Meeting documents

To confirm the appointment of the Chairman of the Forum.

Resolved that Avril Davies, Quintin Ings-Chambers and Brenda Jennings be appointed Chairmen on a rotational basis.

Brenda Jennings was in the Chair for this meeting.

The Vice Chairman to be a District Councillor.

It was proposed that Netta Glover is invited to be Vice Chairman of the Forum.

Apologies for absence were received from Quintin Ings-Chambers (Buckinghamshire County Council), Netta Glover, Neil and Janet Blake (Aylesbury Vale District Council), Paul Foot and Ann-Marie Davies (Officers - Buckinghamshire County Council).  

A member asked if members should be nominated individuals or if substitutes could attend if a member was unavailable.  It was agreed that substitutes are eligible to attend for members.   

To declare any personal or prejudicial interests.

There were none.

Confirmation of the notes from the meeting held at Edlesborough Memorial Hall on 12 June 2008 at 6.15pm.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 June were approved after the following changes had been made:

• Page 4 Dagnall ‘build out’ across Dunstable Road.  A path had been completed in 2004 within Dagnall.
• Page 5 – First bullet point – replace Northall Road with Dunstable Road.
• Page 5 – Remove the fourth bullet point
• Page 5 – Fifth bullet point – replace Northall Road with Dunstable Road.  

• A4146 – It was noted that since the last meeting litter has been cleared but is now reappearing.
• Speeding a member reported that there were instances of dangerous driving near the roundabout.  Simon Dudley replied that it was anticipated that there will be increased enforcement of speeding and that the signage will need to be changed.   A speed enforcement officer will be allocated to spend more time in the area.
• A member asked if there were plans to turn the street lights off on the junction above Ledburn.   A member explained that he considered that the cats’ eyes were inadequate and that a trial will take place on a short section near Ledburn Road.  Members were advised that if casualties increase a review will take place. 
• Simon Dudley explained that Ian Duncan is reviewing the speed limits in connection with the switch off of the lights at Rowsham.  
• It was noted that a 40mph speed limit has been agreed at Rowsham but members queried whether 30mph was required. 
• A member noted that the gates had been removed from the slip road on the bypass.  She suggested that signage needs to be improved.
• Corry Cashman requested a response to his letter to London Midland.
• Residents from Mentmore had written to the Highways Authority and had not even received an acknowledgment.
• Members were advised that the petition from residents of Wing had not been presented Council.

The Chairman welcomed Gary Brewer, Gypsy and Traveller Services Manager for Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire to the meeting.  Members were advised that the Wing site had been very transient for many years.  In future the site will be an eight plot permanent site and there will be a waiting list. Two families have resided at the site for some time.  The site will become an English gypsy site and tenants will be required to sign a licence agreement and to pay rent and for electricity and water supplies.  Tenants will be faced with eviction if they break the terms of the agreement.

Members were invited to raise questions and the following points were raised:

• A member explained that the residents of Cublington had been concerned for several years about local crime, issues with dumping rubbish and fire.  The member welcomed the new management and considered that it was essential that the site was well managed. 
• Gary replied that one of the families living on the site deals with rubbish and he explained that there will no residents will be allowed to work on the new site.   
• Work will be taking place with Thames Valley Police to combat crime on the site.  
• Terry Ridgeley explained that Bucks Fire and Rescue Service hope to install smoke alarms on the site.
• The officers from Thames Valley police reported that there were daily checks on a resident in March/ April of this year.    

Madeleine Howe reported that a Resolution had been passed by Council on 10 July 2008 and there will be 19 Local Area Forums. 

During a discussion the following points were made:

• A member queried the size of the budget for the Local Area Forums
• Simon Dudley explained that the budget allocated to each Local Committee had been £125k.  It was anticipated that each of the Aylesbury Vale local area forums would receive a budget of approximately £15 0 £25k.  The Parishes will be notified of how much money is available and schemes will be presented for assessment.  The deadline for submission of bids is 31 December 2008.  Members were advised that matched funding will be considered.
• Trevor Boyd requested that Community and Development plans be on the agenda for the next meeting on 4 December.    

