Parish Council Minutes
PRESENT
Cllr Mrs Valerie McPherson BEM (Chairman)
Cllrs Ian Walker, Jane Rogers, Rolf van Apeldoorn, Graham Walters, Sally Whitworth and Brian Richards
Clerk Mrs Susanne Griffiths
Clerical Assistant Mrs Jayne Mylchreest
No members of the public
1/ APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
No apologies were received.
2/ MINUTES
The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Parish Council on the 16th June 2015 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 Jane Rogers declared an interest in Planning Application 15/06930/FUL.
4/ A REPORT FROM CLLR BENDYSHE-BROWN (BCC) ON MATTERS CONCERNING LONGWICK-CUM-ILMER PARISH COUNCIL
Cllr Bill Bendyshe-Brown reported: the ditches susceptible to flooding will be dug out and the footpaths cleared in the parish. Ilmer Road will be patched and resurfaced within the next year. The Longwick School Travel Plan Team will be meeting in September to discuss inconsiderate parking by some parents when taking and collecting their children from school. The village looks very well kept at present due to the success of the grass cutting and weed killing under the Devolved Service agreement. A Vehicle Activation Sign will be installed in Chestnut Way; advice is being sought from the Local Area Forum.
5/ MATTERS ARISING NOT OTHERWISE ON THE AGENDA
Cllr Val McPherson proposed to meet with Kirsty Pope from Princes Risborough Town Council to discuss possible costings for producing the Newsletter, as discussed at the last meeting. Seconded by Cllr Sally Whitworth; all present agreed that Cllrs McPherson and Whitworth would meet Kirsty Pope.
6/ FINANCE
Payments:
| Cheque | Payee / Description | Net | VAT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| s/o | PRTC – Grass cutting, June | £300.00 | £60.00 | £360.00 |
| s/o | Salaries, July | £441.75 | £441.75 | |
| s/o | K Dobson – Risk Assessment, June | £15.30 | £15.30 | |
| 202 | Longwick C of E Combined School – hall hire re Neighbourhood Plan | £25.00 | £25.00 | |
| 203 | mh-p internet Ltd – Council Vacancy website | £30.00 | £6.00 | £36.00 |
| 204 | mh-p internet Ltd – Updating Plan | £64.75 | £12.95 | £77.70 |
| 205 | mh-p Internet Ltd – Neighbourhood Plan/maps and accounts | £80.00 | £16.00 | £96.00 |
| 206 | Website Hosting, 30/7/2015-29/7/2016 | £60.00 | £12.00 | £72.00 |
| 207 | TBS Hygiene Ltd – dog waste/litter bins, Mch/Apr/May 2015 | £257.40 | £51.48 | £308.88 |
| 208 | WDC – Annual Play Area Inspection | £64.00 | £12.80 | £76.80 |
Receipts: £8,000.00 Groundwork UK.
Bank Balance £28,159.32 (allowing for the above cheques). The expenditure for July was examined by the Council. All present agreed that the necessary cheques be signed.
7/ CAPITAL ITEMS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES
Playing Field – there were no medium or high risk issues highlighted in the Risk Inspection Report for June 2015. A small staked tree had blown over; Cllr Ian Walker agreed to contact a local contractor to re-stake it.
Children's play area – there were no medium or high risk issues highlighted in the Risk Inspection Report for June 2015.
8/ ROADS, VERGES AND RIGHTS OF WAY
An update has been received from the Local Area Technician regarding outstanding Highways issues: as much soil as possible has been collected from the lay-by in Thame Road, with a grab lorry to be organised for the remainder; black and white posts have been ordered, hoped to be installed within 3 weeks; the potholes are in the system but no repair date could be given; a work order has been issued for the Area Maintenance Gang regarding the hedge outside Blenheim Close obstructing the footway, which could take up to a month. The Clerk is requested to report that the recycling bins are overflowing in the lay-by.
