News

A campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse is being launched today (14/05) by Thames Valley Police in partnership with Domestic Abuse Co-ordinators and Crimestoppers.

The aim of the campaign is to increase awareness and promote early intervention in an attempt to break the cycle of abuse.

The majority of domestic abuse still goes unreported and the focus of the campaign is to encourage people to contact either the police, Crimestoppers or specialist support agencies.

The campaign is urging family, friends, neighbours and colleagues to come forward and let the police or other agencies know if they suspect someone is being abused.

A dedicated website speakouttoday.co.uk and video has been launched to provide practical information for victims and those supporting them, and includes vital links to national and local support services.

Further information on domestic abuse can be found on the Thames Valley Police website http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/

An essential resource for anyone going to the games or trying to avoid the congestion and road changes that will take place

http://www.getaheadofthegames.com/

Annual Parish Meeting for the Parish of Great & Little Kimble, including the hamlets of Marsh, Kimblewick & Clanking

Wednesday 9th May 2012 at 8pm
Kimble Stewart Hall

Chairman’s Report

Content:
1. Welcome
2. Affordable Housing
3. Planning
4. Fly Tipping
5. Speeding
6. Kimble Stewart Hall
7. Parish Officers
8. Website - www.kimblecouncil.org
9. Precept
10.Stopping HS2
11.Events –Diamond Jubilee

Good Evening Everyone.

First, I would like to Welcome you all to this Annual Parish Meeting and thank you for taking the time to attend.

In particular I would like to welcome our guests this evening:

• PC Marea Logan of Thames Valley Police based in Princes Risborough
• Councillor Paul Rogerson our Buckinghamshire County Councillor
• Councillor Steve Lacey our Wycombe District Council Representative
• Elizabeth Leyland from Hastoe Housing

Thank you for sparing your valuable time to join us this evening.

I would like to remind everyone that this is not a Parish Council Meeting!

The subtle but important difference is that this is the Annual Parish Meeting held by and for the Parishioners of Great & Little Kimble cum Marsh Parish. We merely facilitate it.

To open the meeting I would like to set the scene with a brief review and report on the activities of the Parish Council over the past 12 months. We will then move to the formal Agenda. I will try and keep this brisk and business like, so that we detain our Guests for no longer than an hour.

The major theme driving our decisions over the year has been to see a
“Greener, Cleaner and Safer” area for us all to enjoy living in.

2. Affordable Housing

It was hoped that by this time we would be well on the way to developing a limited number of new and affordable houses to meet the strong demand for local residents and families with connections in the Parish. However, as you all know we had a false start in 2008/9 and the process unravelled.

So in 2010/11 your Council decided to go right back to fundamentals and start again.

I am pleased to report that we are now well advanced on a scheme for 9 homes with a completely new team at Hastoe Housing Trust.

Elizabeth Leyland of Hastoe has kindly come along to give us a first hand update of the considerable progress that has now been made immediately after this session.

3. Planning

Planning continues to be a major contributor to Parish Council work load.

Many planning applications from, new builds to total refurbishment of existing buildings, extensions, to demolitions all have been considered by the Parish Council and WDC judged against existing planning rules and Policies.

None more so than constant Planning Applications from Gypsies & Travellers wishing to put down roots in our Parish. WDC, despite the admirable vote against by Councillor Lacey approved a further and final 8 pitches in Marsh. This one approval alone is more than most Towns or Parishes have in their entirety.

WDC and the new Coalition Government have, and are, developing policy guidelines to prevent abuse of the system. In particular we are acutely aware that local people feel that our Parish has contributed considerably more than our fair share as a populace in taking on new sites at the rate of approximately one a year. This is now disproportionate, particularly in the Marsh area.

Reflecting strong local opinion the Council is representing Marsh as full, and that it would be wise to allow a considerable period of successful settling in of the existing sites before any more are ever considered.

By Way Open to All Traffic (BOAT).
Ably advised by Roger Howgate, an expert in the matter, the Council have continued to object to a green pathway becoming a racetrack for off-road vehicles.

As a Council we are supportive to sensible sustainable development that is in keeping with the beautiful countryside, villages and hamlets we live in. We will however robustly defend this rural area from those who seek to subvert the proper democratic planning process.

