The charity committee at Pitstone Memorial Hall have launched a new dedicated website full of useful information about the hall and direct link to the electronic booking system to ensure you can place your reservation.

Please visit:

http://www.pitstonememorialhall.co.uk/

Please follow the link to the Thames Valley Police newsletter for January:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=326752

You may like to consider responding to the consultation below, which covers Tring train station.

They seek answers to 20 questions before the new franchise comes into operation in 2017, about whether you use the station, what issues you have accessing the station or its services, if you use your nearest station etc.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/west-midlands-rail-franchise

Our congratulations to local resident Scott Barnard on his achievement as finalist in Masterchef 2015.

https://www.facebook.com/Scott-Barnard-MasterChef-The-Professionals-2015-Finalist-779479955512531/

The Safer Bucks Plan is Buckinghamshire’s response to the statutory duty in multi-tier areas to produce a countywide Community Safety Agreement.  This should identify what our priorities are and how we will work (with our partners) to address them.  In Bucks, we also include reference to local, district priorities as many will complement each other.

This document must be evidence based.  We look at a minimum of one year of crime and disorder data and information and look at trends, emerging areas, changing nature of crime etc.  This evidence base is called the Partnership Strategic Assessment and is carefully written over approx. 3 months, culminating in a detailed analysis document looking at victims, offenders and locations of crime.

From this work, the county Safer Communities team has identified four priority areas for 2016/17.

The priorities to be included in the Safer Bucks Plan should:

• be based on evidence
• recognise the current and emerging countywide needs and issues
• take into consideration equality and ethics
• be within the scope and capabilities of the Community Safety team, alongside its crime & disorder partners

We are now starting to consult with key stakeholders about these proposed priorities.  This includes discussions with those who live and work in Buckinghamshire.

Obtaining views and feedback from our parishes is crucial to this process and, to that end, please use this link below to answer a very short online survey about the proposed crime & disorder priorities for next year.  The survey is open for one month and will close on 17^th January.  Information received from the survey will be analysed and summarised before finalising the priorities and developing next year’s Plan.

The survey can be found here:  https://www.research.net/r/saferbucksplan1617

Christmas recycling and waste

Aylesbury Vale District Council is encouraging residents to be more careful when recycling this Christmas and to be aware that over the festive period all Aylesbury Vale households will be affected by revised bin collection dates.

You can check your revised Christmas bin collection dates on our website: www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/christmasrecycling, on the AVDC Bin app, or in the latest issue of the Aylesbury Vale Times.

Households tend to produce more waste over the festive period, so it’s even more important to reduce, reuse and recycle the waste produced at this time of year.

Over Christmas, Aylesbury Vale residents can put anything from turkey bones to Christmas pudding in their food waste bin. Plastic and glass drinks bottles, cream and brandy butter pots, tins and cans, glass jars and juice tetra-pak cartons can all be recycled in the blue-lidded recycling bin. Gift packaging and wrapping paper, gift tags and Christmas cards – all that are non-glittery and non-metallic – go in their household recycling bins too.

All this extra recycling means that recycling bins may fill up quickly. Whilst the council normally do not accept plastic bags in recycling bins, to help residents with the extra recycling at Christmas, they will collect extra recycling providing it is left in clear see through carrier bags on top of recycling bins. Bags must be clear so the collection crews can see at a glance that any bags only contains recyclable products.

Alternatively, residents can take excess recycling to the Recycling & Waste centres (tips), based at Aston Clinton, Aylesbury and Buckingham, together with Christmas trees, wreathes and mistletoe. A wide range of other materials including household electrical items, domestic batteries and used cooking oil can also be recycled at these sites. Page 2 of 2

Residents who have subscribed to AVDC’s garden waste service can put natural Christmas trees, wreaths, holly and mistletoe in their brown garden waste bin. Trees should be cut into small pieces before placing in the brown bin and all decorations and metal should be removed first. Garden waste collections will recommence in February 2016.

Please follow the link for details of the Buckinghamshire Business Awards 2016:

http://www.bbf.uk.com/the-buckinghamshire-business-awards

Thames Valley Police is appealing for information following a recent burglary in Pitstone.

Sometime between Wednesday 9^th and Friday 11^th December offender(s) broke into a residence on Chequers Lane.  It is thought that they used a pair of shears from the garden shed to force open one of the ground floor rear windows.

