← Parish Meeting

Parish Meeting Minutes - 15 Apr 1997

Minutes of the Longwick-cum-Ilmer Parish Meeting on 15th Apr 1997.

[Handwritten Note] PLANNING APPS 1996-7

Considered by PC Accepted (no objections) 8 Conditional (no objections, but..) 11 Objected 18 --- 37

Decisions by WDC Unconditional Permission. 2 Conditional Permission. 20 Refusal. 5 Determination still awaited. 8 Application Withdrawn 1 --- 36

[Sticky Note attached] Brian For incorporation in your report to the APM Jim M 30/3

Receipts and Payments Account - FY 1996-97 (as at 12/3/97) Balance at 1 Apr 96: Cash in Bank £5,334.92

Surplus/Deficit: £4,917.99 Less Reserves: £2,500.00 Balance Available: £2,417.99 * = inc VAT

Receipts and Payments Account - FY 1996-97 (as at 31/12/96) Balance at 1 Apr 96: Cash in Bank £5,334.92

Surplus/Deficit: £4,981.67 Less Reserves: £2,500.00 Balance Available: £2,481.67 * = inc VAT

Receipts and Payments Account - FY 1996-97 (as at 19/11/96) Balance at 1 Apr 96: Cash in Bank £5,334.92

Surplus/Deficit: £4,681.79 Less Reserves: £2,500.00 Balance Available: £2,181.79 * = inc VAT

Income & Expenditure Account - FY 1996-97 (as at 22/9/96) Balance at 1 Apr 96: Cash in Bank £5,334.92

Surplus/Deficit: £4,264.00 Less Reserves: £2,500.00 Balance Available: £1,764.00

Income & Expenditure Account - FY 1996-97 (as at 15/7/96) Balance at 1 Apr 96: Cash in Bank £5,334.92

Surplus/Deficit: £4,234.77 Less Reserves: £2,500.00 Balance Available: £1,734.77

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING - 8 APR 97 RECORD OF ATTENDANCE

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF LONGWICK-CUM-ILMER PARISH HELD AT LONGWICK VILLAGE HALL ON TUESDAY, 15TH APRIL 1997 AT 8.00PM

Present: Mr B W Butler (Chairman) Mr J V Maude (Secretary) Cllrs Mrs Brock, Mrs Priestley, Mrs Rogers, Mr Harper, Mr Lawrence and Mr Walker. Also present were David Turner and Sally Wright (WDC) and 5 electors of the Parish.

1. MINUTES. The Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on 16th April 1996 were read, confirmed and signed.

2. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. It has been a busy year with a number of notable events. Firstly the completion of 6 properties of affordable housing by the Warden Housing Association, built under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. We are pleased to see that the first tenants moved into their new homes, next to Chapel Cottage in Thame Road, in March. Thanks are due to Jane Rogers and Jim Maude who gave the project impetus in the early days.

Whilst talking of housing, the Parish Council has considered 37 planning applications; it has objected to 11 and suggested conditions be placed on 8. Decisions by the Planning Authority, Wycombe District Council (WDC), gave permission for 22, usually with conditions, refused 5, and 1 application was withdrawn. The Parish has 4 Conservation Areas, at Horsenden, Ilmer, Meadle and Owlswick. WDC has prepared Conservation Surveys for these areas, and the Parish Council commented on the drafts.

Turning now to environmental matters, Parish Councillors planted a further 20 trees during National Tree Week last November; these trees had been provided by Bucks County Council (BCC). BCC also provided material, and a labour grant, for resurfacing parts of Footpaths 4, 5 and 7 in the Parish. Parishioners have continued to walk all our footpaths to ensure they are maintained in a good state of repair. Jane Rogers has completed the design of a Parish Paths Map, and this is with BCC awaiting publication. BCC have advised that the Waste Transfer Facility near Gommes Mill is no longer used, and the licence has been withdrawn. The Bottle Banks in the lay-by on Thame Rd at the northern end of the Parish are well used, and we are awaiting WDC to provide a Can Bank at the same location.

Moving on to transport, which again has caused concern. A special Parish Meeting was held last June to debate proposals by Central Railways Ltd for a freight line through our Parish. A majority of Councillors voted to oppose the scheme, which was subsequently rejected by the House of Commons last July. Parishioners have continued to be concerned about traffic on Thame Road. The Parish Council was in correspondence with BCC last April, which concluded that traffic flows and speeds did not meet minimum criteria for pedestrian crossings, although they might just meet recently revised criteria for traffic calming. Calming was subsequently raised at the BCC Highways and Road Safety Committee, where it was found that finance would not be available for a scheme in Longwick, as there were areas with higher priority. However, the Local Government and Rating Act 1997 received Royal Assent this March; this Act gives Parish Council powers to raise finance, through the Parish Precept, for traffic calming amongst other things. The Parish Council has not met since this Act became law. There will have to be consultation with the Highway Authority (BCC), and during the next year the Parish Council will consider what options are available, but any action will result in a higher charge on Parishioners.

