Don’t forget to have your say on Community Boards for the new Buckinghamshire Council

Survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PGHZZJ9

We are also asking people for their views on changes to the Council Tax Reduction (support) for people on low incomes

Currently across Buckinghamshire each district council has their own scheme (called the Council Tax Reduction Scheme) that sets out how they support people on low incomes by reducing the council tax bill. The current schemes offer various levels of support for people in the same situation living in different parts of the county.

The aim is to have one scheme that offers the same level of support to all council tax payers across the whole of Buckinghamshire from 1 April 2020. One scheme will mean that people in the same situation are treated consistently and fairly wherever they live in Buckinghamshire.

We are asking for people’s views on the proposed changes to the level of reductions to council tax bills for people on low incomes in a new scheme for Buckinghamshire Council.

Information about the proposal, including case studies illustrating the potential impact for different groups of people, plus the consultation survey can be found on the Shadow Authority website.

This survey closes on 24 September.

shadow.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/consultations

Turn back the clock with our fun and friendly exercise classes to improve your

• balance and confidence
• mobility and flexibility
• strength and independence

Come and try your first session free!

At Pitstone Memorial Hall on Tuesdays from 11am-noon, starting 24 September.  £6 per session.

mobile: 07988 649275

@: corine.mandardwood@moveitorloseit.co.uk

PM Befriender_Poster

Make a difference and contact the volunteer co-ordinator

tel: 01296 484322

email: preventionmatters@connectionsupport.org

www.connectionsupport.org.uk/volunteer

PM-A4-Poster

A free short term service when you need a bit of help to live a fulfilling independent life.

Call 01296 484322

email: preventionmatters@connectionsupport.org.uk

www.connectionsupport.org.uk/pm

Please click the link below for an important update from Bucks County Council on Home to School Transport:

https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/news/update-on-home-to-school-transport/

Joint statement from Buckinghamshire County Council’s Deputy Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Arif Hussain and Cabinet Member for Transportation, Mark Shaw

“We apologise for the difficulties being experienced currently by families in obtaining their bus passes for home to school transport at the start of the school term. We recognise this has been a difficult time for everyone affected. The difficulties have been due to a number of contributing factors including technical issues printing bus passes and using the online payment system in time for the start of term. We did administer approx. 4,000 passes however 100 were affected by these issues. Alternative emergency solutions were put in place quickly to resolve the issues.

“Should there be any ongoing issues linked to bus passes it is important to reassure families that if pupils are accepted for paid-for school transport, or are eligible for free school transport, they will be able to travel without a pass to and from school today and if necessary, until Friday 13 September.

“To rectify the problems being experienced we have taken action as follows:

Temporary school bus passes were emailed to parents from Tuesday this week to use as a temporary measure.
We have also sent temporary printed passes to schools which they are handing out today and in the coming days as needed.
We have brought in extra staff to help process all applications and get bus passes out to families as soon as possible.
“Free school transport renewals are automatic so eligible children do not need to re-apply.

“We are aware of a few instances of timetable variations which have caused some confusion, for which we apologise. All timetables have been corrected where necessary, and the correct versions are available to view on our website at https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/media/4514570/september-timetables.pdf

“We know that some families applied for paid-for transport earlier in the year but will have been notified between 19 and 30 August that they have been unsuccessful with securing a place. We appreciate the challenges involved with getting children to and from schools; however we do make clear at the first stage of the school admissions process that transporting children is parents’ and carers’ responsibility and that we cannot guarantee a paid-for place on school buses for every child. This is because we allocate transport first for those eligible for free home to school transport and then release any spare seats on a paid-for basis.

“If you have not been successful in securing a paid-for place at this stage we will place you on a waiting list for future spare places and will aim to notify all families by 31 October 2019 if you have been offered a spare seat. We are working in partnership with commercial bus companies to provide services that will increase our transport offer to parents. Currently 21 services have been identified for September, and we are expecting more to be available over the coming months.

“Administering home to school transport and paid-for transport across Buckinghamshire is an extremely complex operation. Please be assured that everyone involved is working hard to resolve the current issues. We apologise for not getting everything right this time and we thank everyone for their patience in the meantime.”

Information for families:

To check school bus routes and boarding points information please go tohttps://www.buckscc.gov.uk/media/4514570/september-timetables.pdf

For more information about payment deadlines and bus passes view our paid for transport information athttps://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/education/school-transport/apply-for-paid-for-school-transport/

Our school transport policies are on our website athttps://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/education/school-transport/school-transport-policies/

If the information available on our website has not resolved your query please contact us by phone on 01296 395000, or via our webchat or contact form on our website https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/contact-and-complaints/contact-us/

Have you been witness to damage to the highway (eg a bollard or lamp post being knocked over)? It’s vital that you report this to us so that we can claim the money back to repair the damage – otherwise the taxpayer ends up paying for the highway twice! Last year, TfB were able to claim over £120,000 for damage caused to the highway, all of which went towards the necessary repairs. This wouldn’t have been possible without you, the people reporting this damage to us.

Please keep on reporting any damage you might be witness to so that you don’t pay twice!! (Please note this doesn’t include defects such as potholes, which can be reported via Fix My Street). For more info, visit: https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/report-a-highways-problem/dont-pay-twice/

Speed Awareness Campaign continues…

Throughout the month of August, we have been running a speed awareness campaign to support Thames Valley Police (TVP) with their increased enforcement during August. Every day we have been sharing a different snippet of info about speeding on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/TravelSafeBucks/) and our Twitter feed (https://twitter.com/TravelSafeBucks) There’s just a couple of days left but it’s not too late to go and have a look at some of the tips we’ve been sharing. 

