Meeting documents

To receive apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Honorary Aldermen M B Oram, Mrs K M Peatey and Mrs P Priesley. Councillors: D A Anson MBE, M Angell, M C Appleyard, S Graham, C B Harriss, J Malliff, P R Turner and R Wilson. 

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 7 October 2013.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 7 October be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any disclosure of disclosable pecuniary interests by Members relating to items on the agenda.  If any Member is uncertain as to whether an interest should be disclosed, he or she is asked if possible to contact the District Solicitor prior to the meeting.

Members are reminded that if they are declaring an interest, they should state the nature of that interest whether or not they are required to withdraw from the meeting.

Councillor J Gibbs declared an interest in item 6, question 4 in his capacity of Chief Executive of BALC and withdrew from the meeting during consideration of the item.

To receive such communication as the Chairman of the Council may wish to make.

The Chairman announced that High Wycombe had retained its Purple Flag Award for a further 2 years. The award was made by the Association of Town and City Management, and reflected good management of the night time economy.  Assessors had met with HWBIDCO as part of an overnight assessment in October.

The Chairman took the opportunity to thank all those who had been involved in securing this coveted award.

Written questions may be asked of the Leader or any Cabinet Member if submitted by 12 noon on Thursday 12 December 2013. Questions will be submitted in the order in which they are received.

Any questioner may put one supplementary question without notice.  No question or answer may exceed 3 minutes.

(a)       Question from Mr R Kettle to the Cabinet Member for Planning & Sustainability

"From Thames Water documents available on the Planning Portal, it is clear that Thames Water have a duty to deliver mains water with a minimum head of 10 metres and a flow of 9 litres per minute at the property boundary. We are aware that there have been issues with the Little Marlow Sewage Works depositing raw sewage, not only into the Thames but also into neighbouring fields.

Consultation now taking place on the new Local Plan shows in the region of 13,000 additional houses/dwellings and extensive commercial space to be built in the district over the next 13 years.

What practical steps is the District Council, in conjunction with Thames Water and the Environmental Agency, taking to ensure that such developments are delivering water at the standard required and that the additional sewage generated can be removed and treated without the infrastructure being overloaded, or repeats of the issues at Little Marlow Sewage Works?"

Response from Councillor N B Marshall (Cabinet Member for Planning & Sustainability)

"Adequate water supply and sewage disposal is important for our community and as we look to the future with our new Local Plan the District Council liaises with the statutory agencies, including Thames Water and the Environment Agency.  These agencies are formally consulted too when the Council firms up the Plan.

In your question you suggest that consultation on the new Local Plan is already taking place. This is in fact due to start at the end of January 2014.  A view by the District Council on the level and nature of growth that should take place up to 2031 will only be determined after public consultation and more detailed work with a variety of infrastructure providers.

This is in line with what the government requires us to do when preparing a new Plan and we do expect that improvements to infrastructure will be needed to accompany future growth. 

With regard to those improvements we will be guided by the input from the relevant agencies over the coming months.  There will then be a public examination into the new Local Plan which will provide an opportunity to consider any concerns about the exact nature of improvements required to complement growth.  

I should point out that those agencies also work to separate legislation, outside of the planning system. With regard to the recent incidents affecting the Little Marlow Sewage Works my understanding is that they are being addressed by Thames Water and were not a result of a capacity issue."

Supplementary Question

"From the Thames Water response for the recently determined RAF Daws Hill planning application:-

·           I quote "the existing water supply infrastructure has insufficient capacity to meet the additional demands for the proposed development"

·           furthermore concerns have been raised over the disposal of foul water from both the Sports Centre and RAF Daws Hill developments

It appears that the recent Planning Committee meeting, which left some 100 matters to be determined  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

Questions to the Leader or any Cabinet Members must be submitted by 12 noon on Thursday 12 December 2013. Questions will be taken first from Leaders of the political parties in order of number of Members.

Other Members will be called upon in the order in which question have been received. Every Member asking an oral question is permitted to ask one supplementary question without notice provided that it introduces no new matter. The appropriate Member will respond to any questions remaining unanswered at the expiry of 30 minutes in writing.

Any question remaining unanswered after 30 minutes will be answered within 10 working days in writing after the meeting by the appropriate Member and appended to the minutes of the meeting.

(a)     Question from Councillor S F Parker to the Cabinet Member for Environment

"Can the cabinet member update the Council on the roll out of the new waste recycling scheme, and reassure us that there is sufficient flexibility in the system to cater for the requirements of all residents of Wycombe  District?"

Response from Councillor Mrs J E Teesdale (Cabinet Member for Environment)

"The new waste and recycling service is now into its 5th Cycle of collections and is starting to bed in. More than 66,000 properties have moved to the new service and for the first time all these households can recycling at the kerbside:

•   Glass bottles and jars

•   Plastic Tubs and trays

•   Tetra Pak

•   Textiles

•   Batteries

During the procurement process, a minimum range of materials was specified for collection from every household. Our new contract exceeds this minimum.  As this is an output based contract, the detailed collection arrangements for these materials were not specified as this is deemed to be best practice in waste procurement.

I know there have been problems, in your area, but if you consider there are 200,000 bins which are emptied weekly, there are likely to be some problems.  The Head of Environment has paid a visit to your local area, and I have followed it up with letters of apology to your residents."

Supplementary Question

"Can all residents be assured that each taxpayer will receive the same level of service?"

Supplementary Answer

          "You can be assured that we will make every effort to ensure that all Council tax payers receive the same levels of service.  We have regular meetings with the managers at SERCO, and appreciate the difficulties encountered. We are reviewing them and dealing with them".

(b)     Question from Councillor A Turner to the Cabinet Member for Economic Development & Regeneration

"The proposed extension to the Risborough Springs fitness centre in Princes Risborough will need to be built on land owned by Princes Risborough Town Council (PRTC) and it now appears to be partly paid for by using 106 developer contributions which had already been claimed by PRTC for another project. However, WDC have chosen not to consult PRTC (who are the owners of the land) about the proposed extension, but simply lodged a planning application, nor did they inform PRTC that they had re-allocated the aforementioned 106 monies to their own project. So much for "Localism"!

Before this debacle descends into a legal confrontation, will this Council agree to withdraw the planning application until proper consultations with PRTC have taken place and mutual agreement reached on these issues?"

Response from Councillor A R Green (Cabinet Member for Economic Development & Regeneration)

"We submitted the planning application, so as to ascertain whether an extension to RSSFC was likely to be a permissible project (in planning terms). If so, then we would seek the Town Council's consent, as landlords, to the proposed alterations. As has been explained to Cllr Turner, there was little point in consulting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

(i)            Council to receive any petition from a member of the public or from a Councillor on behalf of a member of the public as notified by the deadline of 5pm Monday 9 December 2013.

(ii)               Council to consider any petition already received that meets the required number of signatures to qualify for a debate by Full Council. (The petition organiser will have 5 minutes to present the petition and then Council will debate the matter for a maximum of 15 minutes and decide how to respond to the petition)

No petitions were received by the deadline of 5pm on Monday 9 December 2013.

(a)    Minute 41 – HWTC Masterplan & Public Realm.

A Member commented that the masterplan was somewhat fragmented, and that she was fearful that improvements at Paul`s Row/St Mary`s Street would only expose the eyesore at Whitehart Street. She felt that it would have been better to have tackled the work not on a piecemeal basis, but as a widespread plan. There were many other shops in need of urgent care.

The Leader reassured the Member that there were 10-12 other projects under consideration, and that would indeed need to be part of a long term plan.  However as agreement had already been reached on St Paul`s Row/St Mary Street, it was felt that this action would be a good precursor to the long term aims.

(b)   Minute 52- Temporary Accommodation Properties  

A Member requested further information regarding the monies for temporary affordable housing.  The Cabinet Member confirmed that following the sale of 4 empty properties on 5 December, the monies would be ring fenced for the provision of affordable housing.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 4 November 2013 be received and the recommendations as set out at minute numbers 48, 49, 51 and 53 be approved and adopted.

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meetings:

Cabinet                      4 November 2013

Cabinet                      2 December 2013

(a)     Minute 60 – Homelessness Strategy 2014-2019

A Member stated that though she agreed there had to be a strategy, she disagreed with the way in which it was being implemented.  She was concerned that views had not been given sufficient time to be properly expressed, at the recently held briefing.

She also believed that Saunderton lodge should be replaced and re provided through sale, with staff being re designated.  In addition a new decent homes standard needed to be introduced into the strategy so as to provide better care for temporary tenants within B&Bs. Moreover a better protocol needed to be established with early intervention methods so as to prevent evictions and homelessness.

The Leader informed Members that Saunderton Lodge was in better condition and was currently well liked and well used.  Also a good range of services for homeless people were provided at the facility. 

Another Member commented that the strategy should protect people with children being made intentionally homeless.

The Cabinet Member stated that there needed to be a continuous dialogue and it was not too late to give feedback. He also expressed the view that the Council did not wish to be an enforcer of Red Kite.  Another Member expressed the need to go over and beyond the statutory requirements of the strategy, with thorough monitoring of the strategy. 

A Member rose to emphasise that the comment made by the Cabinet Member for Community with regards to the Council`s role not being to police or enforce the performance of Red Kite was inaccurate. He referred the Council to Minute 32 of the Audit Committee of 21 November 2013 within the Council`s agenda.

