COLDHARBOUR PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of a Meeting of Coldharbour Parish Council held at the Fairford Leys Centre, Hamden Square at 8pm on 6th March, 2014

Present: Cllrs Cole (Chairman), Pattinson, Hughes, Lambert, Yates, Jarvis, Whittaker,

Martin, Heberer

Mr Keith Gray (Clerk to the Council)

2 ResidentsMrs C Lambert (Bucks Herald)

  1. Apologies for Absence

To receive and accept apologies for absence notified to the Chairmanor Clerk

RESOLVED: To receive and accept apologies for absence from Cllrs Claire Hughes (family commitment) and Nikki Eastwood (family commitment).

  1. Declarations of Interest

To receive any pecuniary or non-pecuniary declarations of interest

No declarations made

  1. Minutes of the Previous Full Council Meeting 6/2/14

RESOLVED: To accept and sign the minutes of 6/2/14 as a true record.

  1. Clerk’s Report

To receive a report from the Clerk on matters dealt with and taking forward

on behalf of the parish council

  • Planning Application decision from AVDC – 14/00089/APP and 13/02694/APP
  • Community Rights Workshop
  • Thefts from Fairford Leys (plant pots)

RESOLVED: The Chairman to suspend Standing Orders to allow questions from the public and any reports from councillors

Haretwell

  1. Questions from the Public & Reports
  • Resident raised the matter of speeding vehicles and the MVAS on Arncott Way
  • Cllr Martin reported that he had toured the village during the wet weather and was pleased to see that the flood defences on Fairford Leys worked as planned with the Hartwell Ditch can Riverine pathways taking the excess water. Whilst this was positive it was still necessary to keep an eye on these defences and make sure the riverine and adjoining areas were cleared of rubbish and debris that could lead to flooding.
  • Cllr Lambert (BCC) gave the following report:

HS2: Bucks County Council are supporting communities with petitioning workshops our area one is 10th March, 6pm at Buckinghamshire County Council offices, Walton Street, Aylesbury, HP20 1UY. This will be popular so places must be booked by emailing with ‘Petitioning workshop’ in the email title. Don’t forget the Buckinghamshire County Council petitioning guide can also be found here:

I highlighted the importance of the ‘Land Bridge’ mitigation scheme to Aylesbury West at the recent County Council Cabinet meeting, where they approved the ‘Buckinghamshire Blueprint’. The comprehensive range ofmitigation and compensation measures are designed to work together to lessen some of the impacts of a high speed rail line running through Buckinghamshire. The big 'asks'for Aylesbury West includes:

Mitigation for residents on western edge of Aylesbury such as Fairford Leys, Walton Court, Hawkslade and east of Hartwell. Noise mitigation must not be confined to just barriers and earthworks. A green tunnel should be provided for route to the rear of Isis Close and Oat Close - A Land Bridge at Hartwell House- Fairford Leys - The Blueprint document can be found at

Transport for Bucks now has a pothole blog!

TfB now has a blog for information on potholes and other road repair work. They have created it to provide a short, friendly weekly update about what we’re doing on the roads. It is still in its infancy, and it won’t cover every single pothole they’ve worked on. But hopefully you should find it a useful insight into what we get up to each week on the roads! The blog can be found at Don’t forget they also have a twitter account too - @tfbalerts

Tell TfB! If you spot a pothole that requires repair, report it so that it can be inspected and scheduled for repair. Use their online report form, or call it into the contact centre – 0845 230 2882
Road Repairs: Last month (January) TfB repaired 4,431 potholes, before focusing solely on flooding issues during February, of which 2,381 were in need of urgent repair.The following areas locally were 'joint sealed' last week: Oxford Road/Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, Oxford Road/Coldharbour Way roundabout, Aylesbury and Oxford Road/Ellen Road roundabout, Aylesbury. While it is not a full repair it does fill ‘pothole lines’, which generally appear on roundabouts and dual carriage ways.

Flooding on the Willows estate: The Southern Brook leads into Fairford Leys at Markham Close, On Friday 7th Feb, the brook on the Willows Estate burst its banks. The Coldharbour flood defences worked, though they were at capacity, and there was flooding on the school playing fields and Allotments – as they are supposed to. Investigations are being carried out as to the cause, but it is very likely to have been poor maintenance of the Brook by the Environment Agency and Riparian landowners.

The whole stretch of water leading into Fairford leys has been cleared of a large amount of silt; fly tipped waste such as a mattress, carpet, a sofa, for sale signs and garbage, as well as a large amount of vegetation and fallen trees that had created dams. There is still work to be done on the Hartwell and Bearbrook riverine corridors and this is being scheduled soon.

In the light of this incident, Bucks CC and AVDC have also changed their approach to sandbag provision. Now Transport for Bucks will procure, fill, store and distribute bags in one single, simple, operation for any area affected by flooding. I have also attached a ‘what to do in the event of Flooding’ information sheet for display on your notice boards.

Community Rights Workshop 26 March 6.30pm – 8.30pm (registration and refreshments from 6.00pm). A workshop is being run by the DCLG in Buckinghamshire to promote the effective use of the Community Rights. Issues covered include neighbourhood planning, community assets, community right to bid, challenge and shares. You can register on eventbrite. or alternatively contact Louise Willis either by email or by calling 01296 382241.