Young riders encouraged to #ridebetter

A new campaign has been launched in London in an effort to resonate with young riders and help influence their decisions. The campaign has been developed by 2Wheels London on the back of statistics that show motorcyclists and moped riders are among the most vulnerable road users in London – a figure which rings true across most of the country too.

The campaign features eight videos designed to encourage riders to use the roads in a manner that gives them the best chance of staying safe and avoid being in a collision. Each film features ‘Angry Al’, who acts as the ‘devil on your shoulder’, encouraging bad behaviours. You can find out more about the campaign here: http://roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/young-riders-encouraged-to-ignore-angry-al/

Whilst the campaign is aimed at Londoners, it is important for all motorcyclists to take heed and keep safe on the roads. Why not sign up to one of our Be A Better Biker courses to gain skills that will help improve your safety and enjoyment on a bike? https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/road-safety/book-a-motorcycling-assessment/

Feel free to share the Angry Al films across your own social media and raise awareness of biker safety. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #ridebetter 

3 Tips to remember when driving in rural areas

Harvest season is in full swing, which means more tractors and agricultural vehicles on the roads. They’re big, they’re heavy and they’re slow moving – if you’re in an accident, the chances are that you’ll come off worse than the tractor! We want you to be safe on the roads of Buckinghamshire. Be more careful than ever on rural roads and make use of these top tips…

• Brake before the bend! If you whizz around a bend at top speed and then see a tractor, an animal, a horse rider or a pedestrian, it will be too late. Brake before the bend!
• If you get stuck behind a slow moving vehicle like a tractor, be patient. Dips in roads, bends and other junctions joining your road often hide oncoming vehicles, so unless it’s absolutely safe, don’t overtake.
• Anticipate potential hazards. Look out for upcoming bends, hidden dips, blind summits and concealed entrances.

59% of fatalities occur on country roads. Please don’t be one of them. Drive safely.

Safe Drive Stay Alive 2019: Save the date!

Safe Drive Stay Alive is back for another year. The hard hitting road safety road show teaches young people across Bucks about the importance of not speeding or using your phone or drink driving and reminds them of the importance of wearing a seat belt, made all the more impactful with the appearance of emergency services and survivors of road accidents. To book your place, contact June Howlett at t-jhowlett@buckscc.org

 Interesting road safety news…

If you’re interested in what’s going on in the world of road safety at the moment, here’s a few links to some interesting stories!

• HGV ‘supercabs’ are improving motorway safety, recording nearly 200 offences in just one week: http://roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/hgv-supercabs-to-improve-motorway-safety/
• New drink drive figures released, showing a need for ‘decisive action’ to stop repeat offenders: http://roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/decisive-action-needed-to-stop-repeat-drink-drivers-brake/
• Do you drive a commercial vehicle? Why not attend the FREE Commercial Vehicle Safety conference: http://roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/agenda-taking-shape-for-north-west-commercial-vehicle-conference/

Speed Awareness Campaign – August has seen the launch of our speed awareness campaign to support Thames Valley Police (TVP) with their increased enforcement during August. Every day we are sharing a different snippet of info about speeding on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/TravelSafeBucks/) and our Twitter feed (https://twitter.com/TravelSafeBucks) . Have you been keeping up to date? You can share our posts to any of your Parish social media channels to spread the message further!

Rural Driving – Harvest is in full swing and that means more tractors and agricultural machines on the roads! We shared some information about this on our social media channels but you can find out more info using the following link: https://www.nfumutual.co.uk/news-and-stories/rural-driving-tips/ This is another great link to share across your Parish socials and distribute to residents of your Parish, particularly if you’re in a rural area.

Be a Better Biker – Be a Better Biker is running again in 2019 and there is still time to book yourself into a session! Find out more info here: www.buckscc.gov.uk/beabetterbiker

Safe Drive Stay Alive 2019: Save the date! – Safe Drive Stay Alive is back for another year. The hard hitting road safety road show teaches young people across Bucks about the importance of not speeding or using your phone or drink driving and reminds them of the importance of wearing a seat belt, made all the more impactful with the appearance of emergency services and survivors of road accidents. To book your place, contact June Howlett at t-jhowlett@buckscc.org

Interesting road safety news…

If you’re interested in what’s going on in the world of road safety at the moment, here’s a few links to some interesting stories!

• HGV Super cabs catch dangerous drivers https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/fleet-industry-news/2019/08/15/unmarked-hgv-supercabs-catch-dangerous-drivers?utm_campaign=15_08_2019_FN_daily_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=FN%20-%20Newsletter%20-%20Daily&utm_source=adestra&utm_term=Unmarked%20HGV%20%E2%80%98supercabs%E2%80%99%20catch%20dangerous%20drivers&gutid=14249
• RSO’s asked to support SEN road safety research project http://roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/rsos-asked-to-support-sen-road-safety-research-project/?fbclid=IwAR1qYlGn7y-b9ld221SDZizIlToy8TTqsKfygR4pcJxeFEGvDAX6wvY6f10
• The Government should consider tougher restrictions on driving while using a mobile http://roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/tougher-actions-needed-to-tackle-driving-while-using-a-mobile-phone/
• Expect motorcyclists at junctions – a plea to drivers http://roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/expect-motorcyclists-at-junctions-gems-plea-to-drivers/

The Handy Helpers project is a support service which provides internal and external maintenance, preventive measures and practical tasks in and around the homes of vulnerable elderly (65+) or disabled Buckinghamshire residents.

The service can be accessed for free or on a donation basis, according to an assessment of need. As part of the service befriending is offered, providing much needed social interaction. The service is funded by a grant from Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern, South Bucks and Wycombe District Councils.

