Meeting documents

Apologies for absence were received from Patricia Birchley (BCC), Robert Burns-Green (CDC) and Leslie Hodgkinson (CDC).

Peter Jones (CDC) had asked to be added as a member of the Local Area Forum as part of his ward fell into the Missendens Local Area.

To declare any personal or prejudicial interests

Mark Cunnane declared a prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 7 as he was Chairman of the PYPE organisation. Mark Cunnane did not take part in discussions or decisions regarding the PYPE organisation.

To confirm the notes of the meeting held on 29 July 2009.

The notes of the meeting held on 29 July 2009 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

Matters arising

·         The Chairman reminded members that a speed limit reminder sign could be borrowed at a cost of £100 from the BCC Area Officer, or the Speedwatch equipment from GMPC.

·         Page 2 – delegated budget bid by Holmer Green Scouts – it had been confirmed that this bid was not eligible as the camp would be held in 2010.

·         Page 2 – delegated budget bid by AFC Lightning Football team – this was a bid for equipment and was not eligible.

·         Page 2 – delegated budget bid by Holmer Green Youth Club – this had not been received. Little Missenden Parish Council said that they had e-mailed the Youth Club but had not had a response.

·         Page 4 – An article re: Adult Social Care Services had been inserted in the Great Missenden Parish Council magazine.

Members asked that any actions be clearly marked in notes of future meetings.

• Reports on petitions presented at meeting held on 17 June 2009.
• Children’s Centre petition and discussion with officers and Cabinet Member

Petition for a 20 mph zone around Prestwood Junior School and Prestwood Infant School and for the roads and pavements to be gritted around Moat Lane.

Members noted the further response from Rebecca Dengler, School Travel Planning, and the additional papers.

Great Missenden Parish Council had supported the petition. The Chairman told members that schools could rent a portable repeater sign for £100 for two weeks from BCC Area Office, but that it was heavily booked and the Chairman said that he would write to schools about this.

Alison Derrick noted that the Speedwatch Initiative would be a quicker solution for some schools and suggested contacting Great Missenden PC regarding borrowing this equipment.

There had been no change in the gritting policy but a grit bin could be provided if requested and an appropriate location could be identified.

A Member said that the weightings given in the gritting matrix should include altitude, as ice lingered longer on higher pieces of ground.

Action: Chairman to write to schools re: possibility of renting portable repeater sign or applying for Speedwatch Initiative

Petition request to resolve the issue of commuter parking and the obstruction of driveways on the Misbourne Estate

Members noted the response from Mark Averill (Transport for Buckinghamshire).

Alison Derrick said that the original enforcement area had been based on pay and display restrictions in various areas. This had not been pursued. The whole parking account was now in deficit and there was no funding for additional restrictions.

A civil enforcement area had to be self-funding. A way forward was to pursue the issue through police enforcement of obstructions.

There were members of the public in attendance for this item (who lived in the area affected). A member of the public asked if funding was the only reason for the civil enforcement not to be pursued. The Chairman said that funding was the current issue.

A member of the public also said that there was no reduction in the problem during half-term, which indicated that the issue was not linked to school parking.

The Chairman said that there were two separate issues – the issue of commuter parking, and the issue of parked cars blocking dropped kerbs. From October 2009 Civil Enforcement Officers would be able to issue tickets for parked cars blocking dropped kerbs.

Cars which blocked pavements was a matter for the Police, and the non-emergency number for the Police was 0845 8 505 505.

The Chairman also advised residents in Misbourne Estate to keep a diary of their daily issues and problems regarding the parking, with descriptions of cars and registration numbers etc.

The contact on this issue at the District Council was Andy Clarke, Parking Manager at Chiltern District Council – aclarke@chiltern.gov.uk.

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.  Please contact Alison Derrick on 01494 586635 or aderrick@buckscc.gov.uk to submit your question.

There were no public questions.

Members discussed this issue at length. Alison Derrick recommended the voting arrangements as set out in the model constitution, which was one vote for each Parish Council, one vote for each District Councillor and one vote for each County Councillor.

A representative of Great Missenden Parish Council said that each Parish Ward Councillor should have a vote if each District Ward Councillor had a vote. Great Missenden Parish Council had three wards so should have three votes. Little Missenden Parish Council had four wards.

The Chairman noted that at the old Chiltern Local Committee voting was very rare and questioned whether a voting system was needed for the Local Area Forum. The Chairman suggested that if a consensus could not be reached at the Local Area Forum, that an issue should be referred back rather than a vote being taken.  The Chairman also noted that the Local Area Forum was an advisory group with no executive powers. Final decisions regarding how budgets were spent lay with the Heads of Services at BCC.

It was agreed that this issue would be taken away and further voting structures be proposed.

ACTION: possible alternative voting arrangements be examined and brought back to next meeting

The Chairman told Members that the Cabinet Member for Achievement, Learning and Skills was in attendance to answer any queries on the proposed Children’s Centre. Mandy Clemmett, Children's Centre Strategy Manager, was also in attendance.

