Buckinghamshire Council brings two more fly-tippers to justice
Two more criminals caught fly-tipping in Buckinghamshire have been brought to justice thanks to efforts by Buckinghamshire Council’s enforcement team. In both cases the offenders could have brought the majority of their waste to one of the council’s Household Recycling Centres free of charge, but instead chose to break the law and paid the price.
Council gives green light to outline plan to create more affordable housing
The aspiration of the outline planning application is to use Council-owned land to help deliver housing that is affordable and accessible to benefit the community. The potential development would include a minimum of 30% of affordable housing.
Using council land provides an opportunity to provide affordable housing in excess of the levels that are set out in planning requirements. The aspiration is the development will also include a number of homes for clients of adults and children’s services. If an outline planning application is successful, a detailed development scheme will be considered by Cabinet at a future date and a detailed planning application will follow.
It’s a win-win situation when you play Buckinghamshire Lottery
Sign up and support a good cause today – not only will you be in with the chance of winning weekly cash prizes of up to £25,000, but if you enter before Saturday 25 June, you will be in with the chance of winning a £1,000 Staycation with Forest Holidays, all for just £1 a week!
Buckinghamshire Lottery is a lottery for the people, by the people. It’s a fun way to help good causes without giving up precious time.
Tickets are just £1 in the weekly draw, and you can choose exactly which cause you would like your money to go to. More of your money goes to your chosen cause than with any other major lottery – you can see the exact breakdown of where every penny goes on Buckinghamshire Council’s website. If you enter before 25 June and are in a need of a summer getaway, you can also enter to win a luxurious cabin escape in the forest, where you can kick back and relax in your very own bubbling hot tub!
If you are a local charity or community group looking to boost your fundraising and are interested at joining Buckinghamshire Lottery, further information can be found on the website. There’s no risk, no admin, and best of all, there are no fees. You’ll also receive year-round, free marketing materials and support to help you in your quest for fundraising.
Sign up today at: www.buckinghamshirelottery.co.uk
Wider call for sites opens as the Local Plan for Buckinghamshire begins to take shape
As Buckinghamshire Council continues its work on the Local Plan for Buckinghamshire, it is widening its search for land across the county that is suitable for different kinds of future development. This will ensure that the people of Buckinghamshire have the homes, infrastructure, economic opportunities and sustainable natural environment they will need in the years to come.
As part of this, the Council is opening a third call for sites suitable for future development. After two previous calls for brownfield sites, there is now a wider call for sites, which may include land not previously developed as well as a continued emphasis on re-using brownfield land whenever possible.
Let’s send illegal tobacco up in smoke
Residents in Buckinghamshire are being warned of the dangers of illegal tobacco in a new public awareness campaign being run by Buckinghamshire Council.
The council’s public health team is working alongside Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards to stamp out the rising trend in illegal tobacco.
Illegal tobacco includes:
- Tobacco or cigarettes with no legal market in the UK, often from Eastern Europe (sometimes known as ‘cheap whites’)
- UK brands which are smuggled into the country and sold without duty being paid
- Counterfeit or fake cigarettes or tobacco that is illegally manufactured and made to look like recognised brands
The teams will be taking to the road throughout the summer to promote the See It, Report It, Stop It campaign which encourages people to stay away from illegal tobacco and to report sales of it anonymously. Typically illegal tobacco will be sold ‘under the counter’ in a similar way to drugs or in informal settings such as market or street stall like other counterfeit goods.
Jubilee memorabilia wanted!
Buckinghamshire Archives is collecting mementos from the historic occasion of HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and needs your help to create a record for future generations.
Archives are looking for records from the local area such as posters, invitations, flyers, photographs and residents’ newsletters from the Platinum Jubilee weekend that you would be willing to donate to Buckinghamshire Archives.
Examples of items collected in previous years are currently being displayed at the pop-up Archives Jubilee Exhibition, which is on show at libraries across the county this month.
Your submissions could help to tell the story of how Buckinghamshire celebrated the Platinum Jubilee to people hundreds of years in the future.
Buckinghamshire & Surrey Trading Standards win two national awards
Buckinghamshire & Surrey Trading Standards has been awarded two national awards by the Office of Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). The team won the national award for service excellence and the Business Team Manager won a national award for leadership.
With the award, the OPSS recognised how the whole service benefits local businesses and residents in Buckinghamshire and Surrey – while also achieving a significantly wider reach for consumer protection and business support.
Fun, free summer holiday clubs on offer to Buckinghamshire children
Buckinghamshire Council has teamed up with local organisations, schools and charity groups to provide thousands of places for eligible children and young people to enjoy a variety of exciting and interesting activities and experiences in their local area throughout the summer holidays – for free!
Whether your child is interested in art, football, technology, music or something else, there is an activity for every age and interest. For some children, these sessions will allow them to expand on a pre-existing interest and further develop skills they may already have; for others, the sessions will provide them with the opportunity to learn something completely new.
These places have been made available as part of the Government’s national Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. Available for children and young people who receive benefits-related free school meals, each session includes a healthy hot meal, as well as the opportunity to make new friends, have fun and maybe even develop a new skill or a hobby!
Details of the full range of activities available and how to secure a place, can be found on the website. Book early to avoid disappointment and to secure your choice – the take up is expected to be high!
Councillor Derek Town