9/ CORRESPONDENCE
- An email from a resident requesting confirmation that the relevant charity accounts are being received. Cllr Jane Rogers is requested to contact the Village Hall and the Clerk is requested to contact the Allotment Charities to obtain copies for the residents to inspect.
- A letter from Wycombe District Council requesting publicity for World War 1 commemorative events. Noted.
- An email from the Buckinghamshire Association of Local Councils regarding Councillor Induction Course dates. All present agreed for Cllr Rolf van Apeldoorn to attend on 12th September at Haddenham, at a cost of £30.00.
- A letter from Community Impact Bucks regarding the Right To Buy Scheme in rural areas. Cllr Jane Rogers reported that "Centenary Cottages" were built on a site that would not normally have received planning consent, on condition they were reserved for local people or those with a strong connection to the parish, with the land sold to Warden Housing below market price on that basis; WDC stated they had no control over the Right to Buy policy. The Clerk is requested to write to WDC and Warden Housing to ascertain the procedure regarding tenants obtaining occupancy of the cottages. Cllr Jane Rogers proposed that the Parish Council write to the MP to object to the selling of Housing Association properties in Rural Exception Schemes. Seconded by Cllr Graham Walters. All present agreed.
- An email from a resident regarding the state of the road surface in Ilmer Lane. Cllr B Bendyshe-Brown confirmed the road has been included in the programme to be repaired within the next year.
- A letter on behalf of a resident concerning the Consultation Draft Neighbourhood Plan, concerned that proposed Site 1B lies 90 metres from their land which may result in noise complaints. All present agreed this would be dealt with by the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group.
- An email requesting permission for a Bouncy Castle on 8th August 2015. All present agreed, subject to a risk assessment and public liability insurance being provided in advance.
10/ A REPORT FROM THE STEERING GROUP ON THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
Cllr Graham Walters reported that 65 online responses had been received from the Questionnaire; these together with written responses will be collated and findings reported at the next meeting on 11th August 2015. The Environmental Health Department at WDC will request 3 quotes and pay to set up a Noise Assessment regarding the resident's comment on Site 1B; Cllr Rolf van Apeldoorn agreed to approach residents of Centenary Cottages to ask permission for the noise equipment to be sited in their garden for 12-14 days. WDC will commission and bear the costs of the pre-submission draft to check the legal content.
11/ AUTHORISATION TO DECIDE ON CONSULTATION RESPONSES AND CHANGES TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
Cllr V McPherson proposed that the Parish Council gives authority to Cllrs McPherson, Richards, Walters and Whitworth to agree the content of the Submission Version of the Neighbourhood Plan on behalf of the Parish Council. Seconded by Cllr S Whitworth. All present agreed.
12/ THE PENSIONS REGULATOR AUTO ENROLMENT
Cllr Val McPherson proposed that all permanent staff be offered membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme administered by Bucks County Council. All present agreed; it was RESOLVED that the Parish Council enter into the Local Government Pension Scheme.
13/ TREE SURVEY REPORT
A tree survey report has been received from Wycombe District Council with recommended actions. Cllr V McPherson proposed that Cllrs Walker and van Apeldoorn set up a Working Group to prioritise the work required for this financial year and the work that can wait until the next. All present agreed.
14/ ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE PLAYING FIELD REPORT
The Play Inspection Company has carried out an annual inspection of the children's playground; one moderate risk was highlighted concerning damaged swing seats. Cllr Val McPherson proposed the Parish Council action the moderate risk and the Clerk obtain quotes to replace the four damaged seats. All present agreed.
15/ A REVIEW OF THE STANDING ORDERS
All present agreed to defer this item to the next meeting to enable the Clerk to receive a response and guidance from the National Association of Local Councils regarding recent changes in the law.
16/ AGE RESTRICTION SIGN AT THE PLAYGROUND
Cllr Brian Richards proposed the wording "The Equipment in this Playground has been designed solely for the use of children up to the age of 11 years." All present agreed; the Clerk is requested to place an order for the sign.
17/ PLANNING APPLICATIONS
New Planning Applications:
- 15/06638/MINAMD: Bracknell, Lower Icknield Way, Longwick. Proposed non-material amendment to permission for construction of single storey side infill extension, granted under 14/08030/FUL. Noted.
- 15/06678/CLP: Armour Farm, Stockwell Lane, Little Meadle. Certificate of lawfulness for proposed construction of detached stable block with store. No Comment.
- 15/06930/FUL: St Peters Chapel, Owlswick (Cllr Jane Rogers declared an interest and took no part). Erection of detached dry composting toilet, reconstruction and extension of path and installation of hand rail. The Parish Council has no objection.
- 15/06893/FUL: 3 Woodbine Close, Longwick. Householder application for erection of detached single storey garden studio to rear with decking to front. All present agreed for Cllr Rolf van Apeldoorn to make a site visit; the Parish Council has no objection.
Notice of Planning Applications Approved:
- 15/05921/FUL: The Old Stables, Meadle Village Road, Meadle. Erection of a stable building and menage with post and rail fencing. Application Permitted.
- 15/06445/MIN: The Old Stables, Meadle Village Road, Meadle. Non-material amendment to construction of single storey glazed rear infill extension, granted under 12/07849/FUL. Application Permitted.
Notice of Planning Applications Refused:
- 14/08339/FUL: Land adjoining Saddleback Barn, Chadwell Hill Farm, Lower Icknield Way, Longwick. Erection of single storey round chapel. Refused.
Notice of Appeals in Progress:
- 15/06161/OUT: Boxer Road/Barn Road (OS Parcel 9166 Boxer Road & OS Parcel 6576 Walnut Tree Lane). Outline application for residential development of up to 160 dwellings (ref APP/KO425/W/15/30/8514). Longwick-cum-Ilmer Parish Council objects to this application for the following reasons: (1) It does not conform to the visions, objectives or site allocations of the Draft Neighbourhood Plan, which proposes development spread across a number of smaller sites rather than one larger one. (2) Increase in traffic and risk to road safety: traffic at the Chestnut Way/Boxer Road junction could increase roughly six-fold, and Boxer Road and Barn Road appear too narrow for the extra traffic and 4-5 years of construction traffic. (3) Not sustainable development: existing bus services do not serve peak hours, neither route to Princes Risborough offers a safe cycling/walking alternative, and almost 70% of the parish already travels to work by car. (4) Water issues: the Flood Risk Assessment accepts a high risk of surface and ground water flooding and proposes disposal to a watercourse outside the site boundary, which the Parish Council considers unacceptable, and Thames Water has identified inadequate waste water infrastructure. (5) Changing the character of the village: 175 additional dwellings would represent a roughly 40% increase on the village's 366 addresses, fundamentally changing its currently small, linear character. (6) Biodiversity: the submitted assessments are mostly desk-based, and part of the site already serves as an informal nature reserve that could instead be retained as a village asset. (7) Prematurity: determination should await the planning authority's assessment of whether Longwick is an appropriate location for housing need at all, let alone a scheme of this scale. (8) Summary: the application does not meet the tests for the presumption in favour of sustainable development. (9) If nonetheless minded to approve, the Parish Council requests conditions or a legal agreement securing contributions towards: an alternative access; junction improvements at each end of Chestnut Way; a shared cycleway/footway along Lower Icknield Way and Summerleys Road; footway improvements along Longwick Road (A4129); surface improvements to Bridleways 5 and 6 and the Phoenix Trail; peak-time bus services to the station and town; education provision costs; and thirty years of play area provision and maintenance, plus (j) proper disposal of surface water to SUDs rather than the nearby watercourse.
18/ AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING
To receive a report from the Steering Group for the Neighbourhood Plan and decide on any actions to be taken. To discuss and decide on the proposed revised Standing Orders. To discuss and decide on giving a donation to the Village Hall if they decide to install a Defibrillator.
19/ NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Tuesday 15th September 2015 in Longwick Village Hall at 7.45pm. There being no further business to discuss the Meeting closed at 9.27pm.