Once inside they made a messy search of the property.  Jewellery has been taken, but it is not confirmed what else might have been stolen.

If you saw or heard anything suspicious in the area between the relevant dates please call the police on the 24 hour Police Enquiry Centre number 101.

If you don’t want to speak to the police or give your details you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or report it online.  No personal details will be taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not have to go to court.

Non drop Christmas Trees are available from the old Silver Birch Cafe on the Upper Icknield Way in Pitstone.

December newsletter from Thames Valley Police:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=325217

overhanging trees

Please follow the above link to some information for home owners from Transport for Bucks asking residents to ensure that their trees and hedges don’t infringe onto the footpaths.  The same principle applies to block of lamp posts.

Please ensure your trees and hedges are cut back in line with your property boundary.

Thank you.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

scouts xmas post

Budget consultation – ‘The toughest decisions yet’, says the Council

People across Buckinghamshire are being asked to help the County Council make important spending decisions on next year’s budget, in a survey launched today (Thursday 26 November). The survey, which will run online until 17 December, aims to get people involved in helping to decide which areas of the Council’s work spending should be focused on. The short, easy to complete survey is available at www.buckscc.gov.uk/budget. People who don’t have access to the internet or a computer can take part at any of the county’s libraries, where staff will help people to complete the survey. Computers with internet and wi-fi access are available in all libraries where people can access the consultation for free. Leader of the Council, Martin Tett, said: “This really is the toughest budget yet. People will know that we’ve put in place a spending freeze until the end of this financial year, which will help us to manage the potential overspend that we have identified. But next year, given the growing demands on us, particularly in looking after vulnerable children and the elderly and the Living Wage requirements, we still need to save another £31 million to cope. “We were originally proposing to increase council tax by 1.99%, the maximum the Government normally allows. However, in yesterday’s Spending Review and Autumn Statement, the Chancellor, George Osborne, recognised the extra pressures facing those councils like Buckinghamshire with social care responsibilities. He told councils that they can raise up to 2% extra from council tax to spend solely on adult social care, which will also help relieve pressure on the NHS. We are planning to accept the Government’s proposal and are therefore now suggesting a 3.99% rise for next year. “I realise that the Government’s announcement means that everyone pays a bit more; however, in previous budget consultations, our residents have indicated that they would support a higher increase if it meant more local services being protected. This extra money will go some way to meeting what residents have told us.” Martin Phillips, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, says it’s absolutely vital that people take part in the survey: “This year, more than any other year, decision-making for the budget will be very, very challenging. We will need to take some extremely difficult decisions on where we continue to fund services and where we will have to stop doing things. “This process affects everyone in the county and I urge you to please let us have your views: tell us what’s important to you, where we should reduce spending, where we should continue to invest, and what you think of our council tax proposals.” The survey is online at www.buckscc.gov.uk/budget until the closing date of Thursday 17 December.

Volunteering Bucks have launched a new web site to promote the benefits of volunteering in your local community, regardless of how young or how old you are, everyone has a unique contribution to make.

Their Motto:

WE BELIEVE:

• In the power of people to change the world
• That volunteering should be a life-enhancing experience for both parties
• That every single person has a unique gift to offer
• We can create a better life together…

Life is short: do stuff that matters

For further information visit their web site:

http://volunteeringbucks.org.uk/

Right now, the Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity and the 1st Ivinghoe & Pitstone Scouts Charity are both looking for volunteer committee members.  You don’t need to become an officer or take minutes, you just need an interest in the charity and a willingness to get stuck in to a variety of tasks to help them grow and run.   You could make a difference to our local community right now.   Make it your New Year Resolution to volunteer with at least one local group.

Please contact Laurie on 01296 660791 or memorialhall@pitstone.co.uk for information about joining Pitstone Memorial Hall.

Please contact Keith Steers on ksteers@aol.com for information about joining the Scouts.

Thank you.

I would like to say a HUGE thank you to the people of Pitstone. I have had an wonderful response to my post calling for drivers and elves for the Santa Float fo…r Rennie Grove Hospice Care and we’ve now nearly filled the rota. We have, however, hit another problem as we need a space to store the float during the weeks in December it is out and about. Our usual storage venue is not available this year and I have been trying to find a space for it but have so far not managed too. The float is large – 5.3 m long and nearly 2 m wide and needs to be stored undercover due to a PA system which is attached to it for the Xmas music. So we need somewhere dry and secure where the float can be stored during the day and then picked up to take out and dropped back later. Can you help? Do you know of anywhere that might be able to help? You have all been brilliant in helping so far, I’m sure someone out there will be able to come up with something. Again do get in touch either on here or email me claire.redrup@renniegrove.org or phone 01442 820718. Thank you Pitstone.

