Meeting documents

Apologies were received from Bill Chapple OBE Buckinghamshire County Council, Ted Wilkinson Weston Turville Parish Council, Richard Birchley Aylesbury Vale District Council and Alan Myers Wendover Parish Council.  (Sue Toft Hunt was substituting for Alan Myers for this meeting only).

To declare any personal or prejudicial interests

There were none.

To confirm the notes of the Wendover LAF held on 11 September 2008.

The Action Notes of the Wendover Local Area Forum held on 11 September 2008 were approved.

Roadside Memorials

It was suggested and agreed that Colin Perrotet proposes a draft amendment to the existing policy that memorials remain in place for 6 months after an accident which could be adopted throughout the county.   

Update on NAGS

The target issues are as follows:

• Burglaries – there has been a reduction in Aston Clinton.
• Criminal damage - graffiti hotspots are to be notified 
• Schools – consideration is being given to using tags
• NAG membership – young people, representatives from ethnic minorities, disabled and the elderly will be encouraged to join the NAGs. 

A 20 minute public question time. Questions to be submitted in writing to Madeleine Howe, Senior Area Coordinator email mphowe@buckscc.gov.uk by 12 noon on Friday 31^st October 2008.

Members were invited to ask questions and the following points were made:

• A member raised a question on behalf of Gordon Cumming a resident of Wendover asking for a progress report on placing benches in the Wendover area.
• John Byrne provided a written response in which he explained that it is more difficult to force a developer to provide things like seating in a Village Centre.  This would also be more difficult to be considered as part of the increasing sport and recreation facilities.

Members were advised that where than more than 4 additional dwellings are being created a contribution will be sought towards improved sports and leisure facilities proportionate with the additional burdens created by those dwellings. 

On larger schemes (above about 300 dwellings) the additional facilities will be significantly greater and more will be provided on-site.

A recreation contribution of £125,000 towards the refurbishment of leisure facilities in the parishes of Wendover and Halton relating to the Princess Mary Hospital site development, in addition to the on site provision of open space including an equipped area of play.  

The play area will include adult seating.  The teenage seating/shelter is now to be provided off site following objections from local residents.  The agreement also secured £40,000 towards the cost of enhancement or improvement of health facilities in the parishes of Wendover and Halton.

• Eli Kling a member of Wendover Neighbourhood Watch expressed concern about the reduction in the Police presence in Wendover drawing particular attention to the area near John Colet School.
• Bryn Scott from Thames Valley Police recognised the concerns and explained that PC Green had returned to Aylesbury although he added that there had been extra patrols on duty on 31 October and 5 November.  In response to the points raised members were advised that the Safer Roads Partnership was running for schools, 300 contacts had been made with schools in Aylesbury Vale and that graffiti was the next priority for the next NAG at Stoke Mandeville Community Centre on 11 December.  The aim is to recruit another PCSO in 2009.
• A resident of Buckingham drive expressed concern that the new pavement had been damaged by the work of a utility company and he requested a reassurance that pavements will be reinstated to their previous condition. 
• Colin Perottet explained that a 12 month embargo on utilities work can be placed on newly surfaced roads.  During a discussion the Chairman agreed to discuss with the Cabinet Member for Transportation responsibility for repairs if a reinstatement fails within 12 months.     

None received

There were none.

A presentation from John Byrne, Head of Planning AVDC.

John Byrne, Head of Planning at Aylesbury Vale District Council gave a presentation on the Direction of Housing Growth in Aylesbury.  He explained that there is a requirement to build about 26,900 houses, about 10,000 homes on new Greenfield sites and 5,390 in Milton Keynes and 4,700 across the District between now and 2026 and to create approximately 21,500 jobs.     

In the consultation during the summer of 2007 land to the south of Aylesbury was shown as the preferred option as the direction of growth.  An additional consultation has been carried out because significant levels of public concern were raised about the Southern Growth Arc and doubt was cast about whether the key infrastructure can be delivered.  Studies underway include the following:

·         Strategic Flood Risk assessment

·         Water Cycle Strategy

·         Landscape impact assessment

·         Utilities review

·         Viability study

In the consultation running until 12 December 2008 three options are being considered for an Eastern Arc, a Southern Arc or a Combined Arc.  Members were advised that growth in the North and West of the town has been ruled out because of the landscape and the typography.

