Meeting documents

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Honorary Aldermen: E Collins, M Oram, Mrs K M Peatey and R Pushman. Councillors:  Ms A Baughan, C Etholen, M Hanif, Mrs G A Jones, D A C Shakespeare (OBE) and R Wilson.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 17 July 2017 and of Special Council held on 5 September 2017.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 17 July and of Special Council held on 5 September 2017 be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the inclusion of Honorary Alderman R Pushman in the list of those present on 17 July.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

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

The Chairman announced that she had undertaken many engagements since the last ordinary meeting of the Council, but did not intend to list each one. Instead she highlighted the following:

(a)  Queens Awards

The Chairman gave mention to the number of Queen`s Awards being received within the district, which was the equivalent of an individual receiving an MBE. This award had recently been presented to `Drugfam` a charity supporting families with an addiction.

(b)  Wycombe Sound

The Chairman expressed her delight over Wycombe Sound having been presented with The Gold Station of the Year Award.

(c)  Wycombe Homeless Connection

Members were informed that Wycombe Homeless Connection had recently celebrated its 10^th Anniversary and had had many success stories during this time.

Written questions may be asked of the Leader or any Cabinet Member if submitted to the Head of Democratic, Legal and Policy Services no later than 12 noon on Monday 2 October 2017. Questions will be submitted in the order in which they were received.

A questioner will have a maximum of 1 minute to ask a question and the answer shall not exceed 3 minutes. Any questioner may put one supplementary question without notice within a maximum time of 1 minute and the answer may not exceed 2 minutes.  

Question from Mr R B Colomb to the Cabinet Member for Environment

"Earlier this year, travellers gained access to the old Sports Centre site at Handy Cross and managed in two weeks to deposit a great deal of rubbish on it.

Would the Cabinet Member please advise the tonnage of rubbish deposited, whether any asbestos was present and the cost to the Council of removing it and cleaning up the site?"

Response from Councillor Mrs J Adey (Cabinet Member for Environment)

"The total amount of waste removed from Handy Cross Hub was 210 tons, of which 155 tons had to be sorted, (plus 28 fridges, 18 mattresses and some asbestos cement; the latter being the subject of specialist disposal). 

The cost was. £41,000, plus approx. £2,000 for additional site security. BCC did recover evidence of where some of the waste originated and have sought to levy charges"

Supplementary Question

"If 210 tonnes or 70 truckloads came into the site how could we have not prevented the trucks getting into the site in the first place. What steps will you take in the future to prevent the re occurence of such activity in order to protect the taxpayers of this district?"

Supplementary Response

"This matter comes under Estates, and they should be able to clarify how many trucks did come in. Also we have asked for help with this but they simply break in, and once they do it is very difficult to remove them."

Questions to the Leader or any Cabinet members must be submitted by 12 noon Monday 2 October 2017. Questions shall be taken first from the Group Leaders of the political parties who shall be entitled to ask an initial Leader`s question, including the right to adopt another Member`s question from his/her group, of which written notice shall have been given to the head of Democratic Legal and Policy Services prior to the meeting.

The order of questions shall then permit the first question from each other Councillor to be asked before any subsequent questions from the same Councillor. One question will be taken in turn from the same Councillor unless there are no other questions to be asked.

Every member asking an oral question is permitted to ask one supplementary question without notice provided that it is not substantially the same as a question that was put to a Council meeting during the past six months.

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 R Raja to the Leader of the Council

"The Local Plan, as recently approved by the cabinet, identifies parcels of land which may be developed to provide much needed housing in the District. The plan may well be OK as a ‘stand-alone’ development, but there is no provision for improving existing inadequate infrastructure of roads, schools or GP surgeries; as although it is understood that new development will need to make provision to meet the needs of the new residents, the plan makes it clear that existing deficits or problems will not be made good.

In the circumstances, does the Leader agree that without addressing the existing problems the new development will only put more pressure on already choking roads, school places and make the lives of the residents of WDC more stressful?"

Response from Councillor Ms K Wood (Leader of the Council)

"I am of course aware of the concerns of residents over infrastructure and the pressure new development can put on it.  We have put great importance in the Local Plan of ensuring that infrastructure improvements that will benefit both existing and new residents will be put in place alongside the new housing. ‘Improving Strategic Connections’ and ‘Facilitating local infrastructure’ are two of the eight overarching strategic objectives identified for the Plan. 

Site specific policies in the Plan and the accompanying Infrastructure Delivery Plan set out detailed plans for infrastructure investment. An Infrastructure Topic Paper will be published as part of the consultation on the Local Plan which provides a summary of the challenges and response to them.

