Meeting documents

Venue: Large Dining Room, Judges Lodgings, Aylesbury. View directions

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Items
Note No. Item

10.00am

1.

Apologies for Absence

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Minutes:

Apologies had been received from Mrs A MacPherson, Mr B Roberts and Mr T Butcher.

10:05am

2.

Declarations of Interest

To disclose any personal or disclosable pecuniary interests.

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Minutes:

Mr Phil Gomm advised that ‘Link Road A’ detailed on the ‘Aylesbury 2013-2033: Current Plan’ presentation slide bordered a piece of land that he owned.

 

10:10am

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 275 KB

Of the meeting held on 17th January 2017

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Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 17th January were agreed as a correct record.

4.

Public Questions

This is an opportunity for members of the public to put a question or raise an issue of concern, related to Environment, Transport and Locality Services.   Where possible, the relevant organisation to which the question/issue is directed will be present to give a verbal response.  Members of the public will be invited to speak for up to four minutes on their issue.  A maximum of 30 minutes is set aside for the Public Questions slot in total (including responses and any Committee discussion). This may be extended with the Chairman’s discretion. 

 

For full guidance on Public Questions, including how to register a request to speak during this slot, please follow this link:

 

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/about-your-council/scrutiny/getting-involved/

 

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Minutes:

No questions.

5.

Chairman's Report

For the Chairman of the Committee to provide an update to the Committee on recent scrutiny related activity.

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Minutes:

The Chairman expressed his thanks to those who had worked on the Sustainable School Travel Inquiry and advised that this would be submitted to Cabinet in the near future.

 

Mr Gomm wished to thank Mrs Kama Wager for the background work she had conducted on the Inquiry.

 

10:15am

6.

Country Parks - 10 Year Business Plan pdf icon PDF 438 KB

For the Committee to receive an update on progress in developing a long-term business strategy for the Country Parks Delivery Unit

 

Mr Warren Whyte, Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment.

Mr Andrew Fowler, Head of Country Parks and Green Spaces

Mrs Gill Harding, Director of TEE

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Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed Mr Warren Whyte, Cabinet Member for Environment; and Mr Andrew Fowler, Head of Country Parks and Green Spaces.

 

Mr Whyte, provided the Committee with an update on the business planning strategy for the County’s Country Parks. Key areas covered were:

 

·         Country Parks were now self-sufficient and were a contributor to the revenue of the service.

·         The decision from 18 months ago to keep the team in-house was key to its success and allowed the business plan work to flourish.

·         Maintaining the distinctive character of the different parks was essential in order to provide different options for residents.

·         93% of visitors to Langley Park lived within a 30 minute drive and many were dog walkers.  The demographic of Black Park visitors was very different

·         Over 23,894 visitors taken part in Park Run at Black Park over the previous 9 months.

·         In response to a question regarding what improvements the additional staff members had provided, Mr Fowler explained that the staff members had been essential to the delivery of commercial activities and in improvements in marketing and publicity.

·         Discussions were ongoing between Mr Fowler and Mrs Wileman regarding the most appropriate location for a new Country Park within the County; and a strategic needs analysis would also utilise population data to provide further insight on this matter.

·         The Thames Side Preservation Trust had been working with Wycombe Rangers to investigate the potential development of Marlow Pits.

·         In response to a question regarding a new facility being built at Black Park; Mr Fowler explained that a feasibility study had been conducted and found that the cost of the building would exceed £4,000,000 therefore this had been put on hold. However, the provision of indoor facilities was still being investigated in order to maintain high visitor numbers across all seasons. Mr Fowler explained that he would be holding discussions with Mr Whyte around the aesthetics of such a building.

·         In response to a question from Mrs Davies, Mr Fowler explained that the targeted income revenue for this year from film locations was £130,000 and it was likely that £110,000 would be achieved – however in a good year, income of £300,000 was possible.

