Agenda item

Overviews for each group included in the agenda pack. Any questions regarding these, please ask.

1.      Village Forum – any questions to be answered by Councillor Patricia Birchley.

2.      Covid Support Group – any questions to be answered by Councillor Mark Shaw.

3.      HS2 Update – any questions to be answered by Councillor Colin Sully.

4.      Town Team update – any questions to be answered by Councillor Jane MacBean.

5.      Funding Group – any questions to be answered by Councillor Patricia Birchley. (Report To Follow)

Village Forum

Board members noted the report circulated with the agenda.

Covid Support Group

Board members noted the report circulated with the agenda and the Chairman wished thanks to be passed on to everyone who had helped during the lockdowns over the past year.

HS2 Update

Councillor Colin Sully explained that the process of engagement with HS2 had improved. Regular meeting jointly with the Missendens Community Board, HS2 and Buckinghamshire officers were now taking place along with Members interest group and it was noted that the Parish Council also had regular engagement. Unfortunately while the engagement had improved, the content had not. There had been controversy over the felling of oak trees in Leather Lane and the issue had escalated and that the Council, the Chiltern Conservation Board and Cheryl Gillan (the local MP) were all now involved. The contractors had now agreed to review their tree felling plans on Leather Lane and would present an update the day after this meeting.

There was now a major impact on the landscape issue. There was also a problem with potential traffic on roads. Attempts were being made to get a better understanding of risk and mitigation of risk of levels of traffic on the A413 which remained unresolved. It was understood that Buckinghamshire Council were holding a number of Schedule 17 applications which were awaiting approval but had not, as yet, received sufficient information from HS2.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Sully for his informative report and update.

Town Team Update

Councillor Jane MacBean reported that the focus was to re-open High Street by encouraging residents to come out of isolation and rejoin daily life when safe to do so.

The Town Hall was undertaking excellent work as vaccination centre.

It had been agreed to put on low key public events to put some life back into the High Street.

The pedestrianisation of Market Square was now in place and it was noted that planters would replace the barriers currently in place in the town centre.

Town Team were looking at ways to support Chesham Town app which had the potential to be a good vehicle for retail and traders in the town as well as community organisations and the council.

Funding Group

Caroline Green reported that the funding group met on 21 January 2021 for the third round of funding. Among the applications discussed were Chenies Footpath which the group agreed to put on hold pending revised final costs and detailed breakdown from Transport for Bucks with a revised bid. This revision had been received today (11 March 2021) and would be discussed at the next meeting of the group due to be held on 22 March 2021. The other application was from Transitions UK which was a mentoring and support project for young people at risk of offending or criminal exploitation. The bid was for £4,000 which was turned down by the group as they believed this should be funded centrally.

For the fourth round of funding, the group met on 8 March 2021 where the Chenies Footpath was raised again although this had already been mentioned. Another application was from the Big Community Takeaway with a bid for £2,500 to continue the supply of hot meals to those people who had been affected by the Covid-19 situation. This bid was recommended for approval by the funding group.

Councillor Emily Culverhouse recommended the application for approval by the Board.

AGREED.