Parish Meeting Minutes

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING OF LONGWICK-cum-ILMER PARISH MEETING HELD AT LONGWICK VILLAGE HALL ON 20TH APRIL 1999 at 8pm

Present: Cllr.B.Butler, Chairman Mrs Jenny Donnelly, Clerk Cllrs.Mrs Dorothy Brock, Mrs.Pam Priestley, Mrs Jane Rogers Mr George Harper, Mr.Malcolm Lawrence and Mr Ian Walker Also present were Mr Matthew Fox-Tucker from the Bucks Free Press and 31 electors of the Parish

1. INTRODUCTION The Chairman welcomed all those present and introduced himself and Jenny Donnelly, the new Parish Clerk, and all of the Parish Councillors. He went on to explain the aims and objectives of the meeting and outlined the agenda.

2. MINUTES The Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on 21st April 1998 were confirmed and signed.

3. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT At last year's meeting one of the main subjects was the Wycombe District Plan. Little has changed in the last 12 months as far as our Parish is concerned. The Deposit Local Plan has been published and as expected, does not include any housing developments within our Parish, whilst Haddenham remains as the favoured site for sewage treatment when the Princes Risborough works closes. This Plan was one of a number of plans which the Parish Council studied and commented upon during the year. Examples of other plans are, the Bucks County Council Minerals Plan, the Southeast region strategic plan known a SERPLAN, the Thame Valley Local Environment Agency Plan, the Community Health Care Plan, and plans by SUSTRANS for two cycleways through our Parish

During the last year the Parish Council has studies 43 planning applications, it has objected to 14 and suggested conditions on 8. Additionally 2 Certificates of Lawfulness have been commented upon. Wycombe District Council, as the Planning Authority, has given permission to 31 and refused 7. It has also granted one Certificate of Lawfulness and refused 2

The Parish Council is aware of continued concern over safety on our roads. It has arranged for red surfacing to be installed on the road, near to each of the three 40 mph signs, this should be laid shortly. We have also arranged for a kill your speed sign to be installed in Meadle.

Mrs.Jane Rogers has again organised the surveys of our footpaths, this will assist in keeping them in good order. The printing of our Parish Paths map, has been delayed by administrative changes, but I am pleased to report that it has now been produced and one will be delivered to each household shortly. Additionally three large maps will be mounted on display boards and installed at Owlswick, Ilmer and near to the Parish Council notice board outside the Post Office. Congratulations and thanks to both Jane and to Mrs.Lascelles who created the artwork.

The Parish Council has continued to maintain and support village community facilities. The Village Hall Management Committee is to be congratulated on the maintenance of this valuable village facility. Thanks are also due to Mrs.Linda Lawrence who is responsible for bookings and cleaning. The Hall Committee is still looking for a treasurer, any volunteers please speak to George Harper. The Sports Club and the Parish Council continue to maintain the playing field with contractors hired to make regular mowings. The same contractors make strimmings of the edge of the field on three occasions each summer, and regularly empty the rubbish bins and mow the play area. During the winter the Parish Council has planted six trees on the southern side of the play area, these should provide some shade and reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Looking ahead:

1. Our village fete will be held on Saturday 1st May and is again being organised by Mrs.Jane Rogers and her Committee with a dance in the Village Hall in the evening. Thanks to everyone concerned. Please support this event. 2. Thames Water will shortly be cleaning and relining the water pipes within our Parish, they will be informing each affected household about 10 days before work commences. 3. As our Millenium project, the Parish Council has commissioned the making of a video to depict a year in the life of our Parish. Work commenced in January and will continue until the end of the year, with the video being ready for sale in Spring next year. Our village school also has a millennium project. This involves landscaping by the stream next to the Scout Hut. You will have seen the improvement already. Wycombe Rangers are assisting the school with this project. 4. Thanks are due to Malcolm Lawrence who, last summer, made a survey of the use people would make of a bus service in the village. Unfortunately we did not receive any part of the Rural Bus Grant for a service to start in January. The Parish Council has had further discussion with Buckinghamshire County Council who will look again at the survey. At its last meeting, the Parish Council suggested a service from Longwick to the railway station, then to the town centre before returning to Longwick. It was suggested a regular service should run in the rush hour to connect with trains and a skeleton service during the remainder of the day. These suggestions have been passed to Buckinghamshire County Council and we wait to see whether a service will start this year. 5. The final item that may affect us during the next year are proposals concerning the railway. Central Railways have confirmed their intention to put forward new plans for a freight service using the railway line through our Parish. You will remember that the Parish Council objected to previous plans by Central Railways following a meeting in this hall on 19 June 1996. The plans this time also include passenger services and a property protection scheme. Further detail is expected to become available before their case is submitted to Parliament. The Parish Council will debate this subject at the appropriate time.

Finally, I would like to thank every one who has helped our Parish during the last year. In addition to those mentioned previously, Messrs Briants are to be thanked for erecting the fences between the Scout Hut car park and the footpath and also along part of the boundary of the playing field extension. I would also like to thank all the Parish Councillors and Sally Whitworth, who was our clerk until the end of March, for their help and support during the year.

4. PARISH ACCOUNTS AND PRECEPT The Chairman placed before the Meeting a statement of the unaudited Parish Council accounts for the year ended 31 March 1999 and also announced that the Parish Precept for 1999/2000 would be £8189 which is an increase of 3.2% on last year, much in line with inflation. This sum allows for the usual Parish Expenses and also for a further £500 to the Princes Risborough Burial Ground Fund. £920 is allocated for election costs. £1800 is allocated for Parish Council Projects, these are items such as fencing by the stream near to the Scout Hut, footway lighting and traffic calming. There is no need for provision for local Parish Council elections this year as all present Parish Councillors are standing unopposed.

5. PAROCHIAL CHARITY ACCOUNTS The Chairman placed before the Meeting the report and accounts for both the Princes Risborough and Monks Risborough Parochial Charities for year ending 31 March 1999.

6. QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR The overriding subject of interest for questions was that regarding Central Railways and their future plans. Many people of the Parish thought that their lifestyle and that of the environment would be blighted. Much thought provoking discussion, questions and answers flowed between the floor and Chair. Legislation was quoted to help make clear what was possible and what was not.

Two proposals were put forward as a) The Parish should hold a Poll, and b) The Parish Council should convene a special Parish Meeting at a later date to which Mr.David Liddington, our Member of Parliament, could be invited. The Parish Council and anyone interested could gather all the information currently available regarding Central Railways and their plans and present it at the Parish Meeting. This last proposal was adopted by the Meeting with everyone declaring satisfaction at the outcome of the discussion. As there were no further questions, the Chairman thanked everyone for their participation and the Meeting closed at 9.35pm. Tea and coffee was served and informal discussion carried on for some time afterwards.

[Signature: G Harper]