Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed all those present to the first meeting of the new municipal year and stated that the Board`s two main priorities would be economic regeneration and the environment.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor D Hayday.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 2021

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the last meeting of the Board held on 10 February 2021 be confirmed as a true record.

There were no declarations of interest.

(I)                 Children’s Play Area Maintenance - The Pine Trees 15 Mins

(II)               Resident Parking Permits - Jubilee Road, Upper Green Street, Oakridge Road and Abercromby Avenue, High Wycombe (15 Mins)

The Pine Trees – Children`s Play Area Maintenance

The Board considered a petition presented by Steve Gill which requested that the Council reconsider its decision of denying support for the maintenance of the children`s play areas on the Pine Trees estate for the safety and wellbeing of the children of the community.

The petitioners wished to see the maintenance of the play area as part of the council tax revenue received from this housing area. It had been further suggested that this area may be covered by a maintenance company to which households already paid a fee and which could incur increased charges to all households on the estate. The presenter also asked that the Special expenses budget also be explored as a possible option for the maintenance of the play area.

The officer recommendations had determined that maintenance for the area by the Council was not financially sustainable and that a commuted sum would need to be paid by the developer to cover the associated costs. This was in line with council planning policy.

In considering the petition, a member voiced his concern over covering the cost from the Special Expenses budget, as he felt that the residents within his ward would not wish to contribute an additional cost towards the maintenance of facilities in a similar estate to their own.

Following a brief discussion it was agreed that the High Wycombe Town Committee would be best placed to consider the petition. Members agreed that the matter needed to be resolved and progressed quickly thereby bringing the play area back into use.

RESOLVED: That the Pine Trees Petition be referred to the High Wycombe Town Committee for further consideration and resolution.

Residents Parking Permits – Jubilee Rd Upper Green St, Oakridge Rd, Abercromby Ave.

A petition was submitted by residents which requested that resident only parking areas in their streets. Since the introduction of resident parking schemes on other roads it had increased parking on these roads, which had impacted the elderly and those with mobility issues struggling to find spaces near their homes.  In addition, it was also having an adverse effect on emergency services trying to gain access and had led to an increase in anti- social behaviour and littering.

The Members considered the report on the issues surrounding parking which recommended that an informal consultation be authorised to establish a fully audited response from residents, and one which took account of the surrounding areas, including a review of roads within A4010, A40 and the A404. The report stated that support for the use of CIL funds to commence the work would be welcomed.   

Members were generally in support of the recommendations within the report, but stated that the review needed to go much further with a review across the whole town.

RESOLVED: That the Board agree the officer recommendations with a request for a review of parking across the whole town and for this to be discussed at the Local Infrastructure and Transport Action Group.   

Update on Action4Youth project The Junction, funded by the Board (Emily Davis) 10 Mins

The Chairman presented some slides which highlighted the Board`s main achievements and activities over the past 12 months.   The Board was also provided with an update on the current applications that were in the pipeline and that had been allocated funding.

In particular, he emphasised that it was essential that the total amount of unused budget for the current year needed to be utilised and allocated to viable projects enabling residents to benefit. Members attention was drawn to the deadline for submission of transport applications by the end of September, and Members and the public were encouraged to identifyany potential applications.

It was agreed that the presentation slides would be emailed to members for their information.

The Board also received an update from Action4Youth Project which received funding last year. Emily Davis and Gehad Mursi provided an explanation of developments they had put in place. The service offered a multi service drop-in centre and a range of activities for young people aged 13-18. The project would also be providing a service whereby any young person in receipt of free school meals could have access to a hot meal during the month from the 3 August.

·   Environment and Climate Change Action Group and Wycombe Environment - Cllr Sarfaraz Raja and Penelope Tollitt - 10 mins

·   Conservation project funded by High Wycombe Community Board - John Shaw, Chiltern Rangers - 10 mins

·   Improving the Environment projects and priorities – Ed Barlow, Buckinghamshire Council - 10 mins

Environment & Climate Change Action Group

Penelope Tollitt provided an insight into the Bee Squared project which the Wycombe Environment group and High Wycombe Community Board was working on in collaboration with Hazlemere Parish Council. The aim of the project was to increase wildflowers to support biodiversity and pollinating insects. Wildflower seed was purchased , packed by volunteers and distributed across the town. The help of schools was also enlisted and packets of seed handed out through the children.

Members were also informed of some other projects currently under consideration including Solar Streets, which encouraged people to put solar panels on their roofs https://solarstreets.co.uk/wycombe. High Wycombe Community Board would encourage and support local householders in accessing schemes, like those on offer from The Green Group / IDDEA, that created bulk discount benefits. Similar projects had been well supported in Frome, Henley, Thame, Marlow and St Albans. The Board supported initiatives such as Solar Streets as a way to promote solar power and renewables to Wycombe residents.

For further information about renewable energy schemes and alternative providers please visit the Energy Saving Trust or Simple Energy Advice websites for Government endorsed advice.  Please note that arrangements are with companies and householder directly.  Buckinghamshire Council does not endorse any specific commercial product or service mentioned or advised on by any private company. The Board was requested to help promote such schemes and details of a launch event through their networks and contacts:

Launch Presentation and Q&A session via Zoom: Thursday 22 July at 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm

Register for the Presentation and Q&A session by clicking on the date above.

After registering you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to join the meeting.

If you have any questions please contact Info@SolarStreets.co.uk

Members attention was also drawn to the possible opening of a repair cafe in High Wycombe. This was an idea based on taking along a broken object and receiving help in repairing it. This helped to prevent items going to waste when they were repairable.

Conservation Project – John Shaw

The Board received an update from Chiltern Rangers who received Community Board funding last financial year to deliver conservation work in the unparished area. Chiltern Rangers have been working with local community volunteers at the Wycombe Almshouses to transform the grass areas into a wildflower area to increase biodiversity and support pollinating insects. In collaboration with local community groups e.g. Men in Sheds nest boxes for swifts and blue tits had been constructed and put up. Working with local artist Dan Wilson and local students a painting has been erected on the side of the Almshouses to draw attention to the work and provide information on the nesting birds.  Cllr P Turner who managed the site at the Wycombe Almshouses expressed his thanks to the Community Board for funding the work, which not only benefitted the environment and biodiversity, but also contributed to the wellbeing of residents.

Environment Projects & Priorities

These priorities were highlighted by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To receive an update on Council-wide matters of interest from Service Director for Legal and Democratic Services, Nick Graham - 10 mins

Stay Safe, Protect Bucks

Home to School Transport update 

Stay Safe Protect Bucks

Members received an update on council wide matters of interest form the Service Director. Information was provided on the vaccination programme and that all adults over 18 could now get the vaccine which could, be booked online. Pharmacies would now be administering the vaccine rather than GP surgeries, with a number of drop in clinics continuing the service. Reference was also made to the Health On the Move van which would be rolled out across Bucks in areas of low uptake. This would commence on 24 July. In addition, Members were informed of Vaccine Voices training, which was a 90 minute online session.

Home to School Transport

Changes to the system were highlighted. As the current contract had ended it had provided an opportunity to review provision. This would now be undertaken by commercial bus operators who would sell tickets directly to the parents. There would also be some changes to the routes taken.

RESOLVED: That all the information contained within the slides be circulated 

For attendees to ask any questions submitted in advance or to receive questions from those in attendance

It was anticipated that the next Board meeting would take place at the end of September/early October. This would be confirmed in due course