Meeting documents

Apologies as above.  Apologies were also received from the Chairman of Steeple Claydon and Eric Meek, Transport for Buckinghamshire, Bucks County Council.

There were no changes in membership.

To declare any personal or prejudicial interests

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the notes of the meeting held on 26 November 2009.

The action notes of the meeting held on 26 November were agreed as a correct record subject to Mr Phil Gomm being added to the list of apologies and Simon Dudley, Ann-Marie Davies and Ken Horne being deleted from the ‘in attendance’ list as they attended the drop-in session only.

Mark Grindall, Locality Services Co-ordinator, explained that the inclusion of the Highways Inspection Manual onto the website is still being looked into.

High Speed 2

The Chairman started by saying that there are obviously grave concerns from Members regarding the High Speed 2 (HS2) proposals which were announced on 11 March.  He said that it is still a little too early to come to any conclusions and he suggested that the next LAF meeting which is being held on 24 June would be a sensible time to discuss the issue in more depth.  He explained that the first consultation finishes at the end of May and relates only to the Exceptional Hardship Grant.

A Member said that John Bercow MP is going to be attending an open meeting on Tuesday 30 March at Twyford.

Ann Kiceluck, the Aylesbury Vale District Council representative at the LAF, explained that AVDC has prepared a note which documents the main facts about the proposed route.  She said these notes will be circulated shortly and they will be asking the refuse collectors to distribute them to all households.

A Member asked whether the end of May deadline relates to actually applying for Exceptional Hardship Grant.  Mark Grindall responded by saying that the end of May deadline relates only to the consultation period for the EHG scheme.  He agreed to circulate to Members a link to a website for further information about HS2.  He also had A3 copies of the printed maps showing the proposed route for Members to take.

Action: Mark Grindall

A Member asked what Bucks County Council’s response would be to the consultation.  Ann Kiceluck explained that AVDC and the other District Councils are on the consultee list and AVDC has already put a taskforce in place and they are working on a collective response.  The details are available on the AVDC website and work is currently underway to communicate this with residents.

Energy from Waste Incinerator

The Chairman explained that a letter has been sent out from Councillor Martin Tett, Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment, to local residents.  He said that some legal aspects have come to light regarding the tendering process which means that Calvert is back under consideration.  The Chairman suggested putting this back on the agenda for the end of June meeting when further information will be available.

Action: Liz Wheaton

A response to the Welsh Street petition is attached.

The Chairman read out the response to the Welsh Lane petition which had originally been submitted to the Council on 24 September 2009 by Councillor Hedley Cadd.

A Member felt that the £5k mentioned in the response to promote a Traffic Regulation Order was not very much and they felt that it was an unacceptable reason not to try and do more to prevent lorries using the lane.

A Member said that the police are supporting the Ivinghoe model of reporting HGVs.

A Member asked whether it would be feasible to put a physical width restriction at one end of Welsh Lane.  It was agreed that this should be looked into and reported back on at the next meeting before the petition is considered again.

Action: David Polhill/Mark Grindall

Mark Grindall, Area Co-ordinator, will provide an update following the Local Area Planning workshop which took place on 18 February 2010.  Attached is a results spreadsheet for Members to consider in advance of the meeting.

Mark Grindall, took Members through the results of the Local Area Planning workshop which took place on 18 February.  He explained that the LAF can change the priorities and it is a working document which can evolve over time.  A Member asked whether HS2 should be added to the list.  This will be reviewed over the coming months once further information is available.

A Member asked whether Buckingham Hospital could be added to the Local Priorities list under "Health & Wellbeing".  It was agreed that this would be done.

Action: Mark Grindall

A Member thanked Mark for organising such a well-managed workshop.

A Member asked what the next steps are with regard to moving forward with the local priorities which have been identified.  The Member felt that it would be useful to have a schedule which identified which organisations are responsible for which areas.  Mark responded by saying that the "quick fixes" would be sorted out in the coming weeks’ and then the remaining priorities would be assigned individual actions which could then be closely monitored.

A Member asked how the final document would be formatted and asked whether it would list the parishes who are responsible for each priority.  Mark explained that he will creating a job chart and the progress on each priority will be shown on a job sheet.

Inspector Emma Garside will provide an update on police activity and issues affecting the Local Area.

Inspector Emma Garside provided Members with an update on crime figures for the Buckingham area.

