Membership 2004/2005

Chairman:     Councillor A R Green
Vice-Chairman:     Councillor P J Cartwright

Councillors L Ali, P J Cartwright, Mrs L M Clarke, R B Colomb, A Ditta, Mrs K J Dix, Mrs K M Draper, D G Fieldhouse, G Galbraith, A R Green, D J Hayday, A E Hill, M Hussain JP, R A Hussein, M A Karim, Mrs C C Martens, P Morris, R M Raja, Mrs V A Razzaq, Mrs A M Stenner, Ms J D Wassell, Mrs J White and M Yasin.

5.     UPDATE REPORTS

5.1   CLEANLINESS IN THE TOWN CENTRE

Officer Contact:  Richard PowelL  DDI: HW 421456  email:  richard.powell@wycombe.gov.uk

At the last meeting of this Committee Members requested an information item on ‘Cleanliness and Clutter in the Town Centre’.

Town centre cleaning standards have not been changed over the last four years.

The cleaning contractor Verdant (previously Ecovert) is required to bring the area up to standard by 8.00am daily and to maintain this throughout the day.

Various resources are deployed to do this and they vary from day to day dependent upon circumstances.  Guidance on standards is provided through the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse that is published in support of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

A night shift is used to bring the area up to standard by the 8.00am deadline.  This work is however being challenged more frequently as residential use over shops increases and new town centre development of residential accommodation takes place.

Standards are subject to reasonable practicability as in very busy pedestrian areas it may not be possible to use mechanical sweepers and market stalls may limit areas that can be reached.  Washing and gum removal using pressure jetting is usually carried out at night time.

Since the start of the current contract there have been a number of changes including more intensive use of the town and Sunday trading along with the Frogmoor improvement and enhancements.  In addition the display of goods on pavements and street cafés whilst adding to the ambiance of the town centre make cleaning and litter removal more demanding.

Generally the contractor provides a satisfactory level of service.  This was recognised in the CPA review.  It is however difficult to maintain standards using the original resources allowed for whilst covering the extended and increased use.

The extended footway maintenance works and contractors compound have all added to the challenge of maintaining the cleanliness of the area over the past eight months.  The use of mechanical cleaning has been suspended on areas where physical maintenance work has been in progress.  The County Council has advised that the work should be completed by the end of November.

A service pressure bid of £40,000 was submitted last year to enhance cleaning standards in town centre areas across the District but was not agreed.  As a consequence the contractor is unable to enhance resources to respond to the more extensive and intensive use of such areas.

Waste and Cleansing inspectors monitor the area regularly and welcome comments or information in respect of areas that cause concern.

5.2   FOOTWAY LIGHTING AND BUS SHELTERS

Officer Contact:  Richard PowelL  DDI: HW 421456  email:  richard.powell@wycombe.gov.uk

At the last meeting of this Committee Members asked for clarification with regard to the budget and possibility of improving lighting in the Deeds Grove / Desborough Avenue area.

Summary

a)     The budget contains the following provision for the various footway lights on footpaths in private streets and for the repair and maintenance of three bus shelters still in our ownership.

Business Unit  (BU) Costs     £  4,900

Repairs and Maintenance     £  3,600

Electricity               £  1,200

Equipment               £  4,300

                 ______

Total               £14,000    (£9,100 excluding BU costs)

                 ======

b)     The need to use the budget varies dependent upon the number of problems with the lighting columns and the level of vandalism / damage to the bus shelters.

c)     Last year a contribution was made to the County Council to support their lighting improvements scheme in the Desborough Road / Green Street area. The Business Unit charge was reviewed and reduced from £7,800 to £4,900.

d)     The County Council is the street lighting authority for the Deeds Grove / Desborough Avenue area and any work in the area would have to be initiated by them.

e)      An approach was made to the County Council in April this year concerning the footpath that runs from Deeds Grove to Desborough Avenue.  They have now confirmed that a lighting improvement scheme was carried out in the Deeds Grove estate area last year.  The footpath was not included and they have no funding for any further work.

f)     In view of the lack of demand on the budget it would be possible for the Committee to consider recommending funding support to the County Council in respect of upgrading or improving existing lighting provision. The repairs, maintenance and equipment budget is unused at present (£7,900).

g)     The approximate cost of replacing an existing column at an existing location is around £1,000. New locations will cost more due to the need to provide a power supply.

5.3   CANCELLED RENTAL INVOICE 2002/03 – HILLTOP COMMUNITY CENTRE

Officer Contact:  Jeremy Beake,   DDI: HW 421858   email: jeremy_beake@wycombe.gov.uk

a)       Hilltop Community Centre

At the last meeting, Members enquired into the background to the cancellation in 2002/03 of a rental invoice in sum of £3,000 relating to Hilltop Community Centre.

This cancellation refers to an invoice to Wycombe Multi Cultural Organisation (WMCO) which was raised in anticipation of the signing of a new lease for Hilltop Community Centre between WMCO and the Council. The new lease raised the lease value from £9,000 to £12,000 and would have been supported by a grant of £8,000, leaving a balance of £4,000 to pay.

In the event, the new lease was not signed and the rent reverted to the former net sum of £1,000, requiring £3,000 to be written back.

b)      Update: Council Representation on Community Centre Management Committees

At its meeting on 20 January 2004 the Committee accepted the principle that Member representatives should, where possible, be appointed to serve on the Management Committees of those Community Associations running council owned Community Centres.

Since that time, Councillor R A Hussein and Councillor M A Karim have joined the respective Management Committees of Hilltop and Castlefield Community Centres.

6       MARKET TRADERS CONTRACT TASK AND FINISH GROUP – UPDATE

To receive the Minutes of the meeting on 30 September 2004 (Appendix 6).

The Task and Finish Group visited the flourishing markets of St Albans and Southall on 23 October 2004 and met again on 28 October 2004 to review findings and consider options in more detail. A minimal cost survey of customer needs is underway to find out what is expected from the market and how greater attendance can be encouraged.

7.  REVIEW OF CEMETERY CHARGES

Officer Contact: Paul Marston-Weston, DDI HW 421804, email: paul_marston-weston@wycombe.gov.uk

What is the Committee being asked to do?

The Committee is asked to receive and accept the recommendation of the Cemetery Charges Task and Finish Group and recommend to Cabinet under The Price is Right process for the charges levied at the High Wycombe Cemetery from 2005/06..

The Cemetery Charges Task and Finish Group have made the following recommendations to the High Wycombe Town Committee:

Summary

The Cemetery Charges Task and Finish Group has reviewed existing cemetery charges, paying particular attention to religious requirements and cultural preferences. Three Task and Finish Group meetings and 2 meetings with representatives of the Wycombe Mosque Committee have taken place to ensure that a comprehensive review was undertaken.

Corporate Governance Financial and Legal Implications

The cemetery is provided and regulated under the Local Government Act 1972 s.214 and the Local Authorities’ Cemeteries Order 1977. Article 15 (1) empowers the Council to charge fees as thought proper.

There will be increased income to the cemetery budgets to offset the costs of providing this service. Whilst full recovery of costs for each individual burial would be achieved in three years, this would not reduce the cemetery budget to zero, as there would still be costs for the maintenance of all other past burial areas in the cemetery. However, an additional £14,600 income (21% increase to £82,000) would be received in the next financial year and this would be expected to rise to £115,200 by 2007/08.

Background Papers:

Cemetery Charges Task and Finish Group Papers – Agenda and Minutes of 13 October 2004, 26 May 2004, and 3 February 2004.

Notes of Meetings with Representatives of the Wycombe Mosque Committee of 12 October 2004 and 20 July 2004.