Meeting documents

COUNCIL

Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on

11 May 1998

PRESENT

Cllr Mrs F W Alexander (in the Chair)

(Apologies for absence were received from Councillors L Ali, S R Billingham, D J Carroll, A A Dunford, D G Fieldhouse, S H Graham, Miss B M Hughes, Miss D A Lewis, C B Oliver, Mrs K M Peatey MBE, JP and Mrs B J Sadler).

1.     MINUTES

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 26 February 1998  be approved as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

2.     CHAIRMAN=S ANNOUNCEMENTS

(a)  Cllr Mrs F G Bettison

The Chairman welcomed Cllr Mrs F G Bettison to the meeting, and expressed the hope that she would find the work of the Council of interest.

(b) Cllr Miss B M Hughes

The Chairman informed Members that Cllr Miss Hughes was unwell and that she would be unable to attend to her Council responsibilities for some while.

(c) Mirpur

The Chairman of the Mirpur Development Authority together with the authority=s Chief Administrator had recently visited the district (for the launch of the linking Association).  Cllr N P Vickery presented to the Chairman of the Council two plaques on behalf of the Mirpur Development Authority.

(d) The Wycombe District Local Plan 1991-2011

The Chairman congratulated Cllr D E Done for his conduct of the public meetings to discuss the Wycombe District Local Plan, and for progressing this matter through the Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee.

(e) High Wycombe Youth Council

The Chairman informed Members that a successful Youth Conference had been held in the District Council Offices on Friday, 8 May 1998.  The Youth Conference had been well attended with good speakers and issues requiring further consideration would be taken back to various schools, and the Council=s Leisure, Health and Community Directorate and the Economic Development Unit of the Planning, Transport and Development Directorate.

(f) Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

Congratulations were extended to Cllr D A C Shakespeare following his appointment to the Congress of local and regional authorities,  the Local Government Chamber of the Council of Europe.  The Council played a major part in lobbying national governments to fully embrace subsidiarity.  It was noted that the United Kingdom had 18 seats on the Council and that Cllr Shakespeare had been appointed a Member until May 2000.

(g) Diane Webber

The Chairman informed Members of the current progress of Diane Webber following her serious illness.  The Chairman read to the Council a letter from Diane expressing thanks for the continuing support and best wishes expressed by Members and staff.  Rather than flowers, Diane had asked that blood be donated, and the Council was informed that a special blood donation day in High Wycombe had been arranged for Friday, 29 May 1998 and staff and Members were invited to support this.

(h) Community Woodlands Officer

Mr Ian Butterfield the Council=s Community Woodlands Officer had been selected to take part in AEarth Watch@.  This project which would take place in Costa Rica during 1998 was a tropical forest ecology project, and Mr Butterfield would as part of his selection have to report on the project in due course.

(i) Financial Reserves and Joint Working

Members were informed of a letter sent by all District Councils in the County to the Chairman of the Bucks County Council drawing attention to the financial pressures being experienced by local authorities and suggesting the need for the introduction of forward financial planning and regular two-way working and exchange of financial information.  The proposed overview would help identify community needs and although a common position was emerging, it was felt that a joint meeting between the four District Councils and the County Council would be highly beneficial.

3.     POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 27 April 1998 were submitted.

Minute No 96 - Wycombe District Council and Parish Council Chairman - 21 January 1998

Minute No 32 - Transportation Issues

A Member expressed concern at the general safety standard on this road and informed the Council that safety improvements needed to be carried out before any of the proposed 650 houses at Princes Risborough were constructed.  A need to liaise with the County Council in this matter, in particular the role of the Joint Transportation Strategy Panel, was emphasised and also that the ability to retain locally any fines imposed for speeding offences should be supported.

Arising from this Members requested details for the mechanisms used for reporting back on those issues raised at meetings with Parish Council Chairmen and Local Area Forums etc.  It was reported that matters arising were forwarded to the relevant authority and noted that the Bucks County Council had indicated that it did not wish to be represented at Local Area Forum meetings.

