Ilmer Past

Parish Council Minutes

Cllr G Harper (Chairman)

Cllrs Mrs J Rogers, I Walker, G O'Neill, B Richards, G Walters

Susanne Griffiths (Clerk)

1/ APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received and accepted from Mrs V McPherson.

2/ MINUTES

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Parish Council on the 15th January 2013 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

Cllr I Walker, at the last meeting, was requested to make enquiries and confirm who the ownership of the hedge abutting the playing fields that is in need of repair belonged to. Cllr Walker has made the necessary enquires and confirmed that the hedge was owned by Mr Rixon.

5/ FINANCE

Ref Payee Description Amount
S/o Clerks Fees S Griffiths - February salary £341.27
64 Risk Assessment K Dobson - Risk Inspection January 2013 £14.60

B/ Receipts - Nil

C/ Bank Balance £7797.74 (allowing for the above cheques)

The income for 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

Nothing to report. The Clerk is requested to obtain two further quotations for the grass cutting of the playing field to ensure that the Parish Council is receiving the best value. Cllr G Harper agreed to meet with other companies on site to enable them to provide quotations for consideration.

B. Children's Play Area

The Clerk was requested to obtain the prices of a Wendy house for the play area. Copies of different styles and prices were circulated to the councillors for their consideration. All present agreed to consult the school children in the village to ascertain what would be their preferred use of the space left after the removal of the climbing frame. Cllr G O'Neill agreed to contact the school to organise the consultation.

The Clerk informed the members that Aviva the insurers, have agreed to relax the policy requirement under the Public Liability section for a weekly routine visual check of the play area to a monthly inspection. The Clerk is requested to contact the Risk Inspection officer to arrange for monthly checks.

7/ ROADS, VERGES AND RIGHTS OF WAY

The Clerk has met with the Local Area Technician and has been advised that:-

The Clerk is requested to raise the following issues with the Highways Department:

8/ CORRESPONDENCE

E-mail from a resident concerned re the amount of litter around Longwick Village. The resident is concerned that littering appears to have increased significantly since the arrival of the 'Shell' Petrol Station and would like to know if anything can be done about the above problem. She would also like to know if the Parish Council be able to have any input in trying to get some more dog waste bins placed either end of the village. All present agreed for the Clerk to respond that the Parish Council has organised litter picks in the village in previous years and would gladly support the resident in her effort to organise one for this year. The provision of dog litter bins is the responsibility of Wycombe District Council. The Clerk has contacted the Divisional Environmental Health Officer, (Control of Pollution Team), Environment Service at Wycombe District Council (WDC) on a previous occasion and was advised that there is no automatic system for the placing of dog bins as a result of requests received. WDC has 200 dog waste bins in the district but has funds for no more. Whilst they have in the past occasionally moved underused bins this is becoming more difficult as most bins are now in good positions and all bins are used. The Clerk was advised that it is acceptable for dog owners to use their normal refuse bins for the disposal of dog waste.

E-mail from the Chiltern Society. Details were received of the footpath works which have been completed by their teams of volunteers. Noted.

Gypsy & Traveller Needs Assessment 2013 – Consultation with Parish Councils. All councillors were encouraged to respond.

Update from the Enforcement Officer re: The Old Stables, Meadle. The Parish Council is advised that following investigation, it would seem that some planting had been carried out within the agricultural land outside of the residential garden area. In order to resolve this matter, the owners were asked to remove the planting and thereafter to ensure that it was only planted within the garden area. Further it was suggested that they erect a 1m post and rail fence in order to provide a clear demarcation between the garden area and the agricultural land beyond it. Having visited the site last week to monitor the removal of planting and erection of boundary fence, the Enforcement officer is satisfied that this matter has been resolved.

Letter from the W.I. requesting access to the Parish Noticeboard. All present agreed that a key to the noticeboard should not be issued to the WI, but providing there is space on the noticeboard, the Parish Council is agreeable to displaying a poster for them. The Clerk is requested to obtain a spare set of keys for a councillor to hold in the village of Longwick to provide easy access to the noticeboard. Cllr G O'Neill agreed to contact the W.I. to inform them of the Parish Council's decision.

9/ REPORTS

10/ APPOINTMENT OF THE INTERNAL AUDITOR FOR THE YEAR ENDING 2013

All present agreed to appoint Mr Don Timms as the internal auditor for the year ending 2013.

11/ AN UPDATE ON THE PARISH EMERGENCY PLAN

All present agreed details previously circulated, of a text notifying the public of Emergency Help in the Parish for display on the noticeboard, in the newsletter and on the website.

12/ PLANNING APPLICATIONS

A/ New Applications to be considered

Progress on applications already considered:

16/ AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING

To be advised.

17/ DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Tuesday 18th March 2013 in Longwick Village Hall at 7.30pm.

There being no further business to discuss the Meeting closed at 9.00pm.