Parish Council Minutes
PRESENT: Cllr Mrs Valerie McPherson (Chairman), Cllrs Ian Walker, Mrs Jane Rogers, James Butler, Brian Richards, Graham Walters and George O'Neill, Mrs S Griffiths (Clerk), County Cllr Bill Bendyshe-Brown.
1/ WELCOME AND APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
No apologies were received.
2/ MINUTES
The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Parish Council on the 19th November 2013, 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 Brian Richards declared an interest in agenda item 10.
4/ A REPORT FROM CLLR BENDYSHE-BROWN (BCC) ON MATTERS CONCERNING LONGWICK-CUM-ILMER PARISH COUNCIL
Cllr B Bendyshe-Brown provided an update on the Winter Maintenance programme tackling overgrown vegetation around the parish, the Devolved Services agreement, the performance of the VAS, and informed the members that resurfacing for Bell Crescent was scheduled for March 2014 at a cost of £17,000. Cllr Ian Walker requested that the surface at the end of Walnut Tree Lane to the Railway Bridge on Bridleway 5 is resurfaced (previously reported to TFB under reference CRN 423328).
5/ MATTERS ARISING NOT OTHERWISE ON THE AGENDA
Cllr Ian Walker asked for an update on the clarification of the role of the trustees and the legal position concerning the ownership of the Village Hall land and building. Cllr Brian Richards had met with the solicitor holding the deeds and confirmed that the Parish Council was a custodian trustee with no responsibility, duty or right to involve itself in the management or maintenance of the Village Hall.
Cllr Jane Rogers expressed concerns that there was an agreement in the past whereby the Parish Council provided maintenance of the car park lights. All present agreed that as the lights were for the Village Hall Car Park, the Parish Council should no longer accept this responsibility. The Clerk is requested to write to the Village Hall Committee Secretary to highlight this anomaly. SG
Cllr James Butler informed the members that in his opinion, the present website provider was providing a service which was good value but that some adjustments could be made to upgrade the website. All present agreed that the Clerk is requested to arrange a meeting for Cllr James Butler and the webmaster to discuss various options. SG
The previously reported protruding bolt on the top of the slide has now been repaired. Cllr Ian Walker confirmed that his brother and he had planted the saplings from the Woodland Trust in the Playing Field.
6/ FINANCE
A. Payments
| Cheque | Item | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| s/o | Clerks Fees | S Griffiths - Dec salary | £396.93 |
| 107 | Sect 137 | RBL - Wreath | £20.00 |
| 108 | Village Hall Hire | Longwick Village Hall - meetings in 2014 | £220.00 |
| 109 | Risk Assessment | K Dobson - Risk Inspection October 2013 | £15.03 |
| 110 | Clerks Fees | HMRC - PAYE tax | £109.60 |
| 111 | Dog waste and litter bins | TBS Hygiene - Dog & Waste collection 06/09/13-29/11/13 | £332.64 |
| 112 | Refreshments | Longwick Village Stores – Refreshments for the Carol Service | £59.69 |
B. Bank Balance £12,909.76 (allowing for the above cheques)
The expenditure for December was examined by the Council. Cllr Valerie McPherson proposed that the necessary cheques be signed. Seconded by Cllr Jane Rogers. All present agreed.
7/ CAPITAL ITEMS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES
A. Playing Field – Obscene graffiti was highlighted in the Risk Inspection Report for November 2013; this has been removed. All present agreed to thank George Harper for providing the Christmas tree. SG
