Parish Council Minutes

PRESENT

Cllr Val McPherson BEM (Chair) (part)

Cllrs Brian Richards (Vice), Ian Walker, Jane Rogers, Richard Myers, Alex Barter, Rolf van Apeldoorn, Bill Bendshy-Brown (County)

Clerk

No members of the public.

1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Cllr Harriss, the representative for District Council, did not attend the meeting.

2. MINUTES OF MEETINGS HELD 19th NOVEMBER 2019

Approved by all Councillors.

3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Cllr Rogers declared an interest in Village Hall matters.

4. MATTERS ARISING NOT OTHERWISE ON THE AGENDA

It was agreed that Council would provide a listing of footpaths for clearance to the Chiltern Society for costings. It was also agreed to approach Penn Nursery to consider the replenishment of the flower tubs with new plants. It was agreed to notify the supplier of the noticeboard of water ingress.

5. A REPORT FROM CLLR BENDYSHE-BROWN ON MATTERS CONCERNING LONGWICK-CUM-ILMER PARISH COUNCIL

The following were highlighted:

• Winter programme will include the gates in Longwick going in the direction of Thame and the brambles clearance at the end of Green Lane in Owlswick
• Bar Lane flooding to be investigated, particularly the ditch alongside Maccabee kennels
• Bledlow HRC CIC update – a further contractor has come forward to quote
• Activation time of the pedestrian crossing by the Longwick Post Office not yet resolved

6. EASY ACCESS GATES

Further locations have been identified and the agreement of two landowners gained. Next tranche of gates on schedule for delivery.

7. DRAFT BUDGET & PRECEPT

Duly circulated to Councillors. Further clarification sought regarding grass cutting costs and devolved services. Both the budget and precept will be reviewed in depth before meeting in January.

8. BANK RECONCILIATION ISSUES

It was noted that the agreed external provider was currently reviewing the accounts and bank statements. The outcomes will be verified by Cllr Myers.

9. WEB STRATEGY

Cllrs Baxter and Myers currently reviewing several options. It was agreed to present their findings to other Council members in January. A meeting with the incumbent supplier is on hold pending these deliberations.

10. VILLAGE HALL

It was noted that Trustees' proposals to extend the side of the Hall would require the extension of the pre-school area. All Councillors agreed that this was not an acceptable incursion of the playing field area.

11. ADDITIONAL NOTICEBOARD

Order has been placed and planning application will be raised based on Cllr Walker's recommendations of proposed location.

12. SAFETY ISSUES WITHIN PARISH

Concerns expressed by one parishioner regarding troublemakers on the playing field area were discussed. It was noted that the Police had been contacted and were aware of the issues. The CCTV coverage from the Village Hall may also provide evidence of bad behaviour.

13. ALTERNATIVE SOURCING OF GRASS CUTTING

Cllr van Apeldoorn to investigate whether alternative contractors can accommodate cutting the verges.

14. NOISE REDUCTIONS FOR CROUDACE ESTATE

It was noted that concerns expressed by residents of the new Croudace estate regarding noises emanating from Maccabees Kennels are unlikely to be addressed by Wycombe District Council, but Cllr van Apeldoorn could refer the complainants to Environmental Health.

15. MUGA SIGNAGE

Cllrs Myers and Baxter tabled proposals for safety signs, which were approved. Local provider(s) to be sought for printing and installation.

16. TRAFFIC CALMING

Work ongoing and draft report will be circulated to Council by working party. The planning consultant (Louise Thomas) is researching possible traffic consultancy firms whom may be able to assist with this work.

17. MEETINGS 2020

Circulated and approved.

18. PLANNING

• 19/07304/FUL — Foxhaven, Bar Lane, Longwick. Householder application for single storey rear extension following demolition of existing conservatory and external alterations. No objection.
• 19/07575/FUL — Rycote, Chestnut Way, Longwick. Householder application for single storey rear and side extension (amendment to p.p. 19/06890/FUL). No objection.
• 19/07830/VCDN — Land North of Bumpers Farm, Ilmer Lane, Ilmer. Variation of condition 2 (plan), 3 (planning permission length), 4 (decommission and restoration scheme) and 8 (Ecology Management Plan) attached to PP 14/06582/FUL (construction of a ground mounted solar farm including supporting infrastructure comprising 14 x inverter enclosures, Distributor Network Operator (DNO) cabin, security fencing and CCTV system, underground cabling, landscaping and associated works to include creation of access tracks). No objection.
• 19/07687/FUL — Land At Home Farm, Thame Road, Longwick. Erection of 9 dwellings together with new access, landscaping and associated works. Strong objection as application not aligned to the approved Neighbourhood Plan and proposes street lighting which is incompatible with the locality. This application of 9 dwellings is seen as a significant overdevelopment, in direct contradiction to the Neighbourhood Plan.
• 19/07955/CTREE — Meadle Farm, Meadle Village Road, Meadle. Reduce by 50% to 5 meters to 1 x Walnut (T1), reduce to a height of 3 meters and trim back side as screen to Plum and Laurel (GP2), reduce height by around 50% to height of 4.5 meters and clip back side growth to more compact size and shape to 1 x Leyland Cypress (T3), remove low growth to raise crown to 2 meters to 1 x Yew (T4), coppice tree to 0.5 meter coppice stool to 1 x Hazel (T5), remove lowest limb and raise crown over drive to 5 meters and give tree balance to 1 x Lime (T6), reduce a standing trunk of 4.5 meters to 1 x Ash (T7) and reduce a standing trunk of 4.5 meters to 1 x Ash (T8). Referred to the arborist for expert comment.

18. FINANCE

The following accounts for payment were reviewed and approved:

Receipts November 2019: Interest £11.31.

19. RESPONSES TO CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED

None.

20. REPORTS FROM COUNCILLORS ATTENDING MEETINGS ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL

Cllr Walker highlighted his attendance at the recent WDALC meeting. Minutes will be duly circulated upon receipt.

21. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING.

Budget 2020/21, Precept, Web Development, Risk Review (Feb), Events for anniversaries of Playing Fields (50), Village Hall (30), and MUGA installation.

22. NEXT MEETING

21st January 7.00pm Longwick Village Hall.

There being no further business the meeting closed at 9.20pm.