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Report of the Council meeting to be held on Tuesday 12 October 2021 at the Council Chamber, Cock Lane,
Tylers Green, Bucks HP10 8DS
Present: Cllr K Wood (Chairman) Cllr S Herron
Cllr L Johncock Cllr I Forbes
Cllr S Digby Cllr L Willis
Cllr R Wilks Cllr C Jordan
Cllr A Barron Cllr S Barrett
Cllr H Darch Cllr J Gurney
Cllr B Kin Cllr L Webb
Also present: Mr S Morton (B Squared Project) and Mr G Christie (CWPC warden)
FC/21/015 Apologies for Absence
Apologies were received and approved from Cllr D Johncock (another meeting), Cllr J Herschel (Holiday) and Cllr C Dodds (Family)
FC/21/016 Declarations of Interest and Code of Conduct
Cllr Willis declare a personal interest in agenda item 20 being in receipt of a reimbursement and Cllr Darch also declared a personal interest in agenda item 20 being in receipt of expenses.
The chairman welcomed and introduced Mr Stephen Morton.
The chairman asked to suspend standing orders and move the order of the agenda as follows – this was approved.
FC/21/017 Bee Squared Project
Council was asked to receive a short report from Mr Stephen Morton about the above project which involved the distribution of packets containing small quantities of wildflower seeds (about 1 g, sufficient for 1 square metre) to members of the public to plant in their own gardens as a source of nectar for bees. The seed was bought in bulk and packaged by volunteers. This project was commercially funded in Hazlemere but in unparished areas of High Wycombe the High Wycombe Community Board stepped in with funding. The Beaconsfield and Chepping Wye Community Board is in full support of the project.
It was RESOLVED that;
As the project was cost neutral to the parish council it had full support. An article would be written for the newsletter so that information about the project would be disseminated within the parish.
It was noted that further thought would be required for a distribution mechanism.
Mr Morton thanked members for their support and left the meeting at 7.40pm
FC/21/018 Council Minutes
It was RESOLVED that;
The minutes of the council meeting held on Thursday 8 June 2021 were approved as an accurate record.
FC/21/019 Open Spaces Committee
Cllr Willis advised that both the BBQ at Chapel Road and the Picnic at Ashley Drive were a success. The BBQ was well attended.
It was RESOLVED that;
the report of the Committee meeting held on Tuesday 31 August 2021 be approved.
FC/21/020 Works & Services Committee
In the absence of the committee chairman, Cllr Wood advised that there were a few amendments required to the report as follows:
WS/21/020 Cemeteries 3 Hammersley Lane – the line reading;
‘It was noted that the grass is starting to grow over the headstones and the cemetery is looking unkempt. Our grounds team cut and strim the grass 11 times per year’ – to be deleted.
Also; the figure of the quotation to be amended from £174.00 to £145.00
WS/21/023 Vehicle Signage
The figure of £1,000.00 to be amended to £300.00
It was RESOLVED that;
the report of the Committee meeting held on Thursday 9 September 2021 be approved with the above amendments.
FC/21/021 Finance & General Purposes Committee
Cllr Forbes highlighted;
FGP/21/008 Community Assets – Land off Hammersley Lane had been submitted to Buckinghamshire Council since the last meeting on 23 September 2021
FGP/21/010 Website – training had taken place.
It was RESOLVED that;
the report of the Committee meeting held on Thursday 23 September 2021 be approved.
FC/21/022 Planning Meetings
It was RESOLVED that;
the reports of the Planning Meetings held on Tuesday 29 June, Tuesday 13 July, Tuesday 27 July, Tuesday 10 August, Tuesday 24 August, Tuesday 7 September and Tuesday 21 September be noted.
FC/21/023 Code of Conduct
Council was asked to approve the recommendation from the Finance & General Purposes committee to adopt the Buckinghamshire Council Code of Conduct.
It was RESOLVED that;
the Buckinghamshire Council Code of Conduct be approved.
FC/21/024 Green Dragon Lane Recreation Ground, Flackwell Heath
Council was asked to note that against advice from the Clerk back in March 2021 the football club has allowed a commercial tea bar to be run from the club house. Also the company concerned are running deliveries from the club house during the week.
Council was asked to consider the next step, bearing in mind that currently there is no live lease.
It was RESOLVED that;
A meeting be set up with the chairman of the football club and members of the parish council.
