District Councillor
Corry Cashman
Phone 01296-668565
c.cashman@zen.co.uk
Link to AVDC Web Site
District Councillor’s News: September 2010.
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New Recycling and Waste contract for 2011
The District Council hopes to have a new fifteen-year contract for waste and recycling collections agreed by October 2011. It has still to decide whether to work with the other three Buckinghamshire district councils to provide a Buckinghamshire-wide waste and recycling service, or to enter into a contract which would cover the Aylesbury Vale area only. The main factor influencing this decision, to either work with the other district councils or to continue with a district-wide service, will be that of cost. Regardless of which option the Council finally decides on, I was recently assured, at a meeting of the Council’s Environment Scrutiny committee, that weekly collections will continue. There will also be a cardboard recycling service provided across the Vale. Garden waste will be collected but there will be an additional charge of £35 per year for any household wishing to avail of this service. (September 2010)
High Speed 2 (Update)
At the June meeting of the District Council I asked the Leader of the Council John Cartwright to provide an update on the High Speed 2 (HS2) proposals. He reaffirmed that the Council remained opposed to all of the routes proposed (including the one through Cheddington - the “route 4” option). He said that the business case for HS2 was not a convincing one. The Council had recently hosted a “summit” conference on the issue and would be hosting another one in October. Our MP John Bercow had also promised to invite the Secretary of State for Transport to visit Buckingham constituency. Having myself attended the “summit” I can confirm that it was a useful meeting which brought together all of Buckinghamshire’s councils, most of its MPs, including John Bercow, local councillors and around forty local organisations and groups. The meeting addressed in some detail the pros and cons of all of the routes proposed, as well as suggesting a variety of alternatives to HS2 for example lengthening trains and improving signalling to allow a greater frequency of trains on existing routes. In July Lord Mawhinney produced a report on “High Speed Rail access to Heathrow Airport”. The report recommended to government a “minimum cost” approach which would mean no link to Heathrow and a terminus at Old Oak Common in west London rather than at Euston in central London. Public consultation on the “route 3” option (which runs to the west of Amersham, Wendover, Aylesbury and Waddesdon) is due to take place in the new year. (September 2010)
See immediately below for earlier items on this topic.
High Speed 2 Train from London to Birmingham.
In March the Government announced details of its preferred High Speed 2 rail route from London to Birmingham. This would pass through Buckinghamshire to the west of Wendover, Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury and Quainton. The line is planned to be built by 2026 and requires a new rail corridor 100 metres wide. Some 30 trains per hour, running along it at 225 miles per hour, will be able to carry over 1,000 people each or will carry freight.
The District Council produced an explanatory leaflet for distribution to all Vale households which stated that “a better value for money route would be along the West Coast Main Line corridor”. The West Coast Main Line (WCML) corridor would follow the existing west coast main line from Euston to Milton Keynes via Tring and Cheddington.
The County Council also produced a leaflet, which opposed the government’s preferred route, and claimed the support of the county and all district councils in Buckinghamshire for a West Coast Main Line alternative.
I wrote to the Leader John Cartwright, expressing my concern about the content of the District Council leaflet, distribution of which was to begin before councillors had the opportunity to discuss the matter at a council meeting.
When the council meeting did take place it became clear that there was a wide range of views on HS2. Many councillors felt that there was a need for much more information on the proposal. I asked the leader of the council, Councillor Cartwright to “set the record straight” by withdrawing his advocacy of the WCML corridor and to inform the people of Aylesbury Vale, other Buckinghamshire councils and the Secretary of State for Transport of this.
The situation has now changed somewhat. Up to the time of writing (20th April) there have been the following developments:
1: The AVDC leaflet expressing the view that the West Coast Main Line corridor was “value for money” has been withdrawn. Apparently 5,000 or so may have already been distributed but the remaining 63,000 will not be.
2: The Bucks County Council leaflet, which also advocates the WCML corridor is to be withdrawn from circulation.
3: The District Council’s Chief Executive is to write to the Secretary of State for Transport, to other Buckinghamshire councils, parish councils, residents and to other interested parties advising them of the cabinet's opposition to the HS2 in principle.
4: However the County Council and at least some of the district councils appear to continue (apparently with little evidence) to support a WCML corridor option.
I shall continue to press for clarity and transparency in this matter. I will keep you informed on all aspects of the HS2 proposals. (May 2010)
High Speed 2 (HS2) Update.
Possibly because of the recent General Election, there have been no further developments since my last report. (18th May 2010)
Cardboard Recycling at Cooks Wharf
In February’s Village Newsletter I wrote that it was unlikely that any changes to Cheddington’s present pattern of waste and recycling collections would occur in the next two years. This still remains the case. However, in the meantime a number of people have asked how they can recycle cardboard without having to travel to the Aston Clinton household waste and recycling centre. There is a cardboard recycling container at Cooks Wharf where cardboard can be deposited. The container is in the car park which is the first turn left immediately after going over the canal bridge at Cooks Wharf in the Marsworth direction. (July 2010)
My Allowance and Expenses
My allowance and expenses for the last full financial year (2009–10) were:
Basic allowance: £ 5,304
Mileage allowance: £ 512.40
Parking: £ 4.50
Train fare: £ 24.80
TOTAL: £ 5,845.70
The above figure does not include any costing for the laptop computer on loan to me from the Council. The mileage allowance includes attendance at site meetings all over the Vale for the development control committee. (July 2010)
Annual Council Meeting
This took place on 12th May. The following were all re-appointed for a further year: the present Leader, Cllr John Cartwright; the Chair, Cllr Janet Blake; and all cabinet members. (18th May 2010)
Post Election
A number of people contacted me during the run up to the General Election voicing their concerns about the “convention” of the major parties not contesting the speaker’s seat in Buckingham constituency. Referring to this issue upon his recent re-election to the Buckingham seat, Speaker John Bercow said that he would “report to the House of Commons the views that have been expressed and invite the house to consider what approach should be considered in future”. Accordingly, rather than taking no action on the concerns expressed to me, I thought I should write to the Speaker, passing on a summary of them. I should add that these concerns were about the effect of the “convention” on democracy and our constitution: they were not party political and came from people of various political persuasions and none. (18th May 2010)
Cheddington Council Tax 2010 – 2011
The Council Tax bands for the new financial year have been set as follows:
Band A: £994.58
Band B: £1,160.34
Band C: £1,326.11
Band D: £1,491.87
Band E: £1,823.40
Band F: £2,154.93
Band G: £2,486.45
Band H: £2,983.74
The above include the Bucks County Council, Aylesbury Vale District Council, Police, Fire Service and Parish Council precepts. (April 2010)
Cheddington and Future Plans for Refuse and Recycling
It is now two years since I wrote about anticipated changes to refuse and recycling collections and the introduction of a new “brown bin” for cardboard and other compostable waste. I explained that these changes would not occur “before April 2009 and may be much later”.
