This is a limitation to using templates.
code above the HTML will not be transferred to pages that are derived from the template.
change the checkout button:
<input type="image" name="VVcart_Checkout_1" id="VVcart_Checkout" src="../images/VV_button_Checkout_100x25.png" class="eC_ImageButton" alt="Checkout" border="0" value="Checkout"/>
to use a javascript on click event to go to the checkout page similar to the view cart button:
<input type="image" name="VVcart_Checkout_1" id="VVcart_Checkout" onClick="MM_goToURL('plugins/parent','../checkout/checkout.php');" src="../images/VV_button_Checkout_100x25.png" class="eC_ImageButton" alt="Checkout" border="0" value="Checkout"/>