FC/21/025 Grants
1 S137 – Payment of Grants
Council was asked to note that under the Local Government Act 1972 S137 (4) (a) the statutory expenditure limit for 2021/22 is £8.41 per elector. S137 enables parish councils to spend a sum, per elector, on activities and projects not specifically authorised by other powers. Council was asked to note that the current budget allocation for the financial year of £5,000 is well below the aforementioned limit.
2 Grant Application
Council was asked to approve the recommendation from the Finance & General Purposes committee to award a £5,000 grant to the Flackwell Heath & Loudwater Age UK Day Centre for the purchase of a new minibus.
It was RESOLVED that;
the award of £5,000 be approved for the Flackwell Heath & Loudwater Age UK Centre.
FC/21/026 Earmarked Reserve Transfer
Council was asked to approve the recommendation from the Finance & General Purposes committee to vire the £12,880 in the earmarked reserve for play equipment for the fencing around the play area at Straight Bit as follows; £10,000 into the salaries budget line and the balance of £2,880 into the dog waste collection budget line.
Council was asked to note that it was proposed to pay for the play area fencing from the Community Infrastructure Levy budget line which currently stands at £33,575.00.
It was RESOLVED that;
the virement of the £12,880 from the play equipment earmarked reserve be approved.
FC/21/027 Ongoing Vandalism at the Straight Bit Recreation Ground, Flackwell Heath
Due to the issues currently being sustained at the above site Council was asked to consider the use of a security company. Quotations were being obtained for discussion and approval if so minded.
Contact had been made with Golf Mike (Buckinghamshire Council), however permissions for CCTV appear to take a considerable amount of time.
It was RESOLVED that;
A security company be employed for a period of 3 months to cover the Straight Bit and Green Dragon recreation grounds.
FC/21/028 Skatepark Petition – Flackwell Heath
Council was asked to note that a petition had been received for the installation of a skatepark in Flackwell Heath. This will be taken to the next Open Spaces committee on Tuesday 26 October 2021.
FC/21/029 Thank you
Council was asked to note that a letter of thanks had been received from the Queen’s Private Secretary following our letter of condolence following the demise of Prince Philip.
FC/21/030 Office Credit Card
Council was asked to consider the introduction of a credit card, specifically for purchases made from Screwfix and B&Q who no longer take cheque payments. The credit card to be limited to £1,000 per month.
It was RESOLVED that;
The clerk be asked to investigate a credit card.
FC/21/031 Informal meeting of council members
Council was asked to note that the date for the informal meeting is Thursday 4 November 2021. Council was asked to submit agenda ideas to the Chairman of Council or Clerk for inclusion.
FC/21/032 Questions by Members of the Council
Cllr L Webb asked for members to send through information for their bio pages, these have now been requested a couple of times already.
Cllr Darch asked about the purchasing of wreaths for Remembrance Day – the clerk advised that she would obtain the wreaths.
Cllr Jordan advised that he had recently attended a WDALC meeting where there had been a talk on resilience. The talk had been interesting and highlighted issues.
Cllr Barrett advised that there were several time clashes for services on Remembrance Day.
Cllr Barron advised that he had attended a Community Board Environment Action Group – there is some money available to get the Buckinghamshire Authority team involved in getting environmental jobs done.
Cllr Wood mentioned sign cleaning and asked the clerk to send the suggestion through to Simon Garwood.
FC/21/033 Public Participation
There were no questions
FC/21/034 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 cheques numbered 10585 to 10600 be signed BACS payment for Barclays Payflow and direct debits to BT, EE, E-ON Next, Grenke, Shell, NEST and SSE be approved for payment.
Confidential items – exclusion of the public and press
Council was asked to resolve to exclude members of the public and press from the remainder of the meeting as permitted under the Public Bodies (Admissions to Meetings) Act 1960 so that it may have an open discussion on the following items.
Decisions are a matter of public record and are included in the minutes of the meeting under GDPR guidelines.
Staff Salaries for 2021/22
Council was asked to consider the recommendations made by the Finance & General Purposes Committee meeting on 23 September 2021.
It was RESOLVED that;
an increase to staff pay to be back dated to April 2021 of 2%, with an additional 1.5% for the Clerk; also bonus payments to staff totalling £4,400 in relation to the year 2020/21 be approved.
The chairman thanked members for their attendance and closed the meeting at 8.45pm
Signed: Dated: 16 December 2021