A unique Christmas gift idea, or treat yourself, and help enhance biodiversity.

See link below:

http://www.chilternsociety.org.uk/support-birdbox.php

Can anyone help? If so, please get in touch with Claire.

“Rennie Grove Hospice Care run the Santa Float every year in Pitstone and this year we intend to visit on Wednesday 16th & Thursday 17th December. Unfortunately we have had a number of problems finding a driver and volunteers to knock on doors this year.We may have to cancel if volunteers don’t come forward. If you have a vehicle that could tow the float or you can spare a few hours to walk along and knock on doors you will ensure this much loved festive tradition continues in Pitstone. We would hate to cancel this and disappoint the children of Pitstone but we can’t do it without your help. Please do help if you can. Email claire.redrup@renniegrove.org or call on 01442 820718 if you or anyone you know can help”

The November newsletter produced by Thames Valley Police is now available on their website:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=323584

Buckinghamshire County Council has announced a freeze on non-essential spending to ensure it can meet the rising cost of looking after the most vulnerable people across Buckinghamshire.

The Council is taking decisive action to address a possible budget shortfall of almost £6m by March 2016, mainly due to increasing demand for social care for both adults and children.

Martin Tett, Leader of the Council, said: “Yesterday, my Cabinet and I agreed, in public, to a freeze on all non-essential spending until the end of the financial year to stop what could become a very challenging situation for us and the public.

“External pressures and demand for services mean we face a potential overspend, despite the fact we are a well-run, efficient Council which has saved almost £100m over the past five years. It is precisely because we are well-run that we can see the early warning signs and react to them in time.

“Many county councils across the country are facing similar difficulties, not helped by the fact that we legally have to set a balanced budget at the beginning of every financial year.

“The main catalyst for our potential overspend is the significant increase in demand on services for vulnerable adults and children. There is little we can do about this because we have to give priority to safeguarding our old and our young.

“However, we can control other parts of Council spending. So, from now, spending will be frozen on non-essential, non-committed items until the end of March. By non-essential, we mean activities that we are not required to do by law. There will of course be exceptions because we have to keep the business going.

“The actions will include a freeze on the filling of non-essential vacancies. We will also be reviewing all agency and contracted posts, renewal of computer equipment, building adaptions and staff training, amongst other things. And the public will also see an impact in terms of highways and pavements maintenance, as we will need to postpone some routine repairs and improvement projects.

“I’m sorry to have to do this but if we don’t act, we could find we have no money left in reserves in a year or so.

“Managing the council’s budget is like managing your own household budget – as soon as you see the prospect of getting into debt, you tighten your belt.”

You are invited to a Transport for Buckinghamshire Winter Driving Workshop being held during November and December.

These are particularly valuable to organisations and individuals who are required to drive to reach their clients in all weathers.

The workshops are free, but a £10 cheque is requested in order to reserve your place which is returned to you on the night.

All the workshops are running from 6.30pm – 8.00pm.  Dates are below.

Tuesday 17^th November – Buckingham

Thursday 19^th November – Chesham

Tuesday 24^th November – High Wycombe

Wednesday 2^nd December – Aylesbury

For more information please follow the link below:

http://www.transportforbucks.net/Road-Safety/Winter-Driving.aspx

Buckinghamshire County Council, Stroke Support, would like to hear from anyone who has suffered a stroke or who has cared for someone with a stroke, on their views of the support they received at home.

Please see attached survey form, which can be emailed to inform@buckscc.gov.uk or sent to the address on the form.

Elaine Hassall

Community Engagement Officer for Older People

A local resident lost a gold wrist watch of great sentimental value on Sunday 8^th November whilst walking their dog on the footpath across the fields that runs from Chequers Lane to “The Lawns”.

If you have found the watch or have any relevant information, please get in touch with the parish clerk on 01296 660791 or parishclerk@pitstone.co.uk.

Thank you.

