Page 38 - Phonebox Magazine July 2011

Mercury Report – Olney
Council Meeting of Monday 6th June 2011
Public participation
No member of the public present wished to speak at this month’s meeting.
Ex-tree
As noted in previous Mercury reports, a tree close to 6 Conygere has been threatening to undermine the house’s foundations. The tree, adjacent to a footpath in the Cemetery, was removed on Friday 3rd June.
Community First Responders
Christopher Nicholls, representing the South Central Ambulance Trust, had applied to Olney Town Council (OTC) for approximately £3,000 funding to keep the medical equipment required for the Community First Responder (CFR) role in Olney and to help fund training for him and any new Responders. Steve Clark explained that the Finance Committee had been minded to accept the application, but thought it best that more information be presented to full Council before the decision was made.
Christopher works as a CFR in Olney and gave a presentation on this voluntary role and what it entails. When someone suffers from a heart attack, if a series of events called the ‘Chain of Survival’ takes place, the victim has a measurably greater chance of surviving. The Chain includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation, both of which the CFR is trained and equipped to deal with.
When a 999 call is received and an ambulance is dispatched, a CFR is also called to attend if available. Given that the Responder is likely to be geographically closer to the patient, he may well get there first. The Chain of Survival relies on early medical attention – hence the proven benefit of the CFRs.
Christopher has attended around 250 calls since becoming a CFR in Olney. Responders drive their own vehicles, which must be
insured for business use, and must drive in accordance with the Highway Code. The equipment used for the role includes an oxygen cylinder and an Automated External Defibrillator. He’s currently the only CFR in Olney and is keen for others to volunteer for the role. If you’d like more information or to volunteer as a local CFR, contact Chris by phone on 01234 714275 or 07970 92348.
Councillors admired Christopher’s commitment and approved the application for funding.
End of year accounts
The figures presented at the Town Meeting for the end of year accounts have now been audited. The Council approved them, though Tony Evans suggested that, having effectively lost £45,000 this year and £22,000 last, Councillors work out how to cut spending. Note that, although different from the figures reported from the Town Meeting, the two sets do in fact agree quite well. At the Town Meeting, the loss was reported as £169,000 this year and £22,000 last, but this year’s figure was worsened by the atypical £125,000 expenditure on land capital during the period.
Planning
The Bull Inn had submitted a planning application for internal alterations to provide five letting bedrooms which, if approved, would result in it once again offering hotel facilities. Councillors were very much in favour of this application and gave it their strong support.
Bits ‘n’ bobs
The Council is currently two members down and, with two expressions of interest so far, plans to co-opt the new members in its 4th July meeting.
Olney Brass is holding a concert on Friday 15th July at the Carlton House Club. Surf to www.olneybrass.co.uk for details.
Youth Centre
In something of a mixed bag, Jeremy Rawlings reported that, due to cutbacks, there was some uncertainty concerning how the Youth Centre building will be managed from the end of July. On a more positive note, Steve Clark reported that the OTC funded Junior Club on the first and third Monday nights in each month had been phenomenally successful, regularly attracting 50 children. The Youth Centre thanked OTC very much for its support.
Hanging baskets
Ron Bull who, as well as being a Councillor, also organises the sponsored hanging baskets around the town, reported that they were looking good and thanked the various people who helped put them up at the end of May.
Driftway
Tony Evans had been down on his hands and knees investigating the ground on the Driftway verges. He reported that Milton Keynes Council (MKC) had done a good job with the topsoil and grass seeding and that, even with the driest Spring in 100 years, there was actually some grass growing. The weather had been wetter recently and he hoped that, if we continued to get a bit of rain, the grass would keep growing. However, he felt that OTC should arrange a meeting with Rob Ward from MKC to make a contingency plan in case it doesn’t grow. He also noted that it’d be worth MKC tidying up some of the taller weed growth with a strimmer.
The next meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Monday 4th July in the Council Chamber in the Olney Centre. Members of the public are always welcome to attend and, if they wish, speak at the start of the meeting, or at any point that the mayor decides is appropriate.
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