Agenda item

To review the previous working groups with a brief reflection and receive the notes of the previous round of working group meetings for information

·       Notes of the Transport, Infrastructure, Re-opening of our High Streets and Regeneration working group – 15 April 2021; to be presented by Councillor Alex Collingwood.

·       Notes of the Covid-19 Recovery working group – 2 March 2021; to be presented by Councillor David Johncock.

·       Notes of the Broadband workstream -20 April 2021; to be presented by Councillor Mark Turner.

Funding Report – 2021/21 – to be presented by Councillor Dominic Barnes.

Transport, Infrastructure, Reopening of High Streets and Regeneration (TIRR) action group

Cllr Alex Collingwood, Chairman of the TIRR action group, advised that there were two sections to the group; highways and transport and the reopening/ regeneration/ infrastructure.  Cllr Collingwood highlighted the following points:

• Approximately 12-15 roads had been resurfaced/plane and patched/fixed in the area. 
• £3.9 million had been secured to upgrade the interchange on the Marlow Bypass to Globe Park. 
• £1.4m had been secured for the future of Marlow Bridge.
• The group had worked with Swish Fibre, Instalcom and Cadent to keep the utility companies on track. 
• A ‘quiet way’ trial had commenced in Trinity Road. 
• The group had worked with the farmers’ market to ensure it was Covid secure when it reopened.
• The group had also worked with Brand Events on the Comedy Weekend and similar events were planned for later in the year. 
• There was a potential film studio in the CB area and the group would take a proactive role in its development.

The following points were raised in discussion:

• Speed management projects would be considered by the TIRR group.
• It was noted that communities needed to ensure that the police enforced speed limits and that other ideas for traffic calming would be welcomed.

Rural Broadband

Cllr Mark Turner provided the following update on the Rural Broadband project:

• Open Reach were carrying out phase one of the Government scheme.
• An alternative supplier to Swish Fibre might be considered in Lane End.
• Open Reach had provided the costs for Turville, but it was expensive and would not be covered by the voucher scheme.
• The cost for providing rural broadband in Medmenham was also high and the area would be split.
• There was a Government initiative to provide fibre to new builds and there would be more options for 4G and 5G due to changes to the regulations regarding masts. 
• Dark Fibre was being installed for the new data centre at Didcot but would not be used for residential homes.
• There was no evidence of Swish Fibre installing broadband in rural areas despite many conversations.
• Cllr Johncock added that Swish Fibre were rolling out broadband in Bourne End, and would also be doing so in Wooburn Green, Flackwell Health, Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross.

Covid-19 Recovery, Young and Older People and Anti-Social Behaviour Action Group

Cllr David Johncock thanked Suzanne Browne, who stood down as a councillor in May, for her work last year.  The group had supported many different organisations during the pandemic; one of which was a food group which brought organisations together in a coordinated manner. The food group evolved to become the Chiltern and South Bucks Food Group.  The extended period of lockdown had affected people’s mental health and the group had identified and supported a number of projects, particularly with Chiltern Rangers who had experience in this area.  The Board had also supported the creation of an all-abilities garden in Parmoor, near Frieth.  Four young people were in receipt of mentoring for two years from Transitions UK, an organisation who helped vulnerable young people.  This was just a snapshot of the work carried out last year and Cllr Johncock thanked the group for their success.