Pitstone Memorial Hall needs YOUR help! We know we need to continue to upgrade the hall to make sure can provide the facilities the village needs but we only have limited funds, so we need to focus our efforts.

Please spare 5 minutes to fill in this survey and let us know what YOU want to see being provided at the hall.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JJW7P3R

This online survey will close at the end of November but we are happy to hear suggestions at any time by email at memorialhall@pitstone.co.uk

ALSO COMING SOON – check out the hall’s new website at www.pitstonememorialhall.co.uk.

With thanks, the Memorial Hall Management Committee

1st Ivinghoe & Pitstone Scouts really need your help!

We have to vacate our current Scout Hut and we need to raise funds to make this happen. We have joined the Vale Lottery and would love if you could buy a ticket, support our cause and help to spread the word.

Tickets cost £1 each and 50p of that comes straight to us.

More importantly, you could win £20,000. All the details are on the website.

https://www.valelottery.co.uk/support/1st-ivinghoe-and-pitstone-scout-group

Tickets for the lottery cost just £1 per week. Each ticket has a 1 in 50 chance to win a prize each week, with a top prize of £20,000! That’s a better chance of winning than the National Lottery or the Health Lottery!

Each ticket will consist of 6 numbers and each number will be between 0 and 9. There will be a draw every Saturday night when a 6 digit winning combination will be picked. Prizes will be given to players with tickets that match the first or last 2-6 numbers from the winning combination. Match all 6 and you win the JACKPOT!

Vale Lottery Poster Scouts

VOLUNTEERING IN PRISON AND THE COMMUNITY

Do you have a couple of hours a week you could give to helping someone really change their life?

Pact is working with people in prison and the community helping people that are currently unable to access mainstream provision and require specialist one to one support to increase their social inclusion and integrate positively within the local community.

Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) provides support to offenders during their sentence and in the community, our Volunteer Mentors encourage full integration and social inclusion.  Mentors provide such important and vital support to those who want to move forward with their life.

We are looking for people who can encourage others, have a reliable and dependable attitude and have great communication skills!

As a volunteer mentor there is no end to the list of support you could be providing and activities you could do, but all of the support makes a huge difference to motivation, self-esteem and choices in life, as they re-enter society.

We provide foundation and ongoing training and all our volunteers have regular support and opportunities to further their skills and knowledge.

For more information call

Mim on 07791 548511 or email miriam.mcconachie@prisonadvice.org.uk

Visit us at: www.prisonadvice.org.uk

Wintertime Burglary

The Aylesbury Vale Community Safety Partnership is urging residents to take simple steps to secure their properties as the winter approaches.

Operation Arctic runs from October to January. The campaign focuses on providing advice to people on how to keep their properties safe during the winter months as homes can remain in darkness for much longer periods. This makes them easier to target, especially if there are no obvious signs there is anyone home.

For more information please visit:

http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/burglary-wintertime and http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/

Christmas Events in Aylesbury Town Centre

Come and join us at our Christmas light switch on event, held on Thursday 19 November from 5.30 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. This popular event provides free family entertainment from 5.30 p.m. The lights 4

will be switched on at 7 p.m. followed by fireworks. There is also a small funfair and the opportunity to do some late night shopping until 8 p.m.

Santa’s parade has become a firm family favourite, and he will be joined by all his friends as they parade through the town on Sunday 29 November from 10.45 a.m. The parade will begin in the High Street, and go around Market Square. After the parade there will be a small funfair, activities and entertainment.

Looking for that special gift? Then come and browse the array of unusual present ideas on offer at the Christmas Craft and Gift fair on Sunday 6 December from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the historic Market Square.

If you want to do some late night Christmas shopping then take advantage of free parking in AVDC owned Aylesbury town centre car parks every Thursday from 4.30 p.m. from 19 November to 24 December inclusive.

Pitstone Memorial Hall Charity is holding its Annual General Meeting at 8pm in the meeting room at Pitstone Memorial Hall on Tuesday 10 November.  Refreshments will be available from 7.45pm.

Everyone is welcome, so do come along and support your local hall.

If you have a little spare time, we would love you to join our committee and there are currently trustee vacancies.   Please come along and have a chat with us.