This person-centred service matches residents who are regarded as ‘at risk’ with a DBS checked Handy Helper Team Leader supported by a group of volunteers or a DBS Checked Men in Sheds Handy Helper.

Aim of the project

To enable people to live safe and secure in their own homes for longer by:

• Alleviating the stress associated with the inability to deal with household tasks/repairs.
• Minimising the risks and hazards in and around the home.
• Providing the opportunity to make social connections.

Handy Helpers runs across Buckinghamshire and complements the Gardening and Befriending service also provided by CIB.

Aylesbury Vale District Council (AVDC) is sending out annual voter registration forms over the next few weeks, and is asking residents to respond as quickly as possible in order to help save taxpayers’ money.

From Tuesday 6 August, around 83,000 properties in Aylesbury Vale will receive a ‘Household Enquiry Form’. Residents are required by law to confirm or update the details of anyone at their address who is eligible to vote in the UK.

The forms are pre-printed with the names of the occupants currently registered to vote at each address. A response is required; either to confirm that their information is still the same or to update their details if there are any changes.

People who have moved address recently are particularly encouraged to keep an eye out for the form and check the details, as research by the independent Electoral Commission indicates that recent home movers are far less likely to be registered than those that have lived at the same address for a long time. For instance, across Great Britain, 94% of people who have been at their property for more than sixteen years will be registered, compared to 40% of people who have lived at an address for less than a year.

Jo Hart, AVDC Electoral Specialist, commented:

“It’s vitally important that residents respond as soon as possible, so we can make sure we have the right details on the electoral register for every address in Aylesbury Vale. To make sure you’re able to have your say at local and general elections, simply check the form when it arrives and respond as soon as you can.

“Aylesbury Vale residents have always been excellent at using the automated systems to confirm their details, and this year we hope to receive even more responses by text, phone or through the dedicated website. Canvassing every property in Aylesbury Vale is a legal necessity. However, it’s a costly process, so we’re urging residents to help us save money wherever possible by responding to their Household Enquiry Form promptly. This will reduce the need to send unnecessary reminder letters and forms, which is a waste of taxpayers’ money.”

Residents can respond via text, phone or online, by entering the security numbers that are printed on the form. The online process also allows people to add the names of any new occupants as well as remove names of those who no longer live at the address, or to request a postal vote application form.

For further information, webchat AVDC at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/webchat or call 01296 585701.

Are you worried about your memory?  Join us for a free

Memory Information Session

at

Poplar Grove Practice

Meadow Way, Aylesbury, HP20 1XB

Tuesday 17^th September 1.30 – 3.30 pm

The session will last for two hours and will include:

Understanding Memory

Memory Tips

Coping Strategies

Access to a wide range of information

Signposting to other services and organisations

For more information and to register your place, please call

 Angela Walshe on

01296 331749

                             angela.walshe@alzheimers.org.uk  

                                                    Registered charity number 296645                                         

Your views on Buckinghamshire’s Roads

Buckinghamshire County Council (BCC) is seeking the opinions of residents on the county’s road system in a new online survey that will provide information that will inform the council’s strategic highways planning.

This online survey is open to all residents, and is in addition to the annual National Highways and Transportation (NHT) survey which was sent to 3,300 randomly selected households in Buckinghamshire during June.

Through this survey, BCC will be taking a deeper look at two of the key NHT questions which concern ‘Road Condition’ and ‘Road Congestion’. The opinions collected through this survey will be used to supplement the information obtained via the NHT.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transportation Mark Shaw said: “when we look at the combined results of these two surveys, we can really start to build a picture of how the public views and rates our services. This will assist both Buckinghamshire County Council with transport planning and Transport for Buckinghamshire – the strategic highway maintenance arm of the organisation – with advising us on where the roads budget is best spent each year.

“We really value the views of our residents, and this additional questionnaire will give us a better understanding of any issues respondents are experiencing with road condition and road congestion.”

The survey will remain open to the residents of Buckinghamshire until 30 September 2019. It takes under five minutes to complete and is open to all residents even if they have responded to the initial NHT survey received last month.  The results will be made available on the BCC website in the autumn this year.

Complete the survey here:

www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BCCtransportsurvey2019

Heat Advice for Heatwaves

Whilst we welcome hot weather, if it is too hot for too long there are health risks.

The most vulnerable group of people are:

• Very young children
• Elderly
• Seriously Ill (hot weather can make heart and breathing problems worse)

The main risks are:

• dehydration(not having enough water)
• overheating, which can make symptoms worse for people who already have problems with their heart or breathing
• heat exhaustion
• heatstroke

Here are some top tips on to keep cool and comfortable:

• Shut windows and pull down the shades when it is hotter outside. If it’s safe, open them for ventilation when it is cooler.
• Avoid the heat: stay out of the sun and don’t go out between 11am and 3pm (the hottest part of the day) if you’re vulnerable to the effects of heat.
• Keep rooms cool by using shades or reflective material outside the windows. If this isn’t possible, use light-coloured curtains and keep them closed (metallic blinds and dark curtains can make the room hotter).
• Have cool baths or showers, and splash yourself with cool water.
• Drink cold drinks regularly, such as water and fruit juice. Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol.
• Stay tuned to the weather forecast on the radio or TV, or on theMet Office website.
• Plan ahead to make sure you have enough supplies, such as food, water and any medications you need.
• Identify the coolest room in the house so you know where to go to keep cool.
• Wear loose, cool clothing, and a hat if you go outdoors.
• Check up on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be less able to look after themselves.

Also, for anyone in the vulnerable groups above, remember to

• stay out of the sun when it is really hot
• wear loose clothes and if you go out, wear sun cream, sunglasses and a hat or a scarf
• do not do too much exercise
• have lots of cool drinks but not alcohol
• use plants and bowls of water to keep rooms cool, close curtains during the day and turn off lights you do not need. Open windows at night when it is safe to do so

The Health and Wellbeing pages on our website has more information on summer safety.

