Parish Meeting Minutes

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PARISH HELD AT LONGWICK VILLAGE HALL ON 28th APRIL 1980 AT 8 PM

PRESENT Mrs P Priestley (Chairman) Councillors Dr Bravery, Mrs Brock, Mr McIntosh, Mrs Warren, Mr Underwood. Also present. Miss J Couper (W D Councillor), Mr Vowles (BCC Planning Dept) Mrs Huntley (Village Hall Trustee), Mr Agar (Clerk) and 23 members of the public.

MINUTES The minutes of the annual meeting held on 25 April 1979 were read, confirmed and signed.

CHAIRMANS' REPORT The Chairman reported on the following matters which had been dealt with during the year.

Gas Supply. A petition submitted to the Gas Board for a gas supply to the Parish had been unsuccessful because gas was not available and the cost would be about £60 000. The Gas Consumers Council had advised the project stood no hope of success.

Location of Scout Headquarters. After consultation with the School Managers and Bucks County Council a site had been agreed on the school playing field and negotiations were now proceeding.

Playing Fields. Following Government recommendations on the safety of playing field equipment the Parish Council had applied to WDC for a grant and £400 had been received.

Sale of Council houses. After considering the proposed Government Housing Bill the Parish Council had written to Mr T. Raison MP pointing out that the number of council houses in the Parish could be depleted and there was little hope of replacing houses which had been sold. The Minister had given an assurance that any Council house bought by a tenant must be offered to the District Council for subsequent resale.

Rate Increases. Representations had been made to WDC that rate increases should not exceed the rate of inflation. This had been taken into account in setting the rate for 1980/81.

Preservation of Buildings and Trees. A schedule of listed buildings had been obtained and was being reviewed.

Footpaths. The Ramblers Association had agreed to help with waymarking and clearing overgrown footpaths.

Speed Limits. A request for a 40 mph speed limit for the whole village had been turned down as the accident record was good and a survey showed 85% of drivers kept within 40 mph.

Laybyes and rubbish dumping. The Parish Council had requested removal of litter bins and erection of notices warning of £100 fine for rubbish dumping. The litter bins had been removed but the notices had not yet been erected.

Best Kept Village. Ilmer had entered the competition.

Bus Services. The Parish Council had protested strongly at the with-drawal of buses and had suggested a minibus be provided and use of school buses be considered. A private bus twice a week to Princes Risborough had now been provided. A survey showed only 6% of residents had no private transport and the views of villagers on the bus service requirements would be welcome.

Baby Clinic. This facility had been withdrawn as only 5 babies were seen per month and individual visits when required, would be more economical.

Threat to the Sub Post Office. Representations had been made to Mr T Raison MP and an assurance had been given that all interests would be consulted before any closure was contemplated.

Planning Applications. 29 applications had been received and 25 results during the year.

Finance. A statement was handed round showing how the precept of £511 had been spent. The 1980/81 precept had been kept down to the product of a 0.4p Parish rate.

Ditches. Ditches in the Walnut Tree Lane bridlepath and in Bar Lane had been cleared to prevent flooding. This was a very expensive operation and everyone was asked not to dump garden and other rubbish.

Questions. Concerning the cutting of the grass on the play area of the Sawmill estate this was contracted out by WDC and the position would be watched. Concerning the Bell Crescent site WDC had agreed with the builders respon-sible that the Parish would tidy this up and WDC would then maintain it.

THE BUCKS COUNTY STRUCTURE PLAN AND ITS EFFECT ON THE PARISH.

Mr Vowles explained that since the local government reorganization in 1974 County Councils were responsible for the overall structure planning for the county and District Councils for the detail planning of towns and rural areas. The Bucks Structure Plan had been submitted in 1977 and reviewed by the Secretary of State in December 1979. The Secretary of State had approved the plan with some modifications and the revised plan was now being printed. The object of the plan was to look ahead 15 years and devise a scheme which took into account important factors such as housing and employment. Generally the plan restrained developement in S Bucks and provided for major growth in areas such as Milton Keynes and medium growth in areas such as Aylesbury and High Wycombe. Princes Risborough was on the boundary of the restrained/growth areas and an expansion of some 300 houses was envisaged. Longwick cum Ilmer was in a "white area" where strict restraint would be imposed to preserve the appearance of the countryside. However, housing developement would be permitted to meet the needs of villagers and expansion of existing industry and establishment of new minor industry would be permitted to provide jobs for local people.

The Secretary of State had emphasised the need for a period of adjustment on housing policy and the need to provide for 7500 extra people in the County. A Rural Settlement Study report would be published in June.

Questions were asked concerning the need to provide smaller, low cost housing for retired people and first time buyers without children. Mr Vowles replied this was already envisaged and the Secretary of State approved higher density building for this purpose. District Councils could also defer consideration of applications for larger house developement so that land could be used for higher density housing.

The Chairman thanked Mr Vowles for his talk and answers to questions.

LONGWICK VILLAGE HALL

Mrs Huntley said the Hall had been built in the early 1920's on a site given by a village resident and had been financed by the entire village. A sampler recorded the names of children who had collected £1 each and had been embroidered by Miss Whiting who lived in the village. A set of rules for running the Hall had been devised at the beginning and had not been changed very much in the intervening period. The Hall was adminstered by 4 trustees, each elected for an indefinite period and by a committee of 13 elected at the AGM in November each year; the committee was responsible for the upkeep of the Hall but expenditure of more than £500 must be approved by the Trustees; All residents of the Parish could attend the AGM and vote. The use of the Hall had varied over the years but was now used most days and it was hoped this would continue. An extension had been added recently with improvements to the kitchen and entrance. The Hall was not a Parish Hall in the true sense and was not a charge on the rates although a donation of £100 from the Parish Council recently had been gratefully received. Mrs Huntley hoped to see better attendance at the AGM next November.

The Chairman thanked Mrs Huntley for her interesting and informative talk.

LONGWICK PLAYING FIELDS ASSOCIATION.

Dr Bravery said the Association had been constituted in April 1973 after land had been aquired cheaply from a local landowner. The land was owned by the Parish Council and leased to the Association. The Association committee consisted of representatives from the Parish Council, Village Hall committee, Sports Club, Parents Association, Scouts, Guides and co-opted members. The Association was responsible for ground maintainance, fencing, hedging, recreational facilities etc. but the Sports Club maintained the sports area in lieu of rent and maintained the tractor. The gang mowers were maintained by the Association. As the elm trees had had to be felled new species had been planted as replacements. Concerning funds, the Association was not a charge on the rates but was supported by voluntary effort. Concerning playground equipment and the DoE recommendations on safety, some £1200 would be needed eventually although the major part would cost about £900. Apart from the £400 grant from WDC, Bucks CC had provided £150, last years fete had raised £300 and the school children had made a magnificent contribution of £101.50. The Association considered the safety of equipment as first priority and this work would now go ahead. Dr Bravery hoped for a good attendance at the AGM next April. The Chairman thanked Dr Bravery.

Mr Underwood proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman which was received with acclamation.

The meeting closed at 9.50 pm

[Signature: P. Priestley] 27.4.81.

LONGWICK-CUM-ILMER PARISH COUNCIL

STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS 1 APRIL 1979 TO 31 MARCH 1980

1 April 1980