Minute No 97 - Western Sector Steering Group

3 February 1998

A Member requested details on the commencement and completion date of the Western Sector development.  It was reported that protracted confidential negotiations were taking place, and Members were reminded that all political groups on the Council were being informed on an ongoing basis of the progress being made in this matter.  A special meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee was due to take place on 4 June 1998 to discuss the matter.

(NB: This meeting has now been postponed until 30 July 1998).

Minute No 100 - Joint Staff and Equal Opportunities Committee 23 March 1998

Minute No 38 - Office Accommodation

Concern was expressed at the estimated cost of relocating the staff snooker table to the existing training room.  Members were advised that the cost of this had now been estimated at ,1,000 and reminded of the success of the CCTV scheme and the Council=s decision to expand this provision, and use the area above the Design and Print Unit to accommodate the additional equipment.  Members acknowledged the need for suitable recreational facilities to be provided for staff when the necessary finance and accommodation were available but a Member was concerned at the  possible impression given to the public in future when staff used the existing training room for recreational purposes.

It was proposed by Cllr M B Oram and seconded by Cllr E H Collins AThat the staff snooker table be relocated to the existing training room@.  On the proposal being put to the vote a majority voted in favour.  The proposal was declared carried.

Minute No 101 - Committee System Working Party

31 March 1998

Minute No 23 - Planning Matters Guidance Notes

Two recommendations to full Council on this issue were addressed by the Council.  It was noted that the Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee was recommending the adoption of the Guidance note as set out in Appendix AB@ (pages 72-84) of the Minutes of the meeting of the Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee held on 23 March 1998, and that the Policy and Resources Committee had accepted the recommendations in principle, but had requested the Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee to reconsider the wording of Section 6 in order to simplify this and had also made an alternative proposal in respect of Paragraph 5.1.

Minute No 102 - High Wycombe Town Committee

14 April 1998

Minute No 24 - Programme for High Wycombe Town Centre Celebrations

A Member commented on the quality and appearance of the enhancement works, and suggested that a representative of the Health and Safety Executive should examine the scheme before it was officially opened.

Members were informed that the inspection suggested would be carried out before the scheme was officially opened and that in addition any related matters which required attention would be carried out by the contractor at no cost to the Council following the completion of the contract.

Minute No 104 - Service Enhancement

The Leader of the Conservative Group informed the Council that following some reduction in amounts requested, the Conservative Group in future would be scrutinising all reports submitted to Committees and Panels on service enhancements very carefully.  She expressed concern that expenditure under ,10,000 would be dealt with under delegated powers and not debated at Committee.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group drew attention to the fact that the reductions referred to had been made to enable expenditure within budget.  The process undertaken by the Council had been complicated and protracted and members of the public and those organisations affected had been pleased with the course of action taken by the Council.

Minute No 106 - Policy and Resources Committee - Performance Review and Monitoring Role

Following criticism by some Members of the recommendation to set up a new Local Democracy Network Panel because of its apparent restricted remit as well as the cost of holding Local Area Forums, Members were reminded that the recommendations before the Council were a genuine attempt to contribute towards modernising Local Government and enabling it to become more transparent.  The need to ensure that individuals in public life behaved with complete probity, restoring the public=s faith in Local Government and working with the public and other appropriate agencies were felt to be important reasons in support of the recommendation put forward.

It was proposed by Cllr A Dunn, seconded by Cllr Mrs P Priestley, supported by seven other Members rising in their places as required by Standing Order 16.3.1 that a recorded vote be taken on recommendation (i).  

On recommendation (i) being put to the vote, there was thereupon recorded the following:

In Favour

Cllrs Mrs F W Alexander, Mrs E M Barratt JP, C D Bates, Mrs F G Bettison, J M Blanksby, J M Campbell, D J Coe, I M Coleman, E H Collins, D E Done, Mrs K M Draper, C J Elliott, Mrs J E Gabbitas, A Gielgud, Mrs E Hall, Mrs A E Hardy, P J Herschel, M D Huddy, Mrs C C Martens, Mrs C E Mill, P J Moore, A R Mountford, R J Nagle, M B Oram, Mrs P I O=Rourke, B R Pollock, J W Preston, Mrs J Riddington, A J Tanner, N P Vickery, Mrs J S R Waite.  Total = 31