4. Fly Tipping

Unfortunately we saw a rapid increase in the illegal dumping of rubbish, building and domestic waste in 2011. This anti-social, anti – environment practice is not just laziness and thoughtlessness; it is often motivated by greed and commercial gain.

Working with Bucks CC, WDC and the police we have sought to monitor the situation more rigorously as well as educate people locally what to do about it e.g. ensuring they use reliable licensed suppliers, and make a note of number plates, make and colour of vehicles involved. The police have been supportive and helpful and welcome detailed reports of suspicious activity.

We have also reminded people that this is an offence that carries fines of up to £50,000 (or unlimited if the case is heard in a Crown Court) and up to 5 years in prison.

This heightened awareness fortunately seems to be working.

5. Speeding

After the tension caused by a decade of Gypsy and Traveller planning breaches, applications and appeals the second most contentious issue in our Area is speeding traffic through the Parish.

Councillor Paul Rogerson put in a huge amount of careful thought and lobbying to ensure the electorates strong views were represented, and all the excellent Speed Limits we now enjoy were passed in the last detailed Speed Limit Review.

Whilst I feel this has improved things considerably it is still one of the top complaints and agenda items across the County and Country. Everyone wants to drive briskly through other parts of the country, but clearly wish to ensure that volume and speed of traffic is limited in their own villages.

So in our Parish we have to request the Authorities still continue to Educate, Inform and Enforce. We will do everything we can within our limited powers to support this.

We also look forward to hearing PC Logan’s views on speeding shortly.

School - G&LK PC were able to secure funding from the BCC for two New Flashing Amber warning lights and signs that will help protect the Children & Parents when arriving and leaving the Great Kimble Church of England School in Bridge Street.

Feasibility and technical issues slowed the actual installation. But these were overcome with determination and persistence by all involved and we now finally have a one solar and one static sign operating successfully in Bridge Street.

6. Kimble Stewart Hall

This progress on the Hall is probably our most significant achievement ahead of plan this year.

We worked well with the admirable Managing Committee to bring the Hall into the 21st Century, and quash the growing rumour that it may need to be demolished.

Two professional surveys were conducted which happily confirmed the building is basically sound but needed refurbishment and insulation to make it a productive21st Century asset.

£15,000 of investment was brought forward to put appropriate cladding on the outside of the building. This, combined with new double glazed windows, new doors and further insulation has made the Hall more appealing for modern use.

We would urge people locally to support it by giving it a try for events they may be planning. Sue Howgate will give us a more detailed update in the formal Agenda so I will not steal her thunder.

7. Parish Officers

I would like to extend a warm welcome to our New Parish Councillor James Good, who has made an immediate and positive contribution.

John Austin has kindly agreed to act as Vice-Chairman for a further year. I would like to thank Julia Northway for her support as the 2010 outgoing Vice-Chairman to John and me. She does a huge amount for the local community, and it is with sadness I have to report that she will be stepping down later this year as a Councillor after long and dedicated service to the people of this area. But she has been known to come back for more in the past….So I remain hopeful.

We said farewell at a large gathering to Councillor Major General Stuart Watson. Stuart, a former Chairman, had put in many years of fine service and we will miss his wise counsel. Our commiserations go to Stuart who sadly suffered a great personal loss earlier this year when his wife Susan passed away suddenly; our thoughts continue to be with him and his family.

Julie Bunker, our dedicated Clerk has done an excellent job throughout the year, and I would like to thank her for keeping us organised and efficient.

8. Web Site

We commend the website to you, www.kimblecouncil.org – which now always gets over a hundred pages visits per week. It is particularly useful for Planning and News.

A website is a living organism and we will be having another go this year at refreshing it. All contributions – particularly interesting photographs of the area, old and new, welcome

9. Tax or Precept

Tight control means that although we reduced the tax burden on residents by this Council from £21,000 to £17,000 in 2010-2011, we took the decision that long term investment in the Hall was vital, and were compelled to increase the Precept to £25,000 this year.

Despite the austere times we all face, this was a unanimous decision as the “right thing to do”. It represented long term value for money and was certainly a case of “a stitch in time now saving nine” in the future. We will continue to plan significant projects in a cost effective way.

