Works & Services Committee Meeting, 12 February 2026 – Report

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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 12 February 2026 at 7.30pm at the

Council Office, Cock Lane, Tylers Green, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP10 8DS

 

 

Present:               Cllr C Dodds – Chairman                                 Cllr S Guy

                                Cllr R Wilks – Vice-chairman                        Cllr S Herron                                                                                                       Cllr L Johncock                                                  Cllr K Wood

                                Cllr A Barron                                                       Cllr L Townsend

                                Cllr J Gurney                                                      Cllr C O’Leary

                                Cllr D Johncock (ex officio)

 

Also present:     Ms W Thompson (Clerk of the Council)

Cllr J Waters (Buckinghamshire Council)

 

WS/25/034          Apologies for absence
There were none.

 

WS/25/035         Declarations of members’ interests in items on the agenda
There were none tendered.

 

WS/25/036          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 November:

• External PIR floodlights in yard replaced, depot heater switch issues investigated   £244.00

 

WS/25/037          Offices, depot and warden’s house

1 Washroom area refurbishment – workshop

Members were asked to note that the first-fix plumbing work was underway.  Quotes for new flooring were being sought.

2 Equipment Maintenance

Members were asked to note the annual service of grounds equipment had been carried out, and that the required replacement shaft assembly, for the damaged flail, was at a cost of £3023.89.

 

WS/25/038          Cemeteries

Members were asked to note that the topple test had been carried out at all cemeteries, and the Assistant Clerk was contacting grave owners to resolve the issues identified.

The paths at each cemetery were due to be weeded again.

1 Altona Road

Members were asked to note the following:

• The crown had been lifted on the Plane tree in the centre of the cemetery.
• The gates were due to be rubbed down and repainted.
• The photographing and uploading of memorials, to Find A Grave website, was continuing and remained an ongoing project.

2 Cock Lane

Members were asked to note the following:

• The posts for the fence in the centre of the cemetery had been reset.
• The front, left side, hedging would be replaced.
• There had been recent issues with contractors using the car park, making access difficult for cemetery visitors. Consideration would be given to whether any changes were needed to the car park gate configuration and discussed at a later date.

3 Hammersley Lane Garden of Rest

Members were asked to note the following:

• The wall was due to be repaired with missing flints replaced.
• An initial inspection had indicated that the York stone path at St Margarets needed some repointing. A further, more detailed, inspection would take place to confirm exactly the work required.

 

WS/25/039          Footway Lighting

                                Members were asked to note the following:

• The insurance company had paid the claim for the damage caused to the lighting column in Glenmore Close. A replacement column had since been installed.
• A report of an obscured light in Buckingham Way had been received. The owners of the trees concerned had been contacted and completed work to cut back the offending branches.
• Sparkx, our lighting contractor, had advised that Zeta Specialist Lighting was in administration. Therefore no further repairs to Zeta lanterns could be carried out, instead replacements would need to be sought.  We were awaiting further information on options from Sparkx, however the cost per replacement lantern was likely to be c.£300.00.

 

WS/25/040          Street Furniture

                                Members were asked to note that the annual bench survey had been completed and necessary

repairs/improvement works would be carried out, in suitable weather conditions.

 

 

WS/25/041          Improving our footpaths project

Members were asked to receive a verbal update from Cllr Dodds, on behalf of Mr J Herschel.

It had been decided to proceed with the project using Cllr Dodds report of footpaths WOO/26, CWY/62, CWY/66, CWY/56 and CWY/21 as a template, see attached.  Reports would include footpath references, OS map references, condition notes and photographs.

Completed reports would be submitted to Mr Herschel for compilation.  Once all information had been recorded Mr Herschel would supply the final details to the deputy clerk, to be passed to Buckinghamshire RoW team and the Chiltern Society.

It was noted that the Chiltern Society, as a charitable organisation, may require some assistance with funding for related remedial work they undertake.

 

WS/25/042          New Projects

Cllr L Townsend suggested the possibility of positioning a number of Happy To Chat benches in the parish.  She would investigate potential site options, ready for further discussion at a later date.

 

WS/25/043          Committee Finances

                                Members were asked to note the committee’s income and expenditure to Period 10 (January).

                                The high cost for footway lighting was highlighted as a concern, however there was ongoing conversation between the clerk and SSE to resolve this.   

 

WS/25/044          Questions from committee members and the public

Cllr Waters advised of a broken metal rail across a footpath between Hammersley Lane and Beacon Hill.  He would supply details and photograph to the deputy clerk so it could be passed to the Buckinghamshire RoW team for action.

Cllr Waters advised a further release regarding the Bucks Local Plan was expected the following week.  Once it had been published he would offer to arrange a meeting with CWPC planning committee.

Cllr Waters confirmed the date of 20 March 2026, 8pm at St Peters Church Hall, had been set for the initial community meeting attempting to re-instate a resident’s group for Loudwater.

 

WS/25/045          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 cheque number 11475 be signed and that direct debits to Barclaycard, Castle Water, Clear Business, E-On Next, EE, Fuel Card Services, Nest, Peninsula, along with Bank Transfers to Active Enviropest, Briants of Risborough, Castle Water, Cleaning with Sammi, Cutting Edge Garden Machinery, GDT Fire Extinguishers, ICU Window Cleaning, Iris Software, Newco Electrical, K Saunders (expenses), Sparkx and W Thompson (expenses) also be approved for payment.

 

 

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

 

 

Date and time of next meeting:  Thursday 11 June 2026 @ 7.30pm

 

Signed:                                                                                                                                                                 Dated: 19/03/2026