Fire Authority: The Fire Authority members voted unanimously to not increase their element of Council Tax this year. The rate will therefore remain at £59.13 (£1.14 per week) for a Band D household.

  • Cllr Pattinson stated that she agreed with Cllr Martin that it was important to ensure the flood defences were kept in good order and that the landowners made sure the areas were looked after. AVDC are responsible for the riverine corridor.
  • Cllr Cole reported that he had visited the allotment site and noticed that the parish council maintenance team had made safe the large fallen branch on the large tree in the allotments. He also reported some weather damage to sheds as well as the flooding and the need to ensure the areas were kept free of rubbish building up.

RESOLVED: The Chairman to reconvene meeting under Standing Orders

  1. HS2

To discuss the current situation with the HS2 proposal and agree any actions

No further matters to report

  1. HS2 Petition

Formally discuss the proposal to petition against HS2 and complete the necessary documentation for this petition.

RESOLVED: That the following Resolutions be made by the Council:

(1)That in the Judgement of Coldharbour Parish Council it is expedient for the Council to oppose the High Speed Rail (London – West Midlands) Bill introduced in the Session of Parliament 2013-14.

(2)That Mr Keith Gray, Clerk to the Council, takes all necessary steps to carry the forgoing Resolution into effect, that the common seal be affixed to any necessary documents and that confirmation be given that a Parliamentary Agent chosen by the Parish Council be authorised to sign the Petition of the Council against the Bill.

(3)That the Chairman, Cllr Cole, and Cllr Lambert speak to a prospective Parliamentary Agent to represent the parish council and enquire about the funding.

(4)That the Chairman of the Council (with advice from the Clerk) to call an extraordinary meeting if required to make decisions on the appointment of the Parliamentary Agent and agree any other matters relating to the above resolutions.

  1. Decisions by the Resources & PersonnelCommittee and Leisure Committee Meetings

Council is asked to receive and approve the minutes & decisions of the above Standing Committees. Minutes of the committees have been copied to all councillors.

RESOLVED: To receive and accept minutes from the Leisure and Finance Committees as copied to all councillors.

  1. Finances and Orders for Payment

RESOLVED: To agree and authorise the following orders and retrospective orders forpayment:

  • JewsonMaintenance£30.49

£36.53

  • 123 ConnectWebsite Domain£112.80
  • Haddenham garden CentreMaintenance£45.99
  • Safe & SoundPlaygrounds£13.20
  • Briants of RisboroughMaintenance£144.06
  • George BrownsMaintenance£6.04
  • Keith GrayExpenses£90.00
  • Cllr S PattinsonColdharbour News£24.99
  • Sign WizzardSignage£80.64
  • AoN InsuranceVehicle Insurance£1,800.94
  • Fresh Design & PrintColdharbour News£1,835.15
  • Fairford Leys CentreTransfer of Funds£3,000.00
  • Jones & CocksMaintenance£226.20
  • George Browns LtdMaintenance£12.04
  • AoN InsuranceAnnual Insurance£6,490.53
  • Jan TurnerReimbursement£95.00
  • Lushh DigitalWebsite£900.00
  • Bucks County CouncilSalt bags£1,020.00
  1. Tarmac Repair/Changes

Council to agree the removal of large stones and plants at the corner of the Church on Fairford Leys (near Brightstart) and replace with a tarmac base to enable pedestrian access and vehicle access for annual events in the square such as the Fair. This is to enable vehicles to enter that side of the square (climbing wall). The Church has agreed to the proposal. To install a bollard that can be removed when necessary in order to stop everyday vehicle traffic.

RESOLVED: That the Clerk proceed with the above as detailed and install a drop-down bollard.

  1. MVAS

Council to consider another purchase of an MVAS machine with money donated from the Ward County Councillor.

Cllr S Jarvis gave the following feedback from data information obtained from the MVAS on Fairford Leys.

  • Between 12th and 16th February, 2014 data was collected from the MVAS.
  • Arncott Way, over a 14 day period had 14,500 vehicles travelling on this road leading from Coldharbour Way into Fairford Leys.
  • The fasted speed (10/1/14) between 7pm and 7.30pm was 85mph and 90mph.
  • 20 vehicles were also travelling in excess of 70mph
  • The busiest time of the day for vehicles is between 3pm and 4pm (school time)

During this time 81% of vehicles were travelling at a speed in excess of 30mph

(30-35mph) along Arncott Way.

  • The MVAS is working properly and has been checked by qualified engineers.
  • It is clear that the MVAS is not having any effect on drivers.
  • A proposal is to monitor the MVAS for a further period of time and then hand over the findings to the local police to begin discussions on enforcement against those drivers caught speeding on Fairford Leys.

RESOLVED: That Cllr Jarvis and the Maintenance Team continue to monitor the MVAS and collect data. That the data be brought back to the parish council for a proposal to begin discussions with the police on enforcement and Bucks County Council on possible road safety measures such as speed bumps.

RESOLVED: Not to purchase another MVAS at this moment in time.

  1. Planning Applications

To receive, comment and to either object, support or oppose the following planning

applications: To consider late applications presented by the Clerk.

No applications received but noted that the Clerk, under delegated authority, has given a number of permits for retrospective changes on planning matters to residents on Fairford Leys under the Ernest Cook Trust Covenants.

There being no further business of the Council, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.10pm

Signed: ______Date: ______

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