Parish Council Minutes
PRESENT: Cllr G Harper (Chairman), Cllrs Mrs J Rogers, I Walker, G O'Neill, B Richards and 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 19th February 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. Cllr J Rogers declared an interest in the planning application for 1 The Cottages, Owlswick.
4/ A REPORT ON HIGHWAYS MATTERS FROM JAMES TUNNARD, LOCAL AREA TECHNICIAN AND SI KHAN, TRANSPORT LOCALITIES TEAM LEADER (NORTH WEST CHILTERNS AREA) TRANSPORT FOR BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Various highways issues in the Longwick-cum-Ilmer Parish were discussed. Cllrs requested an update on the visit to the VAS site to ascertain what the problem is with the VAS device. Si Khan confirmed that the instruction to SWARCO state that we require their comments on suggested improvements on this site to ensure the device operates properly. If the advice received back is that this site is more suitable for a mains powered device due to the volume of traffic using this road then TfB will instigate the process to make the change.
5/ MATTERS ARISING NOT OTHERWISE ON THE AGENDA
The Clerk has contacted the Risk Inspection officer to arrange for monthly checks.
The Clerk handed a spare set of keys to Cllr G O'Neill for the noticeboard for a councillor to hold and use.
Cllr G Walters confirmed that the BCC owned the path and stream by the scouts hut.
6/ FINANCE
A. Accounts for Payment
| Cheque | Item | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| S/o | Clerks Fees | S Griffiths - March salary | £341.27 |
| 65 | Clerks Fees | HMRC - Tax due 01/01/2013 -31/3/2013 | £256.00 |
| 66 | Subs | BALC - Annual Subscription 2013-2014 | £187.98 |
| 67 | Sports field | P A Spittles - Repair to block paved pathway | £492.00 |
| 68 | Risk Assessment | K Dobson - Risk Inspection February 2013 | £14.60 |
| 69 | Dog waste and litter bins | TBS Hygiene - collections 01/12/12-28/02/13 | £385.86 |
B. Receipts - Nil
C. Bank Balance £6,120.03 (allowing for the above cheques)
The income for and expenditure for March was examined by the Council. All present agreed that the necessary cheques be signed.
7/ CAPITAL ITEMS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES
A. Playing Field – Cllr G Harper confirmed that there were no issues highlighted on the Risk Inspection Report.
B. Children's Play Area – Cllr G Harper confirmed that there were no issues highlighted on the Risk Inspection Report.
8/ ROADS, VERGES AND RIGHTS OF WAY
Cllr J Rogers marked on a map the potholes that need attention in Owlswick between B4009 and Bar Lane for the LAT.
9/ CORRESPONDENCE
A request for transfer of the maintenance of the stream to the scouts. Cllr G Harper has received a request from the scout group to allow the scouts to maintain the stream by their hut. All present agreed it was a good idea in principle but the Parish Council was unable to give the appropriate permission as the understanding is that the stream is owned by the Buckinghamshire County Council. The Clerk is requested to clarify who has the responsibility for the stream and the path. Cllr G Harper agreed to respond to the scouts. SG/GH
10/ REPORTS
- A. School Governors – Cllr G O'Neill informed the members that an Ofsted inspection is underway at the school.
- B. NW Chilterns Local Area Forum - Nothing to report. The next meeting is on the 27th March 2013. Cllr G Walters informed the members that he will be resigning from representing the Parish Council at the NWCLAF due to work commitments. Cllr G O'Neill will continue to be the sole representative until another member is appointed as the second representative at the Annual meeting of the Parish Council in May.
- C. WDALC – Nothing to report. The next meeting is on the 28th March 2013.
- D. N.A.G – Nothing to report.
- E. Newsletter – Nothing to report.
- F. Area Forum - Nothing to Report.
- G. Risborough Area Partnership – Nothing to report.
- H. Village Hall – Nothing to report.
11/ THE PREFERRED CONTRACTOR FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE PLAYING FIELD
Cllr G Harper met with three contractors to discuss the Parish Council's requirements and three quotations have now been received. Cllr Harper proposed that the contract for the maintenance of the Playing Field is awarded to Manor Estates for the current year. All present agreed. The Clerk is requested to contact the remaining two contractors to request 2 references to allow the members to consider their tenders for 2014. The Clerk is requested to include this item on the agenda in September. SG
12/ LITTER
All present agreed to defer this agenda item until the next meeting when Cllr V McPherson will be present.
Cllr G Walters left the meeting at 9.05pm.
13/ PLANNING APPLICATIONS
A. New Applications to be considered
- 13/05306/FUL: Sharnley Thame Road Longwick Buckinghamshire HP27 9SW. Proposal: Erection of 9m x 18m agricultural lambing barn with associated hardstanding. The Parish Council has no objections.
- 13/05459/FUL: 1 The Cottages Owlswick Buckinghamshire HP27 9RH (Cllr J Rogers did not take part in the discussion and decision on this application). Proposal: Householder application for construction of a single storey side/rear extension. The Parish Council has no objections.
- 13/05555/CTREE: Meadle Cottage, Meadle Village Road, Meadle, Buckinghamshire. Proposal: Remove branch from Holly Oak as indicated on photo 1 and reduce length of branch touching house as indicated on photo 1c, crown lift Lime to height. The Parish Council will abide by the decision of the Arboriculturalist.
- 13/05526/AGI: Orchard View Farm Stockwell Lane Little Meadle Buckinghamshire. Proposal: Agricultural Notification for the construction of a steel framed agricultural barn with closed sides. The Parish Council has no comments.
B. Progress on applications already considered
- 12/07849/FUL — Decision: Application Permitted. Address: The Old Stables Meadle Village Road Meadle Buckinghamshire HP17 9UD. Proposal: Householder application for construction of single storey glazed rear infill extension linking store and replacement garage to existing house.
- 12/07942/FUL — Decision: Application Permitted. Address: Armour Farm Stockwell Lane Little Meadle Buckinghamshire HP17 9UG. Proposal: Householder application for demolition of existing extensions and outbuilding and construction of new two-storey extension with alterations to fenestration and associated landscaping.
14/ AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING
To discuss and decide on whether to request that the Shell garage is renamed to the historical name "The Sportsman Garage". To discuss and decide on how to deal with litter in the Parish. (Cllr V McPherson)
15/ DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Tuesday 16th April 2013 in Longwick Village Hall at 8.00pm and will be preceded by the Annual Parish Meeting at 7.30pm.
There being no further business to discuss the Meeting closed at 9.30pm.