06-06-24 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 6 June 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 S Barrett
Cllr D Johncock (ex officio)

WS/24/001 Apologies for absence
Cllr J Herschel – holiday, Cllr J Gurney – holiday

WS/24/002 Declarations of members’ interests in Items on the agenda
There were none.

WS/24/003 Delegated Action
Members were asked to note that there had been no delegated actions by the Chairman of committee and the clerk since the last committee meeting in March.

WS/24/004 Offices, depot and warden’s house
Members were asked to note that the lean-to requested by the Grounds Team would be attached to the depot at the bottom of the yard. It would have three bays: one for the hopper and harrow, one for the chipper and trailer and one for general stores, eg benches, posts, etc. The roof would be of polycarbonate and would be at an angle for the water to run off into the woods.
Members were asked to consider and, if so minded, approve the ballpark figure of £5,000 for the lean-to which would include materials, hiring of scaffolding, etc.
It was RESOLVED that;
The ballpark figure of £5,000.00 be approved.

WS/24/005 Cemeteries
Altona Road
Members were asked to note that two memorial benches have been installed by our Grounds Team. We have received contributions for both benches.

WS/24/006 War Memorials
Loudwater
Members were asked to note that we have received a quote of £3,450 from a Bucks-approved contractor for the works to install 8 bollards. The licence costs £1,080 and the bollards cost £146 each, bringing the total cost of the project to £5,698.
Members were asked to consider and, if so minded, approve the quote below for the installation of the bollards. Members were asked to note that this is a single tender action from the company that we’ve recently used for installing bollards.
It was noted that the bollards were required as the parked cars on the pavement were a safety issue.
It was RESOLVED that;
The quote of £5,698.00 be approved.

WS/24/007 BT cabinets
Members were asked to note that the remaining 5 BT cabinets in Tylers Green have been cleaned.

WS/24/008 FH Street Litter Bins
Members were asked to note that 10 litter bins have been replaced by Bucks Council. Two of the green litter bins on Chapel Road remain, one outside the Wesleyan Chapel and one opposite.
It was noted that Cllr Dodds, Cllr D Johncock and Cllr Hershel would take a walk around to decide whether any bins needed to be moved.

WS/24/009 LED Footway Lighting
Members were asked to note that the testing of all the LED footway lighting in Flackwell Heath has been completed at a cost of £7,143.75. We have received the report and are awaiting the certificates and a quote for the urgent repair work. The summary has been circulated to all members.
It was noted that the deputy clerk would request a quote for all the urgent and high risk works, excluding isolators from the quote.

Members were asked to note that, following the report after the testing of the LED footway lighting in Loudwater, we have received a quote for the repairs to the 9 high priority lamps.
Members were asked to consider and, if so minded, approve the quote of £4,777.15 for the repairs.
It was noted that the maintenance costs involved are far less than what we were spending prior to the lights being changed to LED.
It was RESOLVED that;
The quote of £4,777.15 be approved.

WS/24/010 Cats eye reflectors
Members were asked to receive the response below from Road Safety regarding the installation of cats eyes in Sheepridge Lane.

Buckinghamshire Highways receive many requests to introduce additional measures, including additional cats eyes reflectors on sections of roads of public concern. Our policy is to direct the available funding for this type of work towards those sites which have a demonstrable personal injury collision record, meeting a strict criterion. This method of targeting measures to those locations supports our objective of improving the safety of the network through the reduction in frequency and severity of reported injuries. This policy has been adopted so that the casualty data provided by Thames Valley Police (TVP) can be analysed in detail to ensure that schemes are designed to address the particular factors that have been attributed to the recorded injury collisions at those locations.

In the last 5 year period from 01/01/2019 to 31/12/2023 there have been 2 recorded slight injury collisions both at the NE end of the lane near the junction with Heath End Road. On that basis Buckinghamshire Highways are not planning to make changes to the highway around this location.
It was noted that Cllr Barrett and the deputy clerk would write a letter to Road Safety regarding installing cats eyes in Sheepridge Lane after receiving evidence from councillors on accidents they had witnessed.

WS/24/011 Bus Shelter
Members were asked to consider the feasibility of continuing with the project to install a bus shelter in Heath End Road opposite Rugwood Road following the announcement by Arriva of the proposed closure of the High Wycombe depot and the discontinuation of their 6/6a routes should the closure go ahead.
It was noted that numbers hadn’t recovered after Covid and that it was mostly college students using the bus. There was also a dial-up service which was popular.
Cllr Wilks proposed a motion to leave this in abeyance. Cllr Woods seconded the motion.
It was RESOLVED that;
The bus shelter project be left in abeyance until after the development of the college site has been completed.

WS/24/012 Committee Site Visit
Members were asked to note that the W&S site visit will be on Wednesday 24 July. Areas that will be visited are:
• Heath End Common & path
• Altona Rd Cemetery
• Hammersley Lane Garden of Rest
WS/24/013 Committee Finances
Members were asked to note the committee’s income and expenditure to Yearend outturn.
Members were also asked to note the committee’s income and expenditure to Period 1 (April).

WS/24/014 Questions from committee members and the public
• Cllr L Johncock enquired as to whether there was any signage along Sheepridge Lane warning drivers of the footpaths crossing the lane.
Cllr D Johncock, Cllr L Johncock and Cllr Dodds would look into where appropriate signage could be put and then the deputy clerk would write to Highways.
• Cllr Barron explained that phone calls regarding footpaths were being diverted from Bucks Council to us.
The parish council should write to the call centre at BC and correct them.

WS/24/015 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 11307 to 11318 be signed and direct debits to EE, E-ON Next, NEST, Peninsula Business Services, SSE, Redsquid Communications, Shell (Fuel Card Services) and Shorts Group and Bank Transfers to Rhino Play and Penn & Tylers Green Sports & Social Club be approved for payment.

The chairman of committee thanked members for their attendance and closed the meeting at 8.25pm.

Date and time of next meeting: Thursday 19 September 2024 at 7.30pm

Signed: Dated: