MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING

held in The Library Room, Wendover
on 5 December 2005 starting at 7.50pm and concluding at 9.35pm

PRESENT Cllr Gridley (Chairman)

Cllrs Mrs Ballantine, Mrs Clayton, Mrs Gregory, Mrs Kearney,
Mrs McKechnie, McPartland, Peeler, Weston, Wilkinson and Worth
3 members of the public
Cllr Colston (BCC), Bob Sherwood (BCC) and Peter Ware (Housing Solutions)

Clerk: Ann Hooton

05/209 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE were received from Cllrs Mrs Myers

05/210 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Cllr Gridley declared an interest in agenda item 13 relating to the Churchyard Care Committee as his son is under contract to provide services to maintain the churchyard.

05/211 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

The Chairman adjourned the meeting to allow members of the public to speak.

Cllr Colston, Cabinet Member for Cabinet member for Adult Social Care, gave a presentation on the change of policy on provision of care for the elderly and disabled over 18 years old. There is to be a move from providing institutional care to developing a wider range of care with people living in their own homes extending quality and length of life. This will necessitate more home care and building up voluntary support. The reliance on residential care will diminish but nursing care will be increased. In future, residential care will primarily serve those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

The challenge to the County Council is how to fund new homes at no extra cost to the taxpayer. A complex contract has been entered into with the Freemantle Trust and Housing solutions which will result in 13 homes being closed with an equal number of places being provided in 8 new homes. Winterton House in Wendover will not meet the requirement for care needs and, as a result, will be one of the homes which will close with the intent to develop the site.

Cllr Colston was thanked by the Chairman

05/212 COUNTY COUNCILLOR'S REPORT

It was reported that the funding gap of £15.8m will have a impact on the County Council. In dealing with the budget, there will be constraints to keep within the 5% increase.

The seminar on transport issues had been well attended in Wendover.

The County council had considered the response to SEERA on proposed housing allocation and concern was expressed that there had been no response from any organisations in Wendover, including the Parish Council. The local member requested support in her attempts to prevent any further development in Wendover.

05/213 DISTRICT COUNCILLORS REPORT

Members' attention was drawn to the recently received recommendations for the Special Parking Review for Wendover. A response will be delegated to the Lighting and Highways Committee to be held on 13 December 2005 and members were asked to consider the proposals carefully.

05/214 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Cllr Gridley declared an interest in agenda item 13 relating to the Churchyard Committee as his son is under contract to provide maintenance services for the burial ground.

05/215 MINUTES OF THE MEETING held on 7 November 2005

It was AGREED that the minutes were a true record of the meeting, and they were signed by the Chairman.

05/216 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

Minute 05/203 - BALC Meeting: the resolution agreed at the previous meeting was put forward at the BALC AGM by the Chairman of Lighting and Highways. It was agreed that the proposal to ask NALC to pursue the issue of repeater signs where lighting is not evident as such should be put forward by BALC to the Department of Transport for consideration when clarifying the current guidelines.

05/217 FINANCE COMMITTEE held on 5 December 2005

The Acting Chairman gave a verbal summary, reporting that the cheques had been AGREED for signing as listed and that the statement of accounts and reconciliation had been AGREED. The RFO had reported that:

a) Reclaimed VAT; £2,562.96 has been reclaimed which includes £10,500 for works to the Memorial Hall.

b) War Memorial Grant: a grant of £875 has been received from English Heritage towards the cost of restoration work to the war memorial.

c) New computer; a new computer has been purchased for the CIO. The previous unit was out of date and suffering from system overload.

d) Churchyard Care Committee; The cheque for £1,825 is the second payment of the annual grant for burial ground maintenance.

05/218 VACANCY FOR COUNCILLOR

Notification has been received from the Electoral Authority that no request has been received and that, as a result, the Parish Council may go ahead with a co-option.

05/219 PLANNING APPLICATIONS

The following response was AGREED

a) 05/02692/APP Rear conservatory; 29 Barlow Road

The Chairman of the Planning Committee reported that no complaints have been received following neighbour notification and that there was no previous history on the site. The Parish Council AGREED to send a response of No objections.

It was AGREED that, providing there were no significant or contentious applications before the scheduled Planning Committee, responses will be delegated to the Clerk in consultation with the Chairman of the Planning Committee.

05/220 CHURCHYARD CARE COMMITTEE

Following the resignation of Dr Toplis as the Parish council representative on the churchyard Care Committee, Cllr Mrs Gregory offered to fill the vacancy and this was accepted. (Proposed by Cllr Mrs McKechnie; seconded by Cllr Mrs Clayton)

05/221 CHRISTMAS WINDOW COMPETITION

It was AGREED that the Vice Chairman of the Parish Council and Mrs Jane Larkham will be invited to act as judges with the Chairman. Should there be a vacancy, the Chairman of Tourism and Property Management will stand in.

05/222 FORWARD PLANNING

Members considered further the four projects proposed for the next financial year.

a) Public tennis courts; it was AGREED that this will be removed from current consideration as the input of a Youth Council will be required

b) Fencing for parking area at the Memorial Hall; it was AGREED to consider the matter further at precept time

c) Youth facilities, including the pavilion, and formation of Youth Council: it was AGREED to consider this further and to obtain estimates of costs.

d) Provision of Police Community Support Officers and CCTV; the view was expressed that personnel rather than cameras were required and that this would be further investigated. (Minute 224a) refers). The consensus was that something needs to be done to deter criminals as anti social behaviour has increased in recent months. It was suggested that a fund could be started up for employing a PCSO.

05/223 CLERK'S REPORT

The Clerk's report was received and the contents noted.

05/224 MATTERS OF REPORT

a) Police Liaison Group; A written report was received and it recommended that action on financing PCOs should be delayed as there may be a funding stream available in the future.

b) Vandalism in churchyard; wreaths have been stolen and vases broken

c) Roundabouts; work has now started on the roundabouts on the approach to Wendover.

d) Manor Crescent; the litter is now less and cars moved away.

e) Quiz and Christmas Market; thanks were expressed to those who had been involved with the organisation of the 2005 quiz and Christmas charity market.

05/225 CLOSURE OF MEETING

There being no further business to be transacted, the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.35pm.

Signed:
Date: 9 January 2006

Chairman