HADDENHAM & LONG CRENDON LOCAL COMMUNITY AREA FORUM

DATE: 10 February 2016 TIME: 7.00 pm The Walter Rose Room, Haddenham Village Hall, LOCATION: Banks Park, Church Way, Haddenham, Bucks HP17 8EE

AGENDA

Item Time Page No 1 Apologies for Absence / Changes in Membership 7.00pm

2 Declarations of Interest To disclose any Personal or Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

3 Action Notes 5 - 10 To confirm the notes of the meeting held on 23 September 2015

4 Petitions None received

5 Question Time 7.05pm There will be a 20 minute period for public questions. Members of the public are encouraged to submit their questions in advance of the meeting to facilitate a full answer on the day of the meeting. Questions sent in advance will be dealt with first and verbal questions after.

6 Priorities update 7.25pm 11 - 24 Update from Madeleine Howe, Locality and Communities Manager

7 LAF Attendees survey 7.50pm Update from Madeleine Howe, Locality and Communities Manager

8 TfB update 8.00pm 25 - 42

9 Thames Valley Neighbourhood Police update 8.15pm Update from Police Sargeant Emily Dover

10 Buckinghamshire Fire and rescue update 8.25pm Update from Jeremy Williams, On-Call Station Commander North

Visit democracy.buckscc.gov.uk for councillor information and email alerts for meetings, and decisions affecting your local area.

11 AVDC Update 8.35pm 43 - 50 Update from Andrew Small, Lead Area Officer (AVDC)

12 BCC update 8.45pm 51 - 58 Update from Marcia Smith, Lead Area Officer (BCC)

13 Prevention Matters update 8.50pm Update from Kyle Banks, Community Links Officer (Aylesbury Vale South)

14 Date of Next and Future Meetings The next meeting will take place on Wednesday 18 May 2016, 7pm, venue to be confirmed.

Future meetings date for 2016 14 September 9 November

Members

Jenny Asher, Long Crendon Parish Council Margaret Aston, Bucks County Council Mark Bale, Stone, Bishopstone and Hartwell Parish Council Ken Birkby, Cuddington Parish Council Judy Brandis, Aylesbury Vale District Council Andrew Brunet, Ickford Parish Council David Cherry, Oakley Parish Council Mrs S C W Clark, Chearsley Parish Council Michael Edmonds, Aylesbury Vale District Council Roderick Floud, Haddenham Village Society Brian Foster, Aylesbury Vale District Council Mike Hawkett, Aylesbury Vale District Council Paul Irwin, Buckinghamshire County Council Barbara Kolbert, Ickford Parish Council Claire Lazaruk, Chearsley Parish Council Angela Macpherson, Buckinghamshire County Council John Mole, Oakley Parish Council Nick Morgan, Aston Sandford Parish Council David Munson, Brill Parish Council (Chairman) Michael Rand, Aylesbury Vale District Council Steve Sharp, Haddenham Parish Council Lesley Shaw, Brill Parish Council Martin Usherwood, Dinton with Ford and Upton Parish Council Vacancy, Kingsey Parish Meeting Rowly Willis, Long Crendon Parish Council

Member Services Contact : Sharon Griffin, Tel 01296 383691, Email [email protected] If you would like to attend a meeting, but need extra help to do so, for example because of a disability, please contact us as early as possible, so that we can try to put the right support in place.

Agencies : Buckinghamshire County Council, Aylesbury Vale District Council, Aston Sandford Parish Meeting, Boarstall Parish Meeting, Brill Parish Council, Chearsley Parish Council, Chilton Parish Council, Cuddington Parish Council, Dinton-with-Ford and Upton Parish Council, Haddenham Parish Council, Ickford Parish Council, Kingsey Parish Meeting, Long Crendon Parish Council, Oakley Parish Council, Shabbington Parish Council, Stone with Bishopstone and Hartwell Parish Council, Worminghall Parish Council, Thames Valley Police, Bucks Fire and Rescue, Voluntary Sector representatives

Agenda Item 3

ACTION NOTES

Haddenham & Long Crendon Local MEETING: Community Area Forum DATE: 23 September 2015 7.00 pm to 9.40 pm The Jubilee Pavillion, The War Memorial LOCATION: Ground, Oxford Road, Stone, HP17 8RE

