Terms of reference for the

Works, Services and Planning (WS&P) Committee

1. Responsibility for the Council’s Depot and yard, Warden’s house, Council Office, vehicles, plant, equipment, tools, bus shelters, war memorials and highway litter bins, seats and trees not the responsibility of other authorities.

2. The regular maintenance of such property including grass cutting, fencing boundary walls, gates, buildings, shelters, paths, structures, public utilities, parking facilities, seats, letter bins, dog bins, picnic areas, landscaping, trees, hedges, shrubs, plants and any other maintenance function. To maintain designated and permissive footpath and bridleways passing over such land. To consider and recommend improvements.

3. Granting easements and way leaves across such land. Reviewing byelaws and property regulations and making recommendations, where appropriate, to the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

4. Ensuring public safety and all aspects of maintenance work, including any work undertaken by contractors, is undertaken in accordance with safety requirements determined by the Finance and General Purposes Committee, which has the overall responsibility for formulating the Council’s Health and Safety policy, procedures and working practices.

5. To consider and introduce conservation schemes wherever appropriate.                                                                

6. To consider specific proposals relating to the Committee’s responsibilities arising from Village Appraisals.

REPRESENTATIONS RECEIVED AND CONSULTATION

7. To consider representatives made and to consult with residents, individuals and appropriate organisations, when necessary, about the Committee’s responsibilities and service delivery.

COUNCIL CEMETERIES

8. Granting Right of Burial, permitting interments, permitting the interment of cremated remains and permitting the erection of memorials, changing memorials and their repair. Liasing with Funeral Directors, Stonemasons and Grave Diggers and if necessary religious representatives, next of kin and family representatives in respect to any matter related to the above.

9. The preparation and review of cemetery rules and regulations and the display of appropriate notices.

10 The preparation and review of detailed requirements and advice for Funeral Directors, Stonemasons and Grave Diggers with particular emphasis placed on the need to ensure that their work, as contractors, complies with safety legislation and requirements of the Council. The preparation and review of information for the next of kin and families in particular to explain their responsibilities and liabilities so that graves and memorials are safely maintained.

11. To keep records up to date.

12. To regular review the safety of memorials, graves and general safety within cemeteries. Whenever necessary and under whatever circumstances to take appropriate action to make memorials safe.

13. When Grants of Right have expired to take over responsibility for the maintenance of the graves and memorials providing that application for an extension has not been approved. Where graves and memorials have been abandoned and there has been no response to enquiries and the issue of notices seeking family members, to take over responsibility for graves and memorials.

14. To obtain when necessary faculty approvals.

CLOSED CHURCHYARDS

14. Responsibility for the maintenance, in accordance with legislation, of St. Margaret’s and St. Peters Churchyards. The regular maintenance of the churchyards including grass cutting, fencing, boundary walls, gates, paths, tree and shrub maintenance, grave and memorial maintenance.

15. To liaise with Church Authorities in respect to the above and to agree maintenance programmes. To jointly consider safety issues particularly the safety of memorials. To provide maintenance grants where appropriate. To obtain faculty consent when necessary.

PLANNING MATTERS

16. To consider and comment on revisions of the Wycombe District Plan, Bucks County Council Structure Plan and Regional Plans and Policy. To consider and comment on associated consultation documents including those issued by Government Departments. To make representations in respect to existing policies and practices.

17. To consider planning applications referred to the Committee by the Planning Applications Committee and Ward Planning Representatives appointed by Council. When necessary to undertake local consultation and consider local representations.

18. To make representations in respect to planning appeals and inquiries, if necessary, and authorise the attendance of a Council representative at such appeals and inquiries, if necessary.

19. To make representation when necessary in respect to planning enforcement public nuisance, conservation areas, tree preservation orders and any other planning mater.

LIGHTING

20. To maintain the Council’s footway lighting and consider representations made for improvements and additional lights. To prepare proposals for replacing and upgrading footway light as necessary. To seek reimbursement of lights damaged by third parties.

HIGHWAYS

21. To consider, comments and make representations on highway proposals/schemes, designated and permissive footpaths and bridleways, signposting and maintenance. To consult where necessary Highway Authorities, Police and Agencies and undertake consultation with local residents, if necessary, and comment accordingly. To consider representations made by residents about highway issues and where appropriate to make representations to Highway Authorities, Police, Agencies and any other organisation.

22. To liaise with County Councillors, County Officers, Police and Government Departments in respect to such matters and where necessary liaise with the District Council and any other organisation.

23. To consider wider traffic and public transport issues outside the Parish that impact on residents.      

FINANCE

9. To regular review the approved income and expenditure budget of the Committee. To advise the Finance and General Purposes Committee of major variations to the approved budget, not to enter into any financial commitment that exceeds the total of the approved budget without the approval of the Finance and General Purposes Committee or a meeting of the Council.

10. To prepare the Committee’s annual estimated budget for submission to the Finance and General Purposes Committee for consideration. To include proposals for forward planning and the use and setting aside of funds for specific earmarked reserves.

11. To regularly consider and review service delivery. To consider Best Value principles as directed by the Finance and General Purposes Committee. To apply any financial directive introduced by the Council.

12. To seek grant aid and support.

GENERAL

13. To apply any policy adopted by the Council to the functions of the Committee such as making as much information freely available to the public as possible and ensuring that any form of discrimination does not take place.

14. To comment on proposals for street naming and numbering. All matters relating to statutory service companies.