Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

of the meeting held on 15 September 2020.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 September 2020 were agreed as a correct record.

Align is the Main Works Contractor for both the Colne Valley Viaduct and the Chiltern Tunnel for HS2. Duncan Fallon d.fallon@alignjv.com HS2 Engagement Manager Colne Valley (viaduct) and Emma Gaydon HS2 Engagement Manager for Maple Cross to Great Missenden e.gaydon@alignjv.com (Emma’s responsibility included Chiltern Tunnel and vent shaft sites) were welcomed to the meeting. Another email address included hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk/ communityengagement@alignjv.com.

(Background information - Chesham and Villages Community Board September 2020 – HS2 update)

https://buckinghamshire.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s12536/200930%20CVCB%20HS2%20Update.pdf

South Portal

The main construction compound was at South Portal Chalfont Lane, near West Hyde. From here, one team would launch the tunnels northwards, while another heads towards London on the adjacent Colne Valley Viaduct. The tunnel precast factory and all 2,400 tonnes of structural steelwork at the South Portal site were next to the M25. The factory would allow Align to cast all the tunnel segments on site to avoid putting extras HGVs onto local roads. The South Portal had ANPR and good car parking capacity to take traffic off Chalfont Lane and A412. Security checks were undertaken on site. The impact of the lockdown had meant that more people were travelling by car rather than train. There had been recent road closures for A412. Other works included the creation of new public right of way footway diversion crossing Shire Lane, road crossing for traffic light ducting, installation of diverted cabling, removing trees and vegetation for the access road. The 17 metre high headwall has been completed which the tunnel boring machines would break through.

Government guidance was that construction works should continue during the Covid-19 pandemic but with working practices adapted in line with guidance from Public Health England to maintain the safety of the workers and stop the spread of the virus. These include but were not limited to; the detailed planning of each operation to maintain 2 metre social distancing where possible; if not possible then appropriate Personal Protective Equipment to be provided; staff temperature and health screening every day for signs of Covid-19 by the occupational health specialists; start and finish times staggered to reduce congestion and avoid workers coming into close contact; enhanced cleaning and hygiene regimes; worker travel arrangements assessed and adapted; home/lodging arrangements assessed for risk. An additional third storey had been added to ensure social distancing was maintained in the offices.

Align’s programme shows their construction work at the North Portal (South Heath) scheduled to start in December 2022, with the site being handed over to them. The TBMs were due to arrive at the North Portal in late 2023/early 2024, where they would be ‘de-constructed’. This site was also due to be handed over to the rail systems contractor in early 2025

Vent shaft

The Chalfont St Peter vent shaft headhouse has been built to provide ventilation and emergency access to the high speed rail line 10-mile-long Chiltern tunnel. The headhouse has been designed to fit into the surrounding landscape. The 60 metre ventilation shaft would reach down to the twin tunnels below, with fans  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Louise attended the meeting to discuss her community fridge project. The All Together Community Fridge project redistributed surplus food to the community and was run by volunteer groups.  Food parcels are supplied to households who were struggling financially.  503 households had already been provided with food parcels. There was an increasing number of referrals so additional facilities were being looked at and a site had been identified at Blizzards Yard, Chalfont St Giles. This kitchen would not just provide assistance for covid-19 pandemic but would help with longer term problems such as food poverty. The kitchen would be put into a container and it was hoped that supermarkets and residents would help supply surplus food. Volunteers would record and weigh the food. Louise had discussed this project with David Martin the Cabinet Member for Logistics, Chalfont St Giles Parish Council and Julie Rushton, Parking Manager at Buckinghamshire Council who fully supported the proposal. The nearest fridge was based at Chesham. Many residents had used the service and some of them walked along way to the community fridge so it was helpful to have other centres. The fridge not only helped the vulnerable but also stopped food going to waste. Chesham reused 17.5 tonnes of food.

David Martin reported that the Council were providing support for the Project including providing assistance with planning permission and utilities. During questions the following points were made:-

• For extremely vulnerable residents there were deliveries of food parcels by volunteers.
• Home grown fruit and vegetables were welcomed.
• Reference was made to vacant premises on the High Street but Louise informed them that they were too expensive to rent and may be used for an independent coffee shop.
• Helen Mee from the Clare Foundation would talk to Louise about possible seed funding.

