Archives: Local News

Link to the HCC survey:

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/d16be381409845c591e002b6a3a19bac/

Dacorum Borough Council is working with Hertfordshire County Council to develop a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). The plan forms part of the Government’s strategy to increase the number of trips made on foot or by bike.

It will help them to identify walking and cycling routes of most importance to the community over the next 10 years. Funding will be sought from central Government and/or from developer contributions. The aim is to make these routes more attractive and viable options than using a car.

Their consultation includes cycle routes along Northfield Road to Tring Station and from Bulbourne to Tring Station, with both being identified as primary routes (those most likely to see a higher conversion to cycle use) (see map below). The Parish Council has been pushing HCC for the Northfield Road route for many years. If this route is still important to you, please take a couple of minutes to complete their short survey.

Their consultation also includes footpath access along the same two routes – Northfield Road to Tring Station and from Bulbourne to Tring Station. The Bulbourne one being identified as primary (most likely to see the most use/conversion of people to walking) and the Northfield Road one as secondary (see map below). Both foot and cycle provision have been part of the parish council discussions with HCC. If this route is still important to you, please do complete their short survey.

You can choose to select the ‘walking and cycling’ option from their drop down menu and lodge your comments for both at the same time.

If you are one of the people that have answered the parish council survey about a possible footpath route from the Westfield Road roundabout along the Upper Icknield Way to College Lake, or if you haven’t had the opportunity to respond to us yet but would use a footpath along this route, please also take a moment to complete the survey and request they add the footpath (and/or cycle path) link between their two proposed routes above (ie Westfield Road roundabout down to Bulbourne).

HCC are planning to use the feedback from their survey to shape grant applications to central government for funding that might enable some of these routes to be delivered. The feedback will also be used in their discussions with nearby developers to try and secure funding towards their implementation. So please help ensure that these routes are seen to be high priority and in high demand by responding to their survey.

Have your say:

Are the routes connecting the places where you’d like to go? Are any improvements required? Are there any barriers that would stop you from using these routes? Take part in their consultation, which closes at 11.59pm on Monday 26 February 2024.

Follow this link:

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/d16be381409845c591e002b6a3a19bac/

Thank you.

Pitstone Parish Council

Please find below the latest environmental statistics from the Repair Cafe, which has now been operating for a year:

Below is the link to the International Database that shows our Repair Cafe results in real time.

https://dashboard.repairmonitor.org/?language=en&cafe=520&country=gb&year=all

We now have experts for repairs of:

electronic/electrical items,

Mechanical items,

Clothing, fabrics,

Laptops, mobile phones, tablets both software and hardware issues,

Furniture,

Jewellery,

Clocks,

We can repair a huge range of items now and our repairers hate being bored! they love to be kept busy the whole time so please come along and bring all your items for repair.

Healthy Start Scheme

NHS Healthy Start Scheme is a food assistance programme providing financial support to families and pregnant women to buy healthy food and milk. Uptake is low locally, meaning hundreds of families are not receiving the food support they’re entitled to.

For more information, please visit the Healthy Start campaign page. 

Council Tax Reduction and Help with Debt

If you are experiencing financial difficulty, please visit buckinghamshire.gov.uk/ct-help – where you’ll be able to check to see if you’re eligible for council tax reduction.

For advice with debt and bills, residents should visit: buckinghamshire.gov.uk/cost-of-living

And for mental health and wellbeing support, residents should visit: buckinghamshire.gov.uk/mental-health

Welcoming Spaces

As the weather has now turned colder, I wanted to remind you that ‘Welcoming Spaces’ across the county continue to offer a friendly and free place where people can go to stay warm and well this winter.

Buckinghamshire libraries continue to welcome anyone who wants to use them as a Welcoming Space.

In addition, several other local community organisations have created their own Welcoming Spaces in church halls and community centres, providing warm and friendly, social spaces for people to go. Find out more about Buckinghamshire’s Welcoming Spaces on our website.

Emergency Support During Winter Months

We know that some people find this time of year challenging which is why we want residents who may need it, to know that emergency help and support is available.

I’ve included below the key contact information for residents.

• If someone needs emergency support or help with food and/or energy, they should contact our Helping Hand service using the online form or by calling 01296 531 151. (Please note that this service is only available during usual office hours and is closed at weekends and on the public holiday days over Christmas and New Year.)
• Anyone in immediate need of food who cannot wait until the next working day when the Helping Hand service is open – and has no other avenue to help – should contact our Emergency Social Work Team on 0800 999 7767. (Please note they will not be able to provide food on Christmas Day when the shops are closed, but otherwise can provide immediate help and advice in an emergency.)
• If you see anyone sleeping out on the streets of Buckinghamshire, please contact StreetLink online or call 0300 500 0914. They will notify our dedicated Outreach workers. If you see anyone you believe to be under the age of 18 and/or are concerned about the health or welfare of anyone that you see sleeping rough, please call 999.
• Residents who may be finding this time of year challenging or lonely or are experiencing difficulty with their mental health can find help and advice on the NHS Buckinghamshire Taking Therapies webpage.
• Information about additional support can be found on our cost of living webpages.

Consultations

RAF Halton Supplementary Planning Document – Monday 22 January to Monday 4 MarchProposals for on-street and off-street parking in Buckinghamshire – Wednesday 24 January to Sunday 18 February

Council plan to balance the books for the next three years

Buckinghamshire Council has published its medium-term financial plan which details how it will balance its budget for the next three years.

In an acutely challenging financial context for local government, the council has worked hard to identify the savings needed to balance the books until 2027 and where spending reductions will be needed over the next three years. It’s also produced a detailed budget proposal for 2024/25 including how much it’s proposing to spend on major projects and services, following consultation with residents.

With many local authorities increasingly unable to produce balanced budgets, we are not yet in that position in Buckinghamshire. We have already made considerable savings from becoming a single unitary authority in 2020. The council forecasts that by 2027, it will have saved a total of nearly £172 million from both savings and additional income.  

However, the council is still facing very significant extra financial pressure because of rising costs and demand particularly for services that help the most vulnerable, such as social care, providing temporary accommodation for people who have become homeless and home to school transport (particularly for children with special needs). All of these are critical services that people depend on, and which are statutory, meaning the council is legally obliged to fulfil these services.

It means that to balance the budget, the council has put forward solutions to ultimately reduce costs, including:

• investing in additional children’s homes to reduce the heavy cost burden of external placements
• making savings in Adult Social Care through providing help for some residents, where it fits their need, to live more independently
• rationalising the council’s office space, such as closing the King George V site in Amersham
• investing in more housing and temporary accommodation units to bring down the spend on costly nightly-paid accommodation

Residents were asked their views during the autumn on where they wanted the council to prioritise spending the budget and this feedback is now reflected in the financial plans.

The budget proposals include spending the following amounts over the next four years:

• £105 million on the highways network
• £25 million on supporting housing and homelessness
• £14.7 million on climate change and flood management projects
• £37.6 million on economic growth and regeneration projects

Overall, the plan proposes that the council spends £656.4 million on capital projects over the next four years.

The council raises the money needed to pay for these projects and services through grants and income streams. The biggest of these by far is the income from council tax, which makes up 80% of how council services are paid for. Because the cost of providing services has risen so significantly due to added demand and high inflation, the council can only balance the budget by raising council tax again next year. The budget proposals put forward a 2.99% rise in the base rate of council tax, with a further 2% rise to be spent on Adult Social Care, meaning a total rise of 4.99% – or an extra £1.69 per week for the average Band D property.

Underpinning this overarching financial plan are a number of key principles, including how it will allow the council to keep delivering on the priorities residents have asked for, while not making over-ambitious savings or excessively using reserves in the process.

Councillor Derek Town 

Keeping roads safe this winter

​When temperatures plummet, Buckinghamshire Council’s trusty fleet of gritters rolls into action, salting key roads across the county, to make them safer for motorists. But did you know that the council also provides salt bins for people to freely use to make their roads and pavements safer during cold and icy weather?

The bins are filled with salt and are available at multiple locations across the county for drivers and pedestrians to treat public roads and pavements in their local area. The bins are filled and topped up during the winter season with a mixture of salt and sand. They are located in targeted areas known to be affected by icy conditions which the gritting routes don’t cover.

Salt bins are provided for residents to use on public roads and footways only, and should not be used to clear private drives.

Changes to household DIY waste disposal due from 31 December

​Residents in Buckinghamshire will be able to dispose of small amounts of DIY waste for free at Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) from 31 December 2023.

The changes have been brought in by central government and will make it easier for people to freely dispose of small amounts of waste created at home from DIY projects such as re-tiling, renovating a bathroom or digging a pond in the garden.

Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet voted in favour of necessary changes to the council’s Waste Access & Acceptance Policy which sets out rules and procedures for the county’s 10 HRCs, to reflect the new legislation.

Following the change in law regarding the disposal of household DIY waste, the council is reintroducing a digital e-permit for DIY waste. From 31 December, any resident wanting to dispose of household DIY waste at a HRC will need to have an e-permit printed out or on a portable device, such as a mobile phone or tablet, before they visit. This only affects residents who wish to bring household DIY waste.

The DIY e-permit will allow residents to dispose of one load of DIY waste each week for free. One load of DIY waste is no more than 100 litres of loose DIY waste, or one large item no bigger than 2m x 0.75m x 0.7m such as one bath tub, one door or one kitchen unit. Staff will scan the permit and check the resident’s address, after which the e-permit will expire. It can be renewed after seven days, to allow residents to dispose of another load of DIY waste for free. Anyone wishing to dispose of more than one load of DIY waste in a week will be able to do so but will be charged, using the same price list which has been in place for the past four years.

Council enforces higher penalties for fly-tipping in Bucks

​ Those caught fly-tipping in Buckinghamshire face the consequence of paying a higher penalty for their crime following changes to the law which have been adopted by the council.

Earlier this year the government increased the maximum Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) for fly-tipping from £400 to £1,000. The penalty for Failure in Householder Duty of Care, has also been raised from £400 to a maximum of £600. This penalty relates to people who have waste removed by a third-party waste carrier. By law householders have a duty to check that the carrier they are using is legally authorised to carry out the work and will do so responsibly. If the waste they have given the carrier is found dumped illegally, the householder is deemed to have failed in their Duty of Care regarding their waste and can be liable for prosecution.

Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet today voted in favour of amending local policies to reflect the changes, bringing in powers to enforce the highest rate for FPNs for those caught breaking the law in this way.

FPNs are generally used for smaller scale offences and avoid court proceedings and a criminal record. However where possible the council will always seek to impose the maximum penalty and for larger scale or more serious offences the defendant may be summoned to court where fines are set by magistrates and can result in custodial sentences and costs totalling thousands of pounds.

Coming soon to the Aylesbury area – buses on demand

​People in the area surrounding Aylesbury will have an exciting new choice of how to travel by public transport after Buckinghamshire Council is set to partner with WeMove to launch a ‘demand responsive’ bus service. The three-year trial follows the successful introduction of a similar scheme in Wycombe earlier last year, which has already proved so popular that it has expanded to new areas to meet demand.

The new service is part of a pilot scheme funded by the Government’s Rural Mobility Fund and covers a specific geographical area, enabling passengers to request a pick up from one of the fully accessible minibuses at a convenient nearby ‘virtual bus stop’ as the buses travel through their area.

The areas covered by the service include Aston Clinton, Weston Turville, Halton, Hartwell, Stoke Mandeville, Bishopstone and Weedon. The service will drop off passengers anywhere within the operational area, which includes Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury town centre and the railway stations at Aylesbury, Aylesbury Vale Parkway, Stoke Mandeville and Wendover.

Councillor Derek Town 

Would you benefit from free courses to help you:

• Cook healthy meals on a budget?
• Make budget plans?
• Learn skills like Excel to help with employment prospects?
• Help children with homework?

Buckinghamshire Adult Learning is delivering free courses and workshops. They offer courses to suit all levels.

More information can be found on the Buckinghamshire Adult Learning website.

Buckinghamshire Council has provided the following information:

We know that some people find this time of year challenging and after a tough year in general, and this Christmas might be even harder. This is why we want residents who may need it, to know that emergency help and support is available during the festive period. Key contacts are below:

• If someone needs emergency support or help with food and/or energy, they should contact our Helping Hand service using the online form or by calling 01296 531 151. Please note that this service is only available during usual office hours and is closed at weekends and on the public holiday days over Christmas and New Year.
• Anyone in immediate need of food who cannot wait until the next working day when the Helping Hand service is open – and has no other avenue to help – should contact our Emergency Social Work Team on 0800 999 7767. Please note they will not be able to provide food on Christmas Day when the shops are closed, but otherwise can provide immediate help and advice in an emergency.
• If you see anyone sleeping out on the streets of Buckinghamshire, please contact StreetLink online or call 0300 500 0914. They will notify our dedicated Outreach workers. If you see anyone you believe to be under the age of 18 and/or are concerned about the health or welfare of anyone that you see sleeping rough, please call 999.
• Residents who may be finding this time of year challenging or lonely or are experiencing difficulty with their mental health can find help and advice on the NHS Buckinghamshire Taking Therapies webpage.
• Information about additional support can be found on our cost of living webpages.

As Pitstone residents, you can also reach out to our local services:

• Our local foodbank to access food: information and contact details can be found here: https://pitstone.co.uk/localinfo/foodbank/
• The Pitstone Town Lands Charity can help you with a variety of financial support and advice: information and contact details can be found here: https://pitstone.co.uk/localinfo/pitstone-town-lands-charity/

Amidst all the seasonal plans and celebrations, Bucks residents are being reminded to take note of changes to bin collections during the festive period and to remember to recycle as much of the extra waste that accumulates at this time of year as possible.

Did you know that households produce around 30% more waste during the holiday period? From cardboard boxes to bottles and food wrappers to Christmas cards, much of the extra waste that is generated can be recycled. Cardboard boxes should be folded and flattened and placed securely next to your recycling container if it is full. You will also need to remove any other packaging such as tape and polystyrene. Glittery wrapping paper and Christmas cards with embellishments cannot be recycled and so need to be put in your regular waste bin.

With extra food and drink for parties and gatherings, it can be easy to buy more than needed. To ensure you keep food waste and costs to a minimum, check out our handy online toolkit which includes tips on storing food and making it go further. Leftovers and food waste can be put in your food recycling bin and left out for collection on bin day. Most food waste can go in the food recycling bin but you can check on the council website to see what can and cannot be recycled.

There are lots of other ways to be more environmentally friendly at Christmas, such as donating unwanted gifts or food and recycling old Christmas cards and ornaments into gift tags and decorations. Find out more on our website: https://www.recycleforbuckinghamshire.co.uk/christmas/

Due to the bank holidays, normal bin collections will be operating to a revised timetable. Make sure you check the amended dates in the below table and leave your bins out for collection by 6.30am on the morning they are due to be collected.

Residents who subscribe to the garden waste collection service should note that the service is currently suspended for winter and will resume on Monday 22 January 2024. As a garden waste subscriber, you can dispose of your Christmas tree, wreaths, holly and mistletoe in your garden waste bin after Christmas. Simply remove any decorations, cut the tree into smaller pieces and place them in your garden waste bin. If you are not subscribed to the garden waste collection service, you can either take your tree to your nearest Household Recycling Centre or see if there is a local charity collection nearby.

Buckinghamshire’s Household Recycling Centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. On all other days over the Christmas period the sites will operate the usual opening days and hours (9am-4pm). Check online before you visit to confirm opening hours and avoid the queues.

