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CHEPPING WYCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
Report of the Council meeting held on Thursday, 16 October 2025 at 7.30pm at the Council Chamber,
Cock Lane, Tylers Green, Bucks HP10 8DS
The meeting was open to public and press
Present: Cllr A Barron Cllr R Wilks
Cllr S Herron Cllr L Townsend
Cllr C O’Leary Cllr I Forbes
Cllr K Griffiths Cllr H Darch
Cllr N Thomas Cllr C Dodds
Cllr S Guy
Also present: Cllr M West (Buckinghamshire Council and Penn Parish Council) and Mr J Herschel
Cllr Barron stepped in to chair the meeting in the absence of Cllr Wood and Cllr D Johncock
FC/25/026 Apologies for Absence
Cllr D Johncock (holiday), Cllr L Johncock (holiday), Cllr L Webb (personal), Cllr L Willis (medical), Cllr J Gurney (medical) and Cllr K Wood (personal)
FC/25/027 Declarations of Interest and Code of Conduct
There were none tendered.
FC/25/028 Cllr Barron advised that agenda item 3 Citizens Advice Buckinghamshire: an introduction for Chepping Wycombe Parish Council had been deferred and would be happening at a later date.
FC/25/029 Council Minutes
It was RESOLVED that;
the reports of the Council meeting held on Tuesday 24 June 2025 be approved as an accurate records.
FC/25/030 Open Spaces Committee
Council was asked to consider the report of the Committee meeting held on Tuesday 9 September 2025.
It was RESOLVED that;
the report of the Committee meeting be approved.
FC/25/031 Works & Services Committee
Council was asked to consider the report of the Committee meeting held on Thursday 25 September 2025.
Cllr Dodds clarified WS/25/019 Committee Site Visit Feedback – Energy Cost Saving Project
The project had been deferred – Cllr Dodds had been looking at domestic rates rather than business rates which would increase the payback time.
WS/25/018 Mr Herschel was asked to update Council on the project, attached notes from update.
It was RESOLVED that;
the report of the Committee meeting be approved.
FC/25/032 Finance & General Purposes Committee
Council was asked to consider the report of the Committee meeting held on Thursday 2 October 2025.
Cllr Barron highlighted that items from the Finance & General Purposes meeting were covered later in the agenda.
FGP/25/007 1.1 Increases to transfer limit between accounts and delegated expenditure limits Cllr Forbes asked for a change to the wording to read;
‘Transfer between bank accounts from…..’
It was RESOLVED that;
The report of the Committee meeting be approved with the amendment as above.
FC/25/033 Planning Meetings
Council was asked to consider the reports of the Planning Meetings held on 8 July 2025, 29 July 2025, 19 August 2025, 9 September 2025 and 23 September 2025. Cllr Barron thanked the Deputy Clerk for her work.
It was RESOLVED that;
The reports be approved.
Council was asked to note that future planning meetings would be held at 12 noon rather than 10am for a trial period to see if this works for more members to attend.
Council was also asked to note the schedule of applications from June to October, showing eventual outcomes of the parish council submitted objections.
FC/25/034 Financial Regulations
Council was asked to consider the recommendation from the Finance & General Purposes Committee to adopt the amendments.
It was RESOLVED that;
the recommended amendments to the Financial Regulations be adopted.
FC/25/035 Risk Register
Council was asked to consider the recommendation from the Finance & General Purposes Committee to approve the amendments to the Risk Register which are now aligned to our insurance company.
It was RESOLVED that;
The Risk Register be approved.
It was noted that a review mechanism would be put in place. This would sit with the Finance & General Purposes Committee on an annual basis. Cllr Barron was thanked for the work he had done on the Register.
FC/25/036 IT Security Policy
Council was asked to consider the recommendation from the Finance & General Purposes Committee to adopt the IT Security Policy.
It was RESOLVED that;
The IT Security Policy be adopted.
Council was also asked to consider the recommendation from the Finance & General Purposes Committee to approve the following;
- Cybersecurity Training
- All councillors to receive “cwpc.org.uk” email addresses:
- Microsoft Exchange Online Plan 1 & Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1
- Monthly Cost Per User: £8.50
- Total Monthly Cost: £144.50.
- Total Annual Cost: £1734 (+ £200 one off deployment cost)
It was RESOLVED that;
the cybersecurity training, councillor cwpc addresses and Microsoft Defender be approved.
FC/25/037 Grants
Following a grant application from the Flackwell Heath Bowls Club, Council was asked to consider the recommendation from the Finance & General Purposes Committee to contribute £10,000 towards the replacement of the drainage channels around the green.
It was RESOLVED that;
A grant of £10,000 be approved upon production of an invoice and proof of the work being undertaken.
Council was asked to consider a request for £365.81 being a 50% contribution towards the flagpole, purchased by a resident, which is used for Remembrance Day and Carols on the Common.
It was RESOLVED that;
A 50% contribution towards the flagpole be approved.
FC/25/038 Informal Meeting for Members
Council was asked to note that the date of the meeting had been set for Tuesday 18 November.
The public and press are excluded from the meeting.
Members were asked to send suggestions for consideration at the meeting to the Clerk or Chairman of Council.
FC/25/039 Questions by Members of the Council
There were no questions.
FC/25/040 Public Participation
There were no questions.
FC/25/041 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 11465 and 11466 be signed and that direct debits to Barclaycard, Castle Water, Clear Business, E-On Next, Fuelcard Services Ltd (Motia), NEST and Redsquid Communications Ltd ( Triumph Technologies) along with transfers to Castle Water, Country Supplies, S Godliman, Grange Security Systems, SSE and W Thompson be approved for payment.
Date & Time of Next Meeting: Thursday 18 December 2025 @ 7.30pm
Signed: Dated: 18 December 2025
Improving our Footpaths Project
- Presentation Reference: The update follows a PowerPoint presentation shown at a previous Works and Services meeting.
- Rights of Way (RoW) Team Engagement:
- Multiple attempts to meet with the RoW Team manager have been unsuccessful.
- Wendy successfully contacted the local RoW Officer.
- The RoW Team is overwhelmed due to staff shortages and budget cuts.
- Council contractors are prioritizing highway complaints over footpath maintenance.
- Progress Despite Challenges:
- Some contact has been made with other RoW Team members, offering potential collaboration.
- The project is not entirely dependent on RoW Team support.
- Chiltern Society Involvement:
- Active in environmental and footpath work for nearly 50 years.
- Currently seeking volunteers for their Rights of Way Group.
- Chiltern Society Volunteer Groups:
- Footpath Maintenance Volunteers: Handle more demanding tasks requested by the county RoW Team.
- Path Walkers: Monitor and lightly maintain paths, reporting issues to Bucks RoW Team.
- Local Collaboration Efforts:
- Contact made with Neil Saunders, area secretary for Path Walkers, to explore collaboration without disrupting existing volunteer efforts.
- Emphasis on a cautious approach (“softly, softly”) to avoid unintended consequences.
- Immediate Local Focus:
- We have enough to do on unregistered paths in King’s Wood, Derehams Recreation Ground, and Fennels Wood.
- Survey Form Development:
- Bucks RoW lacks a standard path survey form.
- Considering using the Chiltern Society’s form if available.
- Volunteer Acknowledgement:
- Thanks extended to those who have already volunteered to survey path signage.
- Encouragement to maintain momentum and continue progress.