Ilmer Past

Parish Council Minutes

PRESENT

Cllr Mrs Valerie McPherson (Chairman)

Cllrs Ian Walker, Graham Walters, Jane Rogers, Rolf van Apeldoorn, Brian Richards and Sally Whitworth

Clerk Mrs Susanne Griffiths

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 16th December 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. Cllrs Sally Whitworth and Brian Richards declared an interest in agenda item 17 application number 14/08237/VCDN.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 7.55pm to allow the Chairman of the Governors for Longwick School to speak. The meeting was re-opened at 8.15pm.

4/ A REPORT FROM CLLR BENDYSHE-BROWN (BCC) ON MATTERS CONCERNING LONGWICK-CUM-ILMER PARISH COUNCIL

Cllr Bill Bendyshe-Brown sent his apologies that he was unable to attend the meeting as he was away on holiday.

5/ MATTERS ARISING NOT OTHERWISE ON THE AGENDA

Cllr Val McPherson reported that she is still waiting for the additional dog fouling signs.

Further to the request by the Parish Council for a free Woodland Trust Tree pack, the Parish Council has been notified that it has been successful and will receive a pack of 30 trees in March. Cllr Rolf van Apeldoorn confirmed that the Scouts will plant the saplings and provide the necessary protection for when they are initially planted.

6/ FINANCE

Payments:

Cheque Payee / Description Amount
176 K Dobson – Risk Inspection Dec 2014
177 S Griffiths – printer ink £47.00
178 The Chiltern Society – ROW £826.85
179 J Mylchreest – data input re Questionnaires Dec & Jan £51.00
s/o S Griffiths – Jan salary £433.37
180 Freebee Ltd – Printing of flyers for meeting £65.00

Receipts: £50.00 – Wayleaves.

Bank Balance £17,298.07 (allowing for the above cheques). The expenditure for January 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

Playing Field – there were high risk issues highlighted in the Risk Inspection Report for December 2014 relating to one of the goal posts being damaged and the electrics on a post in the playing field fence that had been hit by a car. Cllr Ian Walker confirmed that the post and section of the fence had been repaired immediately and that he is also 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 has obtained a third quotation as per the financial regulations. The sports club has arranged for the repair of the goal post.

Children's play area – there were no medium or high risk issues highlighted in the Risk Inspection Report for December 2014.

8/ ROADS, VERGES AND RIGHTS OF WAY

The Clerk is requested to contact the relevant authorities to action the following issues:

9/ CORRESPONDENCE

Letter of objection to planning application 14/08237/VCDN. Noted.

Six letters of support for planning application 14/08237/VCDN. Noted.

10/ WHETHER TO ENGAGE IN PREPARATION OF A NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN FOR THE PARISH

Cllr Sally Whitworth proposed that the Parish Council resolve to progress the preparation of a Neighbourhood Plan for the parish, subject to the Neighbourhood Area application being formally designated by WDC following the end of the consultation period. Seconded by Cllr Jane Rogers. All present agreed.

11/ THE COMPOSITION OF A STEERING GROUP TO GUIDE THE WORK FOR THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

Cllr Val McPherson proposed that the Steering Group should consist of 6 members of which 3 are councillors. All present agreed. All further agreed that Councillors Sally Whitworth, Val McPherson and Brian Richards would be the council members to sit on the Steering Group.

The eligibility criteria was agreed as the following. Steering Group Members should not:

It was further agreed to invite the candidates to submit a written document confirming that they qualify for consideration and how they see they could contribute to the Neighbourhood Plan making process. Cllr Brian Richards agreed to draft a letter inviting the candidates to submit their written documents together with advising them of potential dates for the first meetings.

12/ THE BUDGETS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2015/2016 AND THE SETTING OF THE PRECEPT

Estimates summaries were circulated to members prior to the meeting. The Clerk explained that for this year the grant from WDC to compensate for the Reduction in Tax Base for Localised Council Tax had been reduced to £246.74. Cllr Brian Richards proposed that Council approve the budget and a request for a precept of £20,100.00. Seconded by Cllr Sally Whitworth. All present agreed.

13/ THE EXPENDITURE ALLOWED UNDER L.G.A. 1972 SECTION 137

Cllr Val McPherson advised the Parish Council that included in the budget for 2015/2016 is a sum of £20.00 to be charged against expenditure allowed under Section 137, and she proposed that this be accepted. Seconded by Cllr Sally Whitworth. All present agreed.

14/ COMMISSIONING A TREE SURVEY

Mr P Simpkin, Aboricultural officer at WDC, has agreed to quote for conducting a tree survey for Longwick Playing Field but requires clarification on the extent of the land and who owns the trees on the boundaries. All present agreed for Cllr Graham Walters to contact Phil Simpkin and confirm the land owned by the Town Council, and for Cllr Ian Walker to meet with Phil to identify the trees to be included.

15/ AN UPDATE ON DEVOLVED SERVICES FROM B.C.C.

Cllr Matthew Walsh from Princes Risborough Town Council gave a short report at the start of the meeting on the trial cuts undertaken in Longwick-cum-Ilmer and answered any questions the Councillors had about the process. The Councillors have been invited to a conference which visits a variety of ways in which Parish Councils can work with their principal authorities to meet today's challenges to provide more for less. The conference "Parish Councils Delivering More and working together with principal authorities" is on the February 24th 2015 at Adams Park, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

16/ RESPONSES TO THE RECENT COMMUNICATIONS QUESTIONNAIRE

All present agreed for Cllrs Jane Rogers and Rolf van Apeldoorn to form a working group to consider the responses and report their findings to the remaining councillors at the next Parish Council meeting.

17/ PLANNING APPLICATIONS

New Planning Applications:

Cllrs Sally Whitworth and Brian Richards declared an interest and took no part in the following discussion and decision:

Notice of Planning Applications Approved:

Notice of Planning Applications Refused: none.

18/ AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING

To receive an update on devolved services from B.C.C. To receive a report from the Working Group on the responses to the recent communications questionnaire. To receive a report from the Steering Group for the Neighbourhood Plan. To discuss and decide on commissioning a tree survey. To pass a resolution to exclude the public and press in accordance with Section (12) of the Public Bodies (Admission to Meetings) Act 1960 to discuss and decide on the Maintenance Contract for 2015-2016.

19/ NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Tuesday February 17th 2015 in Longwick Village Hall at 7.45pm. There being no further business to discuss the Meeting closed at 10.04pm.