Gareth Williams, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment said: “There are lots of ways we can all make an effort to be greener at this time of year and every small thing that we do makes a difference. From being creative with your leftover food to donating unwanted gifts and recycling Christmas cards and wrapping paper, there are some great and cost-effective ways to be environmentally friendly over Christmas so be sure to give it a go.”

Are you interested in education? Committed and open-minded?

Buckinghamshire Council is looking for volunteer members for the Independent Appeal Panel to hear school admission appeals.

Appeal hearings take place remotely via Teams on school days from about 9am to 3pm.

We provide panel members with support and training on relevant law and procedure. 

We welcome applications from all backgrounds.

If you can:

💬 Communicate effectively with a wide range of people

🔎 Analyse information to form conclusions

🙂 Be sensitive and respectful of the need for confidentiality

We want to hear from you!

To register your interest, please contact:

kim.guy@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Food waste – Don’t bin it – Recycle it!

Buckinghamshire Council is asking residents to think twice before throwing food waste in the bin and to recycle it instead.

Currently around a third of the waste thrown in the regular rubbish bin in Buckinghamshire is food waste. This equates to around 28,000 tonnes of food every year, an average of 2kg per household per week. It is enough to fill Big Ben more than one and a half times each year. Not only does this cost local taxpayers more than £600,000 a year in disposal costs, disposing of food waste in this way also damages the environment as it produces double the amount of carbon emissions compared to recycling food waste.

As part of a renewed drive to encourage more people to recycle their food waste, over the next few weeks the council will be delivering leaflets, putting stickers on rubbish bins, and letting people know about the many benefits of food recycling. Attention is particularly being focused on areas where there is more scope to increase food recycling rates.

Buckinghamshire Council cracks down on fraudsters

Buckinghamshire Council is encouraging residents to help them fight fraud as part of International Fraud Awareness Week (12-18 November).

The council’s Fraud Team tackles housing benefit cheating, council tax scams, cybercrime and more. Losses from fraud cost taxpayers thousands of pounds yearly.

Recent action by the Fraud Team includes a joint operation with Parking Services aimed at targeting Blue Badge misuse. Investigators caught several people using expired badges or overstaying time limits in disabled parking bays. Offenders were issued a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for their parking contravention and sent warning letters.

Get better health and wellbeing with BetterPoints

Buckinghamshire Council is reminding residents that there is no better time to get active with BetterPoints. The free health and wellbeing app has been helping thousands of people in the county to move more and make simple but effective lifestyle changes to improve their health and wellbeing. Now could be the perfect time for new users to start as a range of extra incentives have recently been added. 

BetterPoints is an easy-to-use mobile app that motivates users to be more active and offers incentives in the form of points which can then be converted into vouchers to spend in local shops or given to local charities as a monetary donation.

Since the initiative launched earlier this year, more than 2000 residents in Bucks have downloaded the app and been using it, earning points when they walk, cycle, run or visit a leisure centre. The simple tool encourages people to make healthier lifestyle choices to boost their health and wellbeing.

Extra points are on offer for residents who would like to lose weight or give up smoking when they access support via Be Healthy Bucks. Be Healthy Bucks is Buckinghamshire’s free health and wellbeing service to help residents make small changes to lead a healthy life. They offer stop smoking support, healthy weight programmes, NHS health checks and support to cut down on alcohol. 

You can go one better with Better Points during November and December. A range of incentives have been added where users can redeem their Better Points for shopping vouchers to help towards the cost of Christmas.

There are also weekly ‘Gift of Giving’ prize draws where Better Points users will be entered to win 10,000 points – worth £10 – and a £20 donation to a local charity of their choice.

Tree-mendous programme of tree-planting continues in Bucks

Buckinghamshire Council is making great progress in its ‘Bucks Tree Mission’ to plant half a million new trees (one for every resident), as part of its efforts to address climate change and boost the natural landscape of the county.

National Tree Week runs from 25 November to 3 December. It marks the start of the next tree planting season which finishes at the end of March. It’s a great time to take stock of what we’ve achieved so far and to let people know about some of the new tree planting projects coming up.

In the last twelve months, we’ve created new woodlands at Wing Woods near Leighton Buzzard and at Grange Farm and Bury Farm in the south of the county.

The site at Wing Woods, which is managed by Forestry England, includes 109,000 new trees with a further 23,000 trees being added in the coming months. Species planted include native trees such as common beech, common oak, silver birch and black poplar.

We have also secured over £264k from the Forestry Commission’s Local Authorities Treescape Fund. The fund aims to restore tree cover in non-woodland areas affected by disease, habitat loss or ageing tree stock. We will be working with partners including Earthwatch and ReLeaf Marlow on these exciting planting projects.

There will also be another 5,000 new trees planted across Buckinghamshire this season through various community projects, including some new, so-called, ‘Tiny Forests’. This involves planting up to 600 specially selected young native trees in a small, prepared area to encourage faster growth. Tiny Forests have already been planted at Princes Risborough and at Bourton Park in Buckingham and the new ones are being planted in ‘Opportunity Bucks’ areas in the county.

Opportunity Bucks is a flagship programme for the council, focussing on ten wards in Buckinghamshire to improve outcomes for the people who live there. Much work is being done to allow better access to all kinds of opportunities in these areas, from supporting residents into work and training, to improving the local environment, hence focussing these projects in these places. New Tiny Forests will be planted at Hamilton Academy, Brooker Recreation Ground, Totteridge Recreation Ground and Desborough Park in High Wycombe and at Walton Court in Aylesbury.

Can you give something back to your community this Christmas?

As the festive season comes into full swing and people plan activities and shopping, Buckinghamshire Council is asking residents to get into the true spirit of Christmas and think about what they can give back to their local community to ensure everyone has an enjoyable festive season.

From donations to your local food bank or community fridge to volunteering time to support a local community initiative, there are lots of easy ways people can do something small that can make a real difference to those less fortunate.

There are many ways you can help:

• Donate gifts or money to collections such as the Inspire Bucks Christmas Gift Appeal which distributes new toys and gifts to local children and young people in need
• Donate items to your local food bank or community fridge
• Donate to the Heart of Bucks together against poverty appeal
• Volunteer your time to a local initiative. Community Impact Bucks runs a volunteering matching service that allows you to match your skills and time commitment to the volunteering opportunities available, including those within Opportunity Bucks areas.
• Become a Buckinghamshire Food Champion and collect Christmas donations for your street or local area – Set up a food collection point on your street (Food Champions) | Buckinghamshire Council

There are lots of other ways you can help others. Take a look at the council website for more information: How you can help others | Buckinghamshire Council

Businesses in Bucks boosted by investment

Buckinghamshire Council has awarded £1.6m to help boost support for businesses and entrepreneurs in Buckinghamshire. The funding is from central government and will help support a range of local businesses and entrepreneurs as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

The UKSPF forms part of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda. Its aim is to make funding available to help build pride in local areas, support high quality skills training, support pay, employment and productivity growth and increase life chances. The funding will be used to strengthen the local economy by providing tailored support to help businesses to start, grow, increase productivity, and drive innovation, and employment.

Business support organisations were invited to bid for a share of the Buckinghamshire funding earlier this year. Applications needed to focus on four key priorities – rural business support; business growth and productivity; business start-ups and entrepreneurship; and sustainability and the journey to net zero.  

Through the competitive process, 4 organisations were granted funding for a range of initiatives:

• Enterprise Nation – £207k for its Next Generation Bucks programme to boost the number of start-ups in the county.
• Buckinghamshire Business First – £509k for its Growth Programme, offering tailored growth advice and support to local businesses.
• Maybe Solutions – £136k for a programme of social media support focusing on high street business growth.
• Retail Revival – £167k for providing tailored support to retail businesses to help increase productivity and growth.
• Buckinghamshire Business First – £506k to work with local businesses to calculate carbon emissions and support with ways to reduce them.
• Buckinghamshire Business First – £69k to provide support to rural businesses in the county.

