14-11-24 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 14 November 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 L Johncock Cllr D Johncock (ex officio)

WS/24/032 Apologies for absence
Cllr J Gurney – family. Cllr J Herschel – family. Cllr S Barrett was not in attendance.

WS/24/033 Declarations of members’ interests in Items on the agenda
There were none.

WS/24/034 Delegated Action
Members were asked to note the following delegated actions by the Chairman of committee and the clerk since the last committee meeting in September:
• Electrical installation check carried out in the depot at a cost of £370.
• Digital timer on security light replaced at a cost of £140.
• Boiler in council office replaced at a cost of £4,455.

WS/24/035 Offices, depot and warden’s house
Members were asked to note that work to install a lean-to at the depot was nearly completed with only the guttering and a bulk head light left to install.
It was noted that the bulk head light, outside socket and switch inside the depot had been installed at a cost of £230.
Mr Godliman and the Grounds Team were thanked for a job well done.

Members were asked to note that, following the fixed wire check in the depot, we had received a report from the contractor and we were awaiting a quote for the replacement of the circuit board.

Members were asked to note that we had received an energy proposal from a Solar Installation company. The proposed system would have 24 panels with bird blockers on the office roof, a storage battery and hybrid converter. There would be an estimated annual electricity bill savings of £1,621 and payback would take 9 years, 7 months. The estimated savings for the next 24 years would be £60,771.
It was noted that two more quotes would be sought.

Members were asked to consider and, if so minded, approve the quote of £1,600 from our current security company to upgrade our CCTV system, rewire the hall camera and add a camera to the front of the building to give a general view of the car park, thereby improving the security of the premises.
It was RESOLVED that;
The quote of £1,600 be approved.

WS/24/036 Cemeteries
Members were asked to consider whether or not headstones in our three cemeteries must include the deceased’s full name as printed on the death certificate.
It was RESOLVED that; our Cemetery Regulations be updated with a more relaxed approach to the inscriptions allowed, ie the name that the deceased is known by should be allowed. To avoid issues arising in the future, it might be worth considering a form that the EROB holder signs before the internment takes place, confirming that they are aware of our regulations.

WS/24/037 War Memorials
Members were asked to note that the Flackwell Heath War Memorial had been cleaned by our Grounds Team.

WS/24/038 FH Street Litter Bins
Members were asked to note that we had not received a response to our letter to Bucks Council.
Members are asked to CONSIDER whether we should ask BC to supply us with two black bins at cost to replace the two green cast iron bins in Chapel Rd.
It was noted that a reply had been received on the day of the committee meeting stating that BC would come back to us as soon as possible with a response. We would wait and see what the response is but, if unsatisfactory, we would pay for 2 new bins and ask BC to install them free of charge.

WS/24/039 LED Footway Lighting
Members were asked to note that the 9 high priority repairs to the LED footway lighting in Loudwater had been completed at a cost of £4,777.15.
Members were asked to note that a purchase order for £10,217.08 for the 54 high priority repairs to the LED footway lighting in Flackwell Heath had been raised.
It was noted that the work should be completed by Christmas at the latest.

WS/24/040 Cats eye reflectors
Members were asked to note that we had received a response from Highways to our letter requesting that cats eye reflectors are installed in Sheepridge Lane and that the speed limit is reduced. Based on the frequency and also the contributory factors identified by Thames Valley Police, they are not planning any changes to the highway at this time.
It was noted that the deputy clerk would respond to the letter, thanking them for their response and requesting them to consider the changes to Sheepridge Lane if there were significant accidents in the future.

WS/24/041 Heath End Rd footpath
Members were asked to note that a TEAMS meeting had taken place between a couple of BC employees and the FH members of the W&S Committee to have an initial chat regarding the proposed footpath/cycle path connecting the Abbey Barn development with FH. Notes and presentation slides from the meeting had been circulated to all members. A video created by Cllr D Johncock following a ‘drive by’ along Heath End Rd by a few councillors had also been circulated.
Cllr Dodds said that it had been an excellent meeting, that BC would have another meeting with us within a year and that the project was likely to be completed in 4-5 years.

WS/24/042 Draft Committee Budget 2025/26
Members were asked to consider the draft budget to the Finance and General Purposes committee. It was RESOVLED that; the draft budget for 2025/26 be recommended to the F&GP committee.
It was noted that the rates would go up slightly, by approximately £250, which would be an increase of 5% for the year.

WS/24/043 Committee Finances
Members were also asked to note the committee’s income and expenditure to Period 7 (October).
It was noted that Darren was doing a lot of the maintenance of the equipment and vehicles and that they were running better.

WS/24/044 Questions from committee members and the public
• Cllr Wood informed the committee that a meeting had been held with the Cabinet member for Community and an officer and it had been agreed that all wards of Chepping Wycombe Parish Council would go into the same Community Board for the restructure in May 2025.
• Cllr Dodds and Cllr Wilks thanked the deputy clerk for her work and wished her well with her move. The deputy clerk thanked the councillors for their support over the past 5½ years.

WS/24/045 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 11395 to 1147 be signed and that direct debits to EE, E-ON Next, Shell (Fuel Card Services) Ltd, Shorts Group Limited, Redsquid Communications Ltd and Trade UK as well as transfers to Gough Contractors Ltd, SparkX Ltd and Sam Perry be approved for payment.

The chairman of committee thanked members for their attendance and closed the meeting at 8.20pm.

Date and time of next meeting: TBC

Signed: Dated: