Works & Services Committee Meeting, 13 November 2025 – Report

 CHEPPING WYCOMBE PARISH COUNCIL

WORKS & SERVICES COMMITTEE

“Cherish the past, adorn the present, construct for the future”

 

Report of the meeting to be held on Thursday 13 November 2025 at 7.30pm at the

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

 

 

Present:               Cllr C Dodds – Chairman                                 Cllr A Barron

                                Cllr R Wilks – Vice-chairman                        Cllr L Johncock

                                Cllr K Wood                                                        Cllr L Townsend

                                Cllr C O’Leary                                                     Cllr J Gurney                                                     

Cllr D Johncock (ex officio)

 

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

Cllr J Waters (Buckinghamshire Council)

 

WS/25/023          Apologies for absence
Cllr S Herron (medical) and Cllr S Guy (personal).

 

WS/25/024         Declarations of members’ interests in items on the agenda
There were none tendered.

 

WS/25/025          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:

 

• Defibrillator pads replaced at Flackwell Heath Community Centre, Flackwell Heath Bowls Club and Loudwater School £172.38

Cllr Townsend expressed an interest in providing training for residents, on the use of defibrillators.

 

 

WS/25/026          Offices, depot and warden’s house

1 Washroom area refurbishment – workshop

Members were asked to note that work was underway; the electrics had been disconnected and the room gutted.  The project was to be ongoing with the work undertaken by the grounds team during periods of bad weather.

 

2 Front Door Entry

Members were asked to note that the front door electrics had been completed, facilitating keypad entry and push button exit.  The system was working well.

 

WS/25/027          Cemeteries

1 Altona Road

Members were asked to note the following:

• The crown would be lifted on the Plane tree in the centre of the cemetery, work to be undertaken by the grounds team.
• The small trees along the top footpath had been trimmed, and the paths had been weeded and raked.
• The photographing and uploading of memorials, to Find A Grave website, was continuing and would be an ongoing project with an aim for it to be completed for summer 2026.

2 Cock Lane

Members were asked to note the following:

• Six new posts had been installed at the car park entrance.
• The car park fencing had been repaired.
• The new memorial bench had been installed.
• The raised flower bed had been replanted, and the paths had been weeded and raked.
• Cllr Dodds made a particular note of thanks to the grounds team for the above work.

 

3 Hammersley Lane Garden of Rest

Members were asked to note the hedges had been trimmed, and the paths had been weeded and raked.

 

WS/25/028          War Memorials

                                1 Tylers Green

Members were asked to note that permission from St Margaret’s Church was granted during October and the cleaning of the memorial had been completed, the surrounding vegetation was also cut back and the vicar had highlighted it as a job well done.

Cllr D Johncock asked whether the lettering on the memorial would be repainted, the clerk advised a member of the grounds team would carry out the work in spring/summer, in good weather.

 

2 Loudwater

Members were asked to note the following:

• New picket fencing had been installed alongside the yew hedge to help prevent damage. Cllr Dodds advised that a little more infilling of yew was required, this would be completed by the grounds team.  Cllr Dodds also requested that the yew hedge be kept to the height of the fence.
• The paving slabs in front of the bench, which had raised due to an underlying tree root, had been lifted and reseated to lie flat.
• The memorial had been cleaned, weeded and replanted.

6.3 Flackwell Heath

Members were asked to note that the memorial had been cleaned, weeded and replanted.

It was noted that the painted drain cover at the memorial needed attention.

 

WS/25/029          Improving our footpaths project

Cllr Wilks provided a report on his initial footpath survey of CWY/45/1, which was found to be  in overall good condition.  Cllr Dodds provided a verbal report on his initial surveys of CWY/62/1 and CWY/63/1, the report was yet to be written up.  Mr J Herschel provided a project update which was shared on his behalf by Cllr Dodds, see attached. 

Cllr Dodds and Mr Herschel would review and update the survey form before sharing it with those who had volunteered to survey the paths.

Cllr Barron asked what the ultimate plan for the gathered information was, Cllr Dodds advised the findings would be shared with the Buckinghamshire RoW team and the Chilterns Society for their records and to take any necessary action.

 

WS/25/030          Draft Committee Budget 2026/27

Members were asked to consider the draft budget for 2026/27.

Cllr D Johncock expressed concern over the 366% increase in electricity costs for footway lighting.  The clerk advised the supplier billing had been changed from unmetered to half-hourly metered, the pricing had been negotiated and a 12 month contract was in place.

Cllr Waters offered to look into the contracts for street/footway lighting Buckinghamshire Council currently have in place, and would share his findings with the clerk.

 

It was RESOLVED that;

The draft budget for 2026/27 be recommended to Council in December.

 

Members were asked to bring suggestions for new projects for 2026.

 

WS/25/031          Members were asked to note the committee’s income and expenditure to Period 6 (September). 

 

WS/25/032          Questions from committee members and the public

Cllr Waters requested the use of an MVAS for Boundary Road, Loudwater; he would organise it’s siting and volunteers.  Cllr Waters also advised that the Chief Executive of Buckinghamshire Council had resigned but was due to remain in post until the new year.

Cllr Wilks, in response to Cllr Townsend’s enquiry regarding defibrillator training (see WS/25/025), highlighted his St John Ambulance training and that CPR was more important, use of a defibrillator being a last resort.

 

WS/25/033          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 numbers 11469 and 11470 be signed and that direct debits to Barclaycard, Castle Water, Clear Business, E-On Next, EE, Fuel Card Services, HMRC, Nest, Redsquid Communications, Shorts Group, Trade Point (B&Q) and Trade Point (Screwfix), along with Bank Transfers to Active Enviropest, Adams & Page, Castle Water, Cleaning with Sammi, Collison Tree Care, Country Supplies, Farnham Common Nurseries, Barclays, PF & DF Gray, R Sadler (grant), K Saunders (expenses) and Wicksteed Leisure also be approved for payment.

 

 

The chairman of the meeting thanked members for their attendance and closed the meeting at 8.18pm

 

 

Date and time of next meeting:  TBC

 

 

Signed                                                                                                                                                  Dated