Meeting documents

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 25 March 2019. 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.

 

 

 

a)     Question from Honorary Alderman P Cartwright to the Cabinet Member for Community.

 

On Tuesday 26 February before 9 p.m. I and others were refused another drink in the Falcon P.H as they were closing on police advice because travellers were in town and there was possible disturbance.  We left and were potentially at risk in the street if there were a disturbance.

 

Thames Valley Police deny responsibility and state that Town Centre CCTV were informed "who it appears made the decision via the PubWatch radio network requesting places to close".

 

I assume that the WDC Licensing Officers were informed.

 

To whom is Town Centre CCTV accountable?

 

Verbal reply given by Councillor G Peart (Cabinet Member for Community).

 

Thanks for your question, I am troubled that your time of conviviality in the Falcon was cut short!

 

The town centre CCTV is managed by Wycombe District Council. The Pub Watch radio system referred to is an open channel for all members of the scheme and is managed by HWBiDCo, our CCTV control room also have a handset and many of the communications are primarily responded to by our operators. However on the evening of 26 February, the Police have now confirmed that they were the ones that gave a message over the Pub Watch radio system advising that Butlers Public House were closing and recommending that other premises did so as well.

 

Supplementary Question

 

I am glad the Cabinet Member has clarified, I was surprised on 5 March when the Thames Valley Police Deputy Commander stated he had not advised us to close. Before the Police make such statements they should be more careful.

 

Should there not be a protocol in place, given that tragic events like those the Chairman has just referred to in Christchurch and Utrecht, could occur here?

 

Supplementary Response

 

There is a protocol, the CCTV operators do not have the power to close pubs. The CCTV is a useful channel if there is an issue, the protocol is used to distribute information in such events.

 

b)     Question from Mr R Colomb to the Leader of the Council.

 

At the last Council Meeting Cllr Khalil Ahmed presented a petition requesting a Community Governance Review to ascertain whether a Town Council should be set up to cover the unparished area of Wycombe District.  In his lengthy introduction he stated that he believed that a Town Council could be established and run at no extra expense to the taxpayer residents of High Wycombe and he severely criticised two senior Councillors who had been distributing leaflets setting out the likely costs by identifying the precepts charged by the existing Town Councils in Buckinghamshire, which are of course very considerably in excess of the modest charges of the High Wycombe Town Committee’s Special Expenses.

 

Would you agree that Cllr Ahmed was disingenuous and misled the Council Meeting about the likely financial costs of a Town Council in High Wycombe to the hard pressed taxpayers?

 

Verbal reply given by Councillor Ms K Wood (Leader of the Council).

 

Thank you for your question Mr Colomb. 

 

I believe that your question relates to assurances that were given by Councillor Ahmed at the last meeting of Council.   I should make it clear that no decision has been made to establish a town council but if that is the outcome of the review and a council had to be established it is certainly true that a town council of the size of High Wycombe would require officer support and therefore would have some overheads.  These costs would usually be met by a tax levy such as Council tax. 

 

It is true that some revenue can be generated in other ways, particularly by the use of certain local assets.  These assets however currently belong to this authority and will transfer to the new Buckinghamshire unitary.  It will be a matter for the new Council as to whether it chooses to transfer those assets to a town council to offset the tax burden on local tax payers but if it does choose to do this it will require extra services to be taken on in return, which will in turn have their own cost. 

 

It has to be recognised that with all Councils, and particularly those with the challenges of the range of services of the new Council which include social care, there will be limited scope for relinquishing income. I certainly agree that an increase in taxes for local residents is almost certain backed up by the increases seen in other areas where this has happened such as Aylesbury, Kidderminster and Salisbury.

 

A consultation exercise will be undertaken later in the year as part of the review and this will provide information to residents which highlight potential financial implications of a town council.  It will be a matter for residents to decide whether or not they wish to support the creation of a new town council. 

 

In summary Mr Colomb, Yes I would agree with you that Cllr Ahmed was disingenuous and misled the Council Meeting.

 

Supplementary Question

 

Do you think that Councillor Ahmed should therefore make an apology to both the Chairman and Councillor Paul Turner?

 

Supplementary Response

 

Yes, he probably should.

 

c)     Question from Mr R Hutton to the Cabinet Member for Environment

My question relates to the poor state of the High Street, High Wycombe.

 

The High Street is a prominent part of the town and sets the tone for the area, over the course of a long of period of time it has become neglected. In particular, the black street furniture is in a worn and dirty state; some metal grilles around the trees are missing; the cobbles outside The Falcon public house and Little Market House are greasy; there is graffiti to some areas. Weeds and cigarette butts blight the base of the trees.

 

How does Wycombe District Council intend to remedy each of these issues?

 

Verbal reply given by Councillor Mrs J Adey (Cabinet Member for Environment).

 

The cleaning issues you raised have been reported to the Joint Waste Team for action and I am told that matters have been rectified as far as possible, including the removal of the small amount of graffiti and collection of trapped cigarette butts, in fact the areas were there had been graffiti were repainted last Friday.

 

The condition of the street furniture, such as the metal control boxes is not always within the control of the Council, but officers have been working with High Wycombe BidCo on arranging some trial coatings that are resistant to flyposting and graffiti.  These coatings will also refresh the outward appearances of the boxes.

 

The Joint Waste Team has recently developed a town centre improvement plan and many of the ageing street litter bins have been replaced with modern and easy to clean units.  A programme of street washing was also carried out in mid-December, across most of the town centre area, including the market place.

 

However, it is clear that the market area will benefit from further work of this sort and jet washing in and around the area will be carried out early this month, in support of the town centre community clean ups, one of which took place last Friday and another is planned for Wednesday the 17^th of April.  These are being financed by Wycombe District Council from their community clean up grant funding and delivered by BidCo with Chiltern Rangers and Revive the Wye taking part.  Hopefully many residents will join us on the 17^th, even a small amount of time anyone can give will help us to improve the look of the town centre for all.

 

There was no supplementary question.

 

d)     Question from Mr A Walker to the Cabinet Member for Economic Development & Regeneration.

 

Would the Council please explain the process by which any decisions concerning the occupation and ongoing use of the Brunel Shed in the forecourt of High Wycombe Station will be determined?

 

Verbal reply given by Councillor S Broadbent (Cabinet Member Economic Development & Regeneration).

 

Thank you for your question.

 

The acquisition and redevelopment of the Brunel shed and its surroundings will be the heart of the regeneration of the "Eastern Quarter", focusing on a new station area in front of High Wycombe station. Work on the business case for the Eastern Quarter Regeneration Programme is underway as previously stated. Acquisition of the shed is subject to a compulsory purchase process which is likely to take 18 months. Decisions will be taken as to its use by Council, following Cabinet recommendations in the normal way, once the process is complete and options have been provided by officers, architects and other consultants. Any expressions of interest in the shed will be logged and fed back to the redevelopment project team once it is fully established.

 

Supplementary Question

 

What criteria do you intend to use in this process?

 

Supplementary Response

 

The criteria to be used will be born out of regeneration aims and consultation. There are a range of stake-holders to consult: the Town Committee, local residents, the Town Centre Partnership, local businesses and ward members.

e)     Question from Mr T Snaith to the Leader of the Council.

 

The Regulatory and Appeal Committee (R&A) agreed to the Community Governance Review (CGR) for High Wycombe unparished wards.

 

They proposed to ask for R&A members to work on the specification and Terms of reference.

 

Would it not be more sensible for those working on the terms of reference to be drawn from Town Members only?

 

Those who submitted the petitions, interested town community organisations, charities and businesses. People who are truly passionate and care about our town.

 

Verbal reply given by Councillor Ms K Wood (Leader of the Council).

 

Thank you for your question Mr Snaith.  The responsibility for the conduct of Community Governance Review is delegated under the Council’s constitution to our Regulation and Appeals Committee. 

 

This committee’s remit specifically deals with all CGR’s as well as elections and a range of other matters.  The members of this committee have experience and understanding of conducting these reviews wherever they occur in the District.  The members of the working group are drawn from the members of the committee and include both members representing the town and those who do not. This provides a balanced membership. 

 

The creation of a town council has an impact on the whole district.  If it was to go ahead it would be the largest local council in the County and would be a very significant governance change within the district.  It is therefore my view that this is a matter which is of interest to us all.  I am however pleased to say that the majority of the members of the working group are members who represent the town and who therefore will be able to ensure that the views of those who represent the residents who will be most effective will have a significant say in how the review is conducted. 

 

Supplementary Question

 

I am glad to hear there are some Town Members involved, but there are sceptics of the merits of a Town Council, we have heard you as Leader and the Chairman being disingenuous of the petition. Would you not agree that this is the case?

 

Supplementary Response

 

I don’t agree, ultimately of course the final say will not sit with the working group however and will be determined by the members of the Shadow Executive.