Agenda and minutes

Councillor Collins (Chairman) welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Chairman read out the following statement regarding the proposed development of a Scout Hall on Rectory Farm, Aston Clinton:

“Following the last Community Board Meeting, I along with Cllr Richard Newcombe met with Cabinet Member John Chilver and also John Reed Service Director for Property at Buckinghamshire Council.  We presented a case in support of the Aston Clinton Scouts request for a right of way over a small piece roadside land the property of Buckinghamshire Council and the lifting of the restrictive covenants necessary to provide access to their proposed development of a Scout Hall on Rectory Farm Aston Clinton.

From this discussion it was made clear that the Council would not move on their stated position of refusing right of way access. A detailed report was tabled and discussed challenging the reason for the refusal by the property team at Council. The reasons for the refusal were challenged but their position was NOT open for discussion as this stage.

It is with regret therefore that the matter, as far as the Community Board is concerned, is closed.  The Board suggests the Scouts continue their efforts to resolve the matter working with the Property Team and to also consider the Bulls Field option as proposed by the Councils Property Team.

If, in the future, there is a way that the Community Board can help then this is something to be considered.”

Apologies were received from Councillor S Bowles, and from Peter Wyatt, Aston Clinton Parish Council.  There were no declarations of interest.

To review and agree the minutes of the meeting held 14 July 2022

RESOLVED –

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2022 be approved as a correct record.

To be presented by Michelle Parker, Buckinghamshire Council

The Community Board Manager provided an overview of funding that had been awarded so far in 2022/23.  It also detailed the budget position to date for:

-                      Approved Funding Applications for 2022/23

-                      Small grants applications, noting that these did not require contributory funding.

-                      Projects on hold (Stoke Mandeville PC White Village Gates).

-                      Pre-applications discussions, which included Bierton Play Park Refurbishment, Kingsbrook Garden Maintenance Electronic Vehicle, Wendover Men’s Shed – Solar Lighting, Bierton Tennis Club – Resurfacing of courts, Wendover Football Club – Refurbishment of Club Hut, and Wendover Parking Review.

-                      Project funding information for 2020/21 and 2021/22 (historical).

A copy of the funding information is attached to the Minutes.

The meeting was informed that applications over £1K would require contributory funding however this did not have to be a 50/50 split.  The small grants application process was now available at: Apply for Community Board small grant funding | Buckinghamshire Council.  The current budgetary position was:

The following issues were discussed:

-                      An explanation was given of the new highways contracts that would be in place from April 2023 for maintaining and Improving roads in the county.  This was also covered in the Corporate Update later in the agenda, including that of the 58 projects that had been agreed and funded committed but were yet to be completed by the outgoing contractor (TfB):

o        22 projects were rated Green and scheduled to be completed by the end of March 2023.

o        10 projects were rated Amber and would be delivered to a gateway stage ready for the new contractor to take forward, e.g. design, feasibility.

o        26 projects were rated Red and under review, and may not be started at all because of their complexity or the time to implement overlaps with the change in Highway’s service provider.

-                      That the maximum grant for an individual funding application was £15K.  It was acknowledged that some of pre-application discussions such as the resurfacing of tennis courts would be expensive and would require the applicant to provide more funding.  It was expected that some funding would be available for 2022/23 Funding Application Round 3.  If this was not possible then it may be possible to signpost applicants to other funding streams.

-                      Advice was provided on the procedural arrangements to progress a traffic calming scheme for Buckland.

-                      It was explained that one of the primary roles of Community Boards was to capture local views on issues such as traffic calming so that they could then be Minuted and communicated to the Cabinet Member and Council officers.

-                      That further discussions on the Buckland Wharf petition would be arranged following the Community Board meeting and this matter then reported back.  The Chairman did not intend to discuss it further at agenda item number 8.  It was mentioned that the petitions on Thorne Way and Buckland Wharf had been amalgamated.

-                      A Parish Councillor mentioned that she had contacted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To be presented by David Jones, Head of Libraries and Culture, Buckinghamshire Council

(David Jones, Head of Libraries and Culture, Buckinghamshire Council), Michael O’Shea and Lyn Mangisi (both also from Buckinghamshire Council) attended for this item)

The Board received a presentation and asked questions on the Wendover Community Library Improvement Project.  Information on the project is available on the Council’s website at https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/libraries/information-about-local-library/wendover-community-library/wendover-library-improvement-project/.

The Council had been successful with a funding bid to the Arts Council England Libraries Improvement Fund for funding to transform Wendover Community Library into an inclusive, multi-use community hub that offered a single point of contact for local services in Wendover and provided for a range of social, educational, health and cultural activities.

The total value of the scheme would be in the region of £500,000 which included £310,000 from the bid, capital funding of £120,000 from Buckinghamshire Council’s Capital programme and several smaller grants from the Wendover Community Trust and the Wendover Parish Council.

As a community hub, the aspiration was for the Wendover Library to meet the needs of current library customers, as well as attract new customers including those from marginalised groups, providing a diverse and inclusive service.  The aim was to do this through developing new partnerships to broaden the service offer and generate new social and cultural activities.  It was mentioned that the library could look to brand itself as a gateway hub to the Chilterns, and that this could be assisted by opening the library on a Sunday.  Funding to undertake a pilot on Sunday opening and then assess its viability was currently being explored.

