk is requested to raise the following concerns with the relevant local authority: the finger post at the Stockwell Lane T junction on the road through Owlswick is lying in the verge.
8. CORRESPONDENCE.
Public footpath 3, parish of Longwick-cum-Ilmer. Further to the Parish Council's recent report regarding this footpath, the Rights of Way department sent an email informing the Parish Council of the action taken. An inspection of the site found an electric fence with the third strand of wire not insulated and at such a height, making it near impossible for people to safely step over. They have written to the landowner requesting a gap is created in the electric fence and, if necessary, hook and handles to be installed.
An invitation to a Focus Group to consider the future design of the local Health Watch from the B.C.C. Noted.
9. REPORTS
A. School Governors – Nothing to report.
B. NW Chilterns Local Area Forum – Cllr G Walters informed the members that the County Council agreed that the Princes Risborough Day Care building could be taken over by a Social Enterprise company who will run services from the building for the whole community, leasing it for a very low rent for up to two years so that the company has time to raise funds to purchase it.
C. WDALC – Cllr I Walker reported that Bucks County Council is part of 51M, a group of local authorities affected by the HS2 proposals. Local authorities investigating HS2 are being investigated via a complaint from an MP that they are not using their money wisely in a time of austerity, with the bigger councils directly affected being called NIMBYs by some politicians. There has been a lack of information and detail, no clear statement on environmental impact, and no business case once the £5 billion taken from existing services to support HS2 is considered. Councils have put £1.1 million into a fighting fund (£400,000 spent to date) against a fund of £800 million supporting the case; BCC will put in £1/2 million over three years if needed. 51M is encouraging people to write to their MPs and hopes to form an all-party group to raise awareness. A training session on the Localism Bill with Charles Meakings and Ian Manktelow is planned for the 15th December meeting, after the AGM, open to all Parish Councillors.
D. N.A.G – Cllr V McPherson advised that the NAG priorities will remain as last year except that Anti-Social Behaviour is to be replaced by Car Theft; Speeding Traffic, Burglary and Inconsiderate Parking being retained.
E. Newsletter – Cllr V McPherson apologised for the delay in the delivery of the latest newsletter, which was due to a delay in the printing stage.
10. APPROVAL OF THE LATEST VERSION OF THE PARISH MAP FOR NOTICE BOARD
Cllr G Walters presented the latest version of the Parish Map for the Notice Board to the members for approval. Minor amendments were suggested and Cllr J Rogers agreed to check the accuracy of the information against the existing map. Cllr G Harper thanked Cllr G Walters for his hard work producing an updated version of the map himself, saving the Parish Council a significant amount of money.
11. PLANNING APPLICATIONS
A/ New Applications to be considered:
- 11/07219/MINA: Old Orchard, Ilmer Lane, Ilmer. Proposal: Proposed non-material amendment to permission for construction of single/two storey side & rear extensions, single storey front extension, alteration to roof to form 2 dormer windows in rear elevation and erection of attached double garage, garden store, carport and swimming pool enclosure, granted under householder planning ref 11/05184/FUL. The Parish Council has no comments.
- 11/06535/FUL: Apple Tree Cottage, Thame Road, Longwick. Proposal: Application for access change to that previously approved under planning permission 08/06150/FUL, from one access to two individual access points. The Parish Council has no objections but believes that this work has already been done and therefore, in effect, is a retrospective application.
- 11/07156/CTREE: Cozens Holdings, Owlswick. Proposal: Reduce crown height and spread by 45cm to a more compact dome shape to one Yew Tree (T1), reduce height by 50% to one Leyland Cypress (T2) and reduce height by 50% to one Leyland Cypress (T3). The Parish Council has no objections.
- 11/07113/FUL: Hill View, Longwick Road, Longwick. Proposal: Householder application for construction of two storey rear extension and veranda on south west elevation and alterations. The Parish Council has no objections.
B Progress on applications already considered: None.
12/ AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
To decide on the priorities to be recommended to the Local Area Forum (G Walters).
13/ NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Tuesday 15th November 2011 in Longwick Village Hall at 7.30pm. The informal meeting to discuss the precept for approval by the Parish Council will be held on Thursday 1st December 2011 at 8pm.
There being no further business to discuss the Meeting closed at 9.55 pm.
Chairman......................................... Date..................