Against

Cllrs I B Campbell, P J Cartwright, Mrs L M Clarke, A D Collingwood, R B Colomb, D A E Cox, A Dunn, D A B Green, A E Hill, B T A Holland, R W Jennings, Mrs E M Lay, Mrs V A Letheren, Mrs P Priestley, R C Pushman, D A C Shakespeare, Mrs J E Teesdale.  Total = 17

Abstentions

Total = 0

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 27 April 1998 be received and the recommendations contained therein be approved and adopted.  Subject to the decision on Minute No 23 of the meeting of the Committee Systems Working Party held on 31 March 1998 being as follows:-

(a) That Paragraph 5.1 be amended to read AAs a general rule, party politics should have no place in the consideration of individual planning applications@; and

(b) that the Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee be asked to reconsider Section 6 (Members Interests) of the Guidance Note.

4.     HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the meeting of the Housing and Economic Development Committee held on 9 March 1998 were submitted.

Minute No 67 - Tourism Annual Work Programme

A Member spoke in support of the proposed Tourism Annual Work Programme and emphasised the need for the Council=s continued membership of the Southern Tourist Board.

Minute No 74 - CCTV - Marlow, Bourne End, Hazlemere, Princes Risborough

Support for the Committee=s proposals was expressed and it was noted that local Marlow Members, members of the public and Police would be fully consulted before the scheme in Marlow became operational.

Members noted that retail traders in Bourne End wished to see CCTV installed in Bourne End, and that this possibility should be explored after the scheme in Marlow was completed.  The Chairman of the Housing and Economic Development Committee indicated that the Housing and Economic Development Committee had accepted various retail traders= views with regard to the provision of CCTV.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Housing and Economic Development Committee held on 9 March 1998 be received.

5.     COMMUNITY AND LEISURE COMMITTEE

The Minutes of the meeting of the Community and Leisure Committee held on 16 March 1998 were submitted.

Spring Gardens Art Centre

The Chairman of the Community and Leisure Committee informed Members that terms were currently being discussed with the County Council regarding reopening of these premises, however, no further lettings would be entertained by the County Council after 31 May 1999.

Minute No 42 - Panel Minutes

Minute No 28 - Annual Revenue Grants

It was noted that applications were currently being processed and those successful would receive their allocations before the next meeting of the Community and Leisure Committee.

Minute No 44 - Review of Alcohol Related Issues

A Member expressed his pleasure at the Committee=s progress and urged the Committee to review this matter in 12 months.

Minute No 46 - The Rye Management Plan - A Draft for Consultation

Members drew attention to the importance of this draft action plan and emphasised the need for members of the public to comment on it.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting of the Community and Leisure Committee held on 16 March 1998 be received.

The Minutes of the special meeting of the Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee held on 4 March 1998 were submitted.

Minute No 67 - 97/07360/OUT Redevelopment and erection of new buildings for Classes A1 (Retail), A3 (Food and Drink) Single Person Bedsits, C3 (Residential), D1 (Library and Community Use), D2 (Leisure), bus interchange, parking and associated works at land bounded by Oxford Road, Abbey Way, Bridge Street, Denmark Street, Desborough Road, Lily=s Walk, Temple Street, Union Street and the Bus Station (known as the Western Sector) High Wycombe, Bucks

A Member referred to the decision to grant delegated authority to the Director of Planning Transport and Development provided that a planning obligation or other appropriate legal agreement was first entered into in line with the report submitted to the Committee.  He drew attention to the road layout in the vicinity of the new Safeway Store and to the difficulty encountered by pedestrians visiting this store, and suggested that care must be taken when considering the provision of suitable pedestrian crossings for the Western Sector Development.  The Chairman of the Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee informed Members that the comments made would be taken into account including any alternatives available.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the special meeting of the Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee held on 4 March 1998 be received.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee held on 23 March 1998 were submitted.

Minute No 70 - Minutes Planning, Environment and Transportation Panel - 5 February 1998

Minute No 19 - Refuse Collection Service

The Council was informed that on 12 May 1998 the Director of Property and Housing was due to meet the Managing Director of Onyx to discuss the problems currently being experienced with the refuse collection service in the District.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting of the Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee held on 23 March 1998 be received and  the recommendation contained therein be approved and adopted.  (Note: The recommendation contained in Minute No 73 [Planning Matters Guidance Note] was considered in conjunction with Minute No 58 earlier in the meeting).

