Ilmer Past

Parish Council Minutes

PRESENT

Cllr G Harper (Chairman)

Cllrs I Walker, Mrs V McPherson, G Walters and Mrs J Rogers

Mrs S Griffiths (Clerk)

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr G O'Neill.

2. MINUTES

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Parish Council on the 17th May 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. None were declared.

4. MATTERS ARISING NOT OTHERWISE ON THE AGENDA

Strimming around the trees. Cllrs I Walker and G Harper confirmed that the problem had been resolved.

Longwick Parish Map Board. Cllr G O'Neill has inspected the map notice board and has found that the lock to be jammed. He suspects that it will have to be drilled out and replaced. All present agreed for Cllr G O'Neill to arrange for a locksmith to carry out the necessary work up to a limit of £200.00.

The cost of small picnic tables. The Clerk has obtained the following prices for children's picnic tables and seats:

Installation or fixing would be subject to quotation.

Litter bins. Cllr G Harper discussed the issue of whether these bins have been overflowing or whether the bins have not been emptied because the marked liners have not been removed. TBS Hygiene advised that it could be viewed that the bins were not being emptied because the operative has removed the waste and left the same liner inside. They further advised Cllr Harper that they have tracker data confirming that these locations had been visited. They clarified that the existing contract requests a weekly service of some eight bins (3 dog waste bins and 5 litter bins) although they are currently emptying a 9th movable black plastic litter bin, usually located near the cricket nets, without charge. This service is scheduled for Mondays and should only be interrupted when there is a Bank Holiday in the month. To conclude, they confirmed that they will be placing a different colour liner in the bins each week to clearly indicate that a service has been made, even though in some cases the contents can just be hand-balled out.

5. FINANCE

A. Accounts for Payment:

Cheque Description Net VAT Total
429 D Timms - Internal Audit Fee £30.00 £30.00
430 Manor Estates - Grass cutting May 2011 £358.32 £71.66 £429.98
431 S Griffiths - new locks for noticeboard £4.70 £4.70
432 S Griffiths - May salary £342.74 £342.74
433 TBS Hygiene - collection of dog waste and bins March-May 2011 £182.00 £36.40 £218.40
434 HMRC - Tax payments April-June £256.00 £256.00

B. Income received: Bank interest £0.24; Precept £8,250.00.

C/ Bank Balance £9,181.76 (allowing for the above cheques).

6/ CAPITAL ITEMS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES

A. Playing Field. Cllr G Walters confirmed that there is still a loose post in the car park. Cllr G Harper agreed to contact Briants.

B. Children's playground. Nothing to report.

7/ ROADS, VERGES AND RIGHTS OF WAY

The VAS installation will go ahead this month. The request for repositioning of the speed limit on Thame Rd. had been included in this year's limited budget for speed control measures. Unfortunately, all the money relating to speed limits etc. has been removed to support the road maintenance programme. It will be on the list for 2012-2013.

Cllr G Walters proposed that he investigate the cost of diverting a footpath with the agreement of the land owner and report back to the members at the next Parish Council meeting. All present agreed.

Cllr I Walker reported that the scouts' footpath needs strimming. The Clerk is requested to request that this is done as a matter of urgency.

The Clerk is requested to raise the following concern with the relevant local authority:

8/ CORRESPONDENCE

Request for an addition to the skate park. A resident has requested an addition such as a "half pipe" or something similar to the skatepark. The Clerk is requested to reply that the councillors are delighted that the younger residents are reading the minutes of the meetings and taking such a keen interest in the Parish Council. Unfortunately, the budget for the 2011/2012 financial year has been set and there is no scope for the purchase of any play equipment this year. The cost of an additional "half pipe" is such that the Parish Council would need to budget over a number of years to enable them to make this purchase.

E-mail from a resident concerning the charge for requests under the Freedom of Information Act. A resident is concerned that the charges set by the Parish Council do not meet the Freedom of Information and Data Protection (Appropriate Limit and Fees) Regulations 2004. An authority can refuse a request if it estimates that it will cost them in excess of the appropriate cost limit to fulfil the request. The limit is £600 for central government and Parliament and £450 for other public authorities. Where the limit is not exceeded, the only charges that can be passed are those associated with providing the information, for example photocopying and postage, collectively known as disbursements. The Clerk is requested to contact Buckinghamshire Association of Local Councils for guidance as it seems that many of the local Parish Councils charge £25 per hour for requests involving in excess of one hour of the Clerk's time. The Parish Council will review this charge at the next meeting after taking advice.

Letter from the Rt Hon David Lidington M.P. concerning the closure of the Princes Risborough Sorting Office. David Lidington advises that he has met with representatives of the Post Office Management to discuss the proposed closure. The Royal Mail representatives advised that they were in active discussions with the sub-post office in the High Street to provide a facility there for the return and collection of undelivered mail, avoiding the need for residents to travel to Aylesbury. A decision is to be made in the next few weeks.

A request from the South Bucks Farmers. The South Bucks Farmers are holding their 50th Anniversary on the 31st July 2011 and request permission to use the playing field for games. All present agreed.

9/ REPORTS

School Governors. Nothing to report.

NW Chilterns Local Area Forum. Cllr G Walters presented a report on the last meeting, which covered the improved timetable for Chiltern Rail in response to the lobbying of local groups, the closure of the Princes Risborough Sorting Office, and the priorities of the Neighbourhood Action Group. Details can be found on the Buckinghamshire County Council website.

WDALC. Cllr I Walker presented a report on the last meeting, which covered the opposition to HS2, training for councillors, and financial matters, especially the new scale of subscriptions. The fee for Longwick-cum-Ilmer Parish Council would increase to £10 per year and would allow for 2 representatives from the Parish Council to attend the meetings.

Neighbourhood Action Group. Nothing to report.

Newsletter. Nothing to report.

10. A REPORT ON CRIMESTOPPERS

A request has been received by Cllr V McPherson to place articles on the Parish website and in the Parish newsletters. All present agreed to place an article on the website, but that the Parish Council should continue with its policy of only including local matters in the Parish Magazine.

11. THE PREFERRED CANDIDATE TO FILL THE VACANCY FOR A COUNCILLOR BY CO-OPTION

All present agreed to extend the deadline to fill the vacancy to allow residents from all the villages in the parish to apply to give a true representation of the Parish on the Parish Council. The Clerk is requested to amend the advert on the notice board and website.

12. 'MY WYCOMBE' WEBSITE

Cllr G Walters proposed to add a link from the Parish Council website to the 'My Wycombe Website'. All present agreed. The Clerk advised the members that there would be a cost to update the page. Cllr G Walters agreed to send the clerk a text and the link.

13. PLANNING APPLICATIONS

A/ Progress on applications already considered:

B/ New Applications to be considered:

14. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING.

To be advised.

15. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Tuesday 19th July 2011 in Longwick Village Hall at 8.00pm.

There being no further business to discuss the Meeting closed at 10.05 pm.

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