TOWN COUNCIL

PRINCES RISBOROUGH TOWN COUNCIL

 

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON

TUESDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2008 IN LINCOLN HOUSE,

NEW ROAD, PRINCES RISBOROUGH AT 7.00PM

 

1. PRESENT

 

Cllr A Turner (Chairman),

Cllrs W Streule, Mrs. P Summerbell, Mrs. P Williams,

J Coombs, C Etholen, Mrs. E Clifford, R Orsler, G Hall, L A Benifer, and W Woolf.

Susanne Griffiths (Clerk)

 

2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE 

 

Apologies were received and accepted from Cllrs Mrs. M Wooster and

B Bendyshe–Brown

 

3. MINUTES

 

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Town Council meeting of the 29TH  January 2008 having been circulated were approved by the Meeting and signed by the Chairman. 

 

4. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

Members were asked to declare any personal interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting. None were declared.

 

5. PRESENTATION FROM MARTIN HALE - WDC

 

Martin Hale from WDC was unable to attend the meeting but would like to attend the Town Council meeting in March  to talk about Choice Based Lettings (allocation of social housing), when he will have more information on the new allocation policy.  All present agreed.                                                                                                                     SG

 

6. REPORT FROM THAMES VALLEY POLICE

 

The police were unable to attend the meeting.                                                             

 

 7. CORRESPONDENCE

An e-mail from Tony Davies, RACA requesting that a representative from the Town Council help with a project to reinstate the Kop Hill run.

Cllr J Coombs agreed to represent the Town Council. The Clerk is requested to reply to Mr. Davies.                                                                                           SG/JC                        

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A briefing note on the collection and use of Section 106 monies in Princes Risborough from WDC

The Clerk is requested to place this item on the next Town Council agenda. 

                                                                                                                           SG

An e-mail from a resident unhappy with the development in Wellington Avenue. 

The Clerk is requested to reply that the Town Council is opposed to the development and empathises with his position , but is unable to take any action as the responsibility and  the power to take action belongs with W.D.C.                                                                                                               SG

 

An invitation for the Town Council to join in the celebration of the Centenary year of the Territorial Army by allowing the Town Council to use the Regimental Silver of the  Bucks Battalion at appropriate civic events.

 The Clerk is requested to reply that the Town Council would be delighted to use the sliver and if possible, the Territorial Army to do a parade during the Festival. Cllr J Coombs agreed to be the contact point for the festival celebrations. The Clerk is further requested to contact the Royal British Legion to ascertain if they would like the opportunity to display the silver.

                                                                                                                      JC/SG

An invitation by the Princes Risborough Neighbourhood Watch to attend their Annual Co-ordinators meeting on Tuesday 8th April at 7.30pm in the Carrington Room at the Community Centre.

Cllrs L A Benifer and C Etholen agreed to attend to represent the Town Council. The Clerk is requested to advise the Princes Risborough Neighbourhood Watch.                                                                         SG/LAB/CE

 

An e-mail from a resident requesting permission  to plant a tree or have a plaque on a bench at Whiteleaf Cross in memory of her boyfriend.

The Clerk is requested to reply that the Whiteleaf Cross is the responsibility of the B.C.C. and that the Town Council does not have the authority to grant permission for this request.  The Town Council is happy to grant permission for a tree to be planted or a bench to be sited in the town.    SG

 

A letter advising  that the Churches Together in Risborough will be holding the annual Good Friday March of Witness on Friday 21st March at 11.00am and request the use of the road closure signs.

All present agreed to the use of the road closure signs and the Clerk is requested to liaise with the Yeoman.                                                                        SG  

                                                                                                           

A letter from the Princes Risborough Country Market requesting permission to hold an extra market on Tuesday 23rd December 2008.

All present agreed that this is in order and the Clerk is requested to inform the Princes Risborough Country Market that permission has been granted.                                  

                                                                                                                              SG

 

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A DVD and leaflets to provide an overview on the proposed airspace changes in this area together with a  request for the view of the Town Council on the Consultation Document and proposed changes to the airspace over Princes Risborough. 

                                                                                        

Cllr J Coombs agreed to produce copies of the DVD for the members to view prior to reading the TCN Consultation Document.                                     JC

 

The Chairman had received an e-mail from Green Issues requesting a meeting with the Town Council to discuss the Park Mill Farm development.

 

All present agreed that there should be no meeting and that they may send plans and proposals for the members to view, but an opinion would not be expressed.                                                                                                                           AT

                                

8. QUESTIONS TO THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN IN RESPECT OF RECENT MINUTES
The Clerk informed the members that a health and safety issue had arisen at the Burial Ground site and that an urgent work order needed to be issued for tree surgery. The cost quoted is £1837.70.Cllr R Orsler proposed that work order is issued. Seconded by Cllr W Woolf. All present agreed.                                  SG

 

Cllr R Orsler gave a progress report on the Burials Facility Project Team.