(b)     Minute 62 – Bucks Home Choice Policy Amendments

A Member requested that the issue of "Close Proximity" be looked at bearing in mind that some families were close at hand, but fell just outside the authority`s borders. The Leader stated that he would enquire as to whether a report could be produced on the query made.

(c)     Minute 68 - Off Street Parking

A Member asked when ANPR was likely to be enforced in the remainder of the car parks.  He was informed that this would be rolled out in January.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 2 December 2013 be received and the recommendations as set out at minute numbers 60, 62, 64 and 69 be approved and adopted. 

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meeting:

Improvement & Review Commission                   13 November 2013

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Commission held on 13 November 2013 be received..

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meeting:

Audit Committee                  21 November 2013             

Councillor J Richards rose to present the minutes in the absence of the Chairman.

Minute 32 – Red Kite Performance Delivery

A Member reinforced the view that it was the Council`s duty to monitor the performance of Red Kite.  Another Member stated that she was concerned that arrears were allowed to slip beyond £500 by which point there should be intervention.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 21 November 2013 be received.

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meeting:

High Wycombe Town Committee             5 November 2013

(a)     Minute 20 – Wycombe Sound – Community Radio

The Chairman of the Committee congratulated the radio station on its first week of broadcasting and wished it well for the remaining three.

(b)     Minute 24 – Muslim Burial Vaults

The Chairman of the Committee expressed his dismay over this having become a political issue, and that the Labour Group had issued a press release on the matter, thereby making political capital out of the Council`s  burial grounds.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the High Wycombe Town Committee held on 5 November 2013 be received.

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meetings:

JNC Staffing Matters Committee               8 October 2013

JNC Staffing Matters Committee               17 October 2013

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meetings of the JNC Staffing Matters Committee held on 8 and 17 October 2013 be received.

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meeting:

Licensing Committee                      14 November 2013                                     

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 14 November 2013 be received

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meetings:

Planning Committee                       23 October 2013.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 23 October 2013 be received

To receive the minutes of and consider any recommendations from the following meeting:

Regulatory & Appeals Committee                                     11 November 2013

Special Regulatory & Appeals Committee                      10 December 2013 (to follow)

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Regulatory & Appeals Committee held on 11 November 2013 be received and the recommendations as set out at minute numbers 18 and 19 be approved and adopted.

Minute 23 – Internal Planning Referral

A Member commented that he felt that local Members were always denied the opportunity to attend an appeal to put forward the views of local residents on their behalf.  As such they felt that they were getting a raw deal.

The Member emphasised that he was not questioning the transaction of business at the Committee meeting, but the fact that there was currently no procedure in place to allow a local Member to go before an appeal panel and have the relevant views heard.

It was suggested by the Chairman of the Committee that this issue be taken up with the new Head of Planning and Sustainability in the near future.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Regulatory and Appeals Committee held on 10 December 2013 be received.

To receive details of any written questions submitted before the deadline of 12 noon on Thursday 12 December 2013.

There were none.

1.    The designation of the Monitoring Officer by the full Council is a statutory requirement under section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

2.    On 10 October 2011, Council resolved that Mr David Ruddock be designated as the Council’s Monitoring Officer for a period of up to two years from 23 November 2011. The vacancy was filled on this basis pending the outcome of the ongoing work on preparation of a business case for a shared legal service with other authorities. However the shared legal service proposal was not pursued by the three authorities concerned, as after further investigation it was not considered to be the appropriate solution, and work has proceeded on the transformation of Legal Services instead.

3.    Mr Ruddock is retiring from the Council’s employment on 20 March 2014. In order to make the current arrangements more permanent, it is therefore recommended that the role of the Council’s Monitoring Officer be undertaken by the District Solicitor until further notice.

The Chief Executive reported that designation of the Monitoring Officer was a statutory requirement.

Members were informed that Mr David Ruddock had been appointed as the Council`s Monitoring Officer for a period of 2 years from 23 November 2011.   Mr Ruddock was due to retire from the Council`s employment on 20 March 2014, and it was recommended that the role of the Council`s Monitoring Officer be undertaken by the District Solicitor until further notice.

RESOLVED: That the role of the Council`s Monitoring Officer be undertaken by the post of District Solicitor until further notice.

The following individual decisions have been published since the last ordinary meeting of the Council on 7 October 2013.

i)             Appointment of Members to the Planning and Sustainability PAG

ii)            The approval of the release of £85 000 capital funding from the facilities for the Young People Programme for improvement works to play areas.  

iii)           To approve a Bucks Home Choice local lettings policy on bedroom size.

iv)           Approval of a six week consultation exercise on the allocations of Community Infrastructure Levy funding.

The four individual decisions published since the last meeting of the Council were listed within the summons.

The Chairman took the opportunity to wish the whole Council a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

In the spirit of the occasion, he invited everyone to join him for refreshments at the close of the meeting.