PRESENT:     Councillor A R Green (in the Chair)

APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs K M Draper, P Morris and M Yasin. Best wishes for a speedy recovery were expressed for Councillor Mrs Draper. Apologies were also received from Ms Shelly Ford, Town Centre Manager.

23.     MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 16 MARCH 2004

24.     DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

     Councillor M A Karim declared a personal interest in Minute no 30 because a close family member was in the Wycombe taxi business. He remained in the meeting but did not take part in the discussion.

25.    TOWN CENTRE MANAGER – INTRODUCTION AND PRESENTATION

This item was postponed to the next meeting.

The Committee discussed a request to support proposals for a pedestrian crossing to be provided in John Hall Way in the vicinity of Nancy Hall Court. Support from the Committee would enable the proposal to be put to the Wycombe Local Committee for consideration within the scope of its delegated budgetary powers.

It was agreed that the volume of traffic along John Hall Way and the current lack of any crossing facility were causing great concern to local residents and that a crossing facility was needed as a matter of some urgency.

There was also discussion of the need for a further crossing facility in Holmers Farm Way to assist access to the ASDA and John Lewis stores. Whilst there was general agreement on the benefits that a crossing in Holmers Farm Way would bring, there was uncertainty about the effect that the proposed Cressex Island redevelopment might have on future road planning in the area. It was agreed that this proposal should be investigated in more detail and presented for further consideration at a later meeting.

27.     CONTROL OF ROOSTING PIGEONS

Members considered the report outlining the continuing problems caused by the pigeon population in the town centre, particularly in connection with public health matters and cleansing costs. Problems persisted and complaints continued, despite efforts over many years to reduce the size of the pigeon flock by trapping and by investment in pigeon-proofing and deterrent measures for buildings and car parks.

A nesting box scheme was proposed, which would enable eggs to be removed from nesting sites provided specifically for this purpose. This scheme, which was recommended by the Pigeon Control Advisory Service (PICAS), had proved very successful elsewhere in offering a humane and effective means for reducing pigeon numbers.

Various additional solutions were considered, including use of contraceptive feed and birds of prey. However, it was confirmed that contraceptive feed had not been licensed for use in the UK and that birds of prey would tend to move the pigeons around the town centre but would not provide any permanent solution. It was agreed, however, that efforts should continue to be made to discourage pigeon feeding and to reduce the nuisance caused by the dropping of food litter.

It was explained that measures to implement a nesting box scheme would need to be based on specialist advice from PICAS and it was agreed that PICAS should be approached to undertake a survey and offer a recommended course of action for the Wycombe problem. The cost of such a survey was estimated to be approximately £450 and this expense could be met from existing budgets. The likely cost of implementing the PICAS recommendations was more difficult to estimate at this stage but was thought to be in the order of £4,000 with servicing costs possibly amounting to £6,000 per annum. Implementation costs, once known, would be subject to Service Pressure Bid procedures in the usual way.

(ii) the Cabinet Member for the Environment be invited to support any reasonable Service Pressure Bid for implementing PICAS recommendations for the control of pigeons in the town centre.

The Committee discussed an Update Report outlining progress of proposals to extend pedestrianisation to 24 hours daily. These proposals had received strong support from the Town Centre Partnership and consultations were shortly to commence with the Police and with Shopmobility. In this latter connection it was noted that Shopmobility had no plans to consider Sunday operations at present or in the foreseeable future. There was disappointment that full implementation of the further pedestrianisation measures might take up to 2 years to complete, owing to legal considerations and priorities elsewhere.

Measures to promote pedestrian priority in Frogmoor were also discussed and proposals to reduce traffic in this area were considered, including the implementation of Traffic Orders to limit access to buses and taxis.

     RESOLVED: That (i) Bucks County Council (BCC) be advised of the Committee’s continuing keenness to see pedestrianisation in the town centre extended as soon as possible; and

(ii) options to restrict vehicular access in Frogmoor to taxis and buses only be raised with BCC.

29.    TAXI ACCESS IN HIGH WYCOMBE

The report on taxi waiting areas in the town centre was discussed, outlining the background to current efforts to improve taxi rank space and positioning in the Frogmoor area. It was explained that in order to cater for the expected increase in taxi numbers, additional taxi waiting spaces would need to be in place before the recently agreed de-regulation measures could be implemented. Consultations with BCC and the Police were in progress to this end. Under the new measures, new licences would only be granted for use by London-style taxi cabs. However, vehicles currently licensed could be replaced by saloon-style vehicles, provided these displayed the appropriate chevron stickers and carried the requisite roof sign. New proposals were likely early next year following the publication of government research into best options for future taxi regulation.