The following comments / responses to questions were provided:

-                      That 6 artists would be interviewed, with a view to the project having an art installation element, informed by the community.  Display boards with information would be in Wendover Community Library from 22 October 2022.

-                      The Community Board and attendees were very supportive of the project, that would also allow a broader range of services to be delivered than was currently possible.

-                      Information was provided that exhibition cases / glass tables would be used to display items of interest (e.g. from the BC museum) in the reception area.  There would also be opportunities for local people to sell some products.

-                      That the area was desperately in need of more flexible meeting spaces for community groups, which would be provided as part of the project.

-                      Information was provided on targets and the focus for fund raising.

-                      That the Libraries team would contact the Chilterns Conservation Board to explore opportunities for joint working.

-                      That a planning application for the improvement project had been submitted to the Council in late September.  It was anticipated this would take 12-16 weeks to process and decide.

RESOLVED –

That the Council Officers be thanked for attending the meeting and providing the update.

To be presented by Deborah Stevens, Head of Migration & Asylum – Ukraine, Buckinghamshire Council

(Deborah Stevens (Head of Migration and Asylum – Ukraine, Buckinghamshire Council) and Neil Court (Council’s Ukraine co-ordinator for the CB areas) attended for this item)

The Board was provided with information on support being provided across the Buckinghamshire Council area to Ukrainian refugees by the Council and, as well, related information on the Wendover Community Board area.  1,800 Ukrainians had been matched to come to Bucks to live with a sponsor group, of which about 1,500 had arrived.  Refugees were granted a 3-year visa and on support issues that needed to be addressed on arrival included schooling for children, accessing Universal Credit, transport, as well as many other things.  People arriving were initially matched for 6 months with a group/family.  Some of these periods were now coming to an end so issues included re-matching (if could remain with current family), private rental market (Council was able to provide some initial assistance), and social housing (Ukraine refugees were eligible).  As might be expected, finding housing in the Bucks area was difficult and expensive.

Neil Court explained that the issues faced in the Wendover area were similar to those experienced across Buckinghamshire.  While many accommodation sponsors lasted for 6 months and would continue beyond the initial period, there would also be a need to re-match some people.  A number of new sponsors had come forward.  The Council worked with partners including the Aylesbury Vineyard Church, the ‘Helping Hand’ team at the Council, and the Heart of Bucks to support people and which could include providing white goods, other furniture and vouchers for people who were moving into private accommodation.

RESOLVED –

That the Officers be congratulated for the work that was being done to help support Ukrainian refugees, and they be thanked for attending the meeting and providing the update.

To be presented by Simon Eggleton, Buckinghamshire Council

(Simon Eggleton (Wendover and Villages Ukraine Support) (WAVUS) attended for this item)

The Board received a presentation on the work of the Wendover and Villages Ukraine Support Group whose mission was to provide essential support to Ukrainian families and their hosts, residing in the Wendover and Villages Community Board area.  Information on the Group was available on their website at www.wavus.uk.  Access to transport was highlighted as a particular issue for the area.

A launch event for the Support Group would be held from 7.15-9.15pm on Thursday 3 November 2022 at St Annes Hall, Aylesbury Road, Wendover.

In response to a question, the meeting was informed that the Aylesbury Vineyard Church and WAVUS did talk to each other to co-ordinate support.  For example, each group did different things and provided different types of support, for example, WAVUS did not have a food bank.  The groups also looked to meeting on different days to avoid clashes.

RESOLVED –

That Mr Eggleton and WAVUS be congratulated for the work that was being done to help support Ukrainian refugees, and he be thanked for attending the meeting and providing the update.

The Buckland Wharf petition had been mentioned earlier in the meeting.  Further discussion did not take place.

To be presented by Michelle Parker, Buckinghamshire Council.

No questions had been received from the public prior to the meeting.

To be presented by Nick Graham, Buckinghamshire Council

Michelle Parker, Community Board Manager, updated the meeting on the matters covered in the Corporate Update attached to the agenda.  This included information on:

-                      Support for households/residents in crisis and/or struggling with the cost of living, available through the Council’s Helping Hand team.

-                      ‘Welcoming Spaces’ – on organisations across Buckinghamshire creating a network of welcoming spaces this winter, to assist when the weather was colder.

-                      Information and advice on the network of volunteer groups and volunteer organisations who could provide specialist and wider support to households.

-                      The new highways contracts that the Council would have in place from April 2023.  These would impact on Community Board projects currently in the pipeline.  There would also be an opportunity to build a delivery model for Community Boards in mind.  An update was provided on current projects (58 in total) across all the Community Boards.

-                      An update on support for Ukrainian guests across the county.

-                      Community Board success at the County Show.

-                      The Town and Parish Charter.

-                      Better enforcement for moving traffic offences.

-                      Local Heritage Listings.

-                      The next steps for the Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan.

-                      An update on current and upcoming consultations.

L Ronson requested to be sent information on the new highways contracts and handover information.  People were reminded to try to submit any funding applications as soon as possible.

To be held on 9 February 2023

The next meeting would be held on 9 February 2023.