10. HS2

We remain fiercely opposed to this faltering scheme that proposes driving an unneeded and unwanted railway though our countryside destroying Ancient Woodlands and An Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

In common with 18 Local Authorities (including Bucks County Council, Wycombe District Council and Aylesbury Vale District Council) we will continue to object. At least 5 major legal challenges are underway toward a Judicial Review.

The Business Case for this vanity project is very poor. There is no clever City money going into it. It will cost the whole country as funds are sucked out of other rail projects and commuter lines. So if you can each get friends or relatives in other parts of the country to look at the plans and object, this will prevent it just being seen as locals trying to protect their own backyard…beautiful as it is.

It will cost each family in the UK over £2,000 if it is not stopped. And there are far better uses for this money….e.g. Ultra High Speed Broadband at one-tenth of the cost.

Visit our website www.kimblecouncil.org for more details or www.hs2actionaalliance.org or stophs2.org or www.51m (all the local authorities ably led by Martin Tett of BCC)

11. Parish & Village Spirit and Events

There are a number of parties, events and lighted beacons planned to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.

The Council support the largest parish event, which is “The Big Lunch”, at the Village Green outside the Swan Public House on Sunday 3rd June from 1.30pm.

We have also initiated and supported the planting of two groups of Six Trees (one for each decade) alongside The Village Green and for The Kimble Pasture Group (planted by The Whiteleaf Cub Pack)

To brighten the Spring we also initiated the planting of bulbs outside the Village Entry Treatments. These had the dual purpose of welcoming everyone to the parish with some cheerful natural colour, but also aimed to subtly remind motorists they were entering a rural residential area that people cared about!

12. Bus Shelters

We have revived the long standing plans to install 2 bus shelters and discussions continue for these will go near the War Memorial for the Wycombe bound buses and outside St Nicholas Church for the Aylesbury bound buses, subject to location approval from Bucks County Council.

Conclusion

Overall 2011/12 has been a relatively successful year in so far as we have moved along to completion some long standing local projects, most particularly the Kimble Stewart Hall refurbishment.

However new challenges are always around the corner and our rural Parish and its way of life are constantly under threat unless we are vigilant.

We actively welcome suggestions for significant projects that the Council can help with toward protecting and enhancing this wonderful area.

We are not adverse to constructive change, but must also be ready to fight for our Parish and the people who live here, their dreams and aspirations and their right to live the peaceful rural life in the countryside they have chosen.

Thank you.

D R Williams
Chairman

The Neighbourhood Policing Teams of Wycombe have noticed an increase in the number of cases they are dealing with involving counterfeit bank notes. In particular there seem to be a number of counterfeit £20 notes circulating in the Wycombe area. Such notes are taken out of circulation as soon as possible, often resulting in an unrecoverable loss to small businesses and individuals.

During calendar year 2011, the number of counterfeit Bank of England banknotes taken out of circulation was around 374,000 with a face value of £6.3mn.
There are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself and your business from falling victim to such fraud. Comprehensive guides on how to check Bank of England notes are available online or in print, free of charge, direct from the Bank of England by following this link: http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/Pages/educational.aspx


If you have any information, or have been the victim of fraud, please contact us on our new non emergency number 101. If you want to provide information anonymously please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
 

We want to ensure that emergency medical services are available 24 hours a day at Wycombe Hospital. The PCT are suggesting that in future only Stoke Mandeville will have a 24 hour emergency medical service.
 

http://democracy.buckscc.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=633&TPID=68288919

The Community Right to Build gives communities new powers to build local housing, shops and community facilities.

It allows communities to create the buildings they want to see without going through the normal planning application process.

It came into effect in April 2012.

http://communityrights.communities.gov.uk/what-are-community-rights/community-right-to-build/

or the short link

http://t.co/Q2funyzz

The Kimble Steward Hall Committee invite you to come and visit the Stewart Hall to see the improvements that have been made over the last year, we look forward to seeing you there, refreshments will be available!

BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY AND ENJOY A CELEBRATION TO BE REMEMBERED, SEE NEWSLETTER FOR MORE DETAILS AND ALSO CHECK BACK HERE FOR DETAILS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE!