At the time of writing this, February 2010, it is unlikely that any changes to Cheddington’s present pattern of collections will occur in the next two years.
While the District Council is responsible for collections the county Council is responsible for disposing or recycling it. (All Buckinghamshire’s District Councils and the County Council work together as the “Joint Waste Authority”). The County have made two attempts, at Hardwick and Westcott, to build a treatment plant which would have been able to treat brown bin waste (cardboard and garden waste etc). The two locations were found to be unacceptable on planning and financial grounds respectively. So it will not be possible, in the absence of a treatment plant, to introduce a brown bin scheme.
This situation has not been without consequences. Seven years ago Aylesbury Vale District Council came 156th out of 408 local authorities for its recycling rates. In 2007 – 08, the last year for which records are presently available, it was 360th out of 393 local authorities. (figures from www.letsrecycle.com ) The cabinet member on AVDC, responsible for Environment and Health, has said that if it were not for the treatment plant problems AVDC would have been in the top part of that table.
It is anticipated, planning consent and other issues permitting, that from 2014 most green bin refuse will no longer go to landfill site but will be sent, for incineration, to an “Energy from Waste” plant in Bedfordshire. It is encouraging to note that the amount of green bin refuse has been steadily reducing for the past couple of years.
The loss of Hertfordshire County Council’s household waste and recycling centre at Tring has been alleviated by the opening of a new centre at Aston Clinton by Bucks CC.
There may, in a few parishes, be some change in collection days later this year, but refuse and recycling will continue to be collected on the one day. If Cheddington is one of the affected parishes then residents will be advised well in advance of any change.
To sum all this up – there is, for all the above reasons, unlikely to be any change in the type and pattern of collections in Cheddington for at least the next two years.
For further refuse and recycling details Tel: 01296 585510
or log on to www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk (January 2010)
Cheddington Station - New Off-Peak Ticket Restrictions
Since January people travelling on off-peak tickets cannot use them to return from Euston between 16.45 and 18.45 hours on Monday to Friday. For Cheddington train users this is effectively a three hour restriction because of the timetabling of trains. I requested that the Local Area Forum (our local group of some fourteen Parish Councils) wrote to London Midland pointing this out and also asking why none of the local communities were consulted about this. They agreed to do so. I will continue to pursue this matter. (January 2010)
Budget Cost of District Councillors
At the last council meeting I asked what the total cost of councillors was to the budget, including annual allowances, travel, training, food and all other expenses. I was informed that the total “budgeted” cost for the 59 councillors on Aylesbury Vale District Council for the current financial year came to £514,300.
Approximately 60% of this sum is comprised of a basic allowance of £5,304 payable to each of the 59 councillors. A further 30% is the “Special Responsibility Allowance” payable to the Leader, his deputy, cabinet members, committee chairs and group leaders. The remaining 10% covers items ranging from national insurance, through mileage and training, to catering. (January 2010)
Reducing Energy Costs in the Home
The costs of electricity, gas and oil may have come down a little recently but it still remain very high and for many people take a large bite out of their incomes. Reducing these costs is in all our interests. Changing to energy efficient light bulbs, not leaving T.V. and other electrical equipment on standby and remembering to switch off lights as you leave a room are all well known examples of easy ways to save on energy consumption and its costs.
However keeping up these good practices is not always so easy to do. The District Council in collaboration with “Zap Carbon” is encouraging people to log on to a website which will help not only to suggest further ways of saving on energy consumption but also help people to monitor and maintain these improvements. Many households in Cheddington could find that they save up to 20% on their energy bills without much effort. Households which are already energy efficient are also welcome to logon as they can use the site to monitor their consumption.
I found the frequently asked questions (FAQ) section on this site useful in providing further helpful information. To find out more log on to: www.zapcarbon.com (January 2010)
Cleanliness and good Hygiene practice in Aylesbury Vale Restaurants, Cafes, Takeaways and Pubs
Most establishments throughout the Vale maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene. The District Council has now introduced a star rating system, based on inspections of premises made by its hygiene inspectors, and it is making this information available to the public.
5 Stars = Excellent
4 Stars = Very Good
3 Stars = Good
Stars = Fair
1 Star = Poor
No Stars = Major Improvement Required
These ratings can often be seen displayed in the window or on the door of the businesses concerned. However, if they are not, then you can check them on the District Council’s website at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/scores (January 2010)
Corry Cashman.
Telephone: 01296 668565
c.cashman@zen.co.uk