Jenny Asher (Long Crendon Parish Council), Margaret Aston (Bucks County Council) (Chairman), Ruth Baker (Ickford Parish Council), Mark Bale (Stone, Bishopstone and Hartwell Parish Council), Judy Brandis (Aylesbury Vale District Council), Andrew Brunet (Ickford Parish Council), David Cherry (Oakley Parish Present: Council), Brian Foster (Aylesbury Vale District Council), Michael Rand (Aylesbury Vale District Council) (Vice-Chairman), Chris Sebire (Brill Parish Council (Chairman)), Steve Sharp (Haddenham Parish Council), Lesley Shaw (Brill Parish Council) and Rowly Willis (Long Crendon Parish Council) Kyle Banks, John Brandis, Ken Brown, Paul Foot, Lorraine Gooch, Madeleine In Attendance: Howe, Sarah Mills, Calvin Richardson, Bryn Scott, Andrew Small, Michaela Solesbury and Julia Woodman Apologies: Michael Edmonds, Paul Irwin and Angela Macpherson

Item ISSUES RAISED 1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE / CHANGES IN MEMBERSHIP

Apologies were received from Angela Macpherson, Paul Irwin, Ken Birkby, Marcia Smith and Michael Edmonds.

2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest

3 ACTION NOTES

Action Point – page 7 of the minutes – TFB are re-surfacing the roads in Haddenham.

4 PETITIONS

There were no petitions

5 ACTIVE BUCKS UPDATE

Sarah Mills was welcomed to the meeting and provided an update on where the public team are with Active Bucks:

 Residents are getting more active, more often.  The engagement phase has lasted 4 months. 2000 residents have been engaged in Bucks and 600 have completed surveys. (45 of whom were Haddenham residents)  Public Health are currently conducting an analysis of responses and will be making recommendations based upon the findings. The analysis is considering:

5 o What the community wants to engage in o Local assets o Discussions with stakeholders o Best Practice o National evidence  £3,300 pa will be available for the next 2 years.  3 different options will be presented to the LAF who will decide on the type of activity and in which areas. There will then be an open application for providers of the activities. Decisions need to be made by end of October.  Suggestions from LAF Members that this could include children being encouraged to walk to school – this is happening in Oakley. Other Suggestions were tea dances and Jazz exercise.

Action Point – decision will be made via email with LAF Members and Sarah Mills will circulate the papers next week.

6 TFB UPDATE

Calvin Richardson and Paul Foot from TFB were welcomed to the meeting and update the Committee on the following:

 The 18 month rolling capital maintenance programme schemes of £25 million are approved.  £3 million of the above funding will be committed to patching potholes in Buckinghamshire. This will be put forward to members for consultation. The main tranche of work will be completed in December and then for 8 months after this.  Feasibility will be in conjunction with BCC. A more transparent process will be followed in terms of consultation, design then construction.  Potholes are up 62% above expectations. Factors in this are a more stringent inspection regime. 660 are reported per week in Aylesbury Vale alone. Regarding use of temporary filling TFB stated they have a statutory duty to complete some category A fills within 24 hours and a high volume to complete. Also added that Bucks CC funding did not allow for all permanent fillings from the start.  Members raised the issue that in addition to category 1 and 2 priorities safety features should be considered too, such as bends, hazards to cyclists.  Grass cutting is devolved (with the exception of Brill and Oakley) TFB are ahead of schedule and will start tranche 2 of devolution.  Winter service planning is underway. Grit bins will go out mid-October and the BOGOF is continuing for salt bags. There will be a full review next year using thermal imaging, historical and weather station data. This will go out for consultation with members.  Ran an open day earlier in the year and will run a further open day for winter maintenance in mid-Oct.  Members requested greater transparency regarding TFB work programmes stating that the footpath programme on the web was dated 2014.

7 QUESTION TIME/LOCAL PRIORITIES

Madeleine Howe introduced the Committee to the Local Priorities. A decision needed to be made by the end of September for the remaining 15/16 budget (inc the TfB spend for 2016/17)

The proposals were for:

 Sheerstock parking restrictions – a spend of £11,200 in 15/16 and £5,200 from 16/17 budget for phase 2. The LAF will commit further funding of £12,000 in 16/17 to enable a wider feasibility study taking more roads into account.

6 Concern was voiced by some members of the committee that 25% of the budget was being committed to an issue which was seen as a national railway problem. The counter argument was that this was unlikely to be resolved without LAF intervention and was affecting residents in Haddenham. A vote was taken (1 vote per parish and District Councillor)

Those in favour of the scheme was 7 and those against were 5.

Agreed: That LAF provide the full amount of funding for both phases of the parking scheme, which is £11,200 for 15/16 and £17,200 for 16/17.

 Cuddington Road Speed Limit Assessment – Members debated whether the speed limit should be 40MPH. The cost of an assessment is £450. TFB advised the Committee to commit the full cost of a speed limit change at £7000 just in case the feasibility study says that there can be a reduction.

