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 17th December 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 Graham Walters declared an interest in agenda item 14, planning application 14/050961.

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 grass cutting and weed spraying programme planned for 2014. He advised that repairs to the roundabout on the B4009 will take place shortly and that hardcore is to be laid on the surface at the end of Walnut Tree Lane to the Railway Bridge on Bridleway 5.

5/ MATTERS ARISING NOT OTHERWISE ON THE AGENDA

The Clerk was requested to write to the Village Hall Committee Secretary to highlight an anomaly concerning the Village Hall Car Park Lights. The secretary to the Village Hall Committee has acknowledged receipt of the letter.

Cllr James Butler informed the members that the present provider was providing a service that in his opinion was good value but that some adjustments could be made to upgrade the website. The webmaster has provided various options to upgrade the website and the relevant costs to be considered by the members. Cllr James Butler will present these options at the Parish Council meeting in February. SG

6/ FINANCE

A/ Payments

B/ Bank Balance £12,488.11 (allowing for the above cheques)

The expenditure for January 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. There were no issues highlighted in the Risk Inspection Report for December 2013. Permission was granted for the use of the Playing Field for the fete on the 3rd May 2014.

B. Children's play area. There were no issues highlighted in the Risk Inspection Report for December 2013.

8/ ROADS, VERGES AND RIGHTS OF WAY

The Clerk is requested to contact the local authorities concerning the following issues:- The signpost at the Owlswick end of Bar Lane needs to be straightened. SG

9/ CORRESPONDENCE

Invitation to Stakeholder Briefing on Wednesday 29 January. The event on 29 January will be a 'preview' for the consultation proper. All present agreed for Cllrs Graham Walters, Jane Rogers and James Butler to attend on behalf of the Parish Council. GW/JR/JB

Royal Garden Party Nominations. All present agreed to nominate Cllr Val McPherson. VM/SG

An invitation to attend "You're invited to Chairmanship" training course. Noted.

Renewal of Parish Council Insurance. The Council's renewal premium was £1,321.63, including 6% insurance premium tax. The renewal premium can be reduced by 5% to £1,255.55 if the Council wishes to sign a new Long Term Agreement until the 30th March 2017. The purpose of a 3-year binding agreement (LTA) is so that the Council knows that for the period of the agreement the premiums will only increase slightly (due to your property sums insured being index linked). Cllr Brian Richards requested that the Clerk contacts the insurance brokers for confirmation that the Parish Council is receiving the best value for money with this insurance policy. All present agreed. SG

An invitation to the Wycombe District Council Standards Committee 11 March 2014 - presentation on the Standards Regime. At the next meeting of the Standards Committee on 11 March 2014, David Ruddock (the Council's District Solicitor and Monitoring Officer) will give a presentation for Members on the current Localism Act 2011 Standards Regime and how the new standards arrangements have operated at Wycombe since they were introduced in July 2012. Noted.

10/ THE BUDGETS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2014/2015 AND THE SETTING OF THE PRECEPT.

Estimates summaries were circulated to members prior to the meeting. The Clerk explained that for this year the grant from WDC to compensate for the Reduction in Tax Base for Localised Council Tax has been reduced by 14% to £291.65. Cllr Brian Richards proposed that Council approve the budget £17,805.00 and a request for a precept of £17,608.50. Seconded by Cllr George O'Neill. All present agreed. SG

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

Cllr Val McPherson advised the Parish Council that included in the budget for 2014/2015 is a sum of £20.00 to be charged against expenditure allowed under Section 137 and she proposed that this be accepted. Seconded by Cllr Jane Rogers. All present agreed. SG

12. A LOCAL PLAN CONSULTATION MEETING

It was agreed to hold a public meeting on the 18th February 2014 at 7.15pm before the Parish Council meeting, to give an opportunity for residents and Parish Councillors to learn more about the consultation process, and the options for development being considered at this stage. A District Planning Officer has been invited to speak at the meeting and will be available to answer questions on the Local Plan.

Cllr Graham Walters presented a flyer for distribution. Agreed by all present.

Cllr Val McPherson agreed to advertise the meeting through the Neighbourhood Watch. VM

Cllr Brian Richards agreed to deliver the flyer to the residents in Meadle and Little Meadle. BR

It was further agreed to advertise the meeting on the Notice board and website. SG

13. REVIEW OF THE PARISH EMERGENCY PLAN

Cllr Graham Walters had reminded the members of the need to revisit the list of volunteers to ensure that the remaining volunteers are still able to participate.

