Parish Council Minutes
PRESENT
Cllr Mrs Valerie McPherson (Chairman)
Cllrs Ian Walker, Graham Walters, Mrs Jane Rogers and Brian Richards.
Mrs S Griffiths (Clerk)
County Cllr B Bendyshe-Brown and Wycombe District Councillor Steve Lacey
1/ APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies were received and accepted from Cllr Sally Whitworth.
2/ MINUTES
The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Parish Council on the 20th May 2014, 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
A report was received from Cllr B Bendyshe-Brown on roads and footpaths in the parish.
5/ MATTERS ARISING NOT OTHERWISE ON THE AGENDA
- Cllr Ian Walker has obtained a quotation of £120.00 to mend the gate post hinge in the play area and agreed to meet the contractor and request this work is done within the next month. IW
- Cllr Graham Walters provided a contact for a local person to give a quotation for the hedge cutting. The Clerk has contacted him to arrange a meeting with Cllr Ian Walker.
- Cllr Graham Walters provided details of the bridge that has been graffitied. The Clerk has reported the details to Network Rail under reference number 3986524.
- The Clerk has requested that B.C.C. clear the section of the ditch which continues through B.C.C. land forming the northern boundary of Longwick School which burst its banks and flooded neighbours properties last winter. B.C.C. has agreed to do this once the section of the ditch in the Playing Field has been cleared. The Clerk has arranged for this work to commence in July as per minute 7, page 774.
- The Clerk has contacted the Webmaster to request a free website makeover. To qualify for the free makeover, the Webmaster requires a Minute and letter signed by the Clerk and Chairman agreeing to use the website for a period of 5 years. All present agreed that this item is placed on the agenda for the next meeting. SG
6/ FINANCE
A/ Payments
| Cheque | Item | Description | Net | VAT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 134 | Website | mh-p - notice for Cllr vacancy | £15.00 | £3.00 | £18.00 |
| 135 | Risk Assessment | K Dobson - Risk Inspection May 2014 | £15.03 | £15.03 | |
| 136 | Grass Cutting | Manor Estates - Grass cutting May | £369.07 | £73.81 | £442.88 |
| 137 | Clerks Fees | HMRC - PAYE April, May & June | £5.60 | £5.60 | |
| 138 | Sports Field | Manor Estates - Herbicide treatment | £310.00 | £62.00 | £372.00 |
| s/o | Clerks Fees | S Griffiths - June salary | £433.37 | £433.37 |
C/ Bank Balance £15,251.31 (allowing for the above credits and cheques)
The expenditure for June was examined by the Council. All present agreed that the necessary cheques be signed.
7/ CAPITAL ITEMS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES
A. Playing Field. There were no issues highlighted in the Risk Inspection Report for May 2014. Cllr Ian Walker expressed concerns over the number of cuts the Playing Field had received this year and requested that the Clerk goes out for tender for the contract before the Estimates meeting this year. SG. The Clerk is requested to obtain a quotation for the replacement of the missing bin lid. SG
B. Children's play area. There were no issues highlighted in the Risk Inspection Report for May 2014.
8/ ROADS, VERGES AND RIGHTS OF WAY
Cllr Jane Rogers informed the members that the 2 signs were still lying in the verge on the Thame Road. The Clerk is requested to ascertain when the signs will be replaced. SG. Cllr Graham Walters reported that footpath 4 on the far side of the railway bridge is overgrown. SG
9/ CORRESPONDENCE
WDALC Training Event – Basic Planning. All present agreed for Cllr Sally Whitworth to attend at a cost of £15.00. SW/SG
Offer of Free Communications Questionnaire from mh-p internet Ltd. All present agreed in principle to running a Communications Questionnaire on the website to gauge the best methods of communication with the residents but felt that a paper questionnaire would need to be circulated to all residents as well to ensure accurate results. Cllr Brian Richards agreed to study the questionnaire in depth and report back to the Council at the next meeting with a recommendation on the content. BR
An invitation to the WDC Planning Forum on 26 June, 6.15pm for 6.30pm. The Forum is open to all and provides an opportunity for WDC to receive feedback from their stakeholders on the service. It also features feedback from WDC's annual Quality Counts Tour. Cllrs Graham Walters and Jane Rogers agreed to attend on behalf of the Parish Council. GW/JR
10/ THE GENERATION OF INCOME FROM THE PLAYING FIELD
A request has been received from a football team outside of the village to hire a pitch on the Playing Field on a regular basis. A discussion was held about the possibility of generating income for the Parish Council by hiring out a pitch. All present agreed that it would be premature to allow an outside team access when it was still unsure as to whether the local team would require the pitch this winter. Therefore the Clerk is requested to reply that the pitch is not available for hire this season. SG
11/ THE PROPOSED B.C.C. DEVOLUTION PROGRAMME
All present agreed in principle to participating in the proposed B.C.C. Devolution programme. SG
12/ FILLING THE VACANCY FOR A COUNCILLOR BY CO-OPTION.
Following notification from W.D.C. that the Parish Council is not required to hold a by-election and the Parish Council should now proceed in filling the casual vacancy by co-option, all present agreed to advertise the vacancy in the local newspapers, on the website and notice boards with a closing date of 11th July 2014. The Clerk is requested to contact any applicants to arrange for them to meet the councillors at 7.30pm before the next meeting. SG
13/ PLANNING APPLICATIONS
To consider New Planning Applications
- 14/06351/CTREE: Water Springs Meadle Village Road Meadle Buckinghamshire HP17 9UD. Proposal: Reduction of upright growth of Malus T1 by 1 metre and crown thin by total of 10%. The Parish Council will abide by the decision of the Aboriculturalist.
- 14/06523/FUL: Hatchmead Farm Lower Icknield Way Great Kimble. Proposal: Change of use of cow barn B (Agricultural use) to B1c (workshop use) and B8 (storage use) to include recladding of external elevations, provision of 2no roller shutter doors and laying of hardstanding for informal parking area. The Parish Council recommend approval of this application.
Notice of Planning Applications Approved
- 14/05659/CLP — Decision: Grant Certificate of Proposed Use. Address: Kingswood Chestnut Way Longwick Buckinghamshire HP27 9SD. Proposal: Certificate of Lawfulness for proposed construction of single storey rear extension.
To Receive Notice of Planning Applications Refused
None.
14/ AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
To discuss and decide on updating the Parish Council Website. To discuss and decide on the content and distribution of the Communications Questionnaire. To discuss and decide on filling the vacancy for a Councillor by Co-option.
15/ NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Tuesday 15th July 2014 in Longwick Village Hall at 8.00pm.
There being no further business to discuss the Meeting closed at 9.30pm.