PARISH OF STOKENCHURCH

Minutes of the Meeting of the Parish Council held on Wednesday 2nd October 2013

at Longburrow Hall at 7.30pm.

Attendees: Mrs Baker (Acting Chairman), Mrs Cripps, Mr Conran, Mr Jones, Mr Elliott, Mr Parkinson, Mr Saunders, Mrs Nuthall, Mr Davis, Mr Thomas, Mr Hawkins (Clerk), Cllr Etholen and 5 members of the public.

1.  Apologies. Apologies were received from Mr Penny, Cllr Neudecker and Cllr Gibbs.

2.  Declarations of Interest. Cllr Nuthall declared an interest in one item in Bills Payable, ie the payment to John Lee Construction.

3.  Minutes. It was agreed by all present at that meeting that the Minutes of 18th September 2013 be approved.

4.  Matters Arising. Following the decision not to proceed with the investigation by Low Carbon Chilterns (LCC) into the feasibility of installing solar panels at the Longburrow playing field, the Chairman of LCC has asked to meet with the Finance Committee again to look at leasing options. It was agreed that all funding opportunities should be considered, and Clerk to arrange meeting. Another incident of fly tipping at Horsleys Green has been dealt with. Mrs Nuthall pointed out that new licencing arrangements for scrap metal dealers and collectors might mean more are tempted to fly-tip to avoid costs and paperwork.

5.  Reports and Actions. Mr Hawkins and Mr Cripps visited Oxford IT Solutions to witness a demonstration of the new SMS upgrade for the website. This seemed satisfactory, and a test copy has been provided for further exploration over the next week or so, prior to a final decision on purchase. Mrs Nuthall has spoken with the developers at the Studley Arms who undertake to restore the grassy triangle by the roadside before going off site.

6.  Notification of Parish Matters. 1914 commemorations, parking problems, and the War Memorial grounds.

7.  Planning

·  07199 Householder application for construction of single storey side/rear extension at 46 Marlow Road. (Allinson). No objection, agreed unanimously.

·  07288 Outline application for demolition of existing dwellings & erection of 3 curved terraces if 5 x 4-bed dwellings with rear dormers (15 in total) with details of access, layout & scale, central amenity space, associated parking & landscaping at Falcon Court & Bangalore, Wycombe Road.(Giles). A mixed response was evident, with Councillors appreciating the scale of the proposed development and aware that it is in the Conservation Area. It was agreed to defer until the next meeting and publicise the application on the website and Facebook.

·  07289 Listed Building application for replacement windows. Formation of opening between kitchen and family room. Removal of brick porch and rehanging of front door and incorporation of new internal glazed door at Old Beckings, Horsleys Green. (Gardiner). Mr Jones pointed out that the applicant has worked with WDC on this and adapted the planned alterations to accord with the guidance offered. No objection, agreed unanimously.

·  07360 Householder application for removal of existing timber fence to frontage and erection of new front boundary wall with timber panels and timber gates at 45 Marlow Road. (Daley). No objection, agreed unanimously.

8.  District and County Councillors: Cllr Etholen brought news that, given the 41% cut in funding to BCC in recent years with more to come, next year would inevitably see an increase in Council Tax, it is basically a case of “how much?” BCC are considering the best way to ask Council Tax payers their opinions on this, perhaps by means of a referendum in the new year. A referendum is required if an increase over 2% is contemplated. A second two-deck bus has been laid on to solve the problems experienced by many children on school runs to Marlow.

9.  Finance: Bills Payable to the amount of £3,845.58 were approved for payment unanimously. The Clerk read a letter from Sue Ryder Nettlebed Hospice asking the Council to consider making a direct donation to help them care for local people including patients from Bucks. It was suggested that a donation of £100.00 be made, as was the case last year, and this was agreed unanimously.

10.  Correspondence: From Darren Hayday, Councillor WDC. Actively pursuing the adoption of a 30mph speed limit on Old Dashwood Hill, has carried out some traffic speed surveys using police radar equipment. From Val Wright, Red Kite Housing. To develop better links with the local community, an event to be held at their offices on Kingsmead Business Park in High Wycombe at 6.30pm on Thursday November 6th 2013.

11.  Four Horseshoes Mr West indicated recently that the development could be finished within the next six weeks. Mr Phillips asked the Council to consider asking the police to move Mr Caglar along the road from in front of the parking bays. Councillors noted that Mr Caglar’s positioning of his van has been somewhat variable of late, but in any case declined to press the matter further, as he has complied with the request to leave the Common. The Clerk reported that our solicitor has been instructed to close the file.

12.  Travellers sites. Nothing to report.

13.  Vantage land. Nothing to report.

14.  Commons. Mrs Baker read a short piece from today’s Daily Mail, where Kate Ashbrook of the Open Spaces Society was claiming that recent changes to the law made some Greens and sports pitches vulnerable to development. The playing field at the Stokenchurch Centre would be a good example, and though thought to be owned by BCC, investigation on the best way to safeguard this would be prudent.

15.  Cemetery The contractors working at the Church have agreed to reinstate the ground damaged by their vehicles and have reseeded the area. There is still to be resolved the matter of the fence dismantled for access. The Parish Warden suggested to the contractor that simply cobbling the pieces back together would not be acceptable and that new fencing should be installed.

16.  Social media. Mrs Nuthall reported that the Facebook page for the Council was up and running and drawing some interest. It is expected that this will grow as word gets around.

17.  Other Parish Matters Mr Davis thought that the Council should be actively involved in marking the 2014 Centenary of the start of the Great War, and suggested a rose garden of remembrance by the War Memorial. He already has a sponsor for £200, and a seat is promised too. Mr Davis wants to get a small committee together with representatives from the Library, the Memorial Hall Social Club, and the Allotment holders Association, who have agreed to assist with the garden. Mr Elliott suggested contacting the British Legion based in Radnage. Mrs Cripps asked that the upkeep of the area around the War Memorial be regarded as a priority at all times. Mr Saunders noted that a few large commercial vehicles were parking overnight in a dangerous position at the Oxford Road junction with Church Street. Councillors were asked to note any phone number or Company addresses so that we might contact to object. The Clerk reported that the anticipated road safety works at CJ Stores was likely to be delayed but no date set, except that it had to be delivered by 31/03/2014. Cllr Etholen seeing Si Khan tomorrow and will press our case with her. Mr Cockerill asked that the dangerously overhanging trees at Studley Green be attended to as a matter of urgency: Clerk to report to BCC.

The Parish Church of SS Peter and Paul has a weekend of celebrations marking its reopening after 6 months refurbishment. Lane End speed awareness week was declared a success by the Police, and it was agreed to look into the arrangements required to stage something similar in Stokenchurch. Clerk to speak to Neighbourhood Action Group.

There being no further business the meeting ended at 8.50pm.