Meeting documents

The Clerk to the meeting read out a statement, signed by the Democratic Services Manager and Deputy Monitoring Officer for BCC in connection with the confirmation of Chairman and Vice Chairman, as follows:

‘In order to ensure that LAFs get off to the best possible start, with some continuity, the County Council’s stance is that for the first year of a LAF being in place, the Chairman and Vice Chairman will remain in place to ensure the LAF is firmly embedded. Voting on Chairman and Vice Chairman will take place in the next municipal year, which will be 2011.  In the case of this LAF, it was convened in January 2010 and therefore, voting for Chairman and Vice Chairman will take place in 2011.

‘In future the following will take place. 

• A LAF that has been in existence for one to two years, will be able to elect their Chairman and Vice Chairman from members of the Forum, on the principle that the Chairman will be a County Councillor and the Vice Chairman a District Councillor will still apply. 
• Once a LAF has been running for more than two years, members of the LAF will be able to nominate any member to be Chairman and Vice Chairman, i.e. either a County, District or Parish Councillor.

‘So, as this particular LAF has only been going since January, the situation regarding Chairman and Vice Chairman will remain the same until the first meeting after the annual County Council meeting in May 2011.’

Members discussed the statement and the following was noted:

• Why had the District Council been asked to provide a nomination for Vice Chairman if the present Vice Chairman was to remain in place for a further year.  Reference was made to the letter from the Leader of South Bucks District Council nominating Julian Wilson. Why was the LAF not considering the wishes of the District Council.  The Clerk said that whilst the District Council had been asked to put forward a nomination, as with all elections and appointments, that did not necessarily mean that the LAF would take it up.
• The Chairman stated she felt strongly that the County Council’s stance was the route that should be taken and the BCC Lead Officer also agreed on the need to follow the advice from the Monitoring Officer and the Deputy Leader of BCC.
• The Officer from the District Council said that LAFs were part of the local community and Iver Parish Council has subsequently become part of the LAF and has not previously had the opportunity to take part in this LAF and the District Council has not had the opportunity to put forward its representative as Vice Chairman.  The Clerk stated that regardless of the fact that Iver Parish Council chose not to join the LAF from the outset did not mean it had not been represented, because members of that Parish Council had attended previous meetings.  It was suggested that the LAF had gone against its own constitution in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

This item was dealt with under Item 1 on the agenda.

It was agreed that Confirmation of Vice Chairman be deferred until a response had been received from the Monitoring Officer and Deputy Leader in relation to the nomination from the District Council for Vice Chairman

Apologies were received from Ian Skeldon, Jeanette Watkins, Pat Leech and Marion Dunstall,

To declare any personal and prejudicial interests

None.

To confirm the notes of the meeting held on 28 April 2010

The Action Notes from the meeting held on 28 April 2010 were agreed.

There will be a 20 minute period for public questions, and each speaker will have a maximum of three minutes to speak.

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.

Attached is a paper containing questions from Iver Parish Council.

Sarah Meere, Director of Iver Community Childcare asked members of the Local Area Forum to consider providing funding to support the delivery of Iver Community Childcare’s summer activity programme.  She expressed concern regarding out of school provision for older children and wants to set up a community hub offering out of school provision.  In this connection, Sarah asked members to consider giving money towards the provision of services over the summer break for children and young people.  Some activities would take place in the recreation ground alongside the recreation ground alongside the BMX Trail.  Another suggestion was the possibility of providing a BMX coach during the holiday period.

Stephen Young informed members that he had been in discussion with Sarah Meere and Sally Vigurs the Youth Worker.  Sarah and Sally were proposing to work together with stakeholders in the Iver area about where to develop opportunities for young people. 

If members were minded to agree to provide funding, it was suggested that, in order not to delay the work, members could agree a sum of money to be provided subject to the provision of a full business case, and the final decision be delegated to the Chairman in consultation with relevant officers.