Agreed: LAF to provide the full amount of funding which is £450 in the current financial year and will set aside £7000 from 2016/17 in the event that a speed limit change proves feasible

 Repair of vehicle activated sign equipment for Dadbrook, Cuddington Parish. The repair of a radar unit would cost £769.

Decision: LAF will provide the full amount of funding requested which is £769.

The totalled approved funding was £12,419.

Haddenham and Long Crendon Local Area priorities survey – Madeleine Howe presented the results of the survey. The top-rated priorities were; traffic calming, support for carers and older people and teenagers and community facilities. It was agreed that two further priorities for providing more flexible transport networks and improving broadband were better dealt with elsewhere. Members approved the addition of a newly proposed priority: the improvement of footpaths.. Members agreed that teenagers and community facilities and support for carers and older people to live in their homes could be combined into one priority of Community Health and Wellbeing.

Agreed – The LAF priorities are:

1. The improvement of footpaths. 2. Traffic Calming 3. Community Health and Wellbeing.

8 THAMES VALLEY NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE UPDATE

Bryn Scott was welcomed to the Committee and updated the Committee on the following:

 The service is facing budget cuts. Priority based budgeting is in phase 3. This will look at neighbourhood policing and the service will probably look very different from next April. Expectation that the community aspects of policing will be cut. The future of PCSO’s is unknown currently.  Policing priorities are: o Protecting the vulnerable (this includes child exploitation) o Preventing ASB o Vulnerable victims (including the victims of domestic violence)  The changes to the service may result in TVP not being able to attend so many LAF meetings.

7  Contact should be made via 101 and not officer mobile numbers

The Following crime figures were reported:

 All crime is up by 14%  Burglary dwelling is down from 5 to 4  Theft of motor vehicles is up from 2 to 4  Theft from motor vehicles is down from 25 to 14.  Violence against the person is up from 24 to 26  Theft offences are up from 84 to 95.  Shoplifting is up from 3 to 6.

9 BUCKINGHAMSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE UPDATE

Jeremy Williams was welcomed to the Committee. The following update was given:

 The Fire and Rescue service has seen a steady decline in the number of calls and this is in-line with national trends. The service is committing more time and resources to education, prevention and road safety projects.  Specifically the prevention campaigns include fitting smoke alarms and a home fire risk check. (targeted to those most at risk). Other areas include: landlord responsibilities, chimney safety, kitchen safety, gas safety and student safety.  Members emphasised the importance of making sure the elderly were aware of what they could access. The service is actively looking at how best to support vulnerable groups, is rolling out dementia awareness training to its staff and will actively support dementia awareness & workshops.  The service is pushing ahead with co-responder services and looking to diversify itself to the best effect.  Recruitment is still an issue due to the need to be living in the area. Members suggested the service should advertise in parish magazines.

10 AVDC UPDATE

Andrew Small was welcomed to the Committee and provided the following updates:

 AVDC has launched a new website with greater functionality  A new charitable lottery was launched by the Council. 58p per£1 will go towards good causes. People can also register their own good causes. There is a £20,000 prize.  The Vale and Aylesbury Plan Issues and options paper will be issued next week followed by a consultation.  A high speed broadband pilot will launch next week.  HS2 working with BCC on preliminary stage. The Statutory consultation is in October / November.

11 BCC UPDATE

Members noted the report

12 TRADING STANDARDS UPDATE

Michaela Solesbury was welcomed to the Committee and provided the following updates:

 Trading Standards are now joined with Surrey CC TS. TS is hosted by Surrey. The size of the team as a result has grown from 20 to 75 people. Bucks officers are still located in

8 Aylesbury.  More than 50% of TS work is rogue traders and cold callers. Scams are causing high complaint volumes, currently are roof cleaning and roof foam installation poorly completed. Team has also had cases of illegally imported puppies.  TS has a financial investigator and a seconded police officer works with the team.

The Members suggested a newsletter which could go out to parishes. TS will look into especially as Surrey TS has a media relations team.

Please find below a link to the Bucks & Surrey TS Alert! website

http://scc.newsweaver.co.uk/trading-standards/1oekswuz0h3

13 PREVENTION MATTERS UPDATE

Kyle Banks was welcomed to the Committee and updated the Committee on the following:

 The Oakley Health Fair  Waddesdon Community day.  The work of Haddenham library helping to identify vulnerable people.

14 DATE OF NEXT AND FUTURE MEETINGS

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday 16th December at 7pm, venue to be confirmed.

