Meeting documents

Noel Brown (Buckinghamshire County Council) was confirmed as the Chairman of the Chesham and Chiltern Villages Local Area Forum for the ensuing year.

Fred Wilson (Chiltern District Council) was appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Chesham and Chiltern Villages Local Area Forum for the ensuing year.

See above for apologies.

The Chairman welcomed Mark Shaw as County Councillor and as Mayor of Chesham.

There were no declarations of interest.

The notes of the meeting held on 10 April 2013 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

Matters arising

Page 2 – Latimer Road – Simon Dudley (Transport for Buckinghamshire) reported that the company Swarco was changing the components used on the Vehicle-activated sign (VAS) so that there was only one panel. The VAS would be installed in 2014. Latimer Parish Council would need to contact Sian Thomas (Transport for Buckinghamshire). Simon Dudley would email the Chairman – Action: SD

Swarco had stated that Latimer Road was not a recommended location for one VAS, let alone two. This was because it was too close to the junction. Noel Brown said that the sign had not been put at the site agreed by Ken Moloughney (Transport for Buckinghamshire), which was further away from the crossroads and had much better vision.

Page 2 – Gritting of pavements – Simon Dudley reported that a meeting was being held in Princes Risborough on the same topic, and that it had been suggested that the Parish Councils could grit pavements through devolved services within the existing budget. Simon Dudley asked that someone from Chesham Town Council contact him so that a route could be agreed.

Page 2 – Little Theatre signs – Tim Fowler (Transport for Buckinghamshire) had sent a message to say that it was not likely that the signs would be funded by either the County Council or the District Council. The County Council could direct people where to go as regarded sourcing of signs.

Footpath Spur

Tim Fowler had sent a message to say that stopping the alley would have a cost, due to the Consultation which would be necessary. Members should contact Tim Fowler if they wanted to pursue this.

Page 4 – Street Lighting – Carl Goulding (Principal Lighting Engineer, Ringway Jacobs) was happy to advise on this.

Page 7 – Moveable Vehicle-activated Sign (MVAS) – the Chairman said that the MVAS was available for Parish Councils as well as for Chesham Town Council. The MVAS could be moved around to different locations, and needed ground screws (these could be provided by the Local Area Technician). The MVAS would be at each site for about two weeks. Some MVAS were solar-powered and some battery-powered. Action: Parish Councils to co-ordinate with Bill Richards at Chesham Town Council.

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 receive a full answer on the day of the meeting.  Questions sent in advance will be dealt with first, followed by verbal questions.  Please contact Helen Wailling on 01296 383614 or hwailling@buckscc.gov.uk to submit your question.

There were no questions.

There were no petitions.

Including update on the public questions at the previous meeting

Simon Dudley, Transport for Buckinghamshire

Simon Dudley (Transport for Buckinghamshire) referred members to the report and updated them as follows.

Gullies

The gully-emptying programme was based on the risks caused by gullies. Gullies on A, B and C roads were emptied once a year. Gullies on unclassified roads could only be emptied once every two to three years.  Flood spots had been identified at which gullies would be cleaned more regularly. These were:

Red Lion Street

St Mary’s Way

Broad Street

Hog Lane

Eskdale Avenue

White Hill

Waterside

Gullies in Chesham Town would be emptied in July / August 2013 as part of the routine programme.

Mark Shaw (Buckinghamshire County Council) said that Berkhampstead Road and Lycrome Road should be added to the above list.

Chris Brown (Cholesbury-cum-St Leonards Parish Council) said that his Parish had gullies which had not been properly dealt with for 10 to 15 years. Simon Dudley said that they should report this to Jonathan Dickens (Local Area Technician), as there was a jetting unit which would clear most things.

The Chairman said that capital flooding money should be used to clear some gullies.

The gully programme was on the web:

http://www.transportforbucks.net/Roadworks-Centre/Gully-emptying.aspx

Grip maintenance was separate to gully work.