The Minutes of the special meeting of the Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee held on 7 April 1998 were submitted.

Minute No 80 - The Wycombe District Local Plan 1991-2011 ADeposit Plan@ Development Strategy

The Chairman requested Members to amend the word ARecommended@ on pages Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee 94 and Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee 103 to AResolved@ to accord with the agreed scheme of delegation to committees.

In reviewing the decisions taken by the Committee, a Member referred to Resolution (vii) and (viii) of the section Arecommended development sites for housing@, and expressed her disappointment alleging that the Tylers Green area had not been treated fairly. Another Member suggested that the Council=s own consultants had advised against development at Pimms Grove, with only a small number of properties being identified for the area of land at Ashwells.  He supported the view that Resolutions (vii) and (viii) of the section Arecommended development sites for housing@ should be referred back to the Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee for further consideration.

Members were advised of the provisions of Standing Order 15.1 in this respect.

Some Members then expressed concern at the change to the ARecommended@ decisions on pages Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee 94 and Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee 103, to `Resolutions=  expressing the view that only a limited amount of time had been given to Members informing them of this correction.

Several Members then commented on the success of the public meetings held at the Kings Church in Desborough Road, High Wycombe, but expressed concern at some of the proposals put forward.

It was proposed by Councillor R C Pushman, seconded by Councillor Mrs P Priestley supported by seven other Members rising in their places as required by Standing Order 16.3.1 that a recorded vote be taken to suspend Standing Orders in order that the AResolved@ decisions currently before the Council could be treated as matters of ARecommendation@.

There was thereupon recorded the following:

In Favour

Councillors I B Campbell, A D Collingwood, R B Colomb, D A E Cox, A Dunn, D A B Green, A E Hill, B T A Holland, R W Jennings, Mrs E M Lay, Mrs V A Letheren, Mrs P Priestley, R C Pushman, D A C Shakespeare, Mrs J E Teesdale.

Total = 15.

Against:

Councillors Mrs F W Alexander, Mrs E M Barratt JP, C D Bates, Mrs F G Bettison, J M Blanksby, J M Campbell, P J Cartwright, Mrs L M Clarke, I M Coleman, E H Collins, D E Done, Mrs K M Draper, C J Elliott, Mrs J E Gabbitas, A Gielgud, Mrs E Hall, Mrs A E Hardy, P J Herschel, M D Huddy, Mrs C C Martens, Mrs C E Mill, P J Moore, A R Mountford, R J Nagle, M B Oram, Mrs P I O=Rourke, B R Pollock, J W Preston, Mrs J Riddington, A J Tanner, N P Vickery, Mrs J S R Waite

Total = 32.

Abstentions

Councillor D J Coe - Total = 1

The amendment was declared lost.

Members were reminded that the decisions of the Committee were about the future use of various areas of land which might be used for the purposes identified, and that the consultation process was ongoing.  Members were also reminded of the SERPLAN Regional Strategy seminar on sustainability to be held on Thursday 28 May 1998.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the special meeting of the Planning, Environment and Transportation Committee held on 7 April 1998 be received.

9.     REPORT OF THE RETURNING OFFICER

The Returning Officer reported that at the by-election held on 23 April 1998 in the Lane End and Piddington District Ward, Frances Gillian Bettison of 3 Park Close, Lane End, High Wycombe had been duly elected as a District Councillor.

(The Meeting commenced at 6.30  pm and concluded at 9.15  pm)

     ______________

     CHAIRMAN

The following officers were in attendance at the meeting:

Mr R J Cummins - Chief Executive and Director of Finance

Mr H Potts - Director of Property and Housing

Mr P F Ricketts - Director of Corporate Services

Mr C A Swanwick - Director of Planning, Transport and Development

Mrs J E Clements - Head of Corporate and Committee Administration

Mr D M Dongray - District Solicitor

Mr P Marston-Weston - Head of Leisure Services

Mr R G Key - Principal Administrator Committee Services Section