·          

Shining a light on streetlight repairs

Buckinghamshire Council is making steady progress with its plan to upgrade and fix broken streetlights around the county.

Since April this year, crews have fixed more than 1,150 broken or damaged streetlights, alongside the ongoing programme to upgrade all lanterns to use more energy efficient LED bulbs

Councillor Derek Town 

The Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (BOB ICB) is working with health and care partners to develop a strategy and implementation plan for the future of primary care. This includes general practice, community pharmacy, optometry (eye care) and dentistry across BOB.

The ICB will also involve local people and patients to transform the way these services are delivered in their communities and neighbourhoods, enabling the integration of primary care and community services with the aim of improving access to services, people’s experiences of using them and better outcomes for patients.

The work aims to:

• build a shared understanding of the current state of primary and community services and present a case for change
• build a consensus on the future vision for primary care and its integration with community services
• design the way we deliver this care (operating model) and other tools such as digital healthcare support 
• test the practical application of the new model through projects
• capture learning and build capability for phased roll-out of the final strategy.

As part of our programme of work to transform primary care, we have launched the ‘Primary Care Conversation’ to let you share your experiences about these services in an online survey at: https://yourvoicebob-icb.uk.engagementhq.com/hub-page/primary-care  Your views will help to inform and shape an ICB primary care strategy to deliver better care for you.

A printed copy of the survey is available by post or by telephone for people without online access. To request one please contact 0300 123 4465 or email engagement.BOBICS@nhs.net

Open until 31 January 2024

Upper Icknield Way, Pitstone, Buckinghamshire

17 November – 20 November

Delays likely – Road closure

Name: Upper Icknield Way, Pitstone

Location: Upper Icknield Way

Description: Streetworks / License – Streetworks

Responsibility for event: Buckinghamshire Council

Current status: Planned

Description: PATCHING WORKS

Works location: FROM ROUNDABOUT TO END OF USRN

Additional description: Patching works take place prior to roads receiving surface treatments. Potholes or other defects are patched and the surface made level. Surfacing work will follow at a later date.

Responsibility for works: Buckinghamshire Council

Current status: Planned work about to start

Works reference: D400226214501

As you are probably aware, Clark Contracting are proposing to amend the mineral and restoration operations at Pitstone Quarry. The image below shows the proposed master plan for the development. The website contains more information: https://pitstone-quarry.co.uk/.

Clark Contracting are pleased to announce that they have an organised a ‘drop-in’ session on Tuesday 28^th November between 1200 and 1845 hrs for local residents and interested parties. The drop-in session will be at Pitstone Pavilion, Marsworth Rd, Pitstone, Leighton Buzzard LU7 9AP.

Location Map

This drop-in session is to enable interested parties to meet the team, discuss any aspect of the scheme, and provide pertinent comments.

There is no need to book or contact us in any way. If you require further information do not hesitate to contact the team via email pitstonerestoration@aae-ltd.co.uk.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the AGM (originally planned for 8/11/23) has had to be postponed. A new date will be announced as soon as possible. Thank you.

Household recycling centres change to regular winter opening hours

From Sunday 1 October, all 10 of Buckinghamshire’s Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) will switch over to the usual winter opening hours of 9am to 4pm.

The days each centre is open will remain unchanged but the change in hours reflects the fact that as it gets closer to the clocks going back at the end of October and over the winter months, the number of visitors to the sites decreases rapidly once it starts to get darker earlier.

To find out which days your local HRC is open and also further details of what can and cannot be taken to a centre, visit: buckinghamshire.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling/

Did you know you can also view live webcam footage via the council website, to check if the site is busy and avoid having to wait in a queue? If you are unsure about the best time to visit, take a look at the cameras and plan your trip accordingly.

Start your journey to quit smoking this Stoptober

Smokers in Buckinghamshire are being encouraged to make this month the start of their journey to giving up smoking for good and to play their part in the goal of creating a future smoke-free generation. 

Statistics show that around 10% of people in Buckinghamshire regularly smoke cigarettes or tobacco. Buckinghamshire Council wants to raise awareness of the benefits of quitting smoking during the month-long national campaign, Stoptober, to encourage more people to quit smoking. 

The negative impacts of smoking are well documented when it comes to health and household finances. However, within just days and weeks of stopping smoking, the positive benefits emerge, including having more energy, breathing more easily and saving money. If you can stay smoke-free for 28 days, it has been proven that you are five times more likely to quit for good. 

In Buckinghamshire, a large amount of work is being done as part of a longer-term aspiration, to create a smoke-free generation. One of the key parts of this initiative is to reduce the exposure to smoking experienced by children and young people. In 2022 Buckinghamshire Council introduced the Smokefree Sidelines initiative. This Public Health campaign seeks to discourage adults from smoking on the sidelines at grassroots sporting events so as not to expose children to the effects of secondary smoke inhalation and to discourage young people from wanting to take up smoking. 

Another part of the work is the creation of Smokefree Parks and Playgrounds which operates in the same way. Since the start of the Smokefree schemes: 

• 11 sports clubs have signed up to Smokefree Sidelines  
• 14 parks and playgrounds have gone smoke and vape-free  

Have your say on Buckinghamshire polling arrangements

​Buckinghamshire Council has launched a consultation asking residents for feedback on polling districts and polling places across the county.

The council is required by law to review polling arrangements periodically. This will ensure polling places are convenient and accessible to voters for forthcoming polls, such as the election of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley on 2 May 2024 and the next UK Parliamentary election, when that is called.

Most polling districts, polling places and polling stations will remain unchanged. However, some changes are required due to venue availability or new boundaries arising from recent reviews.

Residents are encouraged to share feedback by 11:59pm on 4 December 2023 on the following:

• Accessibility of current polling places
• Suitability of venues used as polling places
• Proposed polling districts
• Comments can be submitted via an online survey, email, post, or printed paper survey. Full details are available at: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/polling-review
• The revised polling arrangements will be published on 1 February 2024. This allows time for any changes to be made before the next scheduled elections in the county – including the election of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley on 2 May 2024.

Bucks History Festival returns to celebrate our history and heritage

Buckinghamshire History Festival returns on Wednesday 1 November for its eighth annual celebration of the county’s history and cultural heritage.

The festival, which is coordinated by Buckinghamshire Archives, sees the Archives Team come together with partner organisations to present a huge range of things to see and do throughout November, bringing our past to life and uncovering the often untold stories of Buckinghamshire people and places from across the years.

Council’s Energy Doctor scheme now offering water-saving devices

Buckinghamshire Council is pleased to announce that its Energy Doctor scheme is now able to offer new water-saving devices to help low-income households save money on their water and energy bills.

The Energy Doctor scheme provides a range of resource-saving measures to eligible households. These now include:

• aerating shower heads
• 4-minute shower timers
• cistern water displacement bags for use in non-dual flush toilets

Using an aerated shower head or shower timer is estimated to save £50 in terms of household annual water and energy costs. The cistern water displacement bags displace around 1 litre of water every flush – which can achieve savings of approximately 4,800 litres per year.

Councillor Derek Town 

It’s that time of year again! 🎅🎅🎅

The Santa Float preparations are in full swing at Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care; Louise and I can’t wait to bring some festive cheer to the residents of Tring and surrounding villages, who wants to join us?

Please let us know which routes/dates you would like to accompany the float. If you have any friends or family who would like to join us this year, please give them my email address/phone number as I would love to hear from them!

As always, we really do appreciate your invaluable help and hope to make this year’s Santa float the best one ever…. without any snow!

