Minutes of the Meeting held on: 11th
March 2008
Minutes remain in draft until ratified at the next Council meeting
PRESENT: Cllrs B. Usborne (Chairman), K. Lewis (Deputy Chairman), S. Carleton-Smith, J. Ford, J. Fortgang, E. Stacey, P. Hammond; Viv Robins (Clerk); District Cllr Nick Rose and six members of the public.
08/14 The Chairman welcomed the Leader of Chiltern District Council, Cllr John Warder, who gave an update on the alternate weekly waste collection now being operated in parts of the District. Cllr Warder said the government was making the cost of landfill increasingly expensive in order to encourage Councils to re-cycle more. Under the new scheme black and green wheelie bins were emptied on alternate weeks. Compostable material went in the green bins and everything else in the black; however it was permissible to put meat or animal protein, suitably wrapped, in the black bin in hot weather to guard against the risk of maggots. There was currently no intention of micro-chipping bins or of fining those who failed to re-cycle. Cllr Warder said that the CDC needed to increase its capacity for composting the animal protein before it could extend the scheme to the rest of the District, and this was not likely to happen before the end of September 2009. Cllr Warder then took questions from members of the public who expressed concerns on issues such as the size and appearance of the wheelie bins, the risk of vermin and the danger of increased fly-tipping. Cllr Nick Rose said there had been some teething problems in the areas where the scheme was already in use but these had generally been ironed out and the level of satisfaction was far higher than had been expected.
08/15 Adjournment for questions or comments from members of the public. These dealt with the alternate weekly waste collection and proposed changes to aircraft flight paths.
The meeting resumed. The Chairman welcomed new Councillor Peter Hammond.
08/16 Minutes: the minutes of meeting held on January 15th 2008 (previously circulated) were approved and signed as a true record by the Chairman.
08/17 Matters arising from the Minutes: Cllr Ford said he was still trying to track down a contact for Wendover Charities (min 08/08); the Clerk said an announcement about the future of Gt. Missenden Post Office was expected at the end of March (08/13).
08/18 Report from District Cllr: Cllr Nick Rose said the proposed changes to aircraft flight paths were “not good news” for this area, which stood to be at the centre of the new flight path into Luton and subjected to planes at a lower height than at present. Cllr Rose suggested it might be useful for The Lee to join forces with Cholesbury and Bellingdon to oppose the plans, and for them to hear from Cllr Graham Sussum, a qualified pilot who had a leading role in devising the CDC’s formal response.
Cllr Rose also said Bucks CC were proposing to replace the Chiltern District Local Committee and the body called Getting Closer to Communities (GC2C) with a new scheme. But District Councils were appalled by the lack of time and consultation being allowed for discussions on this and had sent an unprecedented joint letter of protest to the County Council.
08/19 Declarations of interest on forthcoming business: The Chairman and Cllr Fortgang both declared an interest (non-pecuniary) in Agenda item No. 8: planning application by The Lee Parish Shop. The Chairman said the shop had been very successful and renewal of permission now needed to be sought for the Portakabin (the current one being due to run out at the end of March) to allow time for fund-raising for the permanent building.
08/20 Planning applications: The Chairman reported that CH/07/2340: Furzefield Farm Swan Bottom had been rejected by the CDC.
Cllr Lewis took the chair for discussion of CH/08/0267: The Lee Parish Shop. The application for renewal of permission for the Portakabin was unanimously approved. The Chairman and Cllr Fortgang took no part in discussions.
CH/08/0136: Field End Cottage, The Lee: Cllrs decided to offer no objection.
(N.B.: As a member of the CDC Planning Committee Cllr Stacey took no part in either discussion).
08/21 Footpaths: Cllr Ford reported that Footpath 11 had been churned up by horses in Lordling Wood. The Chairman promised to investigate.
08/22 Council property: The Clerk had contacted Ken Humphreys to arrange a meeting to discuss repairs to the Jubilee Well.
Cllr. Lewis was due to talk to former Cllr Knowles about the next phase of playground improvements. Cllr Hammond reported that new bark was needed under the swings: the Clerk would obtain quotes. Cllr Hammond had also kindly agreed to take on responsibility for the weekly safety checks on parish property.
Cllr Lewis said there had been requests for sheds on the allotments but Cllrs decided these should continue not be allowed. Cllr Lewis also reported that Mrs. Raynham wanted to take over plots 11a and 11b from her husband.
The Clerk reported that a brief outline of the proposed insurance cover on offer from Norwich Union confirmed that the policy would be cheaper and offer wider cover than our current one. The policy would be sent out to the P.C. at the end of March.
08/23 Road maintenance: The Clerk had met Mike Fish, our new Area Technician with Bucks CC, and asked him to chase up progress on the proposed drainage scheme outside the Vicarage, first raised with the CC in March 2006! Cllr Ford said action was also needed to pump silt from the drain in Red Lion Hill.
08/24 Finance: Cllrs approved the Financial report and Budget review (previously circulated). The Clerk pointed out that the P.C. was heading for a surplus of over £6000 at the end of the financial year and this money needed to be used.
Drawing of the following cheques was also approved (prop. Cllr Usborne, sec. Cllr Stacey):
08/25 Any other business: The clerk suggested that the proposed flight path changes could be put on the Agenda for the Parish Annual meeting to enable more people to have their say. The Chairman said he would liaise with the Chiltern Society about the campaign that was being mounted to oppose the plan.
The meeting closed at 9. 45pm.
Minutes remain in draft until ratified at the next Council meeting
PRESENT: Cllrs B. Usborne (Chairman), K. Lewis (Deputy Chairman), S. Carleton-Smith, J. Ford, J. Fortgang, E. Stacey, P. Hammond; Viv Robins (Clerk); District Cllr Nick Rose and six members of the public.
