‘Find out if you need planning permission’ service now live in Buckinghamshire
A new online self-service planning tool has been launched that enables anyone in Buckinghamshire to check if an idea they have for a project is likely to be allowed under national permitted development rights or whether it may require planning permission. The service is part of a national pilot by the Department for Levelling Up, Communities and Housing (DLUCH) to improve submitting and processing planning applications.
The new service works by doing a high-level check of the project against legislation and Geographic Information System (GIS) data to see if the project may fall under ‘permitted development’. The service also warns if other types of consent, such as prior approval, tree consent or listed building consent may additionally be required.
This new service is available to use now on Buckinghamshire Council’s website.
There is also an option to use anew online application service to allow homeowners and planning professionals to apply for a lawful development certificate as an alternative to using existing planning application submission tools.
Both services ask applicants questions specific to their project, meaning that users don’t need to be planning experts to start researching the changes they can make to their homes.
The self-service planning tool is free to use and can be accessed now on our website.
Have your say on a new political map for Buckinghamshire Council
New boundaries are being proposed for council wards in Buckinghamshire Council. The Local Government Boundary Commission wants to hear what residents and local organisations think about the proposals. A 10-week consultation on the proposals will run until 10 October 2022.
The Commission is the independent body that draws these boundaries. It is reviewing Buckinghamshire to make sure councillors will represent about the same number of electors, and that ward arrangements will help the council work effectively. The Commission has published proposals for changes to Buckinghamshire. It is proposing that Buckinghamshire Council should have 98 councillors. Those councillors should represent 51 wards, represented by 10 three-councillor wards, 27 two-councillor wards and 14 single-councillor wards. The boundaries of most wards will change.
The changes to the Ivinghoe ward will be the reduction of elected councillors from 3 to 2 off.
The Commission has a dedicated section on its website where people can see the detail of the proposals and comment on the names of wards and their boundaries:
https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/south-east/buckinghamshire/buckinghamshire-council
People can also give their views by e-mail at reviews@lgbce.org.uk, and by post:
Review Officer (Buckinghamshire)
LGBCE
PO Box 133
Blyth NE24 9FE
Buckinghamshire Council is upgrading its revenue and benefits systems
Buckinghamshire Council is preparing to move to a more efficient single system for all revenues and benefits functions, which includes council tax, business rates and benefits. This will complete the merge of the Chiltern and South Bucks systems with the already merged Aylesbury and Wycombe system – creating one new unified system serving the whole of Buckinghamshire.
The new and improved system will deliver many benefits to both residents and the council. These benefits include:
- Improved customer self-service functions and real-time notifications of their transactions
- Reduction in administration and an increase efficiency allowing council staff more time to spend on customers with priority and complex needs
- A reduction in printing and postage costs
- Increasing the council’s ability to improve collection rates which can be used to pay for essential services
- New system makes it easier to check claims are correct and to clamp down on fraud
The temporary system shutdown is due to start on Monday 15 August for Chiltern and South Bucks systems, and Thursday 22 September for the Aylesbury and Wycombe system.
The target date to have the new system up and running is Thursday 27 October.
For help or assistance, residents can contact the council online:
Or by telephone: 0300 1316000
Residents are encouraged to check Buckinghamshire Council’s website for updates on the status of the service.
Interested in adoption? Find out more at our free online webinars
Anyone interesting in finding out more about adoption in Buckinghamshire is invited to attend one of the council’s new style Adoption Information Session Webinars. Designed to give people the opportunity to find out more about how the process works and to get answers to any questions they may have, the monthly events are open to all.
Webinars are planned for the following dates:
- 20 September 2022
- 18 October 2022
- 22 November 2022
Anyone interested should book their place online: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/adoption
At any one time there are dozens of children in Buckinghamshire who are looking to be adopted. This includes older children, brothers and sisters and children with additional There is further information online including an Adoption Readiness Checker which allows you to consider your circumstances and gives advice about how to become ready for adoption. Alternatively, you can call: 01494 586349 or email: adoption@buckinghamshire.gov.ukneeds
Council warns – Don’t fly-tip in Buckinghamshire
A man from Dunstable has learned the hard way that fly-tipping anywhere is against the law and by doing so in Buckinghamshire, he has gained nothing but a hefty fine and a criminal record.
Alexandre Padure, 28, from Dunstable in Bedfordshire, pleaded guilty to the offence of illegal dumping when he appeared at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on 17 August 2022.
The court heard that on or before Tuesday 2 November 2022, a large amount of waste, mainly off cuts of carpet, doors and other house refurbishment waste, was illegally dumped at a bus stop in Ivinghoe Aston on the B489.
Buckinghamshire Council enforcement officers found evidence in the waste, which was traced to a householder in Dunstable who was able to provide valuable information to the team as to the identity of the dumper.
Mr Padure was interviewed and admitted dumping the waste at the bus stop. He was ordered to pay a fine of £583, a victim surcharge of £58 and costs of £1,145.58, making a total of £1,786.58.
The local handyman who created the waste was issued with a £300 fixed penalty notice for failing in his duty of care and not disposing of the waste in a lawful manner.
Tell us your crime concerns
Buckinghamshire residents are being asked to highlight their concerns about crime in their local area as part of the Safer Bucks Community Safety survey.
Safer Bucks is a partnership of organisations that work together to reduce crime, antisocial behaviour, and drugs and alcohol issues. Every year the partnership looks at community safety issues in the county. As part of this process, everyone living or working in Buckinghamshire is invited to take part in the survey.
This survey aims to find out what community safety matters concern local residents. It is quick and easy to complete and this year all those who complete the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win one of three £100 shopping vouchers.
The results of the survey will be combined with an analysis of all crimes that happen in the county to help Safer Bucks set priorities for the year.
The survey opens today (Monday 5 September) and is open for six weeks, closing on Sunday 16 October.
The results of the survey will be analysed and taken to the Safer Bucks Partnership to agree any actions. A summary of the survey results will be included in the winter Community Safety Newsletter.
To take part in the survey visit: https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/communities/safety-2022
Councillor Derek Town