15 BROADBAND UPDATE

Members noted the report

16 EAST WEST RAIL UPDATE

Members noted the report

17 AYLESBURY VALE PARKWAY

Members noted the report

18 THE CARE ACT

Members noted the report

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Agenda Item 6

Buckinghamshire County Council Visit www.buckscc.gov.uk/democracy for councillor information and email alerts for local meetings

Report to Haddenham and Long Crendon Local Area Forum

Title: Local Area Forum devolved budgets 2016-17

Date: 10th February 2016

Author: Phil Dart, Service Director, Communities

Contact officer: Madeleine Howe, Locality and Communities Manager, Tel: 01494 475378

Electoral divisions affected: Bernwood Grendon Underwood Stone and Waddesdon Summary

1. This paper describes the arrangements for the Buckinghamshire County Council budgets devolved to Local Area Forums (LAFs) in 2016-17.

2. The LAF provides the opportunity for Parish, Town and District and County Councillors, along with residents' organisations and other appropriate local groups, to help prioritise County Council expenditure and activity in their area as well as to work together to resolve local issues.

3. Each LAF has been allocated a devolved budget (called the Local Priorities budget) to help it address local priorities in its area. Haddenham and Long Crendon’s Local Priorities budget for 2016-17 is £22,620. The LAF will also receive £3,300 from September 2016 to September 2017 which is the 2nd year’s budget to help deliver the County Council’s Active Bucks programme in the area.

4. The Government’s Revenue Support Grant (the main general grant provided to local authorities) to Buckinghamshire County Council is being cut by 43% in 2016/17 (already reduced by over 50% from its 2009 level) reducing the 2015/16 grant of £41m to £23m in 2016/17, then to £8m the following year and completely removed after that. The grant effectively becomes a negative £11m by 2019/20. In this context, the Local Priorities Budget for the county has been reduced by £280k, from £780K to £500K, from 2016-17. For this reason, in order to continue to justify locally determined expenditure, all proposed use of the Local Priorities budget must satisfy important criteria to ensure that they are a good use of County Council budget and will help deliver the County Council’s priorities which are set out in its Strategic Plan.

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Recommendation

5. Haddenham and Long Crendon LAF is recommended to note the arrangements in 2016- 17 for:  it’s Local Priorities budget of £22,620 as described in the report [and also note the expenditure of the allocated funding in 2015-16].  it’s allocation of £3,300 to support the Active Bucks project (for September 2016 – September 2017)

Background

6. An aim of the County Council’s Strategic Plan is that all Buckinghamshire residents should be able to effect changes that will improve their lives and their local areas. We want to encourage communities to be actively involved in improving their local areas and all those who want more say in their local communities and services to have the opportunity to do so.

7. LAFs play a central role in achieving this (although this is not the only mechanism for working at a more local level). The devolved budget provided to each LAF by Buckinghamshire County Council is to be used to assist the LAF in addressing local priorities within the overarching framework of the County Council’s Strategic Plan (link to County Council's Strategic Plan).

8. Appendix A contains details of the LAF’s agreed local priorities.

 Local Priorities budget

9. As stated in paragraph 4 above, the Local Priorities budget has been reduced by £280k to £500k. The County Council has a Strategic Plan commitment to “devolve Council assets and services to town and parish councils where it makes sense to do so”. In support of this, the County Council is supporting a capacity building programme for town and parish councils, funded in part by £50k in 2016-17 from the Local Priorities budget. This makes the total Local Priorities budget £450k to be allocated via the LAFs according to population base, social need and other issues in the local area.

10. Haddenham and Long Crendon LAF’s allocation is £22,620. The allocation of the Local Priorities budget across all LAFs is contained in Appendix B.

11. Guidance has been provided to assist LAFs in identifying activity that will be eligible for support from the Local Priorities Budget. It identifies the County Council’s Strategic Priorities and provides practical examples that are eligible for LAF funding. This guidance can be viewed online http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/community/local-areas/area-plans-and- local-working/local-area-plans/funding/.

12. In addition to the Local Priorities budget, the LAFs will receive the 2nd year share of an annual 2 year funding allocation of £107,600 pa from Active Bucks (Public Health) to promote physical activity in their area. This is covered in paras 37 –43 below.

Management and Decision-Making of the Local Priorities Delegated Budget

13. The Local Priorities budget is to be used to commission and support activities which will help deliver the County Council’s Strategic Plan and meet the local priorities identified by the Forum through its Local Area Planning process.