08/14 The Chairman welcomed the Leader of Chiltern District Council, Cllr John Warder, who gave an update on the alternate weekly waste collection now being operated in parts of the District. Cllr Warder said the government was making the cost of landfill increasingly expensive in order to encourage Councils to re-cycle more. Under the new scheme black and green wheelie bins were emptied on alternate weeks. Compostable material went in the green bins and everything else in the black; however it was permissible to put meat or animal protein, suitably wrapped, in the black bin in hot weather to guard against the risk of maggots. There was currently no intention of micro-chipping bins or of fining those who failed to re-cycle. Cllr Warder said that the CDC needed to increase its capacity for composting the animal protein before it could extend the scheme to the rest of the District, and this was not likely to happen before the end of September 2009. Cllr Warder then took questions from members of the public who expressed concerns on issues such as the size and appearance of the wheelie bins, the risk of vermin and the danger of increased fly-tipping. Cllr Nick Rose said there had been some teething problems in the areas where the scheme was already in use but these had generally been ironed out and the level of satisfaction was far higher than had been expected.
08/15 Adjournment for questions or comments from members of the public. These dealt with the alternate weekly waste collection and proposed changes to aircraft flight paths.
The meeting resumed. The Chairman welcomed new Councillor Peter Hammond.
08/16 Minutes: the minutes of meeting held on January 15th 2008 (previously circulated) were approved and signed as a true record by the Chairman.
08/17 Matters arising from the Minutes: Cllr Ford said he was still trying to track down a contact for Wendover Charities (min 08/08); the Clerk said an announcement about the future of Gt. Missenden Post Office was expected at the end of March (08/13).
08/18 Report from District Cllr: Cllr Nick Rose said the proposed changes to aircraft flight paths were “not good news” for this area, which stood to be at the centre of the new flight path into Luton and subjected to planes at a lower height than at present. Cllr Rose suggested it might be useful for The Lee to join forces with Cholesbury and Bellingdon to oppose the plans, and for them to hear from Cllr Graham Sussum, a qualified pilot who had a leading role in devising the CDC’s formal response.
Cllr Rose also said Bucks CC were proposing to replace the Chiltern District Local Committee and the body called Getting Closer to Communities (GC2C) with a new scheme. But District Councils were appalled by the lack of time and consultation being allowed for discussions on this and had sent an unprecedented joint letter of protest to the County Council.
08/19 Declarations of interest on forthcoming business: The Chairman and Cllr Fortgang both declared an interest (non-pecuniary) in Agenda item No. 8: planning application by The Lee Parish Shop. The Chairman said the shop had been very successful and renewal of permission now needed to be sought for the Portakabin (the current one being due to run out at the end of March) to allow time for fund-raising for the permanent building.
08/20 Planning applications: The Chairman reported that CH/07/2340: Furzefield Farm Swan Bottom had been rejected by the CDC.
Cllr Lewis took the chair for discussion of CH/08/0267: The Lee Parish Shop. The application for renewal of permission for the Portakabin was unanimously approved. The Chairman and Cllr Fortgang took no part in discussions.
CH/08/0136: Field End Cottage, The Lee: Cllrs decided to offer no objection.
(N.B.: As a member of the CDC Planning Committee Cllr Stacey took no part in either discussion).
08/21 Footpaths: Cllr Ford reported that Footpath 11 had been churned up by horses in Lordling Wood. The Chairman promised to investigate.
08/22 Council property: The Clerk had contacted Ken Humphreys to arrange a meeting to discuss repairs to the Jubilee Well.
Cllr. Lewis was due to talk to former Cllr Knowles about the next phase of playground improvements. Cllr Hammond reported that new bark was needed under the swings: the Clerk would obtain quotes. Cllr Hammond had also kindly agreed to take on responsibility for the weekly safety checks on parish property.
Cllr Lewis said there had been requests for sheds on the allotments but Cllrs decided these should continue not be allowed. Cllr Lewis also reported that Mrs. Raynham wanted to take over plots 11a and 11b from her husband.
The Clerk reported that a brief outline of the proposed insurance cover on offer from Norwich Union confirmed that the policy would be cheaper and offer wider cover than our current one. The policy would be sent out to the P.C. at the end of March.
08/23 Road maintenance: The Clerk had met Mike Fish, our new Area Technician with Bucks CC, and asked him to chase up progress on the proposed drainage scheme outside the Vicarage, first raised with the CC in March 2006! Cllr Ford said action was also needed to pump silt from the drain in Red Lion Hill.
08/24 Finance: Cllrs approved the Financial report and Budget review (previously circulated). The Clerk pointed out that the P.C. was heading for a surplus of over £6000 at the end of the financial year and this money needed to be used.
Drawing of the following cheques was also approved (prop. Cllr Usborne, sec. Cllr Stacey):
V. Robins x 2( invoice no. 41: £166.32/cheque no. 100461; invoice no. 42: £92.21/cheque no. 100462);The Chairman and Vice-Chairman signed a letter authorising the transfer of £500 from the deposit to the current account.
BALC (subscription 2008/9 £85.52/cheque no. 100463);
The Lee Parish Hall (hire of hall £72/cheque no. 100465).
Cheque 100464 CANCELLED.
08/25 Any other business: The clerk suggested that the proposed flight path changes could be put on the Agenda for the Parish Annual meeting to enable more people to have their say. The Chairman said he would liaise with the Chiltern Society about the campaign that was being mounted to oppose the plan.
The meeting closed at 9. 45pm.
*SUBJECT
TO RATIFICATION AT MEETING ON 13th MAY 2008 *
Viv Robins (Clerk)