Ilmer Past

Parish Council Minutes

PRESENT: Cllr Mrs Valerie McPherson (Chairman), Cllrs Ian Walker, Mrs Jane Rogers, James Butler, Graham Walters and George O'Neill, Mrs S Griffiths (Clerk), 1 Member of the public.

1/ WELCOME AND APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Brian Richards.

2/ MINUTES

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Parish Council on the 15th October 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/ A REPORT FROM CLLR BENDYSHE-BROWN (BCC) ON MATTERS CONCERNING LONGWICK-CUM-ILMER PARISH COUNCIL

Cllr B Bendyshe-Brown sent his apologies as he was unable to attend the meeting and sent the following report: "The work on Thame Road has been completed down to the Post Office and the remainder of the work, down to the village entry signs from Thame, has now been scheduled for March next year. The Clerk and I have worked together with TfB to obtain some delegated funding for the remainder of this year. The funding is not guaranteed for next year but we are working on this at the moment. I held a meeting with BCC to try and gain some long term commitment but we will not know until next February/March. I am pushing through the Local Area Forum (LAF) to have the pavements in Bell Crescent resurfaced. Discussions are still ongoing with Madeleine Howe."

5/ MATTERS ARISING NOT OTHERWISE ON THE AGENDA

Further to agenda item 9 in the October minutes, the Parish Council has received confirmation from J McLernon, B.C.C. that an allocation of £2,000.00 has been made to Longwick-cum-Ilmer Parish Council for this financial year for the parish to undertake Devolved Services, including: removal of fly posters and other illegal signs; approval of charity event advertising signage; cleaning of traffic signs; minor traffic sign repairs; trimming vegetation obstructing pavements and footpaths; serving hedge cutting notices on frontages (not including instigating legal proceedings); and checking for obstructions to pavements and footpaths. Mr McLernon requires confirmation that the Parish Council will conform to the rules and guidance as set out in the BCC devolved services agreement. All present agreed. SG

Cllr Jane Rogers reported on the meeting that she attended at Red Kite Housing and advised that Red Kite has funding available for Community Projects.

Cllr Ian Walker asked for an update on the clarification of the role of the trustees and the legal position concerning the ownership of the Village Hall land and building. The Clerk advised that she and Cllr Brian Richards had met with the solicitor holding the deeds. Cllr Brian Richards will clarify the position at the next meeting. BR

Cllr James Butler presented his suggestions on how to improve the Parish Council website. JB. All present agreed for Cllr Butler to prepare a brief to obtain quotations for a new website.

6/ FINANCE

A. Payments

Cheque Item Description Amount
103 Risk Assessment K Dobson - Risk Inspection October 2013 £15.03
104 Car Park lights I Thompson - Repair light in car park £55.20
105 Grass Cutting Manor Estates – Grass cutting October £442.88
s/o Clerks Fees S Griffiths - Nov salary £396.93
106 Newsletter V McPherson - expenses for producing the newsletter £128.50

B. Bank Balance £14,003.96 (allowing for the above cheques)

The expenditure for November was examined by the Council. Cllr Valerie McPherson proposed that the necessary cheques be signed. Seconded by Cllr Jane Rogers. All present agreed.

7/ CAPITAL ITEMS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES

A. Playing Field – No issues were highlighted in the Risk Inspection Report for October 2013. Cllr Ian Walker informed the members that Briants had offered to clear the ditch that runs behind them in the Playing Field. The Clerk reported that the free tree pack from the Woodland Trust had arrived; Cllr Ian Walker agreed to plant the saplings. IW

B. Children's play area – The following issues were highlighted in the Risk Inspection Report for October 2013: a bolt is protruding on the top of the slide (Cllr Jane Rogers agreed to action this. JR); a wire is poking through on the seat on the aerial runway (the Clerk is requested to raise this for clarification with the Risk Inspection Officer. SG); the ramp to the runway platform on the zip wire is slippery (Safe and Sound will fix this free of charge by adding timber half rounds).

8/ ROADS, VERGES AND RIGHTS OF WAY

The Clerk is requested to contact the local authorities concerning fly tipping on Bridleway 14 (CRN 426391 and 56101) and Bridleway 5, which has had some resurfacing work done but still needs attention at the bottom of Walnut Tree Lane (CRN 423328). SG

9/ CORRESPONDENCE

Letter from WDC summarising the initiatives launched by the Government to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of World War One. Noted.

A letter from the Chiltern Society inviting applications for grants for community projects. Noted.

A letter from Risborough Area Community Bus requesting financial support in the form of a grant. All present agreed to consider the request at the Estimates meeting. SG

Correspondence from two residents opposing planning application 13/07517/FUL. Noted.

10/ THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN REGARDING DOG FOULING

Cllr George O'Neill informed the members that a resident had contacted him to advise that dog fouling in the playing field was on the increase. The Clerk is requested to investigate the cost of warning signs for each side of the public footpath into the playing field. SG

11/ ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CAROL CONCERT

All present agreed for Cllr Jane Rogers to organise the refreshments for the Carol Concert. JR. All present agreed for Cllr George O'Neill to liaise with the school and organise the programme. GON

12/ REVIEW THE PARISH EMERGENCY PLAN

Cllr Graham Walters reminded the members of the need to revisit the list of volunteers following the retirement of Cllr George Harper and to ensure that the remaining volunteers are still able to participate. All present agreed that a further discussion is required at the next meeting. JR/VM/GW

13/ THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING DATES FOR 2014

All present agreed the following dates: 21st January, 18th February, 18th March, 15th April, 20th May, 17th June, 15th July, 16th September, 21st October, 18th November, 16th December 2014.

14/ PLANNING APPLICATIONS

To consider New Planning Applications

To Receive Notice of Planning Applications Approved

15/ REPORTS

16/ AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING

To review the Parish Emergency Plan (Cllr G Walters).

17/ NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Tuesday 17th December 2013 in Longwick Village Hall at 8.00pm.

There being no further business to discuss, the Chairman closed the meeting at 10.00pm.