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 Criteria for the use of Local Priorities budget

14. A proposal must:  meet one or more of the LAF’s priorities identified through its Local Area Planning, or in another way address a well-evidenced community need.  demonstrate that it will be an effective way of addressing the identified need and present value for money.  for road safety and parking schemes, provide a minimum of 50% non-BCC funding. N.B. This requirement does not apply to proposals which have already been submitted and evaluated for 2016-17; or to a 2015-16 scheme which was cancelled under the County Council’s budget freeze in Autumn 2015 and is now being reconsidered for the 2016-17 programme.

15. The LAF’s investment must be:  in line with the County Council’s Strategic Plan (link to County Council Strategic Plan) and strategies). Please refer to the link in paragraph 11 for practical guidance.  spent in line with Buckinghamshire County Council’s financial orders and procurement framework

16. Local Priorities funding cannot be used to fund:  retrospective funding i.e. on activity which has already taken place.  activity or facilities which are the primary funding responsibility of another body (e.g. it should not be used for activities normally funded by parish precepts or by district council budgets) unless it can be evidenced that the applying organisation is unable to provide the funding itself and has been unable to secure additional funding for the project.  routine ongoing, updating or maintenance costs of organisations  individuals  political organisations  activity aimed at the promotion of political or religious beliefs.

17. Proposals must also demonstrate that other sources of funding have been sought and are not available, or that the LAF’s contribution is an essential part of a multiple funding package. Proposals with match-funding will be prioritised unless a proposal can demonstrate that alternative funding is not available.

18. The existing guidance for the use of the Local Priorities Budget where assets/services are being transferred from BCC to a parish council or community organisation will remain in place for 3 years following the transfer date of each asset or service:  Funding relating to the maintenance, development or operation of an asset and/or service transferring from Buckinghamshire County Council to a community group will be decided as part of the Council’s transfer decision.  The Local Priorities Budget: a. cannot be accessed at a later date for subsidising or supplementing the service if it was part of the original transfer package. b. can be used for developing new or extended services with in-built sustainability if they meet the requirements for Local Priorities support.

19. Allocations can be made for schemes which span 2 financial years (or more), but funding can only be assured for the current year. This will be considered when making such an allocation i.e. what value can be achieved in the 1st year should funding not be available for the remainder of the scheme in subsequent years. Alternatively, the LAF can make use of the Local Priorities Reserve described in paragraph 34b below.

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20. Fuller guidance is available online (Proposal forms and further guidance).

 Submission and evaluation of proposals

21. Proposals for Local Priorities funding can be submitted by any organisation. Locality Managers may also commission a proposal from organisations which they consider having the capabilities to deliver LAF priorities. All proposals must be submitted on a standard proposal form and this is available online (Proposal forms and further guidance) and also directly from the Locality Manager. LAF members who have particular ideas should raise these directly with their local County Councillor, Lead Area Officer or Locality Manager. These completed forms will ensure a consistent approach and that sufficient information has been provided to support an evaluation.

22. The Locality Manager will evaluate all eligible proposals, consult with the local County Councillors and make recommendations to the LAF. In evaluating proposals, the Locality Manager will also assess whether there are other plans in place to address the priority, other funding opportunities, or if ‘quick wins’ can be identified, to enable specific proposals/issues to be resolved quickly through other means. In some cases a Locality manager will refer the proposal back to the organisation if further information is required, particularly around research into sources of alternative funding.

23. Proposals to be delivered by Transport for Buckinghamshire in 2016-17 had to be submitted by the end of August 2015 in order that they could be priced and considered by the LAF in time for scheduling into the 2016-17 TfB work programme. Therefore no further proposals will be taken for TfB-delivered schemes in 2016-17. Any proposals for TfB schemes for 2017-18 must be submitted by the end of August 2016.

 Compliance with the Council’s financial orders and procurement framework

24. All LAF funding must be allocated in line with Buckinghamshire County Council’s financial orders and procurement framework1. It must be spent on activity within the financial year for which it is allocated. For this reason:  LAFs are urged to allocate their budgets as far in advance as possible as this will enable schemes to commence early in the relevant financial year once the budget is confirmed by Buckinghamshire County Council.  Organisations are encouraged to begin planning their proposals and delivery as early as possible in order to participate in this financial allocation process and ensure that expenditure on proposals can take place within the relevant financial year.

25. The Locality Managers are responsible for ensuring that funding priorities and possible schemes are compliant with the Council’s procurement framework. It is important that proposals can be considered at the earliest possible stage, particularly for highways schemes or schemes for which additional funding needs to be raised to ensure that work can be completed during the financial year to which the budget relates.

