Ilmer Past

Parish Council Minutes

1/ PRESENT

Cllr G Harper (Chairman)

Cllrs G O'Neill, G Walters, I Walker, Mrs J Rogers, Mrs. P Priestley and Mrs V McPherson

Mrs S Griffiths (Clerk)

1 member of the public

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

No apologies were received.

2/ MINUTES

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Parish Council on the 18th January 2011, 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.

4/ MATTERS ARISING NOT OTHERWISE ON THE AGENDA

Pre-school contract. The Clerk advised the members that she had been notified that the pre school would have the contract signed and returned within the next week. SG

5. FINANCE

A. Accounts for Payment

Cheque Item Description Total
408 Longwick Stores - Refreshments for the Carol Service £60.62

B. Income received

None.

C/ Bank Balance £6,253.08 (allowing for the above cheques).

The income and expenditure for February was examined by the Council. All present agreed that the necessary cheques be signed.

6. CAPITAL ITEMS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES

A. Playing Field

The clerk is requested to contact Mr Rixon to request that he fills in the ruts just inside the gate in preparation for the fete, with hardcore from the path. SG

B. Children's Play Area

Nothing to report.

7. ROADS, VERGES AND RIGHTS OF WAY.

Nothing new to report.

8. CORRESPONDENCE.

Letter from the Longwick Sports Club. Further to the previous letter requesting additional cuts of the playing field to accommodate the fixture dates for the cricket and football teams. All present agreed that the Clerk is to request the additional cuts on behalf of the cricket club and to invoice the cricket club for the cuts on the 2nd and 16th September 2011. SG

Longwick Pre-school. The Longwick Pre-school has requested permission to use the playing field on the 18th June for a Fathers Day Fayre to include a bouncy castle, small steam engine and a couple of vintage tractors. All present agreed to give permission providing a risk assessment is carried out prior to the event and adequate insurance is in place. SG

Request from Dinton Parish Council. A request from Dinton Parish Council to oppose the application for wind speed testing in their parish. After a discussion, all present agreed not to comment on the application.

A request for a donation from Sue Ryder. The Sue Ryder foundation has written requesting that the Parish Council make a donation towards new chairs. All present agreed to decline the request as the Parish Council agreed that it did not feel it was appropriate to spend the residents' precept on donations to charity and that it should be left to the individual resident to make the choice of which charity to support.

Notification of possible asbestos. Cllr G Harper informed the members that a resident had contacted him to advise that he thought there was a risk of asbestos in the sports club roof which was being dismantled. A specialist was called in to inspect the material and it was confirmed that there was no problem and it was safe to proceed with the work. All present agreed to send a letter thanking the resident for his vigilance. SG

The Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge. This project is to mark the Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympics and has the official endorsement of the Queen. The aim of the project is to protect 2012 outdoor recreational sites – the Queen Elizabeth II Fields - for communities all across the country by 2012. Any council can participate in the Challenge by nominating a recreational site to be included in the programme. Noted.

Use of Village Hall Car Park. Cllr Harper has been contacted by the Village Hall Committee to request that when the school allows events to be held on the site, the school must open the gates to allow parking on the school grounds to prevent congestion in the village hall car park. Cllr G O'Neill agreed to speak to the school. GON

9. REPORTS

A. School Governors – Nothing to report.

B. NW Chilterns Local Area Forum – Nothing to report.

C. WDALC – Nothing to report.

D. N.A.G – Nothing to report.

E. Newsletter – Nothing to report.

10. THE POLICY FOR THE PARISH COUNCIL WEBSITE.

All present agreed to review the contact details on the website on an annual basis to reduce costs. It was further agreed to remind residents to keep the Parish Council informed of any updates at the Annual Parish Meeting and to carry out the review in May of each year. SG

11. PREPARING A COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PLAN.

Cllr G Walters presented the information that he had gathered from the Clerk at West Wycombe on Community Resilience Plans. All present agreed to prepare a basic plan for the Parish. Cllr G Walters offered to be the co-ordinator and prepare a plan for the members' consideration. GW

12. TO REPLACE OR REPAIR THE PARISH COUNCIL NOTICEBOARD IN 2011/2012

All present agreed to accept a quotation of £154.25 to repair the Parish Council notice board. The Clerk is requested to arrange for the work to be carried out. SG

13. THE IMPACT ON PARISH COUNCILS OF THE LOCALISM BILL

The Government published the Localism Bill on 13 December. The Bill aims to shift power from central government back into the hands of individuals, communities and councils. The Bill is split across five core themes of community empowerment, decentralisation and strengthening local democracy, reform of the planning system, social housing reform and London. Briefings and analysis will be issued in due course. Training will be arranged by BALC on the impact of the Localism Bill on Parish Councils in the coming year.

14. APPOINTMENT OF THE INTERNAL AUDITOR FOR THE YEAR ENDING 2011

Following the retirement of the previous Internal Auditor, the Clerk had obtained three quotations for the services of an Internal Auditor. All present agreed to appoint Mr Don Timms as the internal auditor for the financial year 2010/2011.

15. WHICH OF THE NEW PRICING STRUCTURES FOR THE WEBSITE IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE FOR LONGWICK-CUM-ILMER PARISH COUNCIL

All present agreed to remain on the existing pricing structure for the website.

16. REVIEW OF THE LEVEL OF COVER OF THE PARISH COUNCIL INSURANCE POLICY AND WHETHER TO RENEW THE POLICY WITH AVIVA FOR THE COMING YEAR.

All present agreed that the current level of cover by the current insurers should remain the same and that following a review of the premium, the Parish Council will continue with Aviva for the coming year.

17. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

A/ Progress on applications already considered:

B/ New Applications to be considered:

18/ AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING.

To be advised.

19/ NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Tuesday 15th March 2011 in Longwick Village Hall at 7.30pm.

There being no further business to discuss the Meeting closed at 9.15pm.

Chairman......................................... Date..................