Whilst this activity will be based in Iver, it was hoped it would benefit children and young people in the Wexham and Ivers area.

Geoff Spring expressed concern about the timescale for making funds available.  He made the point that they should go through a number of stages from application, to report, to committee approval, and that the LAF should have a formal way of dealing with any funding requests.

Members voted unanimously that an amount of up to £6,000 be delegated to support the Iver Community Childcare proposal for activities for children and young people, subject to the provision of a sound project plan.

(For the purpose of this vote, Julian Wilson was the designated District Council representative)

Yvonne Evans from Age Concern spoke to members about the Good Neighbour Scheme and the work that has been carried out so far. Leaflets have been circulated informing the public about the scheme. The next step will be to set up a steering group look at how to move forward in recruiting volunteers.  She asked whether any members of the LAF would be interested in joining the steering group, be involved in the launch of the Good Neighbour Scheme and help to obtain further funding for the project.  Alan Oxley, Geoff Spring and Bill Lidgate indicated they would be interested in joining the steering group subject to the provision of further information.

Two questions were submitted from Angela Fisher, for the Clerk of Iver Parish Council.  The response to question 2 was included in the agenda and papers and the response to question 1 is as follows:

Question:

‘Bucks Draft Freight Strategy section 7.3, page 21, last para.  "... Bucks CC will lobby Central Govt. to alter legislation to improve links between GVOL system and planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To receive petitions addressed to County, District or Parish Councils

None.

Report from Chris Schwier

Members received the report of the Head of Transport for Buckinghamshire, which suggested that members may wish to consider whether the LAF would like to spend, some, all or none of the delegated highways budget this year on road repair work within the Wexham and Ivers area, as an alternative to the schemes in the local programme.

The Forum discussed this request and agreed to continue with the schemes already approved for 2010/11.

The Wexham and Ivers Local Area Forum considered whether it would like to spend the delegated highways budget for 2010/11 on road repair work in this area, as an alternative to the schemes in the local programme and AGREED to continue with the schemes already approved for this financial year.

Report from Stephen Young

Stephen Young circulated a paper produced as a result of the Local Area Planning Workshop held on 9 June 2010.  The meeting was well attended by local Parish, District and County Councillors as well as stakeholder organisations that had been invited.

Members were informed that the list of priorities was a live document which could link to any ad hoc priorities drawn from Service Excellence events, the Sustainable Communities Strategy and the Ivers Parish Plan.  They were asked to feedback comments on the plan to Stephen Young (tel:  012396 387543, email: syoung@buckscc.gov.uk). Once comments have been received the document will be developed into a draft plan for the Area. 

This was not a wish list and there are issues which may not be achieved.  However, these should not be ignored and will remain on the list as a reminder.  It may be that at some time in the future there will be opportunities to take forward some of the issues.  Some priorities are more strategic and members were encouraged to champion those in their relevant areas. 

A further update will be presented at the autumn meeting and will be used to determine how the delegated budget and any subsequent funding received, will be spent.

Members were asked to look at the contents of the draft and give consideration as to what could be achieved.

Action:  Agenda item for next meeting

Update from Karen Adamson

Karen Adamson reported on the work being undertaken through the Adult Social Care surgeries which are being held across the county.  All Local Area Forums were being asked for suggestions on where they would like to have a Social Care surgery for advice and guidance for residents and their families.  This work was being carried out in conjunction with the Local Area Technicians and Thames Valley Police, who are offering crime prevention and reduction advice.  The surgeries were currently being held at Iver Heath Library.

Karen told members that in the North West Chilterns LAF area suggestions had been made to hold surgeries in the more rural areas through support groups such as the WI, carer support groups.  However, they would continue to go to the larger venues as well. So far Karen had not been able to set up a surgery in the Wexham area.