1 Compliance with BCC’s procurement framework has never yet prohibited a LAF decision. However, there have been occasions where either the size of a single allocation or the accumulated value of allocations to one provider from a number of LAFs has required specific action to be taken to ensure that the Council can demonstrate that it considered value for money and fair competition in implementing the LAF’s advice. 14

 Standard conditions to approved Local Priorities budget proposals

26. Standard conditions apply to all schemes receiving Local Priorities budget support and the Locality Manager may recommend additional conditions for specific schemes. The standard terms and conditions are:

a) The LAF’s financial contribution may only be used for the purposes agreed by the LAF and detailed in the submissions provided to Buckinghamshire County Council. Any variations must be agreed by the Service Director and any significant changes will require reconsideration by the LAF. b) Payment will be made upon invoice with proof of expenditure e.g. relevant paid invoices/receipts at completion of the scheme. (Advance or staged payments can be made by separate agreement with the County Council should this be necessary, for example, where a small organisation may not have adequate cash flow). c) Buckinghamshire County Council’s support and funding for the project through the Local Area Forum must be acknowledged in all relevant publicity, including articles on the scheme. d) The funding can only be used during the financial year to which it relates. The recipient must alert the Locality Manager at the earliest possible opportunity if it is likely that the scheme expenditure is slipping from its original timetable. e) The recipient must provide monitoring information by the date requested by Buckinghamshire County Council and may also be required to attend a LAF meeting to speak on the outcomes of the project.

 Governance

27. As in previous years, in terms of formal decision-making, the LAF is advising the relevant Service Director on how to spend the Local Priorities budget. The Service Director will implement that advice unless there is a good reason not to do so. In such an instance, a full explanation will be provided to the LAF including, where possible, options to allow a modified scheme to proceed.

28. The Communities Service Director has delegated the responsibility for the management of the Local Priorities budget to the Locality Services Manager and the day-to-day management to Locality Managers. Issues relating to the devolved budget or individual schemes should be raised with the relevant Locality Manager who may refer upwards if appropriate.

29. Where appropriate, the Locality Services Manager may allocate Local Priorities budget funding outside LAF meetings. Such action will normally be taken in consultation with the LAF Chairman and other local County Councillors and will be reported to the LAF at its next meeting.

30. The allocation of funding, expenditure and notifications of timetable slippage (requirement 26d) is monitored by each Locality Manager. This enables the LAFs to consider reallocation to other proposals before the end of September.

 Local Priorities budget allocation timetable

31. All LAFs must have completed budget allocation by the end of September 2016 for the 2016-17 Local Priorities budget. At this time, the Locality Services Manager will form a view on the unallocated and unspent monies and will allocate the budget to other purposes.

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32. TfB delivered schemes: The deadline for allocation for TfB schemes from the 2016-17 Local Priorities budget was end of August 2015 – see paragraph 23 above. The deadline for TfB-delivered proposals from the 2017-18 Local Priorities budget must be submitted by the end of August 2016.

Local Priorities Devolved Budget funding reserve

33. There will be exceptional circumstances which cannot be accommodated within the devolved budget management framework described in this report. For this reason a funding reserve has been established for Local Priorities approved schemes which meet certain criteria.

34. In summary these criteria are: a. A scheme remains viable but, despite best planning, has stalled and is unable to complete within the financial year. Examples include delays in assembling the complete funding package, difficulties in finding a contractor to complete within planned time scales or where bad weather extended outdoor building works. b. A LAF wishes to assemble funding for a scheme over a number of years, either because the scheme value is beyond its funding capability in any one year, or because to deploy its entire annual funding on one scheme would significantly restrict other activity. c. A LAF wishes to provide revenue funding for a scheme that will span several years out of its current annual budget.

35. Additional criteria for the management of the reserve will be:  Funding will only be transferred to the reserve when a clear plan and commitment to incur the expenditure can be evidenced.  Where funding is then not fully required as planned, it will be returned to County Council reserves.  For stalled projects, the activity associated within the “slipped expenditure” must complete within the subsequent financial year i.e. it will not be used as a mechanism to allow stalled projects to stall indefinitely.  For the categories 31b and 31c above: o a minimum threshold of £10k of the LAF’s annual revenue budget will apply o applications for this reserve should be made by 1st October of the financial year that the budget relates to.

36. Under no circumstances can the reserve be used to allow LAFs to carry forward budget accruing from miscellaneous under spends, or a simple failure to allocate its budget in good time and in line with the devolved budget management framework.