Update on the New Unitary Buckinghamshire Council

Rachael Shimmin has today been announced as the Chief Executive of the new Buckinghamshire Council, the unitary authority which on 1 April 2020 will replace the existing county and district councils.

Rachael will lead a brand new £1bn council, the second largest non-metropolitan unitary in England, providing all of the current county and district councils’ services across the county.

The appointment follows a national search to find the best candidate to lead the employees of the new council and a thorough recruitment process which started in early June and was overseen by the members of the Senior Appointment Sub Committee.

A team of more than 300 staff from the five current councils are working together to setup the new Buckinghamshire Council for April 2020 and  Rachael who is the current interim head of paid service and implementation lead  will continue to lead this work in creating the new council.  All five councils are united in their commitment to delivering the best result for residents, partners and businesses, and making this the best new council for the future for Buckinghamshire.

In advance of the elections next year to the new council the new Chief Executive will also work with the 202 elected members who make up the Shadow Authority and the decision-making Shadow Executive to oversee the creation of the new council.

Rachael will now formally take up the position of Chief Executive almost three years since her arrival at Buckinghamshire County Council as the CEO. Rachael said: “Setting up the new Buckinghamshire Council is a once-in-a-career opportunity. The communities of Buckinghamshire deserve the best possible public services and I am excited to be heading up the organisation that will deliver them. While the task ahead of us shouldn’t be underestimated, the programme to create the new council is well established and has a clear focus on what is required.  I am determined to create an organisation that will lead the way in providing excellent services.”

Leader of the Shadow Executive, Cllr Martin Tett, said: “Creating the new Buckinghamshire Council is a massive challenge but I know Rachael is the person who will ensure it happens and I look forward to working with them. We have the opportunity here to improve services and create simpler, more efficient and effective local government that will deliver for all of our communities.”

Deputy Leader of the Shadow Executive, Cllr Katrina Wood said: “This is an exciting step in the creation of the new unitary authority for Buckinghamshire and I’m confident that Rachael will lead employees to create a new council that brings together the best of the five councils to promote Buckinghamshire as a great place to live, work and do business.”

Under the new council, residents will access services in a way very similar to the current set up. Residents will not see any major changes on day 1 of the Buckinghamshire Council, as all the councils involved are committed to ensuring a smooth transition to the new council.

After the transition to the new Buckinghamshire Council is complete, the focus of the new council will be to improve services for communities by bringing functions together as one council to work more efficiently.

For more information about the new Buckinghamshire Council, and the Shadow Authority which has been set up to create it, visit shadow.buckinghamshire.gov.uk and follow us on twitter @DeliveringBucks.

Carer Awareness

As the amount of people who care for others increases, we want to make sure advice and support is easily available. The value and critical support carers add to their communities is unparalleled, so the more we can do to help the better.

There are many kinds of carers: from young children, to the elderly, to working people – and each particular group has specific needs. Our plan is to engage with as many as possible this autumn and agree what their priorities are. Then we can act on it to improve our offer.

 It’s important to encourage carers to tell their GP’s about their caring role. They can get extra time in appointments if needed and GP’s will be able to signpost them appropriately.

Similarly, younger carers should speak with teachers at their schools and colleges. This allows the school to help provide extra help and support.

 Message from Bucks County Council

Free NHS Health Checks

Everybody wants to enjoy an active and healthy life for as long as possible, but as we get older the risk of developing serious disease and illness increases. With early intervention and treatment however, this risk can be reduced.

This is what the NHS Health Checks are designed to identify.

We want ensure that all eligible* residents in Buckinghamshire take up the offer of a Free NHS Health Check.

The Health Check is a very straightforward 20 minute assessment where blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI and lifestyle are assessed by your GP or healthcare professional. Afterwards you’ll get an info/ results pack which includes advice and suggestions on what to do next should you need it.

How do I book one?

You may get a letter in the post from your GP in the next few weeks asking you to attend a Health Check at your surgery.

You can find out more here

*To be eligible for a Health Check, you must:

• Be aged between 40 and 74
• Be a Buckinghamshire resident or have a Bucks GP
• Not been diagnosed with heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, or had a stroke
• Not had an NHS Health Check in the last 5 years

Don’t forget, if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do, call NHS 111 or go to www.111.nhs.uk (for people aged 5 and over).

Notice of review for Boards (July 2019)

AVDC is conducting a review of all polling districts and polling places within the Aylesbury and Buckingham Parliametary Constituencies.

Submissions on any aspect of polling districts, polling places and polling stations will be welcomed from any elector or local council, any local constituency political party, any person/group having a particular interet and/or expertise in access to premises or facilities for persons who have different forms of disability.

More information, current polling arrangements and a submission form can be obtained from www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk or 01296585051

Submissions close on 2 August 2019.

Bucks County Council have now pubished the draft minutes of the Great Brickhill, Wing and Ivinghoe Local Area Forum held on 10 June 2019 including updates from Thames Valley Police and BCC.

https://democracy.buckscc.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?MId=12322&x=1

Planning applications CM/0017/19 and CM/0018/19

These planning applications are for additional industrial waste processing of 25,000 tonnes and 87,500 tonnes respectively per annum  on the Marsworth/Cheddington Airfield Industrial Estate and are currently open for comment from members of the public.

Should anyone wish to comment, simply use the link below, press the view application button, and input the application number you wish to comment on into the search bar.  There is then an option to upload the comment.

https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/environment/planning/viewing-planning-applications/

The applications are due to be considered at the forthcoming meeting of the Development Control committee on 1^st July, 2019.

