Ilmer Past

Parish Council Minutes

PRESENT: Cllr B Richards (Chairman), Cllrs I Walker, G Walters, Mrs J Rogers and G O'Neill, Mrs S Griffiths (Clerk).

1/ WELCOME AND APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Mrs V McPherson.

2/ MINUTES

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Parish Council on the 21st May 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

Hedge cutting - The Clerk was requested to obtain three quotations for the council to consider for hedge cutting in November. Quotes are being sought. SG

Fireworks in the Playing Field – Permission was agreed providing that he carries out a risk assessment, has adequate insurance cover in place and contacts the owners of the stables and properties adjacent to the playing field to advise them in advance of the event. Cllr G O'Neill confirmed that he had spoken to the owners of the stables. The Clerk is requested to obtain confirmation from the event organiser that the conditions had been met. SG

The Risk inspection for May highlighted that a cover needs replacing on a lamp on the fence and repair of the light itself which is only working intermittently. A work order has been issued to an electrician. Cllr I Walker agreed to check that the lamp has been repaired. IW

5/ FINANCE

A. Payments

Cheque Item Description Amount
s/o Grass Cutting Manor Estates - Grass cutting £442.88
81 Risk Assessment K Dobson - Risk Inspection May 2013 £14.60
s/o Clerks Fees S Griffiths - June salary £396.93
82 Clerks Fees HMRC - PAYE tax
83 Play Area PRTC - Removal of graffiti £18.00
84 Litter & Dog Waste collection TBS Hygiene £332.64

B. Bank Balance £13,071.11 (allowing for the above cheques)

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

6/ CAPITAL ITEMS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES

A. Playing Field – Graffiti on the underside of the skate park. The original graffiti reported at the last meeting has been painted over, but new graffiti has since appeared. All present agreed to paint the whole skate park structure in racing green to erase the existing graffiti and then apply a coat of anti graffiti paint as recommended. The Clerk is requested to organise for the work to be done. SG. Cllr I Walker offered to sand down and repaint two benches in the playing field with the help of his brother. All present agreed for Cllr Walker to buy the necessary materials and thanked him for his kind offer. IW

B. Children's play area – The Risk Inspection has highlighted that the middle bench has one slat that has split and is quite sharp. Cllr G O'Neill has arranged with Briants to repair the bench. GON

7/ ROADS, VERGES AND RIGHTS OF WAY

Cllr J Rogers requested a grass cutting schedule from BCC to ascertain when the verges are due to be cut as she has received a complaint about the length of the grass obscuring vision at the junctions in Owlswick. SG

Cllr G Walters reported that footpath 4 is very overgrown and needs to be cleared from the boundary with the playing field to the stile and from the railway bridge to the next field. SG

8/ CORRESPONDENCE

A response to the letter sent to AVDC expressing the Parish Council's concerns that special provisions are made to allow people to register on BHC for Rural Exceptions Schemes if Band D is removed. Noted.

A request from LOG for assistance in the organisation of a Litter pick. Cllr G O'Neill has received a request from the "Longwick Old Guys" to assist in a litter pick in Longwick on the 18th July. The Clerk has arranged for the loan of litter pickers and black bags from WDC. All present agreed to advertise the event on the Parish Council news board. JR/GON

An invitation to sign the Community Covenant for the Wycombe District to support service personnel, families and veterans within RAF High Wycombe. All present agreed to sign the Community Covenant at a Flag Raising and Community Covenant Event 'Honouring Britain's Armed Forces, past, present and future' on Monday 24th June 2013. Cllr B Richards agreed to represent the Parish Council. BR

Notification from the Electoral Services Manager: the period during which local electors may request an election to fill the current vacancy has expired without such a request being made and the Parish Council may now take action to fill the vacancy by co-option. All present agreed to advertise the vacancy with a closing date of the 9th August 2013. SG

Community Conversations: Hughenden Parish Council would be happy to have a meeting to discuss the issues raised in the document. The Clerk is requested to reply that the preferred date for the councillors is the 4th July. Cllrs J Rogers, I Walker, G O'Neill and B Richards all agreed to represent the parish at the meeting if available. SG/JR/GON/IW

E-mail from the Chairman of Bledlow-cum-Saunderton Parish Council re the proposed rates for the Community Infrastructure Levy: a vote was taken and the motion passed with 4 for and 1 abstention to request the Clerk to ascertain why WDC has proposed a differential for Residential Community Infrastructure Levy rates for rural parishes (Zone B) and why the tax rate loaded is by an extra 20%. SG

9/ REPORTS

10/ CLARIFICATION OF THE SITUATION WITH REGARD TO THE INSURANCE LIABILITY RE STREAM AND FOOTPATH BY THE SCOUT HUT

Further to the response received from B.C.C. confirming that the path is currently in the ownership of B.C.C. but that a licence was granted to the Parish Council dated 2nd May 1984, all present agreed to request that the Clerk request further information with regards to the licence, including its term, the legal position should an accident occur, and a copy of the licence. SG

11/ CHARGES/CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NAG SPEED CAMERA

All present agreed to defer this agenda item until the next Parish Council meeting when Cllr V McPherson is present. The Clerk is requested to raise the concerns that the Parish Council have with the VAS on the Thame Road with County Cllr B Bendyshe-Brown. SG

12/ APPOINTMENT OF THE REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE PARISH FOR THE MONKS RISBOROUGH PAROCHIAL ALLOTMENTS AND PRINCES RISBOROUGH PAROCHIAL ALLOTMENTS CHARITIES

Cllr J Rogers explained that the representatives need not be Parish Councillors and that 1 representative for the Parish is required for the Princes Risborough Charity and 2 representatives for the Monks Risborough Charity. Dorothy Brock is happy to remain a representative for both charities, and Cllr J Rogers is happy to continue as a representative for the Monks Risborough Charity. Both terms are for 4 years. All present agreed to reappoint Dorothy Brock and Cllr J Rogers as representatives for the charities.

13/ A REPORT FROM CLLR G WALTERS ON MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PLANNING FORUM HELD AT WDC

Cllr Walters produced notes from the Planning Forum for the councillors. The Clerk is requested to circulate a copy to each member. SG

14/ PLANNING APPLICATIONS

To consider New Planning Applications

To Receive Notice of Planning Applications Approved

15/ AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING

To receive a report from County Councillor B Bendyshe-Brown on County matters concerning Longwick-cum-Ilmer Parish. To discuss and decide on the starting times of Parish Council meetings throughout the year (Cllr I Walker). To discuss and decide on the action to be taken concerning the licence for the footpath by the Scout Hut. To discuss and decide on the appointment of a third Parish Council representative for the Village Hall Committee.

16/ NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Tuesday 16th July 2013 in Longwick Village Hall at 8.00pm.

There being no further business to discuss the Meeting closed at 9.45pm.