Resident calls council's squabbling "appalling" (From Bucks Free Press)

Resident calls council's squabbling "appalling"

3:50pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News By Simon Farr

Hazlemere Parish Council's Cedar Barn base

RESIDENTS screamed “this is appalling” during a parish council meeting after members argued over how many councillors should form a committee.

Hazlemere Parish Council unanimously agreed to set up a finance committee on Tuesday night but an argument later broke out between members over the number of councillors who should sit on it.

Cllr Brian Mapletoft proposed five members should be on the committee – which would not have any decision making powers only recommendations to full council – which was seconded by Cllr John Rhodes.

But HPC chairman Judy Weaver said she was not happy with “such a small committee for such an important job” and asked councillors to raise their hands if they were interested in being part of it.

Cllr Rhodes said the planning committee struggled for regular numbers and smaller groups had previously made “life changing decisions”, so he asked the chairman why she “suddenly wants every man and his dog here?”

Cllrs Willie Macleod and David Cox backed the chairman, who again pressed for members to indicate if they were interested - but Cllr Rhodes blocked the motion, saying a proposal had already been put on the table.

Cllr Weaver said she was “not in agreement” with the proposal, to which Cllr Mapletoft replied: “With respect madam chair, that doesn’t matter”.

Cllr Weaver went on: “My proposal is to ask people to raise their hands if they want to be on the committee.”

The public gallery watched on as not one councillor raised their hands. Cllr Weaver asked: “So no-one wants to form a finance committee?”

Cllr Mapletoft said: “The committee has already been formed and the chair has to be a member” to which the chairman retorted: “That’s very kind of you.”

After further ping-pong politics, tuts and groans echoed from the public gallery, with one resident crying out: “This is awful” – sparking an exchange with some of the councillors.

The original proposal was finally put to members and approved.

Cllrs Weaver, Mapletoft, Rhodes were joined by Cllrs Karen Farrell and newcomer Natasha Howard on the five-member finance committee.

News in brief:

HAZLEMERE Parish Council welcomed two new councillors to its ranks.

Cllr Natasha Howard and Cllr Wanda Brown - who is behind the proposals for a tranquil park at Queensway - made their debuts last night.

NEGOTIATIONS between HPC and High Wycombe Croquet Club over the club’s long mooted move to Hazlemere are approaching the finish line.

The two parties have been locked in talks over terms of a lease for the Hazlemere Recreation Ground.

The club has to find a new home due to the impending sale of Bassetsbury Manor by Wycombe District Council.

WDC Cllrs David Carroll, Hugh McCarthy and Alex Slater said they would look into a complaint made by an allotment holder after an act of vandalism.

POLICE have stepped up patrols in the village after two graffiti attacks.

HAZLEMERE Bowls Club club has been shut down after a giant crack in a pavement appeared - sparking safety fears for visitors.

The doors have been slammed shut until the problem has been dealt with.

THE new-look Hazlemere Parish Council website was hailed a huge success after record numbers of residents logged on to it.