Look forward to hearing from you all,

Best wishes

Alison and Louise

Weds 13 Dec

Castlemead

(meet at the junction of Westfield Road & Warwick Road)

5:45

Thurs 14 Dec

Pitstone Village

(meet at the junction of Cheddington Road & Marsworth Road)

5:45

Alison Parker
Supporter Care Officer – Community & Corporate

Direct Dial: 01442 820723
Switchboard: 01442 890222
Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care
Rennie House, Unit 3, Icknield Way Industrial Estate, Tring, HP23 4JX

www.renniegrovepeace.org

As of June 2022 Local Authorities have been given powers to enforce certain Moving Traffic Offences, details can be found using this link Moving traffic offences | Buckinghamshire Council , this includes the Ivinghoe Freight Zone.  If you have a view on focusing the MTO team on the Ivinghoe Zone use the Your Voice Bucks platform. Have your say on new locations to enforce moving traffic offences – Your Voice Bucks – Citizen Space.

It is due to close on the 29^th October 2023.

In the meantime, you may report breaches of the order to the police using their online reporting tool, this is the same link for speeding vehicles of any type. Report a road traffic incident | Thames Valley Police. 

(Message from Buckinghamshire Council)

Click the link for full details

Go back to school sustainably this September

With families preparing for the start of the new school year, Buckinghamshire Council is taking the opportunity to encourage more people to make their journey to and from school more sustainable.

Steven Broadbent, Cabinet Member for Transport explained: “Many people already use alternatives to the car to take their children to and from school, but we want to make sure that everyone is aware of the huge benefits using a more sustainable form of transport can have. Choosing to walk, cycle or scoot to school is good not only for your own health but also better for the environment.”

The council’s Sustainable Transport Team works with schools across the county to help them create their own School Travel Plans to promote and encourage active, safe and sustainable travel for school journeys. Schools are encouraged to sign up to the national Modeshift STARS accreditation programme which recognises and rewards schools and other organisations that have shown excellence in supporting sustainable and active travel. Currently 65 schools in Buckinghamshire have a Modeshift STARS accreditation, ranging from the starter level Green award up to a Platinum award for outstanding achievement.  

Even for those who have no alternative to the car for school journeys, there are still things you can do to make a difference. Steven explained: “We know that alternatives to the car are not always possible but simply by turning your engine off when waiting for your children to come out of school at the end of the day, you are helping reduce potentially harmful pollutants. Alternatively, you could try parking a bit further away from school and walking the last part of the journey. This can help with fitness and also avoid traffic congestion outside the school gates.”

Encouraging more people to switch to greener forms of travel is a key element of Buckinghamshire Council’s Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy which aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Rough calculations show that for an average sized car, travelling a distance of one mile to school each day and one mile home again, over the course of the school year, the level of CO2 emissions created in one year would be around 100kg. Choosing to adopt an active form of travel such as walking, cycling or scooting instead, would save this amount, which equates to the same weight as a newborn baby elephant.

Parents can make a commitment to follow the Parent’s Parking Promise. Those who sign up to the pledge get a sticker to put in their car window. The promise encourages people to think more carefully about where they park for school drop offs, avoiding zig zag lines directly outside school and being mindful of not blocking pavements for other families, including those with buggies and wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

For more information on sustainable school travel, visit the council website where you can also find out more about the Buckinghamshire Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy.

Do you still need to respond to the annual canvass?

During July and August, Buckinghamshire Council’s Electoral Services team sent either a letter or an email to all households in Buckinghamshire as part of the annual canvass. This communication asked residents to check that their electoral registration details are correct to make sure they retain their right to vote and have their say in future elections.

Households that have been asked to confirm or update their details but haven’t yet done this are urged to do so as soon as possible and online where possible. The letter or email will say if you need to respond or not according to your circumstance. Residents not on the electoral register won’t be able to vote in elections and this may also impact their ability to obtain credit.

People who have moved recently are especially encouraged to take part in the canvass and check who is registered to vote at their new address; also if someone in the household has now turned 16 or 17 years old.

Households that haven’t responded, and are required to do so, will be visited by one of Buckinghamshire Council’s door-to-door canvassers who will begin doing their rounds on Friday 22 September.

Canvassers will be carrying clear identification with them and will check the details held on the electoral register are correct or record any changes, if necessary. Please follow the instructions on your canvass form or email to avoid a canvasser visiting your household.

For more information, please contact the council’s Electoral Registration team by telephoning 01296 798 141 or by emailing elections@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.

Giving Access All Areas to people who are autistic and/or have a learning disability

​Aimed exclusively at people in Buckinghamshire who are autistic and/or have a learning disability, the event is designed to ensure people are aware of the range of services and support available and to encourage healthy lifestyles and wellbeing.

Currently in Buckinghamshire there are over 2,400 people with learning difficulties and over 5,000 autistic people, many of whom are not accessing activities or services available to them. The Access All Areas event aims to showcase the fantastic range of services which can help support people who are autistic or have additional needs, to live a fulfilled, independent and healthy life.

Run in partnership with Buckinghamshire Integrated Care Board, this year Access All Areas will be held in two locations. The first event takes place at The Gateway in Aylesbury on 16^th October between 10am and 4pm and the second event takes place in High Wycombe at the Highcrest Academy on 26^th October, from 10am to 4pm. The free events are aimed at autistic children, young people, and adults and/or those with a learning disability. Carers, family members, friends and care workers are also encouraged to attend.

Both events will feature information stands and interactive learning activities from charities and services who work to support and promote equality for autistic people and/or those who have a learning disability. This includes NHS teams who will be promoting health checks and other checks that can be done at home. These checks are a proactive way of picking up on health concerns and preventing more concerns, helping people with learning disabilities stay as healthy as possible. Health professionals will be on hand to talk through what to expect from an annual health check and answer questions. Other highlights at the event include sporting activities open to everyone and advice on how to get your voice heard to make changes within public services.

There will be designated breakaway areas for anyone needing some time-out and specific quiet hours between 10am to 11am and 3pm to 4pm

The camera never lies – Another fly-tipper caught in the act

The camera never lies, and in this case, it has helped convict another fly-tipper who thought they could get away with illegal dumping in Buckinghamshire.

On 30 August 2023, Ravinder Singh of Mellow Lane East, Hayes, attended High Wycombe Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to an offence of illegal dumping, which is better known as fly-tipping.

The court heard that a frustrated local resident saw a double mattress dumped outside his house on Old Mill Lane, Denham, Buckinghamshire. When he checked his home CCTV security system, he saw the mattress appeared on the far side of a van that pulled onto the pavement.    

Enquiries by Council officers established that Mr Singh was the driver of the offending vehicle. When interviewed under caution at Hayes Police Station he denied dumping the mattress but couldn’t offer a plausible explanation as to how the mattress got to the spot it was found in.

Singh was fined £1,057. He was also ordered to pay £874.37 towards prosecution costs and a victim surcharge of £473, making a total to pay of £2,404.37.

Councillor Derek Town 

Ashridge Estate is a special place that welcomes an estimated 1.7 million people each year, who enjoy spending time in the beautiful, historic landscape.

However, the popularity of the estate is having an impact on this very special landscape that people love so much. In order to safeguard its future we need to make changes to the infrastructure across the estate so we can continue to welcome visitors in a way that allows nature and wildlife to thrive.

Please click the link to visit the “protecting our roots” webpage to find out more about the current proposals and how you can input into them.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/essex-bedfordshire-hertfordshire/ashridge-estate/protecting-the-future-of-ashridge-estate

https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/corporate-services/budget-2024-25/

We want to know which services you think should be the main priorities in our budget for next year, and what you think about our plans for how next year’s budget should be spent.

In recent years, financial pressures have had a huge impact on families, businesses and organisations.

Councils can’t escape these impacts and are facing sharply rising costs at the same time as more and more people are finding themselves in need of support.

Continuing to provide our main services such as waste collection, planning and road maintenance whilst also supporting our local children and adults in need is challenging.