County Councillors News

A4146 Proposed Reclassification and Weight Restriction

Transport for Bucks (TfB), Thames Valley Police (TVP), and senior officers from Central Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire county Council (HCC) have been working together to use the opportunity of the opening of the A5-M1 link road (the Dunstable Northern Bypass) to keep HGVs in the main arterial routes, reduce HGVs on unsuitable rural roads, and respond to local proposals from Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire residents to reclassify the A4146 and introduce weight restrictions.  As this will have serious repercussions for the B488 and B489, Buckinghamshire County Council and Transport for Bucks have acknowledged the importance of enforceable weight limits to be included for the B488 and 489.

Major advance signposting over long distances will be needed in order to make this work, so Highways England are also fully involved, as well as transport operators particularly the waste carriers going to Newton Longville.

Contact me by email if you need to know more and I can forward the briefing note made available to the Local Area Forum on Oct 1st, but not available on line.

‘Active Bucks’

The Local Area Forum voted for one off funding from the Public Health pot to be invested in this area in organised walking opportunities for all ages. There was a contest between setting up coached running groups similar to From Couch to 5K, and the Park Run, and for dance groups, but walking claimed the majority of votes.  There will be plenty of information available as soon as the walks are set up, which will be complementary to existing health walks and formal and informal Nordic walking groups that already take place.

Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority

The fire authority presented it’s annual report to the County Council in September. The Bucks and MK authority is the only authority in the country to have reduced its council tax for 2015-16 and frozen it since 2011. Since 2010 there have been savings of £2.1M in a £29M budget without reducing the numbers of fire engines and fire stations.  In the last 5 years deliberate fires have been reduced by 56%, non domestic fires by 33%’ and domestic fires and related injuries still continue to fall despite increased housing numbers.

Children’s services and prevention of child sexual abuse

This continues to be the main priority of the County Council at the moment. The trial and sentencing in the summer at the Old Bailey of a group of men involved locally in abuse shocked many people into questioning if everything possible is being done to prevent this now and in the future.  As well as implementing the major improvement plan for children’s services, and a peer group review by leading officers and members from other authorities taking place as I write, the select committee review in which I take part in to the prevention of child sexual exploitation has been continuing exhaustively all summer, and has revealed some excellent practice from our partners in the health service and the police, and committed individuals in schools.

Please find below the link to the October newsletter from Thames Valley Police:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=321618

Thames Valley Police Superintendent Olly Wright, LPA commander for Aylesbury, is to hold an online question and answer session this evenint (7/10) at 7pm, ahead of planned demonstrations in Aylesbury on Saturday 10 October.
The session’s aim will be to answer any questions that residents and local business owners may have about the forthcoming demonstrations.
It follows the announcement that the English Defence League (EDL) is planning to hold a peaceful demonstration in Aylesbury on 10 October. A counter-demonstration is also being planned in Aylesbury for the same day.
The route of the march will likely bring the EDL group from the top of Walton Street, into town and past the library, around Market Square and gathering in Kingsbury Square for speeches.
The march and speeches will take place between 1pm and 3pm approximately.
Superintendent Olly Wright, LPA commander for Aylesbury Vale, said: “Thames Valley Police recognises everyone’s right to demonstrate peacefully, and our aim is to facilitate a peaceful demonstration.
“I recognise the impact that this demonstration may have on the people of Aylesbury going about their business on Saturday.
“As always, we and our partner agencies will be working to ensure that the impact on local people, businesses and visitors is minimised.
“This online session is a valuable opportunity for members of the community to ask any questions, or make us aware of any concerns they might have about the planned demonstrations.
“I would ask for the support of all sections of the community to help us and our partners, to make sure these demonstrations pass by smoothly.”
Any residents with specific questions about the planned demonstrations can take part in the online question and answer session with Superintendent Wright, which can be accessed via the following link:
http://thamesvp.coverpage.coveritlive.com/index2.php/option=com_altcaster/task=viewaltcast
For more information about this weekend’s demonstrations, please follow @Tvp_aylesbury or #AylesburyDemos.

Your local NHS needs YOU

Are you interested in helping to shape NHS services operating across Aylesbury Vale, improving patient care and ensuring the voices of the whole community are heard?

If so, then now could be your chance to get involved.

NHS Aylesbury Vale Clinical Commissioning Group is seeking to fill two posts, including a Public Engagement Leader to work two days per month.

The role – a paid officer post – requires experience of the local community and the ability to champion engagement with all sectors within it. The CCG is especially keen to hear from people with experience of communicating with local black and minority ethnic groups.