The next area I would like to mention is Policing. You are probably aware that the Thames Valley Police have issued a discussion document for the re-organisation of the police areas, following Milton Keynes becoming a Unitary Authority. One of the proposals is that our Parish will move into the High Wycombe police area. We have studied these proposals, and as it appears that policing within our Parish will be at least as good as at present, we have supported this move.

Now on to leisure. The Parish Council has continued to support the Village Hall Management Committee, who are to be congratulated on their recent improvements to the kitchen and bar areas. The Parish Council has continued to maintain the Playing Field, with the support of the Sports Club. You will have seen that the Parish Council has had a fence erected to separate the playing field from the car parking area, and recently lighting has been added to provide a lighted footway to the Village Hall. It is proposed that we will lease Dog Waste Bins, in an effort to provide a more pleasant Playing Field. The childrens' Play Area has seen further

improvements, with the installation of a new scramble net and, for younger children, we have installed an elephant and a fish. We have contracted for some additional safety surfacing to be installed beneath the climbing frame; this is an attempt to prevent further injury to children who may fall from this play equipment, and should be installed next month.

All these items cost money, and it has therefore been necessary to increase the Parish Precept for 1997/8.

The Millenium is less than 3 years away, and we should be trhinking if we, as a Parish, wish to celebrate its arrival. We have details of a number of grants that may be available, but proposals need to be developed now if grants are to be obtained. If anyone would like a copy of these schemes, please let me know. Perhaps you would like a less ambitious event; let us hear what you would like to do to mark the occasion locally.

Finally, I would like to thank all Parish Councillors, and also our Parish Clerk, Jim Maude, for all their support throughout the year, and on your behalf to thank them for all the tasks they undertake for you.

3. PAROCHIAL CHARITY ACCOUNTS.

The accounts of The Princes Risborough Charity for 1996, and The Monks Risborough Charities for 1995 and 1996, had not been received by the Parish Clerk, and could not therefore be tabled at the Meeting.

4. ACCOUNTS 1996/7 & PRECEPT 1997/8

Mr Maude placed before the Meeting the Statement of Accounts 1996/7 of the Parish Council (see Annex), and advised the Meeting that the Parish Precept for 1997/8 would be £7666.00.

5. WDC WASTE PLANNING.

Sally Wright, the Waste Manager at WDC explained waste management policies and plans in WDC. She emphasised the environmental need for a significant reduction in 'throw-away' waste (currently in WDC 50,000 tons of waste per year went to landfill, 2/3rds of it organic waste), and the need to promote recycling to reduce future landfill requirements. The Environmental Protection Act 1990 had introduced legislation (eg against littering) and stated the requirement to recycle 25% of waste by 2000 (WDC current rate - 7.5%). The Landfill Tax, introduced in Oct 96, made a charge on all waste producers of £7 per ton sent for landfill; the money to be used for environmental improvement schemes. Thus, the need was to: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE, and incinerate to produce ENERGY, before thinking of LANDFILL. WDC paper recycling from doorsteps was working well, and a 'home composting' scheme was shortly to be started. Following her talk, Sally answered questions from the floor.

6. "WYCOMBE 2011".

David Turner, Head of Policy and Economic Development at WDC gave a short outline of how Governmental and County Planning Policies impacted on the District, and led to the present perceived future housing allocation of 7200 houses in WDC. This housing would need new land allocations for some 2400 houses between 2001 and 2011; 1500/1700 houses in urban High Wycombe and 700/900 in rural areas. Of a number of options currently tabled, some involved housing developments in Princes Risborough (500/600 houses) and Longwick (up to 100 houses). A major Public Consultation period was planned for May/June 1997, starting with a Public Exhibition and Consultation in Longwick Village Hall on 13 May 97 between 7.00pm and 8.00pm. Following his address, David answered questions from the floor.

7. QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR.

Ms Priscilla Ind, 2 Jubilee Cottages, Thame Road, again raised the concerns regarding traffic on Thame Road. The Chairman reiterated his previous statements (see above) and advised that the Parish Council was still awaiting sight of the BCC reply to the recent letter from our MP, David Lidington, and would continue to pursue all avenues within its power to try to improve the situation and lessen local concerns.

There being no other questions, the Chairman thanked the Guest Speakers, and the Meeting closed at 9.40pm.

[Signature: B. W. Butler] 21 APR 98

ANNEX

LONGWICK-cum-ILMER PARISH COUNCIL

STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS - 1996/7