·         Mr Whyte explained that as the Country Parks were free to enter, the revenue generated from the car parking charges were the main revenue stream for the parks; and that all revenue generated from these charges was invested directly back into the Parks themselves. Signs would soon be erected in the Parks to inform visitors of this. The Parks currently operate a fixed daily tariff: £3.50 at peak times (weekends and bank holidays) and £2.50 per day off-peak; although the implementation of a variable tariff was also being investigated.

·         Mr Whyte explained that another trip to the Country Parks would be organised for the Members as part of their induction after the County Council Elections in May 2017.

ACTION: Mr Whyte

·         In response to a question, Mr Fowler explained that the lowest score they had received from a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

10:45am

7.

Growth Agenda in Buckinghamshire pdf icon PDF 447 KB

Members will receive an overview of the Growth proposals for Bucks outlined in the District Council's Local Plans. This will be an opportunity for Members to consider the implications for County Council services going forward.

 

Attendees:

Mr Warren Whyte, Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment

Miss Rachel Wileman, Head of Strategic Plan and Infrastructure

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Minutes:

The Committee was provided with a presentation from Ms Rachel Wileman, Head of Strategic Plan and Infrastructure and Mrs Joan Hancox, Head of Transport Strategy.

 

Ms Wileman provided the Committee with the following information in addition to her presentation:

 

·         The deadline for responding to the consultation on the Housing White Paper was 2nd May 2017. 

·         The County Council needed to understand  the impact on its services – both strategic and day-to-day services as a result of the growth agenda. 

·         Aylesbury, Wycombe, Chiltern and South Bucks District Councils are currently working on their respective Local Plans. The County Council is awaiting information from Aylesbury Vale District Council regarding their sustainability appraisal work relating to the Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan (VALP). This was expected to be submitted to Cabinet in May/June with a decision expected to be made in December 2017. A decision on Wycombe District’s Local Plan was expected to follow the same timescale as the VALP.

·         The Government had proposed the implementation of an expressway through the National Infrastructure Commission as part of their commitment to an Oxford to Cambridge growth arc, stretching across Aylesbury Vale. The County Council is working with the Strategic Alliance regarding this; with the County’s preference being that the expressway would connect Oxford, Haddenham and Aylesbury before connecting with the Stoke Hammond bypass. The benefit of this would be stronger links with the M40 and the opening up of some key housing sites along the corridor. It was noted that the Green Belt restrictions in Aylesbury Vale would restrict potential growth around Wendover.

·         Chiltern and South Bucks District Councils had completed their consultations on preferred options, and, of the 15 preferred options listed, the County Council raised concerns with 5 of the sites due to Green Belt and transport issues.

·         Officer groups were now working with Business Units through a Corporate Working Group (CWG). Alongside this, the Growth Board, including key Cabinet Members, ensured that Members had input and were kept up to date on progress.

 

Mrs Hancox provided the Committee with the following information in addition to her presentation:

 

·         The County Council had used projected growth figures provided by the District Council in order to predict what the impact of growth would be on the highway network. The Council had developed its Transport Strategy through to 2033.

 

 

 

·         In Wycombe the impacts of housing growth on the A40 and around Princes Risborough which may require a relief road, were being carefully considered.  Discussions were also underway with Highways England regarding congestion at the Handy Cross roundabout and A404/M4 corridor issues.

 

·         The Committee was told that Buckinghamshire could be considered the epicentre for national infrastructure schemes such as HS2, East-West Rail, Cross Rail, proposed Oxford to Cambridge Expressway, proposed Western Rail Link to Heathrow, potential Heathrow expansion and the M4 ‘smart’ motorway project.

 

·         Strategic planning work needed to take into account the priorities of the Health and Wellbeing Board up to 2020/21.  Population growth would have a significant impact on demand for Health & Social  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

12.25pm

8.

Date of the Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on 21st March 2017

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Minutes:

The next meeting will take place on 21st March 2017.