Road maintenance

The jet patcher was currently in Hyde End / Chesham. At Greenway in Chesham, proper patching work was being done, with a thin surface coating on top. The joints could then be repaired specifically.

Snow clearance by farmers

Simon Dudley reported that they were waiting for permission for Transport for Buckinghamshire to take ownership of the County ploughs (eight of these would be replaced). These would be made available to farmers on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Zoe Dixon said that she would chase this – Action: ZD

Chris Brown said that his Parish had a farmer who already had a plough. Simon Dudley said that the farmer would need to sign up to the new agreement, which would be sent out. This included a retainer, to cover repairs. The farmer should contact Simon Dudley about any repair work needed on the plough. Simon Dudley said that he could not guarantee that farmers would be called out every time it snowed. The farmers would need to wait until they were called out, and had been given a route by the County Council.

Chris Brown said that his Parish had problems on roads which were not on the salting route. Simon Dudley asked for details of these. Simon Dudley noted that the County Council would be buying some slush blades as well, for town centres.

The Chairman noted that snow tyres were better in snowy weather than 4x4 vehicles.

Grass cutting

Simon Dudley said that there would be two cuts in the year for rural areas and eight cuts in urban areas. There would also be cuts at visibility lines at junctions (those reported via Highways on Call or recorded as complaints).

Mark Shaw said that quality of strimming was an issue in Chesham. Simon Dudley said that he would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Up to five mins each

Cholesbury-cum-St Leonards Parish Council

Chris Brown reported that the Parish Council was considering purchase of a defibrillator on one or two sites (e.g. in the Cricket Club). It was then hoped that sponsorship / funding and training could be given.

The Parish Council was also looking at the ‘Community Right to Bid,’ as the village pub was about to close.

Ashley Green Parish Council

John Axon reported that residents had registered the Golden Eagle Pub on the Chiltern District Council website.

·       Reduce Anti-social Behaviour through Youth Activities – Noel Brown

·       Support the Local Economy and Employment – Fred Wilson

·       Reduce the Social Isolation of Asian communities – Noel Brown

·       Chesham Community Wellbeing Project  – Christine Gardner

·       Improve highways and road safety – Transport for Buckinghamshire rep

·       Community transport – Chris Brown

·       Enhance a sense of community in a village - all

Reduction of anti-social behaviour through youth activities

Noel Brown reported that anti-social behaviour had been reduced by 25% through a youth event held in Waterside, Chesham. There had also been a 65% reduction over summer 2012. Similar events were being run in 2013.

Supporting local economy and employment

Fred Wilson said that the Visitor Economy Project was going well. Many visitors came to Buckinghamshire because of the countryside and nature.

The hub in the town centre was bringing things together.

Some slides are available for information via this link:

http://democracy.buckscc.gov.uk/documents/b15439/Agenda%20Item%2010%20-%20Supporting%20Local%20Economy%20and%20Employment%20-%20information%20slides%2010th-Jul-2013%2019.30%20.pdf?T=9

Reducing isolation of Asian communities

Noel Brown reported that re-elections were being held for the Mosque Committee.

Chesham Community Wellbeing Project

Christine Gardner circulated an information sheet (attached) and reported that the next meeting of the Reference Group was on 1 October 2013. Emerging themes included worklessness, outreach work, high-need groups (lone parents, disabled, unemployed).

Worklessness often drove other social issues.

Zoe Dixon said that she had started a secondment at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). A representative of DWP would also be working at the County Council.

A youth employment initiative had been started to find out what the barriers were and what young people thought of the current service. It was hoped that the County Council could offer some work experience posts. Section 7 of the Information Sheet showed initiatives being scoped.

