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CHEPPING WYCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
OPEN SPACES COMMITTEE
Report of the meeting held on Tuesday 28 January 2025 at 7.30pm at the Council Office, Cock Lane, Tylers Green, High Wycombe Bucks HP10 8DS
Present: Cllr L Willis (Chairman) Cllr I Forbes
Cllr L Webb (Vice-chairman) Cllr C Jordan
Cllr S Herron Cllr K Wood (ex officio)
The meeting was open to the public and press
OS/24/043 Apologies for absence
Apologies for absence were received and approved from Cllr S Digby (holiday), Cllr H Darch (medical), Cllr J Gurney (medical), Cllr D & Cllr L Johncock (funeral).
OS/24/044 Declarations of members’ interests in Items on the agenda
Cllr K Wood declared an interest in agenda item 13 Accounts for Payment being in receipt of an
expenses payment.
OS/24/045 Delegated Action
Members were asked to note that since the last meeting in October the following delegated actions had been taken:
Removal of dangerous dead wood – Ashley Drive Allotments, TG £350.00
Ordered – Dismantling of dying Ash King’s Wood, TG £720.00
OS/24/046 Allotments
Members were asked to note that there were currently 14 people on the waiting list for Ashley Drive and 3 on the waiting list for Chapel Road.
Chapel Road have 1 full plot and one-half plot both plots were currently being offered to two people on the waiting list mentioned above. There were no vacant plots at Ashley Drive.
The work to tracks at both allotment sites to be scheduled over the next two months.
OS/24/047 Derehams Lane Recreation Ground
Members were asked to note that the architect had provided quotations for surveys, as required by the Planning Authority, members were asked to consider and approve the following;
Aboricultural Impact Assessment: £1,035.00
Ecology Survey £2,485.00
It was RESOLVED that;
Both the quotations be approved and the works ordered.
1 Loudwater Bowls Club
Members were asked to note that a site visit took place on 1 November 2024. Members were asked to receive a verbal update.
OS/24/048 Playgrounds
1 Straight Bit Recreation Ground, Flackwell Heath
1.1 Cargo netting on Grand Tower
Members were asked to note that the replacement cargo netting arrived from France, however it was the wrong size. Work was prioritised by the contractor and the new cargo netting was installed this week.
OS/24/049 Tree Work
Straight Bit to Cherrywood Gardens: Members were asked to note that the work ordered has now been completed. As previously discussed, a site visit was suggested following the work, members are now asked to confirm a date for the visit.
It was RESOLVED that;
A site visit take place on Monday 10 February at 11am to assess the hedge along the path.
King’s Wood: Members were asked to note that there is some serious ash dieback near to the Skills & Thrills area in the wood. The Clerk was given the delegated power to instigate the work up to a cost of £4,000. Member were asked to note that quotations were obtained, and the work will be undertaken at a cost of £1,800.00 in the first week of February.
OS/24/050 Biodiversity Strategy- Key Areas of Focus
Members were asked to consider the report from Cllr Webb which highlighted the seven key focus areas that the council would be investigating. It was suggested that this document could be used as a tool to measure progress and would be reviewed annually. The Biodiversity Working Group had met before Christmas and agreed the principles of the document before the committee.
It was RESOLVED that;
The document be approved with the inclusion of three appendices as follows:
1 Maps showing areas along with photographs
2 The Chiltern Rangers initial booklet
3 Cllr D Johncock’s amended version of the second Strategy document sent by Chiltern Rangers.
Cllr Webb was thanked for the excellent document.
OS/24/051 Gate Permits
Members were asked to consider the revival of the Gate Permits. The permits would be for gates onto council owned property. Members were reminded that this had been discussed at length in 2016 and it had not progressed.
It was RESOLVED that;
No further progress would be made with the Gate Permits and the fee would be removed from the Fees & Charges listing.
OS/24/052 Railway Land
Members were asked to note that several attempts have been made to speak with the Geotechnical company to survey the site and suggest options to make the bank on Fennels Wood side more stable. Members were asked to consider the cost of approximately £1,700.00 to the work to be undertaken.
It was noted that the company had been recommended by a contact for our architect.
It was RESOLVED that;
The quotation be approved and the work ordered.
OS/24/053 Committee Finances
1 Income & Expenditure
Members were asked to note the income and expenditure for month 9 (December)
Cllr Forbes highlighted the over allocation for electricity for Derehams and Cllr Webb highlighted the EMR for play equipment.
OS/24/054 Questions from committee members and the public
- Cllr Forbes enquired about the path opposite the Village Hall.
The Clerk advised that this was scheduled with the other paths on the back common.
- Cllr Herron asked about the Bucks Council bollards on Green Dragon Lane.
The Clerk advised that she had been communicating with the LAT and the Chairman of the football club.
- Cllr Jordan advised that the next meeting of the Bowls club would be in March and was to be held in the clubhouse.
- Cllr Willis asked about the tables and chairs currently in the Bowls club clubhouse
Cllr Wood advised that the Loudwater Centre would be taking them. She advised that she would contact Mr King.
- Cllr Webb highlighted some of the old boards relating to the history of the club and that it would be nice to keep them.
OS/24/055 Accounts for payment
Accounts for payment were circulated at the meeting for consideration by councillors.
It was RESOLVED that;
the accounts for payment be approved and cheque number 11410 to 11416 be signed and that a BACS payment to Barclays Payflow and direct debits to Barclays, Castle Water, Clear Business (Unicom),EE, E-On Next, Grenke Leasing Ltd, HMRC, NEST, Peninsula Business Solutions Ltd, Redsquid Communications Ltd (Triumph Technologies), Shell (Fuel Card Services), Shorts Group Ltd, SSE and Trade UK along with a transfers to Castle Water, Collison Tree Care Ltd, Crowden Coachworks Ltd, Farnham Common Nurseries, Grange Security Services, PF&DF Gray, Origin Amenity Solutions, Rhino Play (SW) Ltd, Unipar Services LLP, K & S Walker and Cllr K Wood be approved for payment.
The chairman thanked members for their attendance and closed the meeting at 8.15pm
Date and time of next meeting: Thursday 29 May 2025 @ 7.30pm