Theft from vehicle figures are as follows:

Buckingham Town – increased from 736 to 744 (up by 1%)

Buckingham North – decreased from 478 to 225 (down by 47%)

Buckingham South – decreased from 468 to 463 (down by 1%).

Anti-Social Behaviour continues to go down and the number of reported cases of ASB in the Buckingham area are as follows (these figures are a reduction on previous months):

Buckingham Town – 28 reports

Buckingham North – 8 reports

Buckingham South – 20 reports.

Emma reported that there will be additional post in the area and this will take effect soon.  PC Nikki Tipping will be starting a specialist role in Buckingham North at the beginning of April.  She went on to say that a new office will be opening in Winslow shortly and she stressed that this is not a police station.  The office will be used as a base for the officers who work around that area.  The police stations will remain in Aylesbury and Buckingham.  Emma said that she has implemented a new shift pattern for police officers to ensure there is sufficient cover every weekend and late cover on Friday nights.

Emma went on to say that three people have been charged with supplying drugs (between October and December 2009).  She said that there are various initiatives which are up and running around the area, some in conjunction with ADVC, which includes Clear Car Campaign which encourages drivers not to leave things on display in their cars.  There are also various speeding operations in place.

Emma explained that Thames Valley Police (TVP) are holding "Have your say" meetings which provides an opportunity for the public to meet the team and to raise their concerns.  She asked Members to let her know if they would like to attend one of these meetings.

Action: Members

Emma reported that TVP are working with Trading Standards on a cold calling campaign.  There is to be a change in legislation which will result in the police being given more power to get involved.  This will be launched at the beginning of April.

A Member asked whether there is anything which the LAF could do with regard to purchasing additional equipment for the police (ie. speeding cameras/speed guns).  Emma said that one is being purchased through the Buckingham Town Action Group.

A Member expressed concern that there does not appear to be a link between the political wards and the policing wards.  Emma responded by saying that the boundaries of the LAF are too large to deal with as one neighbourhood so they have to be split up.  She said that she has made a few changes and a small number of villages in the Winslow area have now been aligned together.

There will be a 20 minute period for public questions.  Members of the public are encouraged to submit their questions in advance of the meeting to facilitate a full answer on the day of the meeting.  Questions sent in advance will be dealt with first and verbal questions after.

The following question has been received from Terry Cavender, Buckingham Canal Society:

"Does the LAF consider it appropriate to reform the Buckingham Flood Group in light of the recent weather conditions?"

Other written questions received so far relate to transportation matters which will be dealt with under the Transportation Update.

In response to Terry Cavender’s question which he sent in advance of the meeting regarding reforming the Buckingham Flood Group, it was agreed that this would be a good thing to do.  A feasibility study has been undertaken of the Buckingham Canal and it was agreed that this document should be discussed with the Environment Agency in conjunction with Thames Valley Water.

Action: Terry Cavender/Mark Grindall

General Update report from Transport for Buckinghamshire is attached.

Eric Meek, Group Manager for Transport for Buckinghamshire, sent his apologies.  Simon Dudley provided Members with an update.  He said that the Community Gangs will be starting again between mid-April and the end of May.  He asked Members to let him know of any work which needs to be done.

A Member asked whether it was possible to have the work programme available on the website so that parishes could monitor the work which is being undertaken in their area.  Simon explained that it would be quite difficult to put this onto the website as the work programme is constantly changing.

A Member expressed concern regarding the substance being used to patch the roads and has there been any analysis into the effectiveness of this substance.  Simon explained that about 12 years ago, the Department of Transport changed the substance.  He went on to say that, in some cases, the repairs are ok but it is the road around the repair which is now starting to break-up.  He said that in June/July time, there will be a new vehicle available.

A Member said that in Dudford Road in Stowe, the road repair team have mended one of the holes but left another five holes untouched.  Simon said that the message doesn’t appear to be getting through as teams have been told to repair the whole length of a road, where appropriate.

A Member congratulated Ken Horne on the work he did on the A413 and the problems with sewage.  He spent three days in the area sorting the problem out with the Environment Agency and Anglican Water.  The Member went on to say that this could be a common issue in rural areas and referred to Section 24 and the adoption of public sewers.  He asked whether Transport for Buckinghamshire could look at this issue with Anglican Water and investigate the possibility of extending the Asset Map.  Simon responded by saying that there will be a new Water Act in 2011/12.  He said that Anglican Water will fight anything which is not on the plan.