Members suggested the following venues could be used:

• St Peter’s Centre
• Iver Heath Library, which has the potential for greater use
• The old library building in Richings Park which is currently vacant
• Access to groups that meet at the Evreham Centre.
• It was suggested that a visit to Harvey House could be made

In answer to a question about what is provided at the Social Care Surgeries, the following was noted:

• Presentations could be made to groups such as the WI about how to access social area and what services are provided;
• Advice for anyone in relation to concerns they may have about neighbours who are struggling to look after themselves.  This could include such issues as help with shopping or what is being offered in order to empower elderly people to be able to stay in their own homes.
• Crime prevention advice from Thames Valley Police
• Advice on how to report potholes through the Local Area Technician
• Raising awareness of what the Adults and Family Wellbeing Service provides

Members agreed on the need to ensure that any surgeries are well advertised and it was suggested that the Parish magazines could be used in this connection.

• Youth Provision in the Wexham and Iver Areas
• Service Information Centre

• Service Information Centre

Members were informed that the Service Information Centre was launched on 21 June and is available to everyone through the Buckinghamshire County Council website. The SIC provides information on works to be done or in progress and relates to BCC operators as well as utility companies.  It is hoped that a demonstration can be provided for the next meeting.

A member expressed concern that the County Council may be paying another provider to operate the website.  Mark Averill stated that there were some programmes that the County Council did not allow on their own website but once the County Council web servers allow access it will move in house.  Currently Ringway Jacobs was providing the service through its own website.  Clarity was sought regarding the cost of providing this service.

Action:  Mark Averill to provide information on costings for the Service Information Centre

(Addendum: subsequent to the meeting Mark Averill provided the following information:

The SIC has been introduced to reduce the volume of both written and verbal requests to the County Council.  The additional cost for hosting the site is £100 per month.  To put this in to context it is expected that the site will answer the queries of many residents without the need to refer to the contact centre.  The site is fully scalable and will be able to cope with the many demands that the winter of 2009/10 put on the council at that time.  In addition, by adopting this approach then contact centre staff will be available to deal with more urgent requests that cannot be answered by the system.   Every effort was made to host the SIC within the existing county website, however issues around content precluded this development being made at the necessary time.  Once the county’s own systems are able to deal with the demands of the SIC then it will transfer back onto the county’s servers and the hosting arrangements will be withdrawn.)

• Youth Provision in the Wexham and Ivers Area.  Stephen Young said he had met with Sally Vigurs and James Fowler (BCC Detached Youth Team) who will be talking with young people during the summer about youth provision which will be brought back to the October meeting

In relation to the wider area, Julian Wilson asked members to note that Sally Vigurs was employed by Iver Parish Council and that her salary is paid by the Parish Council.

With regard to the consultation on Youth Provision services, it was noted that provision of youth services would change in the way it was delivered.  It was hoped that between now and the next meeting the changes would start to be implemented and there will be a better picture of what can be provided in the Wexham and Ivers area.  It may be that youth services will be commissioned out in the future.

Bill Lidgate stated that there were other issues that may need to come to the meeting, such as cancellation of parish paths.  Because of budget  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

The next meeting of the Wexham and Ivers Local Area Forum will be held on Wednesday 13 October 2010 at 7.30pm

Dates of Future Meetings:

The next meeting of the Wexham and Ivers Local Area Forum will be held on Wednesday 13 October 2010 at 7.30pm at the Harvey Memorial Hall

Dates of Future Meetings:

Report from the Head of Transport.

Members received the report of the Head of Transport for Buckinghamshire.

With regard to the item on Wexham Court Primary School and the proposal to widen the right hand turn lane on Church Lane, as well as a new pedestrian crossing point, Alan Oxley said he was not sure how many pupils actually came from South Bucks and was not sure of the need to cross the road there.  However, it was noted that the crossing does not just benefit children.  Chris Schwier agreed to carry out further investigation into this issue.

Action:  Chris Schwier

Members noted the Report.

Report from Ed Gurney, Transport for Buckinghamshire

Members received and noted the report on LTP3.