Lou Patten, Chief Officer of the CCG, said:  “As a CCG it is vital that we hear the voices of everyone in our community to make sure their opinions and healthcare needs inform our efforts to secure the best services possible for them.

“That makes this role an invaluable one to our organisation, and hopefully an extremely rewarding one for the person we appoint.”

The CCG is also seeking to recruit a new Chair of its Audit Committee, a role involving a time commitment of up to three days a month. This post requires recent and relevant experience in financial management, preferably with an audit or accountancy qualification, and the appointee would act as champion for the CCG’s financial reporting and internal controls.

Ideally, both applicants should live in Buckinghamshire or have strong connections to the area.

AVCCG serves around 200,000 people through 19 member GP practices across north Bucks, with a budget of £210m. This public money is used to buy health services that meet the needs of the population. It seeks to improve the quality of services provided, listen to patients’ experiences and improve health outcomes for the people it serves.

For more information about the roles, please click here.

For an informal discussion about the Patient and Public Engagement Leader, contact Lou Patten, Chief Officer, at louise.patten@nhs.net; for the Lay Chair of Audit Committee, contact Robert Majilton, Chief Finance Officer, at robert.majilton@nhs.net

To apply, send a CV (with at least two references) and covering letter detailing why you wish to apply for the post. Closing date for the applications is 23 October.

If you have any further questions about these roles please contact Elaine Baldwin at elaine.baldwin1@nhs.net

Please follow the link to access details of the next free course taking place on 3 October 2015:

http://www.recycleforbuckinghamshire.co.uk/home-composting/master-composters/

We are delighted to tell you that we are launching an online Vale Lottery, which will offer good causes the opportunity to raise vital funds.

Community groups are being invited to set up their own page on the Vale Lottery website, free of charge. Your supporters will then be able to buy tickets at £1, and 50p from every sale will go to your cause. This is substantially higher than the national lottery which gives just 28p in the pound.

We’ve already done the hard work, getting the necessary licences in place and you will also be provided with free marketing materials, including posters bespoke to your organisation.  The process of setting up the web page will be easy but support will be given where required.

We are doing this in partnership with an External Lottery Management company who are local to Buckinghamshire and have developed the software, which means supporters can join up on all online devices, be that their  pc, mobile phone or tablet.  For the supporters themselves, there’s a huge incentive of a £20,000 jackpot, as well as a number of smaller prizes.

There are so many worthwhile causes in the Vale and we see this as a great opportunity to support them, requiring much less time and effort from volunteers than some of the more traditional fundraising methods.  All you’ll need to do is sign up and be pro-active in spreading the word to your members and encourage supporters.

To find out more, meet the partner company we’re working with and some of the organisations already signed up, please come along to our launch event at our Gateway Offices, on Monday October 5 at 6:30pm.  Refreshments will be provided.

To RSVP please click here (maximum 2 places per organisation)

Jan Roffe

Grants & Voluntary Sector Support Officer

Aylesbury Vale District Council

September update from Thames Valley Police available from the link below:

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/pub-pg-nh-upds-N416?id=320111

Aldbury Parish Council are seeking a Parish Clerk, 5 hours per week.  More information can be found following the link below (please note that the application deadline has been extended and is still live):

http://www.aldburyparish.org.uk/2015/07/vacancy-for-parish-clerk-and-responsible-financial-officer/

Tring Town Council is also seeking a Deputy Clerk, 22 hours per week.  More information can be found by following the link below:

http://www.tring.gov.uk/council-staff.html

New awareness talks available now.

An evening for parents, carers and community leaders to find out more about child sexual exploitation and how to stop it.

7-9pm 14 Sept Chesham Grammar School

7-9pm 24 Sept Grange School Aylesbury

To book your place, please email : communications@buckscc.gov.uk

Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Children Board

Annual electoral register reminder for residents

Many of you will have noticed that work has commenced on the Recreation Ground to lay some new cricket wickets.   As a result, a large number of rolls of turf have been removed by turf cutter.  Very good quality.

The Recreation Ground Charity & Parish Council would like to offer this turf free-of-charge to any resident of Pitstone that may require some for their garden.

The turf is currently stacked on pallets along the edge of the recreation ground where it borders the ditch by the Memorial Hall rear car park.  Residents are invited to visit the site and collect any turf they require.