COME AND HAVE YOU SAY AND ASK QUESTIONS OF

THE PARISH COUNCILLORS

HASTOE HOUSING - THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPER

COUNCILLOR STEVE LACEY

COUNCILLOR PAUL ROGERSON

PC MAREA LOGAN

AFFORDABLE HOUSING
INFORMATION EVENING

TO BE HELD AT THE
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

ON

WEDNESDAY MAY 9TH AT 8PM

at Kimble Stewart Hall

COME ALONG AN SEE THE PLANS
AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT IN YOUR PARISH

The State Pension profiler uses information you provide to quickly estimate how much basic State Pension you may get. This is based on your National Insurance contributions to date. It will also tell you the earliest you may get it.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/StatePension/DG_184319

Dentistry is one of very few NHS services you have to pay for. This section explains what you will have to pay for and when you may not have to pay.

http://www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/aboutnhsservices/dentists/pages/nhs-dental-charges.aspx

Thames Valley Police are committed to involving the community in the policing of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes. We believe that by improving the flow of information between the community and its police we can all make a greater impact in the prevention and detection of crime and anti social behaviour.

To receive messages by email, text, phone or Twitter visit:

https://www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/

After two years of very low winter rainfall, parts of England are officially in drought. As a result, a number of water companies have announced temporary restrictions in water use from 5 April 2012.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_201641?cid=rss

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/Budget/Budget2012/DG_WP201339

Here is a list of frauds claiming to be linked with London 2012

http://www.london2012.com/about-this-website/stay-safe-online.php

Dogwatch is entirely staffed and funded by volunteers. We are proud to help the Police and RSPCA in the already excellent work that they do.

We circulate information regarding stolen dogs to our members; Police HQ; Beat Officers; Dog Wardens; and re-homing centres.

We circulate details of all snoopers on members’ property to members and Police Headquarters - helping to prevent rural crime.

We brief members on progress in the area by e-mail and hold regular meetings with the police.

http://dogwatchalert.com/

We have seen a dip in our blood stocks and are looking for more O- B- and O+ donors. If you're eligible please call 0300 123 23 23

Lots of local information here http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/yournh/yournh-tvp-pol-area/yournh-tvp-pol-area-bucks-wyc/yournh-tvp-pol-area-n216.htm

Changes to Line 300 at Butlers Cross – 5 Feb 2012

The Line 300 bus service form Aylesbury to High Wycombe is operated on a commercial basis by Arriva. As one of their key routes, they have invested significantly in it in recent years, both to improve the frequency to 20 minutes and to introduce high quality buses. As a result, passenger numbers have grown significantly, to around 14,000 passenger trips a week and it provides the main interurban public transport link between Aylesbury and High Wycombe.

Partly due to this large increase in passenger loading times, the service has been subject to greatly increased delays since September and Arriva are concerned that the gains of the last five years will be lost as passengers look for alternatives because of reliability problems and lengthened journey times. This autumn has already seen the growth of patronage on the service start to stagnate.

To address this, Arriva are investing in additional buses to increase the frequency to every 15 minutes. It is anticipated that this will stimulate further growth as well as addressing the reliability problem. Substantial additional running time has been incorporated on peak journeys to improve punctuality, but to achieve this, most journeys will now be routed to operate via the A4010 rather than via Butlers Cross as this is the most direct route.

The number of passengers boarding in both directions on the Butlers Cross section is very low, averaging 21.7 per day over three weeks in October and these are widely dispersed across the day. Some Line 300 peak time journeys between Butlers Cross and Aylesbury/High Wycombe will remain and Buckinghamshire County Council will be revising one of our subsidised routes to provide a day time service on Mondays to Fridays. Copies of this revised Service 321 timetable are attached and the remaining Line 300 peak journeys are also shown, as is the detailed passenger boarding data referred to above.

Having benefited from being on the route of a high-frequency interurban bus route it is likely that this change will be unpopular with those boarding on the Butlers Cross section of route. However, the rationale behind the decision is logical and for the benefit of the vast majority of both current and potential passengers. Arriva do need to take action to address recent reliability issues and Buckinghamshire County Council has ensured that Butlers Cross will still be served by a regular bus service.

Please contact me if you would like further information.

Andy Clarke
Passenger Transport Contract Manager
aclarke@buckscc.gov.uk 01296 383468