Louise was thanked for attending the meeting and the work she was undertaking to help the local community. For more information email Louise Chamberlain at info@alltogethercic.co.uk

Katie Galvin reported that local support hubs had been set up to protect people during the covid-19 pandemic. The support hubs were mainly for those people who were at greater risk because they have a severe medical condition and who do not have access to family, friends or local support networks. The hubs in the first wave of the lockdown had helped with delivery of essential food, collecting prescriptions or medication, helping people get to GP or hospital appointments, mental wellbeing and help with daily living. 150 staff had been repurposed to help with the work of local support hubs. There were 8 support hubs in Buckinghamshire. There were 1500 residents identified as clinically vulnerable in Denham and Gerrards Cross.

There was a different approach for the second lockdown. The Government no longer referred to shielding but those residents who were clinically vulnerable. These residents could work from home but could still exercise outdoors. Support would be offered if there was no-one to help clinically vulnerable residents but otherwise they would be expected to use click and collect delivery, which was now set up to meet the demand for this service and offering a priority service. The Government were not funding food parcels for the second wave.

If residents wanted to find out more about local support hubs there was information on the Buckinghamshire Council website, they could contact the Community Board Co-ordinator or customer services. Library staff were being used to help call clinically vulnerable residents to check that they could access services. Letters had been sent out to these residents who were receiving support from adult social care.

https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/community-hub/

Hannah Tomlin was supporting the co-ordination of food banks and arranged food network meetings to find out what support food banks required.  Emergency food parcels would be made available when required but they would not contain perishable goods. A representative from Neighbourhood Watch reported that he had attended a number of Community Boards and that their organisation was key in making sure that no resident fell through the cracks and were not offered support if required. If any volunteers would like to set up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme please could they contact David Alder, Chiltern NHW Scheme Administrater at chilternnhw@gmail.com.

A          Business Forum – Steve Weston (Notes to follow)

B          Climate Change/Environment – Tim Butcher (Notes to follow)

C          Covid Reset and Recovery – Guy Hollis

D          Community Safety - Andrew Wood/Tony Shinner

E          Highways/Infrastructure – Jonathan Rush – Update on recommendations for transport applications that have been to the Working Group (Notes to follow)

Business Forum

A written update would be provided.

Climate Change

Cllr Tim Butcher provided an update. In particular he made reference to organising an art competition for primary schools of which some of these pictures could be used on bins in the area to raise awareness of the environment. There would be a pilot undertaken from January to Easter.

An application for funding had also been submitted by Chalfont St Peter Parish Council to plant 100 trees by 2020 in areas of environmental concern. With funding from Buckinghamshire Council 83 trees have been planted on roadside verges in the last four years. A suggestion had also been made to plant wildflowers and bulbs to help brighten village centres.

The Community Board supported the application.

Covid-19 Reset and Recovery

Cllr Guy Hollis gave an update on this Sub-Group. They had received an application from Men in Sheds and he also referred to the Community Fridge application.  He also referred to the charitable organisation linked to the South Central Ambulance Service for first responders. He would like to bring in representatives from Primary Care Networks, health and social care and Public Health into the Sub Group. Preliminary discussions had been held with health and social care. He commented that as Buckinghamshire Council was now a unitary council and covered a wide area it was important for Community Boards to act as a link for local areas.

Buckinghamshire Council were currently assessing strategic needs for residents and he reported that there would be an explosion of need for dementia care which the Council would be unable to fund on its own and may require the support of Parish Council precepts. The Chairman suggested that it would be helpful to have a presentation from the Primary Care Network at the next meeting.

Action: Aniqah Sultan

Community Safety

Andrew Wood gave an update on the Community Safety Sub Group. Six people attended the last meeting one from Chalfont St Giles, one from Chalfont St Peter and two from Gerrards Cross. Similar points were raised about the lack of police patrols and speeding in Chalfont St Peter – there had been a recent fatality and also in Gerrards Cross. In Gerrards Cross they were in the process of installing CCTV near Packhouse Road. With Buckinghamshire Council coming into existence there were further requirements such as stress testing each posts that were being used, traffic management (which would cost an extra £5,000), electric testing of every lamppost and to put in power. Fulmer Parish Council were interested in this Project. There had been discussions about changing the Sub Group to 6.30pm. Andrew Wood referred to online reporting and commented that it was important; in the summer Gerrards Cross had issues on the common and online reporting from residents had increased police patrols.

Tony Shinner would be chairing the Sub-Group in the future and would represent the Community Board on the new Police Panel. All areas in the Community Board experienced similar problems such as anti-social behaviour and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

No issues were raised under this item.

11 February 2020 at 6pm

11 February 2020 at 6pm