B. Children's play area – There were no further issues highlighted in the Risk Inspection Report for November 2013.
8/ ROADS, VERGES AND RIGHTS OF WAY
The Clerk is requested to contact the local authorities concerning: fly tipping on Bridleway 14 (CRN 426391 and 56101 — the Clerk is requested to complain to Steve Lacey WDC that Waste Management has not yet removed this); Bridleway 5 resurfacing at the bottom of Walnut Tree Lane (CRN 423328 — County Cllr B Bendyshe-Brown will follow up); fly tipping on the B4009 under the bridge between the grit piles and Longwick Mill; the path from Ilmer to Longwick needing vegetation cut back and tarmac repair; and the entry signs and gates to Longwick needing cleaning. SG
9/ CORRESPONDENCE
E-mail re the War Memorial: a volunteer with the War Memorials Trust has applied to English Heritage for the war memorial in Thame Road, Longwick to be registered as a listed structure, and requested information and comments from the Parish Council. All present agreed it would be beneficial to get the war memorial listed. Cllr Ian Walker agreed to be the contact point. SG/IW
10/ THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN REGARDING A NOISE COMPLAINT RE THE DOG TRAINING CLUB IN STOCKWELL LANE
Cllr Brian Richards declared an interest in this agenda item as a member of the dog training club and took no part in the decision. The owner of the dog club has asked the Parish Council to provide a letter confirming that the Parish Council has not received any complaints concerning noise about the club over the last 5 years. All present agreed to provide the letter. SG
11/ A LOCAL PLAN CONSULTATION MEETING
Cllr Graham Walters proposed to hold a public meeting on the 18th March 2014 at 7pm before the Parish Council meeting, to allow residents to receive a presentation on the Local Plan from a planning officer. All present agreed. Cllr Val McPherson agreed to advertise the meeting through the Neighbourhood Watch. SG/VM/GW
12/ REVIEW OF THE PARISH EMERGENCY PLAN
Cllr James Butler informed the members that Cllr George Harper has confirmed that he is willing to remain a volunteer. Cllr Graham Walters reminded the members of the need to revisit the list of volunteers. All present agreed to defer this agenda item until the next meeting. VM/GW
13/ PLANNING APPLICATIONS
To consider New Planning Applications
- 13/07972/FUL: OS Parcel 9547 Owlswick Buckinghamshire. Proposal: Demolition of existing barns and erection of a single storey 5 bed dwelling house with detached car port and creation of new vehicular access. The Parish Council recommend refusal of this application as it considers the proposal to be an overdevelopment of the site and has concerns that bats, barn owls and swallows are found in the vicinity and are known to use barn type buildings for nesting and roosting; due to the conversion of many local barns, these creatures are losing their breeding habitat.
- 13/07842/FUL: Winton House Thame Road Longwick Buckinghamshire HP27 9SG. Proposal: Change of use of ground floor from residential to office (Class B1(a)) with associated internal and external alterations. The Parish Council has no objections.
To Receive Notice of Planning Applications Approved
- 13/07287/FUL — Application Permitted. Address: 1 Walkers Road Longwick Buckinghamshire HP27 9SS. Proposal: Householder application for erection of new close board fence panels.
- 13/07750/AGI — Decision: Details Not Required to be Submitted. Address: Severalles Farm Ilmer Lane Ilmer Buckinghamshire HP27 9QZ. Proposal: Agricultural notification for the erection of a steel frame portal building with cladding on three sides & doors on one side.
- 13/07250/FUL — Decision: Application Permitted. Address: Orchard View Farm Stockwell Lane Little Meadle Buckinghamshire. Proposal: Change of use of Agricultural barn to a mixed use as farm shop A1 (Retail) with associated butchery and kitchen facilities and ancillary cafe area including lean to extension to provide toilet facilities.
- 13/07312/TPO — Decision: Application Permitted. Address: Mulberry House Meadle Village Road Meadle Buckinghamshire HP17 9UD. Proposal: Crown lift second lateral growth to 4 metres, remove low lateral growth growing towards house and reduce longest outreaching branches to Copper Beech T1; crown lift and crown thin Beech T2.
- 13/07306/FUL — Decision: Application Permitted. Address: 1 Beech Cottages Thame Road Longwick Buckinghamshire HP27 9SN. Proposal: Householder application for construction of part two storey, part single storey front/side extension and associated external alterations.
14/ REPORTS
- WDALC – Cllr Ian Walker informed the members that the proposed HS2 routes were discussed. The A4010 will be used but the HS2 team had not confirmed at which point they will join the A4010 from the M40.
15/ AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING
To review the Parish Emergency Plan (Cllr G Walters). To receive a progress report on the Local Plan Consultation meeting (Cllr G Walters). To discuss and decide on the budgets for the financial year 2014/2015 and the setting of the precept. To decide on the expenditure allowed under L.G.A. 1972 Section 137.
16/ NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Tuesday 18th January 2014 in Longwick Village Hall at 8.00pm.
There being no further business to discuss, the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.00pm.