To ensure we can continue to help the most vulnerable, we are having to make difficult decisions around money and how we provide our services going forward.

Countrywide, councils are facing huge financial challenges. You may have seen in the news that a number of councils have stated that they cannot meet their costs.

In comparison, we remain in a relatively stable position. This is in large part because, since becoming a unitary in 2020, we have worked hard to become ever more efficient and reduce running costs.

So far, we have delivered £45m additional savings and income, with a further £43.9m of savings and income proposed by the end of 2025. That’s a total £89m of savings and income over our first five years as a council – equivalent to 18% of our net budget for 2023 to 2024.

However, we are also experiencing the impact of rising costs and rising demand and need to take difficult decisions as we plan for the future in order to be sure that we continue to remain financially balanced.

Now we are looking for your feedback.

We are working up plans for the council’s 2024 to 2025 budget and we need you to tell us how you think we should be spending your money.

In considering your response, please do take time to reflect on the wider needs of the whole of Buckinghamshire in addition to the specific priorities for yourself, your family, your immediate community, your business or your organisation.

Full info via the link at the top of the page

Our Public Surgeries provide an opportunity for residents and councillors to meet with the Flight Operations team. The team will be on hand for information and to answer your queries on airspace and aircraft noise. 

Next local surgery:

Ivinghoe Public Surgery (by appointment only)
21st September 2023
4pm-7pm
Ivinghoe Old School Community Hub, 2 High Street, Leighton Buzzard, England, LU7 9EX

Book your appointment via the link below:

https://www.london-luton.co.uk/corporate/community/noise/noise-surgeries?fbclid=IwAR3Q6MLtsj2udX6fe1wItmJQV5iSYOMC5XhNMoPz96Yz_MraIA22WHOv3Ew

Bucks Household Recycling Centres continue to get top marks from residents

Overall satisfaction with all ten of the county’s Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) is 100% according to the latest figures from the bi-annual Customer Satisfaction Survey.

The survey is carried out twice a year to gauge opinions of regular users of the sites and to ensure the facilities continue to meet the requirements of local residents.

The results show:

• 100% of those interviewed said they were satisfied overall with the HRCs (61% said they were very satisfied and 39% said they were satisfied).
• The layout of containers on site and the helpfulness of site staff also received 100% satisfaction ratings.
• The area of least satisfaction was with road signs to the site which received a 97% satisfaction rating and traffic queues which received a 98% satisfaction rating.
• Satisfaction with the range of materials which can be recycled has increased from the last survey.
• Customers in Burnham gave the highest number of ‘very satisfied’ ratings of all the sites.

Give teens a chance – Foster with Bucks

​With two-thirds of children in care in England over the age of 10, Buckinghamshire Council is asking people to consider whether fostering a teenager may be for them. Anyone interested is invited to find out more about fostering with Buckinghamshire Council on social media and at a special teen-focused information event in September.

During August and September, the council’s Fostering team is inviting people to consider whether they could foster teens and help build their future. They’ll be myth-busting, exploring the science behind teenage brains, and speaking to some current foster carers to share more about their experiences of fostering teens.

Find out more about fostering teens with Buckinghamshire Council at: buckinghamshire.gov.uk/foster-teens, @FosterBucks on Facebook, or try out the FosteringReady tool which helps people to find out more and create a personalised plan.

Eliminating hepatitis C: Buckinghamshire’s Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service achieves milestone

​Buckinghamshire Council is excited to announce that our local Drug and Alcohol treatment service, One Recovery Bucks, has recently achieved a major milestone in eliminating hepatitis C virus from its service users. 

Hepatitis C is a virus that can affect the liver.  The virus is spread through blood-to-blood contact and people who inject drugs are at the highest risk of becoming infected. No vaccine is available, and if left untreated it can result in serious and sometimes life-threatening liver damage.  However, the good news is that detecting and treating hepatitis C can prevent liver damage and make sure the infection is not passed on to other people.

One Recovery Bucks has been awarded ‘micro-elimination’ status – meaning that everyone who has previously injected drugs who has accessed the service across the whole of Buckinghamshire has been tested for hepatitis C, and more than 9 in 10 people who have tested positive have either started treatment or cleared the virus naturally.

One Recovery Bucks is the first county-wide service to achieve this nationally, representing a major achievement for Buckinghamshire. In doing so, we are supporting the ambition to eliminate hepatitis C nationally by 2025 – ahead of the rest of the world. 

Strong leadership and co-ordination between One Recovery Bucks, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Buckinghamshire Council and the NHS Addictions Provider Alliance has been paramount to this success. The improved patient pathway has reduced the number of tests needed, brought services into Buckinghamshire to avoid longer travel times to Oxford, and has halved the number of appointments patients were required to attend before starting treatment.

This year the use of an NHS mobile outreach screening van has also been secured for Buckinghamshire to increase the testing of at-risk individuals who may not yet be known to One Recovery Bucks by delivering services directly in their communities.

Councillor Derek Town 

Dear residents,

We are filming a BBC war time drama at Pitstone Quarry this week and we would like to notify you of our plans. 

We will be filming in the quarry from Friday 25th August until Tuesday 29th August. We would like to highlight to residents our shoot hours and shoot activity. 

Our shoot hours are night shoots (between the hours of 19:30 – 05:30). And for these scenes we will be using pyrotechnics and special effects (light flashes and simulated gunfire). We are very aware that we are close to a residential location and where possible we will be using visual special effects over audio special effects. 

We have notified the local police force of our activities and they are aware of our plans. 

We do appreciate that our presence will have an impact on those local to us, but we are working hard to keep disruptions to a minimum. Without the kind support of the local community, we would not be able to carry out our work- so thank you on behalf of the cast and crew for your anticipated cooperation. 

As a gesture of thanks we will be making a donation to the parish. 

If you have any concerns, please do contact us on the number below. 

Many thanks. 

‭07568 055042‬

9.30am to 3.30pm each day

diversion as below:

Burglary Advice

There has been a recent spate of Burglaries across the area and we wanted to take this opportunity to offer residents some security advice.

• Ensure all windows and doors are secure and keys are taken out of the locks.

• Mark all valuable items with your post code using a UV pen or permanent marker. This makes it easier for us to return items to you should we recover them. It also makes them less desirable to thieves.

• Take photographs of valuable items such as jewellery. This will help us to identify them if they are taken.

• Consider installing a safe and have this secured to the floor or wall.

• Make a note of any serial numbers on electrical items or power tools.

• If you have a house alarm, ensure it is set when you leave your home.

• Consider installing CCTV around your property. This may act as a deterrent and could also help us to identify the offenders.

• Install PIR lights outside your home. This will alert you and/or your neighbours if someone was on your property during the hours of darkness.

Please report anything suspicious to the Police by calling 999. Even if you feel it is a small piece of information, this may be the missing piece that we are looking for. If it is not an incident in progress, you can report any information by calling 101 or via our online reporting system on the Thames Valley Police website.

Join the plastic pollution solution revolution!

Buckinghamshire residents are being urged to become part of the plastic pollution solution and see how far they can go in reducing their use of single use plastic during the global, month-long initiative, Plastic Free July.

With awareness of the problems plastic pollution is having on our planet at an all-time high, Buckinghamshire Council is taking the opportunity to remind residents of the many local initiatives aimed at reducing all types of waste and showing the many simple things all of us can do to make a difference.

One of the easiest ways to start, is to take a look at Buckinghamshire Recycles Zero Waste Map. This handy tool provides an online directory for all the local places where you can reduce your waste including re-use shops, community fridges and upcycling schemes as well as listing all recycling points around the county and details of the household recycling centres.   

Another way to make a change, for those with babies and toddlers, is to switch from using disposable nappies to reusable cloth nappies. Disposable nappies are made from plastic, paper pulp and a variety of chemicals and glue. Babies have around 5,000 nappy changes up to potty training, which is a lot of nappies to put in the bin. Cloth nappies can be 40% better for the environment, even with the extra washing machine cycles. Find out more information about the Buckinghamshire Nappy Scheme online.

