Agenda and minutes

Chairman, Cllr Trevor Egleton

Sarah Keyes, Luisa Sullivan, Ciaran Beary, Pat Leech, Peter Kinson

None

These were approved

Stuart Grosse, Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Services

(Attached)

• Following the presentation, there was a discussion about who pays for the specialist HS2 training, and it was stated that this is met by taxpayers.
• Stuart said that parking enforcement is the responsibility of the Council but to let the fire Service know if a road is obstructed so that a fire engine could not get through as they have temporary signs which they can put up.
• Wendy mentioned a motorcycle garage which stores petrol.   The tenants who live above it have safety concerns.  Stuart will take this away as a fire safety concern which can be followed up.
• Trevor asked who the main contact was for the fire service and Stuart said this is Gerrards Cross Fire Station

Aamna Ahmad, Healthwatch Bucks

• After the presentation, Trevor asked if the main aim of the organisation is to scrutinise the healthcare system.  Aamna said that every authority has a Healthwatch, and its aim was to highlight any areas of need, and make residents aware of the services available
• Aamna agreed to look at the problem of residents who live between two healthcare areas and confirmed that there are Healthwatch volunteers who could attend local community events

Trevor thanked Aamna for the presentation and making the committee aware of Healthwatch Bucks

Aniqah Sultan, Community Board Manager

Trevor outlined the following:

The budgets have been reduced slightly across all Community Boards, resulting in a Wexham & The Ivers budget of £85,951 in 2023/24, reduced from a 22/23 budget of £90,475 – a reduction of £4,524.

Contributory funding will be required for all projects, excepting small grants, this year, which should lead to the budget stretching further. There was an emphasis on the fact that the Board is not just a grant-giving body but aim to help the communities in terms of resources and connections.

• Ani outlined the budget summary and said that nothing has been spent yet
• The focus this year is on contributory funding – hopefully 50% of any project
• Donations to a project can also be in hours or goods donated
• There was a general discussion about the amount spent on smaller parishes

Trevor pointed out that last year’s underspend is still available

Chairman, Cllr Trevor Egleton

Trevor outlined the following:

For 2023 to 20/24, there is a slight shift in priorities, to make them more inclusive to the entirety the communities.

Priorities:

• Improving our environment: under this there will be two action groups - a combined HGV & Air Quality group, due to their similar aims and will help joint working with officers. Wendy Matthews will be chairing this action group. Trevor will be taking over the Active Travel group, and hopes to be able to encourage joint working with both the Beeches Board and the Denham, Gerrards Cross & Chalfonts Board

• The second priority will be Strengthening our communities. As it stands, there are no task & finish or action groups for this, but these will be established as and when needed

• The third priority will be Supporting Older and Vulnerable people: the current task and finish group, chaired by Ann Mayling, is focussing on Youth provision, and on a project concerning detached youth work. Once this project has reached a natural conclusion, a new group will form, if necessary, to aligns more closely with the priority

• In changing the priorities, the hope is that this gives many more groups the chance to apply for funding and to ask for help. A request was put to the group to let Trevor or Ani know if there were any groups who would benefit from the Board’s help.

• We would also like to encourage those within our communities to join any of the action groups that they feel strongly about.

In further discussion:

• It was asked whether other “Council” budgets could be used for environmental initiatives.  This will be looked at and Section 106 money could be used
• There was a general discussion about footpaths linking up communities and problem parking
• There was also a discussion about a trial bus service for the elderly in High Wycombe – the committee is keen to hear feedback on this project once its completed
• Ani stated that all the Action Groups can be flexible if one of the priorities is too broad for just one Action group

Makyla Devlin, Senior Community Board Manager

• The committee had seen the report and Makyla gave some key points, highlighting the number of potholes which have been fixed and the new vision for Buckinghamshire libraries
• The Community Boards team are waiting for a brochure which will guide all on the type of projects which can be funded
• There was a discussion about the backlog of highways projects, which is a result of the changeover to a new contractor
• Trevor explained that there is now an in-house management team to run the contractor’s work.  This should lead to a more commercial operation and cost savings
• There will be an update on highways projects in the October meeting
  
  

To receive a written policing update

The update was given (see attached)

• There was a discussion about the number of van break-ins in the local area
• The police cannot treat these as a priority unless violence is being used, making the crime a robbery
• Residents should report van break-ins and provide any evidence they have to the police
• It is best not to store valuable tools in a van if possible

Aniqah Sultan, Community Board Manager

Trevor said that the committee was delighted to host our Proud of Bucks nominees and winners last week, for an inspiring evening. The pictures of the winners and highly commended nominees can be found on the Board’s Facebook page. Thanks were given to everyone who nominated, was nominated, all who attended, and to the winners for the work they have done.  Trevor also relayed his thanks to Ralph Bagge for stepping in.

• Ani explained that this was a small event which took place on Thursday 15^th June.  It went well and will be promoted more widely next year
• Ani invited the Board to start thinking about next year’s winners, especially in the young person’s category

Winners

Questions from members of the public can be submitted in advance of the meeting to wexiverscb@buckinghamshire.gov.uk .

Oliver Krause of the IVRA gave an update about Iver:

• They have organised various events such as the Christmas Tree light switch-on and monthly litter picks
• They have tried to make residents aware that change is possible and keep up the momentum started by the community events

Joyce Young of RPRA:

• There have been various events such as a murder mystery, Easter egg hunt and there will be a World Food Event in August
• There is an exhibition to celebrate the Richings Park Centenary

Trevor thanked both contributors for their reports and said that it was good that so many community events were taking place

A resident has asked whether certain 20mph speed restrictions can be put in place.  This request will be passed on to the right department for a response

• There was discussion about dangerously parked cards in Wexham which have no MOT.  The problem has been passed between the police, BC and the DVLA.  The cars are obstructing the highway
• It was stated that the residents affected all need to complain

24 October 2023 at 7pm

24^th October 2023, venue to be confirmed.