 

Cllr J Coombs gave a progress report on the Contracts Working Group and informed the members that the finished draft will be reviewed by the WDC solicitors in readiness for consideration by the Town Council at the Extra Ordinary Meeting of the Town Council to be held on 18th March 2008.                        JC/WW/RO/GH

 

Cllr J Coombs has taken over the position of Chairman of the Public Relation Working Group and suggested that each councillor should provide the editorial article for Crosstalk on a rota basis. All present agreed. The editorial team that will agree the contributions to the newsletter will consist of Cllrs R Orsler, J Coombs, A Turner and W Streule. The draft will then be circulated to all councilors for the final agreement.                                                                                                     KP/RO/WS/JC/AT

 

Cllr Hall informed the members that the Best Kept Village group will be meeting during the next couple of weeks and will be discussing planting in Station Road.

 

9. CIVIC CHURCH SERVICE

 

All present agreed that the date of the Civic Church Service is to be held on the 8th June 2008 at 3.00pm. The members were requested to supply a list of the guests to be invited by the 18th March. The final list will be circulated to the members to be discussed and agreed at the March meeting of the Town Council.                                                                                                       

                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                             ALL

                                     

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10. COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES

 

Cllr W Streule proposed that a list of the committee’s responsibilities is agreed and placed on the website. This will reduce the level of updating of the website currently required.

After a short discussion it was agreed that each committee is to review the responsibilities of their committee and advise the Town Council in readiness for the next Town Council meeting in March.                                                                  ALL

 

11. MAINTENANCE OF HORSE CHESTNUT TREES

 

Cllr W Streule wished to ascertain as to whether the Town Council wished to address the maintenance of the horse chestnut trees in The Retreat/St Teresa Close area, for the benefit of the town. After a short discussion it was agreed by all present that the Town Council did not wish to commit the town to the cost of the maintenance and suggested that this may be a suitable project for R.A.C.A. The Clerk is requested to write formally to R.A.C.A. requesting that they consider this proposal.                                                                                                                  SG

 

12. AN ANNUAL CONTRACT WITH A COMPANY TO SUPPLY, PLANT AND MAINTAIN THE PLANTING IN THE TOWN THROUGHOUT 2008/2009.

 

Cllr G Hall proposed that the Town Council  agree a recommendation from the Town & Lighting Committee that the Town Council form an annual contract with a                                                                                                                                 

company to supply, plant and maintain the planting throughout 2008/2009. It was agreed by all present that this decision is postponed until the 18 th March 2008 when an Extra Ordinary meeting of the Town Council is to be held. This will enable the Contracts Working Group to present a pro-forma tender for the members’ consideration and the Clerk to obtain three quotes for the planting.  RO/JC/WW/GH 

                                                                                                    

13. OFFER OF 3 DAYS FREE PARKING FROM W.D.C.

 

Cllr G Hall informed the members that the Town council had received an offer

from WDC of 3 days free parking per year and requested that the Town Council decide on the dates if accepted. Cllr G Hall proposed that the Town Council accept the offer. Seconded by Cllr W Woolf. A vote was taken and the motion was passed by a majority of 9 with 1 abstention and 1 against the motion. It was further agreed that the three free days would be best used to support the town on the three Saturdays leading up to Christmas. 6th December, 13th December and 20th December. The Clerk is requested to respond with Town Council’s decision. SG

 

The Chairman thanked Cllr G Hall for his effort in obtaining this concession from W.D.C.                     

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14. HIGH STREET STUDY

 

Cllr A Turner proposed that the Town Council accept a recommendation from the Public Relations Working Group, to hold a Public Meeting on the High Street Study on the same evening and at the same venue as the forthcoming Annual Town Meeting. Seconded by Cllr J Coombs. A vote was taken and the motion was passed by 10 votes with 1 abstention.

                                                                                                               

15. PAY INCREASES FOR THE CLERK AND ASSISTANT CLERK

 

Due to the sensitive and confidential nature of this agenda item, it was agreed to discuss and decide on the recommendation from the Human Resources & Administration Committee in a closed session after the meeting. The Clerk, public and press are excluded from the room during this discussion.

 

16.  ADVERTISMENT FOR THE NEW CLERICAL ASSISTANT

 

Cllr J Coombs proposed that the Town Council accept a recommendation from the Human Resources & Administration Committee to place an advert, circulated to the members, in the Bucks Herald and Bucks Free Press. Seconded by Cllr Mrs. E Clifford. All present agreed.                                                                                 SG

 

17. JOB DESCRIPTION AND SALARY FOR THE NEW CLERICAL ASSSITANT

 

Cllr J Coombs proposed that the Town Council accept a recommendation from the Human Resources & Administration Committee to accept the job description, circulated to the members, and agree to pay an hourly rate of £7.00.

After a short discussion and minor amendments to the job description, all present agreed to accept the amended job description and agree to the hourly rate of £7.00.  

                                                                                          

18. AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING

To discuss the format of the Annual Town Meeting (Cllr A Turner)

To discuss the briefing received from W.D.C. on the collection and use of Section 106 Monies.

To discuss and agree the guest list for the Civic Church Service.

To review the responsibilities of each committee for the purpose of updating the website. (Cllr W Streule)

 

NEXT MEETING

 

The next meeting of the Town Council will take place on Tuesday 25th March 2008 at 7.00pm in Lincoln House, New Road, Princes Risborough.

 

There being no further business to discuss the Meeting was closed at 9.07pm.

 

Chairman……………………………………………..        Date…………………..                                                                                                                         Page 10/08