First come, first served.  Collection only.

Thank you.

Laurie Eagling, Clerk to Pitstone Parish Council

British shoppers took 8.5m single-use carrier bags from major supermarkets in 2014, an increase for the 5th year in a row.

Plastic bags can take years to fully decompose and even though household recycling rates have improved significantly in recent years, 16,000 tonnes of waste still goes to landfill every year.  Around 8m tonnes of plastic also ends up in our oceans each year, polluting the marine environment and harming precious sea life.

Rory Stewart, the Resource Minister, said “simple changes to our shopping routines, such as taking our own bags with us or using more bags for life, can make a huge difference in reducing the amount of plastic in circulation meaning we can all enjoy a cleaner, healthier country.”

The introduction of a 5p charge for single-use carrier bags comes into effect in England next month (October) following the success of similar schemes in Scotland and Wales.  In Wales the charge led to a 79% decrease in plastic bags taken in the first three years and in second the number of ‘bags for life’ used quadrupled last year.

Rory Stewart added “The charge will also boost our growing economy by delivering savings of £60m in litter clean-up costs and £13m in carbon savings.  Good causes will also benefit from the charge and as much as £730m could be donated to charities and no-for-profit organisations over 10 years”.

We can all play our part, so next time you to pop into Masons or along to a supermarket, please remember to take your own bags.

From next month (October) it will be illegal to smoke in a car, or other vehicle, with anyone under 18 present.  The law is changing to protect children and young people from the dangers of second hand smoke.

Both the driver and the smoker could be fined £50.  The law applies to every driver in England and Wales, including those aged 17 and those with a provisional licence.  The law does not apply if the driver is 17 years old and is alone in the car.

Every time a child breathes in second hand smoke, they breathe in thousands of chemicals.  This puts them at risk of serious conditions including meningitis, cancer, bronchitis and pneumonia.  It can also make asthma worse.

The law applies to any private vehicle that is enclosed wholly or partly by a roof.  It still applies if people have the windows or sunroof open, have the air conditioning on, or if they sit in the open doorway of the vehicle.  The law won’t apply to a convertible car with the roof completely down.

Have your say on transport in Buckinghamshire

As we start to develop the new Local Transport Plan for Buckinghamshire, we would like to hear your views on transport related matters. What is important to you? To share your views we have developed an app which allows you to have your say in a quick and easy way.

The app will be available from 24 August – 6 September 2015 and can be accessed via this link – https://bucks-transport.budgetsimulator.com/  Within the app you are provided with 100 points to allocate to issues that are most important to you.

Your views will then be considered when developing the new transport plan, which will set out our approach to transport across Buckinghamshire.

Buckinghamshire is a growing county, with more people and businesses. This means more people will be moving around the county. Combined with falling central government funding, this means the plan will have to make some difficult choices. We need to understand your priorities, so the plan makes choices that work for you.

For more information please visit www.buckscc.gov.uk/LTP4

WENDOVER WOODS MEMORY WALK

 27th SEPTEMBER 2015

We are calling on the people of Buckinghamshire to walk for a world without dementia this September.

Alzheimer’s Society’s Memory Walk will take place on 27^th September. Registration starts from 10am and we aim to start walking at 11am. Money raised from this fun community event will help some of the 6,800 people living with dementia in Buckinghamshire. We provide vital local services such as Dementia Support, Dementia Cafes and Singing for the Brain Groups to help people live well with the condition.

Last year’s walk showed great community spirit  and we hope people will be more determined than ever to take steps in support of those living with dementia.

To register go to memorywalk.org.uk or call 01296 331722 to find out more

Annual voter registration forms will be sent out this month and Aylesbury Vale District Council is asking residents to respond as quickly as possible in order to help save money.

From 10 August, around 77,000 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 update their details if there are any changes or to confirm that the information is still the same. Even residents who voted in the recent elections still need to respond.

Chris Sheard, Electoral Services Manager, said: “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 is costly and so we are 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 would be a waste of taxpayers’ money.”

Residents can respond online using their 10 digit unique reference number and internet password which 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, request a postal application or opt out of the open register.

For further information, please visit www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk or call 01296 585807.

Green Flag hoisted with pride at Vale Park

http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/news/green-flag-hoisted-pride-vale-park

New skate park officially opens in Aylesbury

http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/news/new-skate-park-officially-opens-aylesbury