Children’s Services Update

Buckinghamshire County Council is making ‘steady progress’ to improve children’s services, with most children “receiving helpful support when they are first referred to children’s social care”, according to Ofsted in its monitoring letter published on Monday, 17 June.

The letter outlines the results of a visit made to the council’s children’s services in May 2019. This was the third ‘monitoring visit’, following the outcome of the November 2017 inadequate judgement made by Ofsted.

Inspectors considered a range of evidence, including case records, discussions with social workers and managers, and reviewing other supporting documentation.

The report noted the senior leadership team is “steadfastly determined to improve the quality of services for children” and that “substantial improvements” have been made to areas of the service which had previously fallen short. It added that the multi-agency safeguarding hub (MASH) systems are “efficient, leading to timely and decisive action for most children”.

The report stated that management oversight of services had been strengthened and social work caseloads have reduced, leaving social workers better able to support children and families.

Areas needing further improvement were also highlighted – these included some inconsistencies in certain practices within the MASH and assessment teams. While responses to clients were deemed to be mostly effective, there can be unnecessary delays in some processes and some areas of work – while generally improving – can sometimes be of variable quality.

Warren Whyte, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said: “This is another encouraging report and confirms that our work to improve children’s services in Buckinghamshire is proceeding well.

“There is no doubt we have more to do, however, to deliver the services that children in Buckinghamshire deserve. We are determined to continue our efforts to make the improvements highlighted in this report.

“We are grateful to all our staff for their hard work and dedication as we work to further strengthen our services.”

Fly Tipping in Bucks on Channel 5 Documentary

The exhaustive work carried out by County Council enforcement officers in the war against fly tippers in Buckinghamshire features in a brand new Channel 5 documentary series starting this week.

The six-part programme, ‘Grime and Punishment’ follows the hidden army of Council enforcement teams and inspectors up and down the country who work tirelessly to nail those who think nothing of blotting the country’s towns and countryside with their mess and rubbish.

As one of a number of local authorities featured, Buckinghamshire was selected because of its zero-tolerance approach to fly tipping and continuing success in bringing perpetrators to justice.

Film crews followed the work of two enforcement officers, David Rounding and Matt Shutter as they hunted for clues and interviewed witnesses to help bring fly tippers to justice. On average, one fly tipper is successfully prosecuted in Buckinghamshire every week, one of the highest rates in the country.

Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet Member for Planning and Environment, Bill Chapple OBE, praised the programme for spotlighting the tireless work by council officials to combat those intent on destroying the country’s environment.

“As far as Buckinghamshire is concerned, our message is clear: fly tippers are not welcome and we will use the full force of the law to prosecute whenever possible. Through the hard work of people like David and Matt,  we are now seeing a reduction in fly tipping across the county for the first time in six years, which is great news.

“We also do a lot of awareness raising and education particularly around people’s legal responsibility to dispose of their waste correctly. The last thing we want to do is knock on someone’s door having found their waste dumped by an unscrupulous trader they might have used in good faith.

“Programmes like Grime and Punishment help get those important messages across and we were delighted to have taken part,” he added.

Commentating on their appearance, David and Matt said: “It’s all in a day’s work for us. Whether we’re visiting fly tips, giving advice to local residents or preparing cases for court, our single aim is to rid Buckinghamshire of fly tipping for good. Everything we do that helps towards achieving this means a better, cleaner  environment for our residents.”

The first episode of Crime and Punishment starts at 8pm this Thursday, (June 13) on Channel 5. David and Matt’s work in Buckinghamshire features in episode five, scheduled to air at 8pm on Thursday, July 11. The series was filmed by multi-award winning Lambent Productions Ltd, based in Brighton.

For further information about preventing fly tipping in Buckinghamshire, please visit
https://www.recycleforbuckinghamshire.co.uk/scrap-fly-tipping/

Illegal dumping can be reported at www.fixmystreet.buckscc.gov.uk

Heathrow Expansion Consultation

The Airport Expansion Consultation runs from 18th June until 13th September 2019 and gives residents the opportunity to provide feedback on Heathrow’s proposals for the future layout of the airport, including the new runway and other airport infrastructure such as terminals and road access.

Residents will also be able to have a say on plans to manage the environmental impacts of expansion, including a proposed Heathrow Ultra Low Emissions Zone, Heathrow Vehicle Access Charge and a proposed 6.5-hour ban on scheduled night flights.

The expansion at Heathrow may have knock-on effects for air traffic in our area coming into Luton airport, so please do have a look at the plans if you wish to express a view.

https://www.heathrowconsultation.com

Please note that Safran is hosting an event at their site on 13 July 2019 which will involve extra traffic and parking in the area between 11-13 July 2019.

The parish council is supporting the event and making available the car park at the pavilion, but please be aware that there may also be extra cars parked along Westfield Road etc and take extra care.

You will be aware that there has been an issue with grass cutting in the above two roads this year.  This was historically undertaken by Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust but is apparently now being passed to Bucks County Council.  The 2 bodies are discussing this issue and determining handover procedures.  We understand that VAHT will be undertaking one further cut in July and then BCC will be maintaining for the rest of the season, but that BCC cut significantly less frequently than VAHT.

We understand that BCC may consider devolving power to the parish council for these 2 roads in subsequent years (they have not devolved power to PPC for the current year) but this will be a decision for the new unitary Buckinghamshire County once it is in place.

I am writing to confirm that the next Great Brickhill, Wing and Ivinghoe Police community forum will be held at 19:00 hours on Thursday 1^st August 2019 in Cheddington Village Hall (Church Lane).

Please spread the word to your communities who live in this area.