Improving Highways and Road Safety

Noel Brown referred to Germain Street, Chesham, and said that cars had hit child pedestrians on the shoulder four times in six months. The Local Area Technician had also been hit. A response regarding the cost of changes to the Street was still awaited, for the costed proposal for the one way system, as agreed at the site meeting including the School Head and Residents. The proposal was for a one way section from the school down to King Street, with no entry at the King Street junction towards the school – Action: Zoe Dixon to report to Casualty Reduction Team

Community Transport

Chris Brown said that bids had been made to two organisations for funding for a Dial-a-ride vehicle. The next stage was to fund training and development of voluntary drivers. Drivers would be recruited through Parish and Town Councils and training would be provided free of charge. Chris Brown said that he would contact Parish Councils / Chesham Action Partnership (CHAP) / Martin Parkes. Action: CB

A group of representatives from the Parish and Town Councils would be needed. Noel Brown suggested that this could be run through CHAP.

Noel Brown also said that sharing a taxi could be much cheaper if there was only one pick-up location.

10   mins each plus discussion

·       Update on how funding spent - Paul Gosling, Chiltern Citizens Advice Bureau

·       Refuse and Waste Changes - Kitran Eastman, Waste Management, Chiltern District Council

Citizens Advice Bureau

Paul Gosling (Chair of Chilterns Citizens Advice Bureau) referred to his report (attached) and said the following:

·       A Community Outreach Project pilot had been run.

·       During the Community Outreach Project pilot, 175 people had been seen. Of these, 30 had gone through to the ‘full advice’ stage. Approximately 10 involved full casework (resolving debt etc.).

·       Issues were becoming more complex.

·       The pilot had been successful. Additional money had been obtained from the County Council for outreach, to deliver c. 20 sessions to meet needs arising from welfare reforms.

·       Citizens Advice Bureau had applied to the Big Lottery for money to integrate advice services and to extend services in deprived areas. Significant funding had been received for outreach work, home-visiting and a single telephone number.

·       Citizens Advice Bureau was working in partnership with Age UK, Carers Bucks, Bucks Mind and the Beaconsfield Advisory Centre.

·       The Outreach service was available in Chiltern District and in the South Bucks District.

The Chairman said that the Chesham Wellbeing Project targeted areas of deprivation, and would appreciate support.

Chris Brown (Cholesbury-cum-St Leonards Parish Council) said that he was working with Julie Trehan, and asked if this would be on an ongoing basis. Paul Gosling said that it depended on the funding. Parish Councils needed to be consulted about the key areas of need and deprivation. There would be a process of prioritisation and a balance in how the funding was distributed.

Chris Brown said that the BBC had come to visit them in June 2013 as Cholesbury had been found to be the wealthiest community in the UK. However there were still deprived / isolated pockets. Mark Shaw (Buckinghamshire County Council) said that the challenges were transport and access.

Paul Gosling said that within the current funding, mobile outreach project workers were a key element and two posts were included.

Christine Gardner said that the mobile library service was willing to bring people round to provide advice (a ‘mobile office’), and that she could give Paul Gosling the contact details for this Action: CG

Zoe Dixon said that the Department for Work and Pensions had been in contact that day about getting 12 direct referrals to the Citizens Advice Bureau. Paul Gosling asked for contact details for this Action: ZD

Refuse and Waste Changes

Rebecca Petherick (Waste Service Delivery Manager, Chiltern District Council) reported as follows:

·       Wycombe District Council and Chiltern District Council had joined their waste teams together in 2012.  A new joint waste contract had started in March 2013, which would generate significant savings for both Councils.

·       The new contract included improved street cleansing.

·       The new waste contract had started on 15 July 2013. The aims were to increase the amount of recycling and to reduce landfill waste.

·       Food waste would be collected weekly. National restrictions were going to be brought in which would restrict the amount of food waste being sent to landfill.

·       The County Council was taxed on all waste sent to landfill.

·       Wheeled bins had been delivered  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

9 October 2013, 7:30pm, St Leonards Parish Hall

9 October 2013, 7:30pm, St Leonards Parish Hall