The timetable is as follows:

10/03/09         Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC) Cabinet

24/03/09         AVDC Environment Scrutiny Committee

21/04/09         AVDC Cabinet

29/04/09         AVDC Council

May – June 2009 Pre-examination process

Late 2009/Spring 2010 Independent examination

2010               Adoption of the Plans

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

• A Member explained that the consultation in 2007 allocated houses to the MDAs and he noted that there was no breakdown of the number of houses in the current consultation.  He asked if numbers had been allocated to the current plans.
• John Byrne replied that a detailed breakdown had not been prepared.
• A member asked if the proposal was for the houses to be built before the jobs are created.
• The intention is that they are co-terminus.  It was noted that currently there is a significant number of people travel out of Aylesbury to work.
• Electricity supplies are a potential issue for the growth plans and the utility companies have been approached about the impact of which growth area is identified.
• A member asked about the proposed development for Wendover.   
• John Byrne replied that Wendover will not be without growth
• The educational modelling of one child per family was queried.
• The Chairman explained that School Placed Planning had been prepared for the primary schools in Aylesbury Town and for secondary schools in Aylesbury Vale.    She stressed the importance that was being attached to getting the figures right.

The Chairman thanked John Byrne for his presentation and urged members to respond to the consultation.

A presentation from John Rippon, Project Manager Transportation, BCC

John Rippon explained that planning permission has been approved for the development of land at the Princess Marys Hospital RAF Halton on the B4009/Old Tring Road, near Wendover.  The proposed development comprises 400 residential dwellings, a convenience store, MS Centre and associated open space, car parking and access.   

The legal agreement includes a financial contribution of £170,000 to be paid by the developer to Buckinghamshire County Council for cycle route improvements.  

The options include the following:

·         Upgrade existing cycle route between Chestnut Avenue and Wendover.

·         On road direct route to Wendover

·         Improve existing link to schools via Manor Road

·         New School Link

·         Extension of existing route to Wendover

During a discussion members emphasised the importance of providing a new link to the school.  Caution was expressed about extending the existing link to the Clock Tower because it was very dangerous.   

A presentation from the Home Library Service, BCC

Sue Jones gave a presentation on the Home Library Service which is delivered in partnership with the WRVS.  The eligibility criteria are anyone with difficulty in getting to a library or the full time carer of a disabled person.   

There has been a Service Level Agreement with the WRVS since 2003.  There are 3 coordinators who follow up referrals and the aim is to provide a smaller mobile service delivering to smaller residential homes.  There is an extended loan period of 31 days.  Large print books are and audio tapes are the most popular.  The majority of clients are elderly, younger MS sufferers and chronically ill children.

Volunteers are constantly required to deliver the service.  All volunteers are CRB checked receive induction training, insurance cover and an entitlement to claim a mileage allowance.  Members were asked to raise awareness of the home library service as demand is expected to increase with the aging population and an increase in the number of referrals from Adult Social Care.

Lambros Damopolous, Team Leader, Buckinghamshire Trading Standards

LambrosDamopoulos gave a presentation on recent initiatives involving Trading Standards. Chargers with a value of £1 - £3 have been seized that have given children electric shocks and do not comply with safety regulations.  The findings will be presented on ITV on 17 November.  It is proposed that a radio and press release is issued on problems with items that have been produced in China.  The telephone number for consumer direct is 0845 4040506. 

Online advertisements selling cars have been scrutinised and a recent success has been that one company has been forced into liquidation.  Emails have been sent to 300 community groups notifying of the importance of notifying Trading Standards of problems with doorstop selling involving roofing, gardening and tarmacking involving vulnerable groups especially the elderly.  Members were advised that people have cancellation rights although written notice must be provided.

Peter Mussett asked for a summary of the initiatives to be prepared for inclusion in Wendover and other LAF Newsletters.  The Chairman thanked Lambros for the useful information and explained that in her opinion staff in Trading Standards were unsung heroes.       

Letters have now been sent to all Parishes in the Wendover Local Community Area. Proposals may be shared and Ann-Marie Davies and Madeleine Howe will give a brief summary and answer questions from members.

Ann-Marie Davies explained that Aylesbury Vale Local Committee had previously been allocated a budget of £125k.  There are 7 LAFs in Aylesbury Vale and a budget of £15k has been allocated to Wendover LAF.  In response to a question it was agreed that Ann-Marie Davies will clarify that Stoke Mandeville Council should submit a bid to Aylesbury Town rather Wendover Local Area Forum. 

Members were advised that the closing date for receipt of bids is 31 December 2008.  Ann-Marie Davies will write to the Parishes in early January and a presentation of the bids will be presented to the meeting on 5 February 2009.   

The next meeting of the Local Community Forum will take place on 5^th February 2009 at 7pm venue to be confirmed.

5 February 2009 at Buckland Village Hall at 7pm.