Cllr Val McPherson confirmed the contacts for vulnerable people, local skills, resources, equipment and labour are still available with the exception of one resident who has moved away from the area.

Cllr George O'Neill agreed to contact the local company facilities contacts. GON

Cllr Val McPherson agreed to lead the team. SG

Cllr Graham Walters agreed to update the Parish Emergency Plan and circulate the revised plan to the members. GW

14. WHETHER TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A PARISH COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE ON THE RISBOROUGH AREA PARTNERSHIP

Cllr Brian Richards advised the members that there was little value in continuing to have a representative on RAP at the present time. All present agreed.

15. THE IDENTIFICATION OF PARISH ASSETS.

Cllr Val McPherson suggested that the Parish Council review the Asset Register as there was some confusion over land and a pond owned by the Parish Council in Ilmer. Cllr Graham Walters agreed to ascertain if the land is registered. All present agreed to agenda this item for the next meeting when this information is available. SG

16. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

To consider New Planning Applications

• 13/08073/FUL: OS Parcel 0038 Stockwell Lane Little Meadle Buckinghamshire. Proposal: Continued mixed use of land for agriculture and dog training (including siting of caravan for use as equipment store) and retention of polytunnel. The Parish Council has no objections.
• 13/08044/FUL: Vale Edge Farm Owlswick Lane Owlswick Buckinghamshire HP27 9RJ. Proposal: Householder application for raising of roof with roof extensions, insertion of a dormer window to front & alterations to accommodate additional first floor rooms (alternative scheme to pp/12/06434/FUL). The Parish Council has the following concerns: the increased height would be out of keeping with the very small barn conversion next door. This was originally a two bedroom farm workers bungalow and has been extended many times before and is considered to be an over development of the site.
• 13/07517/FUL: Land Adjacent Lapetra, Thame Road, Longwick, Buckinghamshire. Proposal: Amended plans for the erection of an attached 3 bed house adjoining the south eastern elevation of Longwick Post Office and upper floor flat, with associated car parking and landscaping. The Parish Council note that the plans have been amended but recommend that this application is refused on the following grounds. Unacceptably high density / overdevelopment of the site: the Parish Council considers this proposal to be an overdevelopment of the plot. Effect of the development on the character of the neighbourhood: the Parish Council considers that the loss of parking for shoppers may affect the viability of the shop and post office which are an essential part of the village. The development would adversely affect highway safety and the convenience of road users: the Parish Council believes that this proposal offers inadequate parking provision, which will compound existing parking issues, and that the displacement of vehicles of the flat onto the Post Office forecourt will cause on street parking to clash with the residents' off road spaces where there is already congestion. The Parish Council requests that if the Planning Officer is minded to approve this application it is referred to the Development Control Committee for determination.

Cllr Graham Walters declared an interest in the next application and took no part in the discussion or decision.

• 14/050961/HPDN: Kingwood, Chestnut Way, Longwick, Buckinghamshire. All present agreed for Cllrs Val McPherson, Ian Walker and George O'Neill to visit the property and recommend a response. VM/IW/GON

To Receive Notice of Planning Applications Approved

• 13/07842/FUL — Decision: Application Permitted. Address: 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.

To Receive Notice of Planning Applications Refused

• 13/06674/FUL — Decision: Refused. Address: Saddleback Barn Chadwell Hill Farm Lower Icknield Way Longwick. Proposal: Retention of access track and surfacing material.

17/ REPORTS

NAG - Cllr V McPherson informed the members that the issues raised at the forum included theft of oil, distraction burglaries and theft of catalytic convertors. The format of the meeting will be changing to provide a series of meeting where the public can attend to talk through concerns and to look for solutions to ongoing problems that are raised. The NAG wish to advertise through websites and village magazines regarding the following meeting, 26th March for Bledlow & Longwick Parishes.

18/ AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING.

To discuss and decide on updating the Parish Council website (Cllr James Butler). To discuss and decide on the preferred company for the renewal of the Parish Council insurance. To discuss the Identification of Parish Assets (Cllr Val McPherson).

19/ NEXT MEETING.

The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Tuesday 18th February 2014 in Longwick Village Hall at 8.00pm.

There being no further business to discuss, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.57pm.