The Cabinet Member said that Children’s Centres were being set up around Buckinghamshire with Government funding. There was a proposal to put a Children’s Centre in Great Missenden Church of England Combined School. However this had been seen as inappropriate due to historical difficulties. Work was now underway to identify another site. Time was very tight, and any building work had to be completed by Spring 2011. There was also no funding to buy land. The Cabinet Member asked if there were any suggestions for possible locations for the Centre.

A representative of Great Missenden Parish Council said that they were very keen for the Children’s Centre to be set up in Prestwood, due to the number of young mothers in Prestwood.

Mandie Clemmett said that she had spoken to Prestwood Junior School, and that this could be a possible location for the Centre now that a permanent Headteacher was in post. Land behind the village hall in Prestwood was also being looked at. BCC did not own the land at Moat Lane (Prestwood Infant School).

Members also suggested the following locations:

Land at the Freezer Centre,

Holy Trinity Church

Prestwood Common (combined with Prestwood Youth and Community Centre).

The Cabinet Member asked about the best way to consult local people on this issue. The Chairman said that he would speak to the four key community groups (Great Missenden Parish Council said they would provide the contact details).

The Chairman said that the traffic implications of the Centre would be minimal.

Actions:

·         Children's Centre - Mandie Clemmett to contact Daniel Haywood at Holy Trinity Church

·         Mandie Clemmett to investigate: Prestwood Junior School, land behind Village Hall, land at Farm and Freezer Centre, Prestwood Common (suggested by Jennie Joy, Connect 4)

·         Great Missenden PC to provide contacts for the 4 key community groups, and Chairman to speak to these groups and consult on a possible new location.

The Forum received the reports regarding bids for the PAYP delegated budget. The total funding available was £5000.

Alison Derrick told Members that she would write to successful applicants and that a progress/outcome report would be required from each successful bid by April 2010.

Members asked that in future the reports be re-formatted so that they were clearer and had more detail about each bid (including details of any matched funding). Projects should also be joined-up where possible, and the District and Parish Councils should liaise to ensure that links were made between projects.

The Forum then discussed each bid in turn.

AFC Lightning Football Club – bid for football kits

Bid for Girls Chill Zone, Boxing and PlayZone

Bid for Graffiti Art Project (Thorpe Park visit)

First Holmer Green Boys Brigade Company - Bid for funding toward awards

Nexus Community Project - bid for Street Football, Fit Club, leisure Card Membership, Graffiti Arts Projects and I-Van Consultation

Actions:

·         PAYP bids - AD to write to successful applicants and ask them to provide progress report and outcome at the end of financial year

·         Graffiti project/Thorpe Park bid - more information requested

·         Reports to be re-formatted for next year and to include more info

·         AD to add request to letters for links to be made between bids

The Forum received the report of the Locality Services Co-ordinator on Local Priorities Funding. The total funding available for 2009/10 was £8000.

Members then discussed each eligible proposal in turn.

Great Missenden Parish Council - BMX/Skate Park proposal – bid for £5750

Little Missenden Parish Council – installation of gates on play areas - bid for £2250

Members expressed some concern about this bid as no details had been

Additional bid – Destination HP16 –  feasibility study for outdoor arts festival – bid for £2300

Mark Cunnane declared a prejudicial interest in this bid and did not take part in the discussions.

Alison Derrick said that Destination HP16 was a sub-group of the Revitalisation Group concentration on developing and promoting arts in the area. The Chairman said that the outdoor arts festival was a worthy objective which would bring visitors to the Missenden area.

Members discussed the bid and the Parish Council members felt that funding should not be given for a feasibility study.

The Chairman expressed regret about this decision.

Alison Derrick told Members that a half-day workshop was planned for early 2010 to draw together information about the Missendens Local Area for the formation of a Local Area Plan. The workshop would identify priorities for the whole of the Local Area.

All Members of the Local Area Forum would be invited, as well as Revitalisation Groups, OPAGs, Youth groups, Police, Fire Authority, Health, plus any other groups which Members would like to invite (e.g. housing associations).

Members also discussed the possibility of other organisations being invited to join the Local Area Forum, and the next agenda would include consideration of other agencies to be added as members of the LAF – ACTION

It was noted that the Fire Authority was interested in being involved with Local Area Forums.

Members noted the Information in the papers regarding the development of Local Transport Plan 3. The Plan would be up to 2026.

A workshop event would be held on 19 November 2009, 10:30 at Chiltern District Council. Further details could be obtained from Ed Gurney, 01296 387192, egurney@buckscc.gov.uk

Report from Jim Stevens

Report from Jim Stevens

For information

All meetings commence at 7.30pm

Wednesday 27 January 2010 at Prestwood Village Hall

Wednesday 7 April 2010 at Hyde Heath Village Hall

Wednesday 14 July 2010 at Chadwick Hall, Holmer Green Village Centre

Wednesday 20 October 2010 at Great Missenden Memorial Centre

All meetings commence at 7.30pm

Wednesday 27 January 2010 at Prestwood Village Hall

Wednesday 7 April 2010 at Hyde Heath Village Hall

Wednesday 14 July 2010 at Chadwick Hall, Holmer Green Village Centre

Wednesday 20 October 2010 at Great Missenden Memorial Centre