Parish Meeting Minutes

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PARISH HELD AT LONGWICK VILLAGE HALL ON MONDAY 26th APRIL 1982 AT 8 PM

PRESENT Mrs P Priestley (Chairman) Councillors Dr Bravery, Mr MacIntosh, Mr Taylor, Mr Underwood, Mrs Warren. Also present. Mr R E Millard CBE (Chairman of Princes Risborough branch of CPRE, 2 members of the public and a Press reporter. Apologies were reported from Mrs Brock and Miss J Couper (WDC councillor)

MINUTES The minutes of the annual meeting held on 27th April 1981 were read, confirmed and signed.

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

Planning applications. The Parish Council had been consulted on 22 applications by WDC and had received 17 results, a considerable drop on the previous year.

Conservation Areas. Since last year WDC had been asked to include Owlswick to Horsenden, Meadle and Ilmer in the application for conservation areas. The PC has also been concerned that old and interesting buildings in the Parish should be listed especially as many old buildings were being changed in character by large scale alterations. A list has now been compiled and occupiers have been asked for their views so that the proposals can be forwarded to the Department of the Environment.

Bell Crescent site. Work is continuing on the site so that the grass can be brought up to the standard required by WDC. It is hoped the site will then be acceptable to WDC and taken over by them.

School footpath. Discussions have continued with BCC to find suitable terms for leasing the ground to provide the footpath and these have now been agreed. The matter is being brought before BCC in May for approval. Planning permission will then have to be obtained from WDC and it is hoped the project can go ahead. The School/PTA has agreed to meet up to 50% of the cost of maintenance during the first year and will then review the matter as it is difficult to estimate this.

Social Car Sharing Scheme. The attention of the PC was drawn to a social car sharing scheme described in a pamphlet published by the National Council for Voluntary Organizations and the PC wondered what the response to such a scheme would be in Longwick or other villages in the Parish. Such a scheme would require proper organization. When the bus service was withdrawn from Longwick the PC posted letters on notice boards asking for specific cases of hardship but no replies were received.

Road Traffic matters. The PC expressed concern to BCC regarding the number of accidents on the road approaching Longwick from Thame and suggested alterations to the road markings to obviate these. BCC replied that the accident record did not warrant any changes. The PC also requested BCC to consider a pull-off outside the Village shop to relieve congestion but this was also turned down.

Bucks Structure Plan. During the year the PC was given the opportunity to comment on the Plan which lays down policy on planning, housing growth, location of industry etc for the period up to 1991. The PC was concerned about the possible growth of Princes Risborough and extension to its boundaries. As a result of comments an amendment has been made to prevent this. The PC also wrote about an allocation of an extra 1800 houses for WD but no change was made in this respect. The PC wrote again on this subject when the Plan was submitted to the Minister for ratification and results are awaited.

Cricket Pavilion and Community Centre proposals. The Sports Club approached the PC to liase with them and the Village Hall Trustees in a project for a Sports Pavilion. It had been suggested that this project might be tied in with a replacement to the Village Hall which was now 55 years old. Two meetings were held to see how feasible the project was and to try to find a suitable site, which was difficult because of the extent to which the playing field was used. Approaches were made to see if the size of the playing field could be increased but were not successful. Agreement was finally on a possible siting, which would be at the end of the Village Hall and extend slightly over the boundary onto the playing field. The Sports Club agreed to draw up tentative plans when further consultations would have to be held with the Village Hall Trustees to gain approval. It is intended that plans should be presented at a public meeting to anyone interested and that ideas could be incorporated into an outline scheme.

Sundry Village matters. Despite numerous requests to WDC the puddle at Blenheim Close had not been attended to and the PC intended to persue this.

Finance. A statement was handed round showing how the precept of £771 had been spent. The precept for 1982/3 had been kept down to £775.

Royal Garden Party on July 14th 1981. Two tickets were alloted to Parish Council Chairman in WD. A ballot was held and Mr Samways of Bledlow and Mrs Priestley were chosen. The Garden Party had been a very pleasant occassion.

COUNCIL FOR THE PROTECTION OF RURAL ENGLAND

The Chairman introduced Mr R E Millard, CBE, chairman of the Princes Risborough branch of the CPRE, who had a distinguished record of public service in the Bucks area over the last 25 years.

Mr Millard said the CPRE was a national body of long standing and its objectives were well explained by its title. It had a national Executive committee, County committees and local committees which had good lines of communication. The national committee dealt with matters of policy and had close links with Government departments. The national committee had made representations to Government on the Wildlife and Countryside Bill and had had some influence in shaping the Act now passed. The County committee for the Chilterns kept a close watch on planning applications which affected the area and examples were the proposed 'Bunker' at Bradenham and the extra housing proposed for WD in the Bucks Structure Plan. In both these cases representations had been made. At local level objection had been made to the proposed developement of the 'Rag Pit' at Whiteleaf. Contact with PC's and similar bodies was maintained and Longwick PC (which was a corporate member of CPRE) was kept informed of activities.

In reply to questions Mr Millard said good liason was maintained with the Chiltern Society and similar bodies, that Government pressure to speed up planning had not yet had much effect and that fragmentation of land (e.g. pony stabling) was closely watched.

The Chairman thanked Mr Millard for a very interesting and informative talk.

LONGWICK PLAYING FIELDS ASSOCIATION

Dr Bravery said that two founder members of the Management Committee had resigned during the year and these resignations had been received with deep regret. The playground facilities had been improved with particular reference to safety and the safety matting under the swings had been laid and the climbing frame was being erected. The safety projects had been entered in the BCC competition and had gained third prize. Funds had been raised from Bucks Playing Fields Association, the WDC Lottery fund, the Village fete, the autumn draw and private donations. The Scouts had asked for access to their proposed hut site through the corner of the playing field. The Management committee had agreed to this provided right of ownership was maintained. Dr Bravery said there now 4 football teams and 2 cricket teams using the playing field.

Mr Underwood proposed a vote of thanks for the manner in which the Chairman had conducted the affairs of the PC during the year and this was received with acclamation.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 9.10 pm.

[Signature: P Priestley] 25.4.83.

LONGWICK-CUM-ILMER PARISH COUNCIL

STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS - 1 APRIL 1981 TO 31 MARCH 1982

PRECEPT - £771

EXPENDITURE