Last September, Buckinghamshire Recycles introduced its new Reduce Single Use Plastic schools initiative which encourages schools to sign up to a pledge to reduce single use plastics within school. Haddenham Community Infant School became the first school to achieve a gold award for its efforts. Currently aimed at primary schools, the scheme will be opened up to secondary schools from September.

There are numerous, easy ways we can all try to reduce single use plastics and waste:

• Use refillable water bottles and coffee cups
• Avoid using bathroom and cleaning products in single-use containers – there are lots of places you can refill existing bottles again and again. Check out the Zero Waste Map for locations
• Consider using more environmentally friendly sanitary products
• Make use of reusable bags when shopping 

And where it is impossible not to use some plastics, make sure you recycle as much as you can. Check our Waste Wizard tool to find out what you can recycle and where

Find out more about Plastic Free July online

Summer Reading Challenge 2023, ‘Ready, Set, Read’ is kicking off at your local library this weekend

​This summer, children in Buckinghamshire, aged 4-11, are being invited to visit their local library to join a superstar team and their marvellous mascots by getting involved in the annual Summer Reading Challenge.

This year’s challenge launches on Saturday 8 July and runs through to Saturday 16 September. The theme centres on the power of play, sport, games and physical activity with the children taking part, encouraged to keep their minds and bodies active over the summer break. Over the course of the ten-week period, children are encouraged to read six books of their choice and follow the adventures of the themed Ready, Set, Read characters on their summer adventure.

Through activity challenge cards from the Youth Sport Trust, and an exciting, themed book collection, the Summer Reading Challenge aims to keep imaginations moving over the school holiday. By participating in the challenge, children will have the opportunity to explore new reading material, develop skills, and discover new interests. The characters in this year’s challenge are brought to life by children’s author and illustrator Loretta Schauer. The children taking part navigate a fictional summer obstacle course and track their reading as they go, rewarded by free incentives along the way, including stickers.

Libraries across Buckinghamshire will be hosting a range of additional activities and events for children and families throughout the school holidays, many of which are free. This includes a poetry workshop with Simon Mole across several libraries. The acclaimed children’s author will perform his well-loved picture book ‘I love my bike’ followed by some fun games to unlock children’s creative powers.

To take part in the Summer Reading Challenge simply pop into your local library. More information including details of linked events can be found online: Summer Reading Challenge 2023 | Buckinghamshire Council 

Visit bit.ly/BucksSummerReadingChallengeEvents to find details of events and activities in libraries across Buckinghamshire.

Watch our trailer: Ready, Set, Read! Summer Reading Challenge 2023 | Bucks Libraries 

Enthusiastic older children, aged 14+, who are passionate about reading are also being sought to take on the role of a Young Volunteer for the Summer Reading Challenge. The role involves encouraging children to complete the challenge, listening to the children talk about the books they have been reading and taking part in related activities. It is a great opportunity to get some volunteering experience and learn new skills. To find out more about becoming a Young Volunteer email library@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

We need adopters for children from Black African and Caribbean communities

Buckinghamshire Council is calling for people who may be considering adoption to get in touch. Adopters are needed for all children in Bucks, but those who are looking to adopt a child or young person from Black African and Black Caribbean heritage are particularly sought after.

National evidence shows that children from black communities typically wait longer to find the right family and so spend more time in care than some other children. Data from 2021-22 shows that on average, black children and children from other ethnic minority groups wait 100 days longer to be adopted*. In a bid to encourage more people to consider adoption, the council is launching a new campaign to raise awareness.

Council receives highest award in Defence Employer Recognition Scheme

Buckinghamshire Council has been awarded ‘Gold’ in the 2023 Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). This is the highest level of award offered by the scheme, which is organised by the Ministry of Defence.

The ERS encourages employers to support defence and the armed forces and inspire others to do the same.

The scheme encompasses Bronze, Silver and Gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

Examples of how Buckinghamshire Council provides extra support for local armed forces families as an employer are through measures such as:

• Guaranteeing job interviews for ex-armed forces personnel and serving reservists where they meet the essential criteria for a role
• Offering extra leave for reservists to attend training
• Providing a supportive work environment for employees who are members of the armed forces community, including facilitating a staff network

Councillor Derek Town 

NALC and the LGA last week launched a free joint Democracy in Action online event to take place online on 14/11/23  to help promote standing in the local (parish and town) council elections.

The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) and the Local Government Association (LGA) have launched a new online event on how you can be the voice of your community by standing for election as a local councillor.

Join NALC and the LGA on 14 November 2023 for an empowering event that will discuss the path to becoming a local councillor and positively impacting your local area and society.

The event will provide an invaluable opportunity to learn about the vital work and role of councillors from an expert panel. Councillors who have served at various local government levels will share their insights, experiences, and advice about the world of local leadership.

You will gain valuable knowledge and the chance to ask questions, engage in meaningful discussions, and connect with others who share your passion for community action. You’ll discover the wide range of support available to help you take action and make a change in your community.

Learn more about NALC’s Make A Change and the LGA’s Become a Councillor campaigns. These resources will provide further guidance and assistance in becoming a local leader.

Claim your FREE place today

July 2023 update

Please note that as of May 2024, the email address has changed to: WingNHPT@thamesvalley.police.uk

Council pledges commitment to providing high quality education for all children in Bucks

Whatever their starting point, children and young people have the right to access the best quality education and teaching to help them grow, learn and develop so they are able to realise their full potential. That is the commitment Buckinghamshire Council is making to all children and families in the county as it launches its new Education Strategy.

The Education Strategy sets out five key priorities:

• Access to and availability of high-quality educational places
• Preparing young learners to reach their potential as adults
• Collaborative school improvement to raise standards
• Embedding a climate of inclusion
• Supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of all children and young people

It follows on from the previous Education & Skills Strategy which focused on the development of a programme of continuous improvement in education provision in Buckinghamshire. The new strategy builds on the achievements made and focuses on areas where more work needs to be done. In compiling the strategy, the council worked closely with schools and other education providers and consulted with parents, carers and other key stakeholders.

One of the key elements of the strategy is ensuring that every child is able to access the right educational placement and teaching for them, and that vulnerable children and young people are given the support they need to overcome challenges and achieve the same outcomes as their peers.

Buckinghamshire Culture Open Weekend – a first view of ‘what’s on’!

We are excited about the amazing projects that are planned for Open Weekend and you can now have a first look of what will be happening 27 to 30 July 2023 on the Visit Buckinghamshire website.

Everyone is invited to enjoy creative projects, performances, workshops, exhibitions and much more taking place across the county over a long weekend.

Confirmed activities for this year include – but are not limited to – a special opera performance of ‘Revolting Rhymes’ at the Roald Dahl Museum in Great Missenden, giant bug hotels building at Langley Country Park, a creative workshops organised by Chesham Library resulting in joint ‘One World’ through ‘Many Stories’ display, a festival of Marlow’s colourful history at Marlow Museum, an inclusive workshops organised by ‘Sing Your Pain Away’(online and in person), a workshop for a giant sculpture out of recycled material at Chiltern Open Air Museum, an online writing workshop and a session of musical forest bathing.

Other activities include craft workshops, dance performances and classes, textile workshops, exhibitions, free theatre performances, concerts, choir sessions for families – but there is so much more!

Find out ‘what’s on’ and make plans for an exciting weekend. Everything will be easily searchable in one place on the Visit Buckinghamshire website.

Bucks resident pays the price for fly-tipping

A man from Gerrards Cross has learned the hard way that crime doesn’t pay after being caught fly-tipping and faced with a hefty fine.