It was confirmed that the suggestion that taxis should be able to make use of the area in front of the Marks and Spencer store had been raised with BCC on a number of occasions but that it had been turned down for safety reasons. The suggestion was made that a review of current taxi waiting locations might be useful to highlight areas where existing spaces were not currently used.

30.   DESBOROUGH ROAD RECREATION GROUND

An update report was reviewed outlining attempts to re-develop the former Mill End Road School Canteen site, at the north east corner of the Desborough Recreation Ground, for the provision of affordable housing. It was hoped that one outcome of the proposed redevelopment would be a Section 106 contribution towards the cost of building replacement changing rooms and toilet facilities. There was disappointment that redevelopment of the Canteen site had taken so long to resolve. Difficulties in attracting bids for the redevelopment were explained and the Council was unable to pursue other options while negotiations with the sole bidder continued.

It was agreed that provision of toilet facilities for the recreation ground was long overdue and that there was an obligation on the Council to provide them. The former tennis changing rooms were thought unlikely to be suitable for change of use, due to their lack of insulation and windows and it was agreed that, if funds did not permit full changing facilities to be provided, then at the very least toilet facilities should be considered.

     RESOLVED: That the Committee recommend that Section 106 monies raised from the redevelopment of the School Canteen site be set aside for use towards the provision of replacement changing room and toilet facilities.

31.    TOWN CENTRE REDEVELOPMENT

The Committee reviewed an update report outlining the progress of plans for the town centre redevelopment. It was explained that, with the exception of the Arriva and Iceland properties, possession of properties under the Compulsory Purchase Order had been completed. In addition, structural and archaeological surveys were also complete and contamination survey work was underway.

The programme for development was on course to provide an on-site start date for the new Bus Depot (at Cressex) in January 2005, followed by an on-site start date for the town centre development in April 2005, with completion estimated at the end of 2007.

The Planning Application would go to Committee on 15 September 2004 and a Members’ Briefing was planned for later in the month.

32.    MARKET TRADERS CONTRACT TASK AND FINISH GROUP

The Minutes of the first meeting of the Market Traders Task and Finish Group held on 5 August 2004 were reviewed. It was stated that the meeting was likely to be the first of a series to review all aspects relating to the renewal of the Market Traders’ contract from 2005.

It was mentioned that proposals were under consideration for the creation of a seating area under Little Market House, possibly glazed and it was agreed that the Task and Finish Group should be brought into these deliberations.

There was general agreement that the existing market did not meet expectations and that consideration of options for improvement was timely.

33.  REVIEW OF CEMETERY CHARGES – TASK AND FINISH GROUP

The Committee received a progress report on the work of the Task and Finish Group looking into the future charging structure for burials, including options looking towards a full recovery of costs. Discussions with the Wycombe Mosque Committee were in hand to investigate propositions for burials acceptable to the Muslim Community and a further meeting of the Task and Finish Group would take place once consultations with the Mosque Committee were complete. The Task and Finish Group aimed to present its recommendation to the High Wycombe Town Committee on 3 November 2004.

34.     HIGH WYCOMBE TOWN COMMITTEE - WORK PROGRAMME 2004/05

The 2004/05 Work Programme was reviewed. It was agreed that the following items would be added to the Programme for discussion at the next meeting:

35.    INFORMATION SHEETS

Two Information Sheets were received, both relating to Special Expenses:

2/2004     2003/04 Outturn Report

3/2004     1st Quarter’s Budgetary Control Report

The Committee asked about the provision for Footway Lighting in the budget for 2004 /05 and whether new lights in the Desborough Avenue / Deeds Grove area could be accommodated. The background to a cancelled rental invoice in the 2003 / 04 summary was also queried and it was agreed that answers to both questions would be given in reports presented to the next meeting.

___________________

CHAIRMAN

The following officers were in attendance at the meeting:-

Mr J B Piddington               Chief Financial Officer

Mr M Fish                Principal Engineer

Miss M Griffiths               Senior Valuer

Mrs C Herries-Smith               Principal Solicitor

Mr J Smith                   Assistant Divisional Environmental

Mrs D Davis               Committee Services