Active Bucks allocation to LAFs

37. Physical activity has been highlighted in all Public Health local area profiles as a key preventative priority. Active Bucks has allocated part of its funding, approximately £105,000 per year over 2 years (Sept 15 – Sept 17), for distribution via LAFs to support initiatives which increase physical activity, particularly amongst inactive groups. Haddenham and Long Crendon LAF’s share is £3,300 for year 2 (Sept 16-Sept 17) reflecting the population in its area (based on data from Census 2011). The allocations for each LAF are illustrated in appendix A.

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38. The overall Active Bucks funding will be delivered in two ways:

 Projects directly commissioned by the LAF for locally-determined provision which can deliver the Buckinghamshire Physical Activity Strategy.  Projects centrally commissioned, including project co-ordination, physical activity asset based community development, asset mapping, some county-wide physical activity interventions, and evaluation.

39. The Active Bucks funding package for each LAF went live from September 2015 and each LAF was provided with a full set of guidelines setting out the priorities to be funded, criteria, restrictions, the decision-making process and deadlines for spend on local physical activity provision.

40. The funding package, its guidelines and delivery was informed by a community engagement process and an asset mapping exercise carried out between May and September 2015. The engagement and mapping is crucial in better understanding physical activity in local communities and identifying what physical activity communities want to participate in. It is envisaged that LAF members will contribute to this exercise. As the project develops, further reports will be brought to the LAFs with the first stage presented at the LAFs from February 2016.

41. Compliance with the Council’s financial orders and procurement framework applies (as described in paragraphs 21 and 22 above). Likewise, the same conditions apply to Active Bucks funding as for Local Priorities funding (see paragraph 23).

42. The same governance principles apply (see paragraph 27 - 30). The relevant Service Director is the Director of Public Health who has delegated the day-to-day management to Sarah Mills, Public Health Principal. Issues relating to the devolved budget or individual schemes should be raised with the relevant Locality Manager who will refer upwards when appropriate.

43. A full report on the Active Bucks project and the role of LAFs will be provided separately by the Public Health service.

Transportation schemes

44. Transportation schemes are usually delivered by Transport for Buckinghamshire (TfB). If parishes and town councils wish, they may undertake the work themselves or can appoint an external contractor for delivery of transportation schemes. However, TfB approval for any scheme on the public highway is required. Parish and Town councils should also be aware that only contractors with the required accreditation approvals needed to work on the public highway will be permitted to undertake the works.

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Appendix A

Haddenham and Long Crendon LAF Local Priorities, agreed on 23rd September 2015.

1. The improvement of footpaths.

2. Traffic Calming

3. Community Health and Wellbeing.

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Appendix B

Local Priorities Active Bucks Local Area Allocation Allocation for Total year 2 Amersham £23,140 £5,600 £28,740

Beaconsfield £22,100 £3,000 £25,100

Beeches £23,310 £5,100 £28,410

Buckingham £23,020 £5,600 £28,620

The Chalfonts £22,330 £4,600 £26,930

Chepping Wye Valley £23,770 £7,600 £31,370

Chesham & Chiltern Villages £25,500 £5,600 £31,100

Gerrards Cross & Denham £22,790 £3,400 £26,190

Gt Brickhill, Wing & Ivinghoe £22,790 £4,100 £26,890

The Missendens £22,100 £3,500 £25,600

Greater Aylesbury £29,830 £15,800 £45,630

Haddenham & Long Crendon £22,620 £3,300 £25,920

High Wycombe £30,000 £15,900 £45,900

NW Chilterns £22,850 £5,300 £28,150

SW Chilterns & Marlow £23,950 £6,900 £30,850

Waddesdon £21,870 £3,000 £24,870

Wendover £22,390 £3,300 £25,690

Wexham and Ivers £23,710 £3,000 £26,710

Winslow and District £21,930 £3,000 £24,930

Total £450,000 £107,600 £557,600

19

Agenda Item 6 Appendix 1 Buckinghamshire County Council Visit www.buckscc.gov.uk/democracy for councillor information and email alerts for local meetings

Report to the Haddenham and Long Crendon Local Area Forum

Title: LOCAL PRIORITIES BUDGET 2016-17

Date: 10 February 2016

Author: Phil Dart, Service Director, Communities

Contact officer: Madeleine Howe, Locality Manager, (01494) 475378

Electoral divisions affected: Bernwood Grendon Underwood Stone and Waddesdon.

1 Summary

1.1. This report presents recommendations for the allocation of the Haddenham and Long Crendon LAF Local Priorities Budget for 2016-17.

