Parish Council Minutes
PRESENT
Cllr Mrs Valerie McPherson (Chairman)
Cllrs Ian Walker, Graham Walters, Mrs Jane Rogers, Rolf van Apeldoorn, Brian Richards and Sally Whitworth
Clerk Mrs Susanne Griffiths
B.C.C. Cllr B Bendyshe-Brown
2 members of the public
1/ APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
None were received.
2/ MINUTES
The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Parish Council on the 18th November 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
Cllr Bill Bendyshe-Brown reported on matters concerning the parish of Longwick-cum-Ilmer including the current work on the clearing of the footpath to Ilmer from Longwick.
Cllr Graham Walters joined the meeting at 8.10pm and apologised for his late arrival.
5/ MATTERS ARISING NOT OTHERWISE ON THE AGENDA
Cllr Val McPherson reported she is still waiting for additional dog fouling signs. Cllr Rolf van Apeldoorn agreed to place the remaining signs around the village once they had been received.
6/ FINANCE
A/ Payments
| Cheque | Item | Description | Net | VAT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 169 | Section 137 | R Van Apeldoorn - Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal for the supply of a wreath | £25.00 | £25.00 | |
| 170 | Admin | V McPherson – Expenses for Ink/paper re Newsletters & Telephone calls/emails | £141.77 | £141.77 | |
| 171 | Village Hall Hire | Longwick Village Hall - Council meetings 11/08 18/08 9/09/2014 | £54.00 | £54.00 | |
| 172 | Clerks Fees | HMRC PAYE - Oct Nov Dec | £5.60 | £5.60 | |
| 173 | Dog waste and litter bins | TBS Hygiene Ltd - Collection of dog waste and litter 05/09-28/11/14 | £257.40 | £51.48 | £308.88 |
| s/o | Clerks Fees | S Griffiths - Dec salary | £433.37 | £433.37 | |
| 174 | Refreshments | B Richards – Cost of refreshments for Carol Service | £68.82 | £68.82 |
B/ Receipts - Nil
C/ Bank Balance £17,859.62 (allowing for the above cheques)
The expenditure for December was examined by the Council. All present agreed that the necessary cheques be signed. The Clerk presented the accounts together with the bank statements and bank reconciliation for the members' consideration. All present agreed that the accounts were being handled in a satisfactory manner and the monies were all accounted for.
7/ CAPITAL ITEMS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES
A. Playing Field. There were high risk issues highlighted in the Risk Inspection Report for November 2014 relating to one of the goal posts being damaged and a post in the playing field fence had been hit by a car. Cllr Ian Walker confirmed that the post and section of the fence has been repaired immediately and also is in the process of obtaining a quotation for Estimates to replace the whole fence during the next year. Cllr Sally Whitworth agreed to obtain a quotation and the Clerk is requested to obtain a third quotation as per the financial regulations. SW/IW/SG. The sports club have been advised that the goal post needs repairing urgently.
B. Children's play area. There were no medium or high risk issues highlighted in the Risk Inspection Report for November 2014.
8/ ROADS, VERGES AND RIGHTS OF WAY
Nothing to report.
9/ CORRESPONDENCE
A Letter from the Rt. Hon. John Bercow MP advising of a £15 million roof scheme for vulnerable listed church buildings. Noted. The Clerk confirmed that she had sent a copy of the letter to St Peters Church in Ilmer.
A request from UK Power Networks for permission to lay a new cable. UK Power Networks is requesting permission to lay a new cable from the substation following the eastern edge of the Playing Field. This would then follow the access road by Blenheim Close to reconnect back to the overhead line network running along the east side of Thame Road and thereby restore the network to normal. In return a Wayleave agreement and financial consideration would be made. All present agreed providing the field is reinstated to its original condition and notice is given of the date of the planned work to enable the Parish Council to advise the Sorts Club. SG
An e-mail from a resident offering the LOGS assistance in a litter pick. Last year the resident organised a litter pick in the village and collected litter from the roadsides. Once again there is a considerable amount of litter in the roadsides and he has offered the services of volunteers to assist in a litter pick around March before the vegetation starts to grow again. The Parish Council was delighted to receive such a kind offer and a gratefully accepts his offer for the volunteers to arrange an independent litter pick. All present agreed that a photograph of the volunteers and the amount of litter collected is to be requested for the next edition of the newsletter. SG
A letter from the Pensions Regulator re auto entitlement. Under the Pensions Act 2008, every employer with staff in the UK must automatically enrol those who meet certain criteria into a workplace pension scheme and contribute towards it. The staging date for the Longwick-cum-Ilmer Parish Council is 1st January 2016. The Clerk has complied with the requirement to register contact details and will keep the councillors notified at each stage of the process. SG
A request for a grant. Risborough Area Community Bus has sent a letter requesting a grant to help with the purchase of a new bus. All present agreed to consider the request when a discussion and decision on the budget is agreed and the amount of the precept figure required is set in January's meeting.