I will give you a breakdown of the Police crime figures for your area, with explanations on what this means going forward and provide updates on work your neighbourhood team has carried out in the last 3 months.

It is for all sections of the community. I would be particularly keen to hear from any youths (if any of you are part of youth clubs/groups) a representative from them would be great.

More importantly, it is your opportunity to raise any concerns, so we can see how we can work with you and other agencies to resolve these issues. We can then pick two priorities to focus our efforts. Currently, these are:-

• To prevent and reduce rural crime
• To prevent and reduce theft from motor vehicles.

Hopefully see you all then

Regards

PC 5688 Matt Craker

PC 5688 Matt Craker

Neighbourhood Supervisor

Great Brickhill, Wing and Ivinghoe District NHPT

Pitstone Church

Our next event will be a concert by the Icknield Sixteen  on the 13^th July at 7.30pm. This event is always popular.  Entrance is free and there is a retiring collection

On Thursday 22^nd August at 3pm there will be a performance of Wind in the Willows by the This is My Theatre company who specialise in performing  in old buildings

Tickets and information are available from WWW.THISISMYTHEATRE.COM  , tel. 07732 253311.  All the ticket information is on the web site, but briefly, tickets are £10 each , £8 for concessions (over 65 and under 16). Family tickets are available.

Please find below an appeal for volunteers to help at Armed Forces Day on 29 June:

Armed Forces Day 2019 Volunteers Poster

Please be aware that the quarry at the end of Westfield Road is within private ownership and is not open to the public.  Anyone accessing the quarry lake (which is not suitable for swimming due to contamination and submerged equipment etc) without the express permission of the landowner is committing trespass and may be subject to prosecution.  The landowner has erected fencing and notices many times, and these are constantly ripped down.

Repeat of a previous message from Thames Valley Police:

“Thames Valley Police is appealing for people to be sensible and stay safe near open water, especially during the summer holidays when warmer weather might make it tempting to take a dip in a lake, quarry, river or canal. Aylesbury Vale has plenty of excellent swimming pools and leisure centres; these provide the cleanest and safest environment for swimming.

We are reminding members of the public to be aware of the following:

• 60% of all drownings occur in canals, lakes and rivers.
• You can drown in just a few centimetres of water.
• If you fall or jump into the water, the cold will shock your body, making your muscles seize up so you can’t move.
• You could easily cut yourself on rubbish or rocks and you may become ill due to bacteria in the water.

Summer is a fantastic time and we want everyone to enjoy the weather, but more importantly, please take this safety advice seriously. If you want to go swimming please go to a swimming pool or your local leisure centre – don’t put yourself or your friends in danger by swimming in a lake, quarry, pond or canal.”

Thames Valley Police (for the Bucks land by the grass verge/Upper Icknield Way) and Hertfordshire Constabulary (for the Hertfordshire land eg Northfield Road) are able to take action against those who commit criminal acts such as dangerous parking, drink driving, drug use/driving, dangerous driving or anti-social behaviour.  Please report all instances of such behaviour via 101 or 999 accordingly.  Your reports will help to identify repeat offenders, catch offenders and potentially save a life.  Police resources are also allocated based on volume of reported crimes/instances so your reports will also help ensure a greater number of patrols.  TVP and Hertfordshire Constabulary will also patrol this area on hot days/evenings when possible.

Buckinghamshire Council owns the grass verge.  Following investigation in previous years they have declined to erect bollards etc to prevent parking over concerns that this will force visitors to park in even more unsuitable locations.  BC advise that the grass is cut as part of the vision splay and can’t be withheld.  BC, not TVP, have responsibility for parking offences and litter etc on this grass verge.  You can report any problems with the verge to BC via this email: parkingqueries@buckinghamshire.gov.uk or this link:  https://www.fixmystreet.buckscc.gov.uk/ or https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-transport/

Whilst outside our remit, the parish council does employ a litter picker to visit the verge after sunny weekends, however we can not trespass onto private property.  Any litter within the private land is the responsibility of the landowner, along with any queries regarding access/fencing/signage.

Anglian Water advise that some customers in Pitstone and surrounding areas may have very low water pressure or no water at all this morning.  They’ve identified a burst waster main in the area that they are working hard to get fixed, so that they can get supply back to normal as soon as possible.

They hope normal service will be resumed by 1pm.

After any interruption to the water supply it may look a little cloudy or discoloured when it’s back on.  Just run your tap for a few minutes and it should clear.  More info on the Anglian Water website.

They apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

You can sign up for alerts from Anglian Water and they’ll keep you posted with updates to existing faults and notify you of any new faults.  Just follow this link and put in your postcode and a box will pop-up asking if you want any alerts created.  https://inyourarea.digdat.co.uk/anglianwater

Did you also know that Anglian Water can provide Priority Services which offer additional practical support during an interruption to supply if you have a baby under 12 months, are a home dialysis patient or have a disability.  Please contact Anglian Water for further information.

 VAHT and BCC Grass Cutting Discussions

As Pitstone Parish Council and some residents are already aware, the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust (VAHT) had been cutting swathes of grass verges in and around the Aylesbury Vale area historically for quite some time.  However, it was recently decided that as some of the grass areas were found to belong to Bucks County Council, VAHT took the decision to cease cutting immediately and without having first informed BCC of this decision.

This has resulted in overgrown grass in many areas around the whole of Aylesbury Vale, as BCC has only recently been informed of this decision and therefore was unable to allocate budget to undertake any additional grass cutting.

Discussions are now ongoing between BCC and VAHT as to how to resolve this issue.  I have raised it with Cllrs Steven Lambert and Angela Macpherson, both on the board of the VAHT last week, both in email and in person on behalf of my Pitstone residents who are badly affected by this sudden and poorly communicated decision on the part of VAHT.  I have been told that some grass cutting would occur over the past weekend by VAHT, while discussions were ongoing between BCC and VAHT regarding the plan going forward.

