Risborough Area Business Group
Meeting 28th September 2007, 7.30 pm
St Mary’s Church Hall
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September’s
meeting was re-arranged to fit in with our main guests’ commitments - MPs
David Lidington and John Bercow who kindly agreed to meet RABG members. The
evening was kept informal with refreshments and wine. |
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Angela
Kent, Chair of Risborough School Governors, gave a short outline of the
responsibilities of being a governor: *
to support & challenge the school *
to help set direction The
2006 Ofsted report had been very good and the governors are determined the
school should keep improving. Due to
work loads, the governors need additional help. Currently the RABG sponsored position is vacant. However,
two people have put their names forward and it was agreed that one should be nominated
as the RABG representative at the AGM in October. |
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Introduction :
Chairman of RABG: Mike Pitcher welcomed the two MPs and briefly
outlined the issues affecting local businesses: * cost of operating in Risborough with the high
business rates. * car parking charges - possibility of a free hour
has been turned down by WDC although near-by towns of Wendover and Thame
offer some free parking time. * special parking area due soon in Risborough is of
doubtful benefit to the town * signs that the Risborough 2035 study is not being
taken into consideration when planning applications are submitted. |
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David Lidington : MP
for Aylesbury Living
in Risborough, David is aware of the local issues. The age profile of the area is getting
older and local retailers must compete with internet shopping. MPs can lobby and influence thinking but
only if clear cut directions and thorough analyses are provided. |
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John Bercow : MP for
Buckingham “The
new kid on the block”. John is looking
forward to taking on board our local issues and helping where possible. He finds it disappointing that people don’t
support small shops but then complain when they are closed down! Small retailers have to find ways of
competing against the big chains. He
reiterated David’s point that good research is required to put a strong case
before MPs can raise issues in Parliament. |
Hon.Sec Pam Pitcher
10-10-2007