We have worked closely with the relevant infrastructure providers to identify what is needed both now and in the future.  These will include plans to improve roads, to make bus use, walking and cycling more attractive, new and expanded schools, and doctor surgeries, as well as new open space and sports facilities.  I would expect all these improvements to benefit existing as well as new residents."

Supplementary Question

"I am pleased to have these clarifications but find it hard to understand what kind of disjointed development this plan is going to deliver if, in the plan’s words, historic deficiencies are not to be tackled.

Do you not agree that having this development as a stand-alone project, it is akin to having a brand new car parked in a dilapidated forecourt, with little access to get on to the main road?"

Supplementary Response

"No I don’t agree with you. I am surprised by the question you put forward as you have been fully involved in the Local Plan discussions."

(b)Question from Councillor M Knight to the Leader of the Council

"Buckinghamshire County Council are currently consulting on plans to close 14 Children’s Centres in our District. This comes after several years of services reductions and cuts to these facilities. These centres offer vital support to some of the most vulnerable young families in our District. The consultation ends on October 16^th.

Is Wycombe District Council making  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

(i)            Council to receive any petition from a member of the public who lives, works or studies within the district or from a Councillor on his/her behalf as notified by the deadline of 5pm on Monday 2 October 2017

(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 the 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 2 October 2017

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

Cabinet                      18 September 2017

Minute 24 – New Wycombe District Local plan, Little Marlow Lakes Country Park

A Member expressed her delight over the delivery of the country park, and felt that this was long overdue. She felt that this would become the `Jewel in the crown` of the area.

Councillor M Appleyard wished to have his opposition recorded to the Local Plan with respect to Bourne End.

Minute 29 – Digital First

A Member requested that I.T implementation be successfully made available to Councillors prior to extending the programme.

In response, it was acknowledged that some initial teething problems had occurred and that they were being worked upon as quickly as possible.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Cabinet held on 18 September 2017 be received and the recommendations as set out at minute numbers 24, 32, 33 and 34 be approved and adopted. 

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

Improvement & Review Commission                   13 September 2017                                    

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Improvement & Review Commission held on 13 September 2017 be received.

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

Audit Committee                  21 September 2017

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Audit Committee held on 21 September 2017 be received and the recommendation as set out at minute number 20 be approved and adopted.

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

High Wycombe Town Committee             3 October 2017 (To follow)

Minute 14- Public Spaces Protection Order Consultation Update

A Member requested further information with regard to the proposed gates at a cost of £3,500 and its recommendation to Cabinet.  She was informed that this was a matter for determination by the relevant Cabinet Member and not for the High Wycombe Town Committee.

Minute 15 – Town Centre Masterplan Consultation

A Member expressed her concern over the presentation which had taken place as it lacked much information and detail, in particular regarding the issue of informal crossings.  She enquired as to whether a further presentation was likely to be conducted, covering relevant issues.

The Chairman of the Committee stated that he shared her concerns over the proposals, and he very much hoped that another presentation would take place, although from his experience the Town Committee`s requests and suggestions were often ignored.

Another Member questioned the intentions of the County Council with regard to the Taxi rank on the high street. It was hoped that this matter would also be addressed at a future presentation.  

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the High Wycombe Town Committee held on 3 October 2017 be received.

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

JNC Staffing Matters Committee               18 September 2017

JNC Staffing Matters Committee               28 September 2017 (To follow)

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the JNC Staffing Matters Committee held on 18 and 28 September be received, and the recommendation as set out at minute number 23 be approved and adopted.

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

Special Personnel & Development Committee              4 October 2017 (To follow)

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Special meeting of the Personnel & Development Committee held on 4 October 2017 be received and the recommendation as set out at minute numbers 21 and 23 be approved and adopted.

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

Planning Committee                       28 June 2017

Planning Committee                       26 July 2017

Planning Committee                       23 August 2017

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 28 June, 26 July and 23 August be received.

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

Regulatory & Appeals Committee             24 July 2017

In the absence of the Chairman the Vice Chairman of the Committee Councillor Mrs L Clarke rose to present the minutes of the meeting.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the Regulatory & Appeals Committee held on 24 July 2017 be received.

There were none

OUTSIDE BODIES

Chiltern, South Bucks and Wycombe Joint Waste Collection Committee

Councillor Z Ahmed be replaced by Councillor D Carroll until May 2018.

The following change made to the membership of an outside body in accordance with Standing Order 18(9) as set out in the summons was noted.

Councillor Z Ahmed was replaced by Councillor D Carroll to serve on the Chiltern, South Bucks and Wycombe Joint Waste Collection Committee until May 2018.

(i)            Amendments to the Environment Policy Advisory Group and an addition to the membership of the Planning Policy Advisory Group

(ii)          Approval of the revised Local Development Scheme

The individual decisions published since the last ordinary meeting of the Council held on 17 July 2017, as set out in the summons were noted.