Terms of Reference

During a discussion on the Terms of Reference Madeleine Howe explained that each Forum will decide the membership including for example statutory partners, Fire, Police and PCT.  It was agreed that membership of the Local Area Forum be on the agenda for the next meeting.  Notification of meetings be published in Parish Newsletters.

It has been proposed to change the name of this Forum to Eastern Vale Local Area Forum to better reflect the geographical spread of the area covered.

The Chairman proposed that the name of the Forum be changed to Eastern Vale Local Area Forum.  Another member proposed Great Brickhill, Wing and Ivinghoe Local Area Forum.  Following a discussion it was agreed that the name be changed to Great Brickhill, Wing and Ivinghoe Local Area Forum.

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.

A Member asked the following question:

"For the last two years many of the residents of Station Road, Cheddington, have been concerned about all day parking along the residential stretch of the road.  It is accepted that the resolution of this matter has been fraught by communication breakdowns between the agencies involved.

Recently it was agreed that a system of white lines would be introduced.  Mindful of the preceding history of poor communication, the Bucks County Council officer managing the scheme undertook that, prior to the painting of the lines, he would:-

1: Respond to concerns raised by residents as to the precise positioning of the lines at two particular places in Station Road.

2: Inform me at least a week beforehand as to when the lines were to be painted.

The lines appeared in Station Road yesterday.

In the meantime I have heard nothing from the officer.

I have two questions:

1. Why has communication broken down yet once again?

2. A majority of the residents of Station Road have already invested both time and effort in this matter, completing two surveys, writing emails and letters, taking illustrative photographs and making phone calls, all in an effort to inform this issue and its resolution in a supportive and constructive way: what steps do you now propose to take  to explain the breakdown to them?"

John Charlton replied that the white lines were in place and that no further work is proposed.  He would reply to the specifics of the question but that this would have to be after the meeting

• A member noted that rubbish was being dropped on the A4146 on the new bypass on route to the landfill site. 
• It was noted that Aylesbury Vale District Council had spent £4,000 on clearing rubbish and that CCTV cameras were in operation.
• A member reported that the residents of Aston Abbotts consider that there is a need for a footpath for use by children attending Wingrave School.  Following a discussion about school travel plans it was suggested and agreed that Safer Routes to School, School Travel Plans and Rights of Way be on the agenda for a future meeting.
• In response to a question regarding how to proceed with introducing a speed limit in Marsworth a member explained that a public consultation will be taking place in 2009.

None received

There were none.

Presentation by Jeremy Williams of the Fire and Rescue Service.

Terry Ridgeley from Bucks Fire and Rescue Service gave a presentation to the meeting in which he made the following points:

• The Fire and Rescue Service is involved in Local Area Agreements and in community safety prevention at county and district level.
• Community safety includes smoke alarm fittings, arson issues and home safety checks.
• Part of community engagement includes the desire to help people by making homes and workplaces safer.
• Fire stations are now linked to police stations and the aim is to match the needs of the residents with the deliverable. 
• In Brill 60 fire and risk checks have taken place.   

Members were asked to refer any queries to Claire Childs cchilds@bucksfire.gov.uk  Terry asked if the Police and Fire Service could be linked via a website. 

In response to a question members were advised that fireworks are not permitted after 11.30pm.  

The Chairman thanked Terry for a very informative presentation.

Issues raised for discussion include:

• Rail issues
• Waste Lorries Situation
• Wing Road Travellers Site

The Chairman requested information about whether the rail service will be stopping at Leighton Buzzard.   

Members were advised that police surgeries have taken place and the Wing North NAG will continue.  In some villages there were issues although highways remain a key issue.  It was agreed that the Terms of Reference is on the agenda for the next meeting.

Members requested that an update on waste lorries is provided at the next meeting.

Simon Dudley reminded members to be careful about where signs are located because this can be hazardous to drivers.

The Chairman reported that this was the last meeting for Madeleine Howe and she thanked her on behalf of the Forum for all her work.  In future Freda Ackroyd would be the Local Area Coordinator responsible for the meeting.  

The next meeting of the LAF will take place on 4 December 2008 at 6.30pm.

Suggested dates of Future Meetings:

2009

12 March

2 July

1 October

• 4 December 2008
• 12 March 2009
• 2 July 2009
• 1 October 2009