Wendover Parish Council Matters Arising – February 2023

View from the Chair
Now we are in 2023! The Clocktower Clock was fixed just in time for Christmas and the all-important New Year’s Eve celebration, my thanks to the Clerk for endlessly chasing the repair company to sort it out in time. It was good that people gathered to celebrate but there are always some who break bottles and glasses in the road which then need to be cleared by the Groundsmen, on what should be a bank holiday! Please ensure that next year your group takes their glassware home to recycle.

We are looking to have some of the extra-large baubles for the big tree next year, so if you have any to spare perhaps you could donate them to us.

The current applications for grants from April 2023 are invited. Major grants of up to £5,000 and minor grants up to £1,000 can be submitted to the Clerk by noon on Monday 13 February 2023, see website for application forms.

I have just received news that the Canal and River Trust have authorised the Wendover Canal Trust volunteers to start their preparations for the new canal path beginning with de-vegetation works between 3 and 10 February this year. This is excellent and we look forward to seeing the project completed later in 2023.

The precept request has been sent to Bucks Council for approval. Unfortunately, due to the extra costs for fuel, utilities etc, we have had to raise the precept from £95.57 to £104.92 per year for a band D property, which is an increase of £9.35 per year.

The parking review implementation has yet to be finalised, but we are hopeful that this will be completed shortly. We are also in the process of arranging for the Wendover Shed to be placed on the Hogtrough Allotment site.

Please send in your nominations for the WPC awards (see details on pages 12-13) to be presented at the Annual Parish meeting in April.

That’s all for now, hopefully the weather will be less wet by the time you read this, otherwise we may need to build arks!
Sheila Bulpett

Grounds Team – Siding Out
Residents might have noticed the grounds team out on the mower using a new piece of equipment, this is for siding out of the footpaths and carriageways and does not clear leaves from pavements. The grounds team have done a great job since getting this equipment before Christmas and it looks very neat.

Hampden Pond
The grounds team have installed railings around the decking at Hampden Pond. This will be a positive installation for residents as the access to the decking has been made safe.