21-03-24 Works & Services Committee Minutes

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CHEPPING WYCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL
WORKS & SERVICES COMMITTEE
“Cherish the past, adorn the present, construct for the future”

Report of the meeting held on Thursday 21 March 2024 commencing at 7.30pm
in the Council Chamber, Cock Lane, Tylers Green, High Wycombe, Bucks HP10 8DS

Present: Cllr C Dodds – Chairman Cllr C Jordan
Cllr R Wilks (Vice-chairman) Cllr K Wood
Cllr A Barron Cllr S Herron
Cllr J Herschel Cllr S Barrett

Also present: Cllr I Forbes

WS/23/065 Apologies for absence
Cllr D Johncock – meeting, Cllr L Johncock – meeting, Cllr J Gurney – medical

WS/23/066 Declarations of members’ interests in Items on the agenda
Cllr J Herschel declared an interest in agenda item 18 Accounts for Payment being a recipient of an expense’s cheque numbered 11275 and a cheque for RNLI numbered 11278.

WS/23/067 Delegated Action
Members were asked to note the following delegated action by the Chairman of committee and the clerk since the last committee meeting in January:
• 2 x Eastgate Anti Vandal benches @ £618 each were purchased for Altona Road Cemetery.
It’s to be noted that the slats are metal and not plastic.

WS/23/068 Offices, depot and warden’s house
Members were asked to note that the Grounds Team would like a lean-to attached to the depot at the bottom of the yard. Details would be brought to the next meeting.
It was noted that, as the new Isuzu would be parked in the depot, the chipper, spreader and tine harrow would be protected under the lean-to.

WS/23/069 Cemeteries
Members were asked to note that the deputy clerk had started to photograph the memorials in Cock Lane Cemetery and upload the photographs to the Find a Grave website.

WS/23/070 War Memorials
Flackwell Heath
Members were asked to note that our Grounds Team would clean the base of the plinth and the stone slabs before a decision is made as to whether further specialist cleaning is necessary.
Loudwater
Members were asked to note that we had received the reports of the relevant services from the LAT and we are now awaiting a date from a contractor to meet on site to discuss the works.

WS/23/071 BT cabinets
Members were asked to note that the deputy clerk had established that 6 of the 9 cabinets in Tylers Green need painting and had contacted Openreach to request that they are painted. To date, 1 had been done.
Cllr Barrett would let the deputy clerk know if he came across any BT cabinets in Loudwater that needed painting.

WS/23/072 FH Street Litter Bins
Members were asked to note that the replacement of the litter bins had been delayed but we expect it to be completed by the end of March.

WS/23/073 Vehicles
Members were asked to note that, following approval at the last F&GP meeting, the Grounds Team had been to test drive a new Isuzu 4×4 vehicle.
The final cost to the council was £17,996.75 (excl VAT) after the £500 deposit had been put down. It was approximately £5,000 less than what had been approved at F&GP. We requested a tow ball, seat covers and plastic lining as extras. We received £6,000 trade in and a £2,010 discount. The vehicle would be ready for collection w/c 25 March. As noted earlier, the new Isuzu would be parked in the depot.
A BACS payment of £20,996.10 (incl VAT) was approved, being the balance due after the deposit was taken into account.

WS/23/074 LED Footway Lighting
Members were asked to note that the testing of all the LED footway lighting in Loudwater has been completed and we are awaiting the report and certificates.
It was noted that the summary would be circulated to all members.

Members were asked to note that the insurance company of the driver who caused the damage to the lamp column in Chapel Lane had paid for the repair.
Members were asked to note that there had been an increase of approximately 6% in the maintenance costs from our lighting contractor starting on 1 April 2024.
It was noted that the annual cost for maintenance was considerably less now than before the LED lighting project in 2017.

WS/23/075 Cats eye reflectors
Members were asked to note that the cats eyes on Treadaway Hill had been completed following the resurfacing of the road.
It was noted that the deputy clerk would write to BC to thank them for completing the above work and to enquire as to when they intended to install cats eyes on Sheepridge Lane.

WS/23/076 Royal Mail Pouch Box
Members were asked to note that another dilapidated pouch box had been identified in Churchill Close, FH and the deputy clerk had written to Royal Mail asking for its removal.
It was noted that we had received a response from Royal Mail and the pouch box was earmarked for removal.

WS/23/077 Chiltern Green
Members were asked to note that the 4 trees had been planted in Chiltern Green.
It was noted that some residents of Chiltern Green had expressed their thanks to the Grounds Team for a job well done.

WS/23/078 Heath End Rd footpath
Members were asked to note that the Berkeley Group had confirmed that 250 properties had been occupied to date and that they are on track for the 300th occupation late summer 2024.
It was noted that, according to BC, ‘as the developer has identified, the point that this payment is due to be made is linked to occupation levels…however, until funding is received the project cannot be prioritised or progressed.’

WS/23/079 Heath End Rd Common
Members were asked to note that the Grounds Team had installed wooden posts with reflectors along the edge of the common to deter motorists from parking on the grass.

WS/23/080 Committee Finances
Members were asked to note the committee’s income and expenditure to Period 11 (February).
It was noted that the cost of £5,600 for the Kubota repair would be charged to the Vehicle EMR and the amount credited to the budget line for Equipment Maintenance. The budget has been increased for next year.

WS/23/081 Questions from committee members and the public
There were none.

WS/23/082 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 11271 to 11282 be signed and direct debits to Barclays, Trade UK, Triumph Technologies and Unicom and Bank Transfers to Mr AG Nash and Arthur J Gallagher Insurance be approved for payment.

The chairman of committee thanked members for their attendance and closed the meeting at 8.05pm.
Date and time of next meeting: Thursday 30 May 2024 at 7.30pm

Signed: Dated: