Parish Meeting Minutes

LONGWICK-cum-ILMER PARISH COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING HELD 19th APRIL 2016

Present: Councillors, Mrs Valerie McPherson BEM, Mr Brian Richards, Mrs Jane Rogers, Mrs Sally Whitworth, Rolf van Apeldoorn and Mr Ian Walker.

Clerk Mrs Susanne Griffiths, Clerical Assistant Jayne Mylchreest.

6 Parishioners.

1. INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME

Cllr Mrs Valerie McPherson welcomed everyone and introduced the Parish Councillors, the Clerk and Clerical Assistant.

2. REPORT FROM THE POLICE

Sergeant James Benfield introduced himself. P.C. Andy Ralph reported that the crime statistics are very low for the parish. There have not been any reports of anti-social behaviour. The issue with inconsiderate parking at The Green by parents picking up and collecting children from the school continues to be monitored. Speed Enforcement in the village on the Thame Road and Longwick Road is ongoing.

Sgt. Benfield and P.C. Andy Ralph took questions from a member of the public.

3. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT

Cllr Val McPherson BEM, Chairman of the Longwick-cum-Ilmer Parish Council gave the following report:-

The Parish Council has had a very busy year especially as the application for the Solar Farm at Ilmer was approved after going to appeal.

The Neighbourhood Plan was ongoing throughout the year and into the first part of 2016. It was intended to set out the development framework to shape the future development from 2015 – 2033. The residents were kept informed of progress via an email group; the Parish Council website and information attached to the minutes of each Parish Council meeting.

The Steering Group met a number of times throughout the year to progress the NP for the Parish. An Open Exhibition was held and questionnaires and leaflet drops to everyone. Eventually the NP was submitted to the Examiner after going through an individual Health Check. The report from the Examiner shocked the Parish Council, Wycombe District Council and the Steering Group. A very hard decision was undertaken to withdraw the plan on recommendation from Wycombe District Council as it no longer achieved sustainable development.

Once the decision was taken, the Parish Council decided to hold a Public Meeting on 14 March 2016 to update the residents and businesses of the Parish and to explain the reasons for the withdrawal. The hall was full to capacity and the only consolation was that some of the policies of the Longwick Neighbourhood Plan could be incorporated into the Wycombe District Council Local Plan.

The Remembrance Service was held on 11th November 2015 by the War Memorial was well attended, and a lorry driver who was passing decided to park his large vehicle opposite and joined in the service. The children from Year 6 of Longwick C of E School read out the various poems and this year we had a Bugler from RAF Halton play the last post. Thank you Cllr Rolf van Apeldoorn for arranging this service.

The Parish Carol Service was also well attended. The LOG's led the service by singing various carols and the choirmaster, Neville Trout made sure everyone was in tune. Some of the children from Longwick C of E school joined in with the audience. The refreshments mince pies and stollen cake was well received and served by the W.I after the service. Thank you to Cllr Brian Richards for arranging this service.

Our parishioners decided that they would like to receive a newsletter three times a year but no one wished to take over the role of Editor. The Parish Council decided to do a trial run of commercial advertising and asked Princes Risborough Town Council to help with the production of the newsletter, which has been agreed.

Our War Memorial in Longwick has now been recognised and added to the Statutory List of Buildings of Historic Interest.

Throughout the year we have had complaints regarding speeding, litter, potholes and fly tipping in our lay–bys especially on the Thame Road where large amounts of soil had been dumped plus other rubbish and tyres at the Lower Icknield Way end.

The Parish Council agreed to provide a donation for the Village Hall Management for acquiring a defibrillator for use by the community.

Two mother's asked the Parish Council for some new play equipment to replace the ones that were taken away and not replaced in the children's play area. They suggested they would be willing to raise funds towards the cost of purchasing new equipment by holding a quiz night and doing a stall at the Fete. The quiz has already taken place and they raised an excellent sum of £715. The Parish Council has also been successful in its application to "Tesco's Community Grants" for funding new Playground equipment which will be installed during the next year.

A litter pick was arranged by the LOG's to coincide with "Clean for the Queen 90th Birthday Celebration" which took place on 5th March 2016. The scouts, WI, Log's and some Councillors joined together to clear rubbish from the village and hamlets. This was a great success.

Planning applications so far: 42 Received, 31 Permitted, 5 refused and 2 Appeals.

We have had a number of Planning applications throughout the year but one that stood out and caused waves across the village was the Gladman's application for originally 175 dwellings and then revised to 160 dwellings. This application has now gone to Appeal, which has taken place over the course of the last 7 days at Wycombe District Council Chambers. At least 30 residents appeared on Tuesday 12 March along with Cllr Jane Rogers and I at the start of the proceedings and a steady flow have continued. On Wednesday afternoon I spoke on behalf of the Parish Council giving our reasons for the objections of this application. We wait to hear the outcome.

Once again I would like to say thank you to our Parish Clerk Susanne Griffiths for all her advice and help and keeping us all updated on news across the District and County, and also to Jayne Mylchreest, who is Sue's assistant. She helps with the administration and Parish council meetings minutes.

There is a vacancy on the Parish Council and WDC has just advised that that a by-election has not been requested and that the Parish Council may go ahead and advertise the vacancy to fill by co-option. Please contact the Clerk for information if you are interested in joining the Parish Council.

4. REPORT FROM COUNTY COUNCILLOR BILL BENDYSHE-BROWN ON COUNTY MATTERS CONCERNING LONGWICK-CUM-ILMER

Cllr Bill Bendyshe-Brown gave a report on the following:-

Bucks County Council Budgets. There has been a 1.7 million pound overspend. Health and Wellbeing accounts for 40% of the budget spent. Children's services 17%.

Roads. The potholes on Ilmer Road are to be repaired in the next two months. Two applications for YSIS (formerly known as VAS's) have been offered for Chestnut Way and Thame Road. Fly tipping in the lay-by's has now been removed. Blocked drains and culverts have been cleared to alleviate the flooding on Bar Lane. The ditch by the scout hut is to be cleared and the pavement resurfaced.

Pavements. The pavement on Longwick Road has now been resurfaced. There is a pavements programme and any issues are to be reported so that these can be included in the programme.

Police. The Police station are to consider relocating their office to the Fire Station in Princes Risborough. The Crime Commissioners' election is to take place on the 5th May 2016.

Cllr B Bendyshe-Brown answered questions from the members of the public and Councillors.

5. PARISH ACCOUNTS AND PRECEPT

Copies of the Estimates Summary which showed the actual spend £24,218.42 against the budget £28,151 in the financial year 2015/2016 and the proposed budget for the year 2016/2017 of £28,163 were distributed to the members of the public.

Vice-Chairman Cllr Brian Richards explained the makeup of the precept. The Parish Council has requested an amount of £22,890 which is an increase of 9.2 %. This equates to £33.63 for the year for each band D property in the parish.

The increase of just under £1900.00 is required to fund the following:- An additional edition of the Newsletter; to contribute to the upgrade of equipment and surfacing in the play area.

The District Council will give a reduced grant of £209.00 in response to the reduction in tax base for the Localised Council Tax Scheme. This is likely to be reduced again next year.

Cllr Brian Richards finished his report by saying that he hoped the residents of the Parish had approved of the expenditure of the Parish Council and that the Councillors welcome any feedback.

6. OPEN FORUM

There being no further questions, the meeting closed at 7.35p.m.