10. A REPORT ON THE FUTURE OF LONGWICK AND TO DISCUSS AND DECIDE ON WHETHER TO ENGAGE IN PREPARING A NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN FOR PART OR ALL OF THE PARISH.
Cllr Sally Whitworth proposed that the Parish Council make an application to designate the whole Parish as a Neighbourhood Area and hold a public meeting to consult with the residents and obtain their views on a Neighbourhood Plan. Seconded by Cllr Val McPherson. All present agreed. The following actions were agreed:-
The Village Hall is to be booked for the public meeting on the 13th January 2015 at 7.45pm. SG/JR
Cllr Graham Walters agreed to invite a District Council officer to answer questions from the residents. GW
Cllr Graham Walters agreed to draft a leaflet for consideration by the councillors on the details of the public meeting. GW
Cllr Val McPherson agreed to arrange for 650 leaflets to be printed once the councillors had agreed the text. VM
The remaining councillors agreed to hand deliver the leaflets throughout the parish. ALL
The Clerk is requested to place a leaflet on the website, on the notice board and in the local papers. SG
11. THE ACTION TO BE TAKEN CONCERNING LITTER IN THE VILLAGE
The Clerk is requested to contact WDC to obtain "Please take your litter home" signs. SG
12. AN UPDATE ON DEVOLVED SERVICES FROM B.C.C.
Cllr Sally Whitworth reported on the recent meeting held by B.C.C. on the 4th December that she and the Clerk had attended. Longwick-cum-Ilmer PC will be included in the first tranche to receive Devolved Services including Grass cutting.
13. RESPONSES TO THE RECENT COMMUNICATIONS QUESTIONNAIRE
The Clerk informed the members that 90 of the 145 replies that had been received to date had been processed and confirmed that the data from the remaining questionnaires would be input by the next meeting. The Clerk is requested to place this item on the next agenda. SG
14/ PLANNING APPLICATIONS
To consider New Planning Applications
- 14/08200/TPO: 5 Woodbine Close Longwick Buckinghamshire HP27 9ES. Proposal: Fell Ash and replant. The Parish Council will abide by the decision of the Aboriculturalist.
- 14/08173/FUL: Front Barn Hatchmead Farm Lower Icknield Way Great Kimble Buckinghamshire HP17 9TX. Proposal: Change of use of existing agricultural building to Use Class B8 (Storage) with associated external alterations. The Parish Council has no objections. Cllr Jane Rogers declared an interest in this application and took no part in the discussion and decision.
- 14/08072/PAMB: Owlswick Barn Owlswick Buckinghamshire HP27 9RH. Proposal: Prior notification application (Class MB) for change of use of existing agricultural building to a dwelling house (Use Class C3) to create a 3 bed dwelling and associated operational development. The Parish Council has no objections.
- 14/08030/FUL: Bracknell Lower Icknield Way Longwick Buckinghamshire HP27 9RZ. Proposal: Householder application for construction of single storey side infill extension and associated external alterations. The Parish Council has no objections.
Notice of Planning Applications Approved
- 14/07928/CTREE — Decision: Not to make a Tree Preservation Order. The Stables Horsenden Manor Horsenden Lane Princes Risborough Buckinghamshire HP27 9NF. Proposal: Crown reduce by 20%. Reduce height by about 2 metres and radial spread by up to 3 metres. Remove all major dead wood to 1 x Lime (T1), Remove lower growth to raise the crown to about 7 metres over the ground to 1 x London Plane (T2) and Shorten the mid crown limbs that extend over the barn roof and drive area by about 1 metre to 1 x Yew Tree (T3).
- 14/07401/FUL — Decision: Application Permitted. Address: 1 Central Cottage Thame Road Longwick Buckinghamshire HP27 9SX. Proposal: Householder application for construction of single storey rear extension following demolition of existing garage.
- 14/07220/DMI — Decision: Details Not Required to be Submitted. Address: Armour Farm, Stockwell Lane Little Meadle Buckinghamshire HP17 9UG. Proposal: Prior approval notification for demolition of part of existing outbuilding.
- 14/07801/CONSA — Decision: No Objection. Address: Land Adjacent Railway Longwick Cum Ilmer Footpath 12 Longwick Cum Ilmer Buckinghamshire. Proposal: Consultation under The Overhead Line (Exemption) (England & Wales) Regulations 2009 regarding the installation of a replacement pole to support existing overhead line.
To Receive Notice of Planning Applications Refused
None.
15/ AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
To receive an update on devolved services from B.C.C. To discuss and decide on responses to the recent communications questionnaire. To discuss and decide on the budgets for the financial year 2015/2016 and the setting of the precept. To decide on the expenditure allowed under L.G.A. 1972 Section 137. To discuss and decide on commissioning a tree survey. To discuss and decide on whether to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan.
16/ NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Tuesday 20th January 2015 in Longwick Village Hall at 7.45pm.
There being no further business to discuss the Meeting closed at 9.35 pm.