Jonathas Da Rocha Souza, aged 45, pleaded guilty to the charge of illegal dumping when he appeared at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on 7 June 2023.

The court was informed that on 12 May 2022, an enforcement officer working for Buckinghamshire Council, discovered a pile of illegally dumped waste in a lay-by on Layters Green Lane, Chalfont St Peter in Buckinghamshire. After further investigation, the source of the waste was identified and the suspected person responsible was reported to the local authority. Mr Souza was later interviewed by Council Enforcement Officers. During the interview, Mr Souza confessed to accepting £30 to remove the waste which he later illegally dumped.

Magistrates fined Mr Souza £1,384 and ordered him to pay clean-up and prosecution costs of £1,010.62. A victim surcharge of £138 was also levied – making a total to pay of £2,532.62

Supporting adopters every step of the way

Are you thinking about adoption? Making the decision to adopt can be a big step but Buckinghamshire Council will be with you every step of the way. That is the message the council is sending out to prospective adopters in Bucks as part of a month-long focus on adoption.

There are children of all ages and backgrounds who are waiting to be adopted and to start their new life with a new family. New adopters are always needed who can open up their homes and hearts to give these children the love and support they need to grow and thrive.

For more information on adopting in Buckinghamshire visit the website: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/adoption    

Play Streets scheme encourages children to discover the joys of outdoor play

Children across Buckinghamshire are being given the opportunity to discover the joys of playing safely outside their homes as part of the Play Streets scheme.

The free scheme invites neighbours to apply for permission to close their road for a few hours at a time so that communities can come together, and children can meet up and have fun outdoors.

Following the successful launch last year, particular focus is being placed on encouraging communities within the targeted areas outlined in the council’s Opportunity Bucks programme, in High Wycombe, Aylesbury and Chesham, to take advantage of the scheme, but communities all across the county can take part.

Electoral Registration – are your details up to date?

Buckinghamshire residents are being urged to ensure their electoral registration details are up to date through the annual canvass.

All residents will be contacted during July and August, and will receive an email or a letter from Buckinghamshire Council asking to confirm that the names of people listed as eligible to vote in their household are correct.

Being on the electoral register means that you can have your say and vote in future elections – plus it can also help with your credit rating. All you need to do is to read the email or letter carefully and follow the instructions on how to respond, if necessary. It’s very quick and easy!

If you’re not currently registered, your name will not appear on the messages we send. If you want to register this can be done as part of the canvass (a follow-up step is required).

The easiest way to register is online at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Aylesbury Arm canal towpath benefits from £800k improvements

The Aylesbury Arm, a spur of the Grand Union Canal originally completed in 1815, has seen a significant improvement in its towpath condition, thanks to an £800k investment. The towpath improvements are on the section between locks 15 and 16, resulting in improved conditions for walking, cycling and wheeling.

The Aylesbury Arm canal towpath improvements – which have been made possible thanks to a £621,846 grant from the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) from Homes England and £178,154 of funding from Section 106 developer contributions – are part of wider plans for active travel improvements in Aylesbury and form a main spine route between the town centre and the new developments of Kingsbrook and Woodlands.

Improvements for walking, cycling and wheeling include:

• widening the towpath to 7 feet
• resurfacing the towpath
• improving accessibility onto the towpath
• installing new signs along the route

The improvements aim to encourage active travel, improve people’s health, and reduce carbon and air pollution.

The new route forms part of the council’s aspirations for a ‘Aylesbury-Tring-Wendover Canal Triangle’ project and the wider Aylesbury Garden Town initiative.

Celebrating 70 years of safer school crossings

Over the years, thousands of children across Buckinghamshire have enjoyed a safer journey walking to school, thanks predominantly, to the efforts of the county’s much loved school crossing patrollers who this week celebrate their 70^th anniversary.

Buckinghamshire currently has around 50 school crossing patrollers, commonly known as lollipop men and women due to the iconic circular signs on poles they carry when on duty, working across all parts of the county. Every morning and evening during term time, come rain or shine, they are out, guiding children, parents and carers safely across the road to and from school.

Many of the current school crossing patrollers have been doing the job for years, enjoying the special role they play in their local communities. Between them they have totted up more than 500 years of service, helping multiple generations of families. Several now help the children of the children they first helped cross the road on their way to school and some of the longest servicing school crossing patrollers are guiding the grandchildren of the children they first helped.

To celebrate the 70-year milestone and to say thank you to all school crossing patrollers, past and present, Buckinghamshire Council hosted a special event in High Wycombe today (Thursday 29 June).

The national school crossing patrol service was officially created by the School Crossing Patrol Act in 1953. The first SCPs wore white coats and peaked hats. Over the years the clothing has changed to more weather-proof, hi-vis jackets and hats, but the popular lollipop signs have remained, relatively unchanged and become synonymous with the popular and much-loved image of school crossing patrollers countrywide.

Buckinghamshire’s school crossing patrollers collectively have many interesting and amusing tales to tell of their time in the job. One patroller in Buckingham recalls once guiding a horse and rider safely across the road amidst the schoolchildren. Another proudly relays how they lost three stone in weight when first starting in post, simply by all the walking he does on his patrol site. Christine Walker is the county’s longest service patroller, clocking up 45 years. She received a British Empire Medal (BEM) in 2021 for her long service to road safety and has attended two Royal Garden Parties. All the patrollers build up a unique relationship with local families. One school crossing patroller called Mario is affectionally known as Super Mario by the children who greet him fondly every day. One thing all the patrollers clearly have in common is their love of the job with all of them saying how rewarding they find the role.

Councillor Derek Town 

Click the link for details of Buckinghamshire Council’s Local Heritage List project: https://local-heritage-list.org.uk/buckinghamshire

If you know of an historic feature in Pitstone that is of particular local importance, please contact us or follow the instructions on the link to submit a nomination.

Overview of this project published on the Planning Inspectorate website: Expansion of London Luton Airport from its current permitted cap of 18 million passengers per annum (mppa) up to 32 mppa, including: new terminal capacity; additional taxiways and other transport infrastructure; the construction of landside support buildings; surface access adjustments; mitigation works and other associated development.

To find out more about the DCO process and/or register as an interested party with the Planning Inspectorate, please click here: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/eastern/london-luton-airport-expansion/?ipcsection=overview#

To read the information on Luton Rising’s website (the developer), please click here: https://lutonrising.org.uk/

A reminder that the next repair cafe is on 24 June at the pavilion:

Buckinghamshire Council is reminding people about the need to always wear a seatbelt as part of an ongoing campaign to increase road safety and protect lives.

As part of the campaign, in partnership with Good Egg and Thames Valley Police, the Council’s road safety team has been visiting local supermarkets. The experts from Good Egg have been carrying out free child car seat checks. Council officers have been on hand to provide information and advice to drivers alongside the police who have been carrying out checks to make sure people are wearing seatbelts.

Steven Broadbent, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, explained: “The majority of people know the law and always wear a seatbelt when driving or as a passenger, but some seem to be unaware that it is a legal requirement to wear a seatbelt for their safety, or simply choose to ignore the law. These are the people we are reaching out to.”

Anyone not wearing a seatbelt who is involved in a collision is more likely to suffer serious injury. If caught by the police, you face the chance of getting an on the spot £100 fine. If prosecuted in court, you could face a fine of up to £500.

Steven continued: “We’ve heard the excuses, seatbelts are uncomfortable, it’s a pain when you are jumping in and out of your vehicle all the time or you can’t face arguing with your children about wearing a seatbelt. We do understand but the fact of the matter is, unless you have a medical or legal exemption, there is no excuse for not wearing a seatbelt. So please do the smart thing – belt up and keep everyone safe.”

The council carries out regular car seat checks. In 2022, 27 child car seats were checked during two community events. Out of those seats checked, 89% were found to be incorrectly fitted. For more information on car seat safety visit: www.gov.uk/child-car-seats-the-rules