I will keep Pitstone Parish Council informed as to the outcome of those discussions as soon as I have more information on that.

The Brownlow Bridge                 

The TTRO is now in place on the Brownlow Bridge in Ivinghoe which prohibits vehicles fover 18 tonnes rom using the bridge.  While this has been well publicized locally and parish councils are all informed of this, sadly some local hauliers are continuing to use the bridge despite the clear signage.

Ivinghoe Parish Council are monitoring this situation with cooperation from the residents of Horton as well and Thames Valley Police have been informed of the situation.  Where possible, photo evidence has been provided, particularly where repeat offending is occurring.

Anyone wishing to express a view on the long term outlook for the bridge is welcome to do so via email at the following email address:

freight@buckscc.gov.uk

Planning applications CM/0017/19 and CM/0018/19

These planning applications are for additional industrial waste processing of 25,000 tonnes and 87,500 tonnes respectively per annum  on the Marsworth/Cheddington Airfield Industrial Estate and are currently open for comment from members of the public.

Should anyone wish to comment, simply use the link below, press the view application button, and input the application number you wish to comment on into the search bar.  There is then an option to upload the comment.

https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/environment/planning/viewing-planning-applications/

Local Government Reorganisation

The final piece of legislation that seals the deal for a new unitary authority was passed by government on 24 May.  For the people and businesses of Buckinghamshire, this will mean one, brand new council from April 2020, delivering all local government services. The new council will replace the current five councils – Aylesbury Vale District Council, Buckinghamshire County Council, Chiltern District Council, South Bucks District Council and Wycombe District Council – which will cease to exist on 31 March 2020.

The legislation from government, known as the Buckinghamshire Structural Changes Order, sets out the details of the new council and how the current five councils will come together to create it over the next year. In summary:

• The new council will be known as Buckinghamshire Council
• It will have 147 elected members; elections to the new council will take place in May 2020
• A temporary Shadow Authority will be formed, with all current county and district councillors having a seat on this body
• Leadership will be provided by a 17 seat Shadow Executive of county and district members
• An implementation team, led by the County Council Chief Executive and with a district Chief Executive as deputy, will be established to manage the smooth transfer of services and staff to the new council

Now the Order has been approved, all county and district councillors from the five councils will come together to create a Shadow Authority that will oversee the move to the new council. The Shadow Authority comprises 236 seats, filled by 202 individuals taking into account those councillors who are both a county and district councillor. The date of the first meeting of the Shadow Authority will be confirmed on Friday 24 May.

At its first meeting, the Shadow Authority is consulted on the appointment of the statutory officers on an interim basis; the head of paid service, monitoring officer and chief finance officer. They will also appoint members to relevant committees and confirm the nominated county and district members to the Shadow Executive.

The Shadow Executive will oversee the implementation plan for the new council, and will consist of 17 county and district councillors; eight from the county council, eight from the four district councils, and the Leader of the County Council as the Leader of this group, supported by a district councillor as the Deputy Leader.

The Shadow Authority will also be responsible for setting the 2020/21 council tax and first budget of the new unitary council which will take place in the new year.

The Shadow Authority will run alongside the current five councils until April 2020, and it is the responsibility of the current councils to continue to deliver services as usual until they transfer to the new council on 1 April 2020.

The first meeting of the Shadow Authority will be held on 3^rd June in Wycombe and I will be attending.

More information on the Shadow Authority can be found on its new website below:

https://shadow.buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Resident Survey

Local people are being asked for their views on Buckinghamshire’s highways and transport services – from the condition of roads and footpaths to the quality of cycling facilities. Their answers will be compared with the views of other members of the public across England and Scotland, thanks to the National Highways and Transport Public Satisfaction Survey.

Buckinghamshire County Council is one of 111 local authorities to sign up to a standardised survey that will ask members of the public exactly the same questions, whether they live in Bedford, Bristol or Buckinghamshire.

The survey, which is being run for the tenth year is the largest collaboration between local authorities offering the opportunity to compare results, share in best practice and identify further opportunities to work together in the future.

The questionnaire will be sent to a minimum random sample of at least 3,300 of Buckinghamshire’s residents from 7 June, followed by a reminder, with local and national results to be published in late October 2019.  Since the survey is based on a sample, residents that receive a copy are being urged to take part.

Residents that receive the questionnaire can complete the survey on line if they prefer, a short URL link will be printed on the front of the questionnaire and they will be required to enter a code before completing the questionnaire.

The results will enable us to find out what local people think about these important services. This will provide one of several ways Buckinghamshire County Council can assess how it is performing. It gives the public an opportunity to say which services they think the Council should prioritise, and improve.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Transport Member, Mark Shaw, said:

“There are a number of clear benefits to conducting a public survey in this way. As well as providing excellent value for money, it also enables everyone involved to identify areas of best practice and spot national, regional and local trends. This is not about producing a league table to champion one geographical area or local authority over another; it is about understanding customer views better and working together to deliver the most satisfactory yet efficient outcomes for local residents.

“Already this year, we have spent £4 million delivering our Plane and Patch scheme, covering over 150 roads. We have seen the successful launch of our road resurfacing programme, the implementation of RingGo payment for parking in Aylesbury and the completion of our LED replacement programme for our streetlights, with 3,295 of the old style lanterns being successfully converted with LED equipment. Looking ahead to the rest of the year, we will be spending £500,000 on weed spraying, carrying out four urban grass cuts across the county and working on a number of significant schemes, including drainage and traffic signals works within the next few weeks.