A Member then expressed concern as to what would happen if the Water Act did not come into force.

Action: Simon Dudley

Simon Dudley, Transport for Buckinghamshire, will recommend acceptable schemes for the Transportation Delegated Budget 2010/11.

Simon Dudley circulated the list of proposed bids for the delegated budget for 2010/11 for Members to consider.  He explained that the budget for the Buckingham LAF is £26,947 and he recommended that Members agree to do all the schemes on the proviso that Padbury agreed to a low cost surface to resurface the footway and also if Akeley were given a total of £10,500 towards the Vehicle Activated Signs.

Members AGREED to undertake all the schemes submitted for 2010/11.

A Member asked whether Akeley would still get the salt bins which were approved in the last financial year.  Simon Dudley agreed that these bins would still be provided.

Winter Maintenance Report is attached.

Responses to written questions submitted by Members in advance of the meeting are attached.

Members noted the report and the responses to the questions sent in advance of the meeting.

A Member asked for more information about the 15 year contract with Transport for Buckinghamshire and asked, specifically, how this is being monitored.  Simon Dudley explained that the contract has been awarded on a rolling 8 years + 4 years + 4 years and there are specific key performance indicators attached to the contract.  The KPIs are regularly monitored by Jim Stevens and 4 other officers.  There are financial penalties if the KPIs are not met.  He went on to say that TfB inherited 42 people but it needs to have around 90-100 people to get the service running effectively. 

Simon went on to say that a letter will be sent to all parishes asking for feedback on the way the service is delivered.  The deadline for responding will be the end of May.

A Member asked about getting approaches to local schools included in the Winter Maintenance programme.  Simon explained that there are around 220 schools in the North of the County and it would not be possible to include all of them in the programme.  Schools have to be ranked against other factors as well.

The Chairman added that devolving money to the parishes would allow them to make more decisions locally about their own individual needs.  With respect to gritting narrow country lanes, the Chairman felt that the people who choose to live there should ensure they are equipped with the correct equipment.

A Member asked whether farmers could be reinstated to use their tractors as snow ploughs.  Simon explained that the County Council would not be able to purchase ploughs for the farmers but they can arrange for farmers to be paid an hourly rate to clear the snow.  He asked Members to send any enquiries directly to him.

Mike Smith at Buckingham Town Council thanked Simon Dudley and his team for the quick response regarding the salt distribution for BTC.

Terry Humber or Terry Cavender will provide a verbal update.

Terry Humber provided Members with an update on the work of the traffic calming action group.  The recommendations at the end of the presentation were as follows:

•         rebuild and update the TfB website with updated information on traffic calming

–        more detailed information

–        case studies

•         consider a handbook created from the website information

•         LAF sub group to meet biannually to help guide parishes with their plans (meetings advertised by LAF).

A copy of the presentation is attached.

Terry said that he and Terry Cavender would like to meet with Val Letheren and Jim Stevens to discuss the development of the website amongst other issues. 

Members voted unanimously on the decision to develop the website.  Mark Grindall agreed to speak to Val Letheren regarding the decision of the LAF.

Action: Mark Grindall

He said that the group would like to develop a bible of traffic calming measures which could assist parish clerks in the decision-making process.

The Chairman thanked both Terry Humber and Terry Cavender for the work they are doing in this area.

John Riches asked when the delegated budget would take effect from.  Simon Dudley responded by saying that the capital cost code would be applied in the Summer period and he would let John Riches know of the exact timing.

Action: Simon Dudley

The Member for East Claydon asked about their project and when it might commence.  Simon suggested that the Member speaks directly to Sian Thomas about this.

Report attached for information only.

Members noted the report.

Report attached for information only.

Members noted the report.

Mark Grindall asked Members to pass on their comments to him and he would send them onto Ed Gurney.  A Member commented that there was no mention of traffic calming in the proposals.

The next meeting is due to take place on Thursday 24 June 2010 at Radclive-cum-Chackmore Village Hall.

Future dates:

23 September 2010

9 December 2010.

The next meeting will take place on Thursday 24 June at Radclive-cum-Chackmore Village Hall.

Future dates:

23 September 2010

9 December 2010.