Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors: Raja, Clarke, Guy, Alam, Smith and Maz Hussain.

To approve the minutes of 4 October 2022

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of the High Wycombe Town Committee held on 4 October be confirmed as a true record.

To receive any declarations of interest

An interest was declared by Councillor A Hussain at minute No 4 in relation to Bull Lane service yard as he was the proprietor of two shops in the area under discussion.

A report was submitted which recommended the schemes to be funded from the local allocation of CIL to be included in the medium term financial plan.

 Members were informed that it was within their gift to approve or amend the schemes/projects as they saw fit, and to recommend other projects not highlighted within the report. Table 1 of the report summarised the current level of CIL present, which amounted to a total of over £1m. Table 2 indicated the existing/outstanding commitments, which amounted to £738.50 leaving a remainder of £283,835 to be   allocated.  The presenting officer also gave mention to some of the traffic calming schemes which amounted to a cost of £56,142. It had been proposed by the Community Board that it fund 50% of this, with the remaining amount being requested from the High Wycombe Town Committee CIL.

Members considered the report before them with a number of comments and observations being made. The matter of the Arniston Avenue project was raised for which the budget was no longer available. It was proposed that similar projects be brought back onto the table for further consideration. Another Member referred to the Bull Lane service Yard gates stating that the £15k commitment was insufficient as Travel Lodge had not made the contribution that had been hoped for. Another Member proposed that a total amount of £50k be allocated to conducting a feasibility study to explore the Arniston Avenue scheme to include funding for dedicated officer time.

RESOLVED: That it be recommended to Cabinet that;

(i)                  A sum of £50,000 be allocated in the Council’s budget towards a feasibility study for improvements to Arniston Avenue shopping parade

(ii)                A sum of £17,752 be allocated in the Council’s budget for the Coates Lane traffic calming and parking subject to the discussions by the working group

(iii)              A sum of £35,088 be allocated in the Council’s budget for the traffic calming measures proposed on Bowerdean Road

It was noted that the Infrastructure Funding Statement detailing how section 106 monies and CIL receipts will be allocated and have been used over 2021-22 will be published soon and a link to the document will be shared with Members early next calendar year. (For information, previous years IFS’s may be viewed at Infrastructure funding statement | Buckinghamshire Council.)

A presentation was conducted on the safety of e scooters within the town. Members were requested to note the safety statistics within the town and the other trial schemes which operated in Buckinghamshire namely Aylesbury and Princes Risborough. The presenting officer reported that trials of e scooters had begun in 2020.

A number of concerns were raised by Members including the low number of under- age reckless riders that had been banned and ways in which these figures could be increased, together with the level of unreported incidents that took place.  Other concerns related to riders not wearing helmets and the inability to enforce that they be worn.   

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.  

Members were requested to note the Q2 forecast position for 2022/23 and the forecast impact on working balances at year end for the Committee.  It was reported that the net forecast outturn position for the year under consideration was £417k a favourable variance of £11k against a total budget of £428k. The table highlighted at page 37 of the report highlighted the detail at activity level.

An update was also provided on the Budget Sub Group which had met on the 15 November, where Members had considered line by line the figures before them on each activity area.

Members queried some areas of work including that of community grants. In light of the fact that only £1,500 had been allocated out of a total of a £20k budget, it was emphasised that it was Members that needed to assume the role of publicising and promoting the opportunities which were presented through the grants, and to encourage organisations to make applications where appropriate.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

RESOLVED: That the work programme be noted.

17 January 2023 at Queen Victoria Road at 7pm.

The next meeting was scheduled to take place on Tuesday 17 January 2023, Queen Victoria Road at 7pm.

An update on the High Wycombe Regeneration Strategy was provided.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted and the officer be thanked for her attendance.