“We are committed to understanding and responding to the views of the public. The survey will aid us in doing just that.”

• The National Highways and Transport (NHT) Network is a unique collaboration between Local Authorities across England and parts of Scotland with a common agenda – service improvement.

The Network provides an environment in which members can measure their own performance, compare with their peers and identify areas for improvement.

• The NHT Network and the Public Satisfaction Survey are managed by performance management specialists, measure2improve, the NHT Network administrators

• The survey is being carried out on behalf of the participating Local Authorities by market research specialist, Ipsos MORI.
• Participation in the survey is voluntary.  It is believed to be the first survey of its kind to bring together so many separate highway authorities from all over England and parts of Scotland to carry out their surveys in a comparable format
• The survey questionnaire is a 12 pages long and covers all aspects of local highway and transport services (e.g. from the condition or roads and footways to Road Safety and Cycling).  The questionnaire should be completed in around 15 minutes.

• Residents that receive the questionnaire in the post may opt to complete the questionnaire on line if they prefer.

https://www.valelottery.co.uk/

Did you know that when you sign up for the Vale Lottery, you can select for 50% of the ticket sale value to go to 1st Ivinghoe and Pitstone Scouts?

Tickets cost just £1 each per week.

They really need your support to help raise funds for a new scout hut.

Click the link above for more info.

You can sign up to Thames Valley Alert via email, text, or even receive voice messages about what’s happening in your local area.

The service is completely tailored to you, so you can choose what sort of alerts to receive – whether you’d like:

• news on local incidents
• community news
• to be alerted to significant or high priority messages

When you sign up to Thames Valley Alert (a free service) you’ll be given login details that allow you to change your settings at any time. There’s also a business watch service and a country watch service.

If you’d like to sign up to Thames Valley Alert, you can:

• join via the Thames Valley Alert website, or
• download the free Thames Valley Alert app by visiting the Apple store or Google Play store

If you already have an Alerts account, you can sign into the app with the same login details.

https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/police-forces/thames-valley-police/areas/c/2018/thames-valley-alert/

You can also follow Thames Valley Police on Facebook for updates straight to your news feed:  https://www.facebook.com/TVPAylesburyVale/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARDufVWXF_yj4YpUBK2dUbKFITxvORO1-KWPY3PZpnBcOKMWs-WOsfGJOtKF8GwYKAuxnCv_mWiCN6ye

Transport for Bucks is hosting Be A Better Biker again this year.  Assessments allow all bikers to take their skills to a level that helps improve safety and enjoyment.

The day covers the principles of advanced riding, including:

• Manoeuvring
• Overtaking
• Cornering Techniques
• On-road assessment with observers
• A review of the on-road sessions, discussing lessons learnt.

At the end of the sessions, each candidate will receive a copy of the book ‘How to Be a Better Rider’.

The workshops cost £20 per biker and are being held in Thame and Marlow.

To find out more, and to book your place, visit the web page here: www.buckscc.gov.uk/beabetterbiker

Thames Valley Police will be holding our next community forum on Wednesday 1st May 2019 at Wing Village Library between 18:30 – 20:30 hours.

This will be an opportunity to discuss any issues/concerns residents have in the Great Brickhill, Wing and Ivinghoe Neighbourhood area. We will use it as an opportunity to revise the area policing priorities which are currently:-

• Prevent and reduce rural crime
• Prevent and reduce Theft from Motor vehicles.

Regards

PC 5688 Matt Craker

Neighbourhood Supervisor

Great Brickhill, Wing and Ivinghoe District NHPT

Pitstone Windmill is the oldest post mill in the country – We need volunteers to tell the story of this ancient landmark and the part it played in its rural community – from the intricate way the mill worked, to the history of the people who worked there.

Pitstone Windmill will be open to the public on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays from

5 May – 26 August from 10am – 4pm.

We are looking for volunteers to work either 9.45am – 1pm or 12.45pm – 4pm.

Training will be provided for everyone who volunteers so you don’t need to be an expert! We don’t expect anyone to be word perfect, enthusiasm and approachability are far more important.

Volunteers who have made a significant contribution of time during the year (50 hours) will be eligible for a Volunteer Card. We understand that as volunteer shifts are short it may be a challenge to reach this 50 hours milestone at the Windmill alone. There are a number of other volunteering opportunities across the Ashridge Estate such as outdoor engagement, sharing the story of the Bridgewater Monument or event volunteering.  This card gives you free entry to National Trust, National Trust for Scotland properties. If you are already a member of the National Trust you can use the card to get free entry for a guest who is visiting with you. Additionally it gives you a discount in National Trust shops, restaurants and tearooms

If you are interested please contact: helping.ashridge@nationaltrust.org.uk

Aylesbury Vale District Council would like to hear from people who are available to work as a Poll Clerk at Polling Stations on Thursday 23 May 2019.  The fee payable is £135.

No previous experience is required.  Poll Clerks are required to work from 6.30am to 10pm.  The job primarily involves marking the Register of Electors to show that electors have presented themselves to vote, and to assist the Presiding Officer with other electoral tasks on the day.

Further information on working at elections is available on the Council’s website at https://aylesburyvale.moderngov.co.uk/mgGeneric.aspx?MD=mgworkatelections .  Please note, polling staff will not be required to complete an e-training session for these elections.

If you are able to work, please contact Craig Saunders at Aylesbury Vale District Council on 01296 585043 or csaunders@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk

Just a reminder that your bins (green lidded general waste plus food) will be collected on Thursday, not Wednesday, this week due to the bank holidays.

St Mary’s Church in Pitstone is open every Sunday and Bank Holiday from May to September.  They need more people to help them keep it open at these times. Please ring 01296 661745 if you think you can volunteer some time to help.   Thank you.