1.2. The LAF’s 2016-17 budget is £22,260 subject to confirmation by Buckinghamshire County Council at its meeting in February 2016

2 Recommendation

2.1 The Haddenham Local Area Forum is recommended to indicate which proposals it will support from the available 2016/2017 budget (subject to BCC Council budget confirmation in February). The proposals are summarised in the table below. A more detailed description and evaluation of the proposal are contained in the report.

Proposal Match Total Amount funding project recommended cost Parking restrictions on Sheerstock, Thame Road & Wykeham Way, £11,200 £11,200 Haddenham. Phase 1: Initiation, design and feasibility Speed data gathering to inform possible speed limit reduction on C56 from the Dinton crossroads to the 30 mph limit on entering £380 £380 Cuddington. Total £11,580

21

3 Background

3.1 The Haddenham and Long Crendon LAF has a Local Priorities devolved budget to be used for local priorities agreed as part of its Local Area Plan and which fit with the County Council’s strategic priorities. This budget can be used to support local community priorities and the well-being of the area identified by the Local Area Forum (LAF) through its local area planning process.

3.2 This funding must be spent on expenditure relating to this financial year running from 1 April 2016 to end March 2017.

3.3 Applications received are evaluated against the priorities agreed by the Local Area Forum (LAF) which are:

 The improvement of footpaths  Traffic calming and Road Safety  Community Health and Wellbeing

3.4 They are also evaluated against the County Council’s strategic priority themes which are:  Safeguarding our vulnerable  Creating opportunities and building self-reliance  Keeping Buckinghamshire thriving and attractive.  More detail on these priorities is available at: http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/about-your- council/our-plans/

3.5 All allocations are subject to the standard terms and conditions unless amended in the detailed recommendations below.

4 Budget Available

4.1 The LAF’s 2016-17 budget is £22,260 subject to confirmation by Buckinghamshire County Council at its meeting in February 2016

5 Proposals recommended for funding

5.1 Sheerstock, Thame Road and Wykeham Way Parking Restrictions

The LAF had previously allocated £11,200 towards the first stage of project initiation, design and feasibility from the 2015/16 budget. The work had not commenced by the end of November 2015 and the unspent budget was withdrawn as a saving to the County Council.

It is proposed that the LAF consider whether to reinstate this previously agreed scheme in the new financial year 2016/17 and also its intention to allocate an additional sum of £5,200 from the 2017/18 budget to allow the scheme to complete. An additional contribution of £5,000 had been secured from Chiltern Railways for the implementation phase for which the total cost estimate is £10,200.

5.2 The proposal is to limit / prevent long term commuter parking on these roads.

5.3 The scheme has been assessed and costed by TfB to be taken forward in 2 stages.

22 5.4 Phase 1: Initiation, design and feasibility phase of parking scheme for roads close to Haddenham and Thame Parkway rail station at a cost of £11,200

5.5 Phase 2: Implementation / delivery (to be funded from 2016/17 budget.) at a cost of £10,200 for which a contribution of £5,000 has been secured from Chiltern Railways.

5.6 In terms of meeting the Local Priorities Budget funding criteria:

a) the proposal is a good fit with the LAF’s local priority ‘Traffic calming and road safety’ because it addresses the issues of visibility and congestion on residential roads. b) the proposal fits by exception to the Buckinghamshire County Council strategic priority 'Keeping Bucks Thriving and Attractive' recognising that in some local areas parking remains a pressing concern, LAFs will be permitted to continue investing in parking schemes subject to the evidence of need. c) the proposal provides an average fit in terms of value for money because BCC is the most appropriate funder and a contribution of £5,000 from Chiltern Railways has been secured for the implementation phase in 2017/2018.

5.7 Recommendation It is recommended that in this financial year the LAF consider whether to provide the full amount of funding requested for both phases of the parking scheme which is £11,200 in 2016/17 and £5,200 in 2017/18.

5.8 C56 Cuddington Road Speed Limit Review

5.9 The parish councils of Dinton with Ford and Upton and Cuddington are making a joint application for funding for a speed limit review of the C56 from the Dinton crossroads to the 30 mph limit on entering Cuddington.

5.10 The LAF had previously agreed to allocate £7,000 towards the cost of a Speed Limit Review pending the outcome of the Speed Limit Assessment carried out in 2015.

5.11 The desired outcome was the imposition of a 40 mph limit to improve the safety of the road and the moving out of the 30 mph limit to the actual village boundary and before the bend into Cuddington village

5.12 .A speed limit assessment was undertaken in 2015 funded by the LAF at a cost of £450 with the outcome that this request does not meet the criteria for a 30mph or 40mph limit along this section of road as set within the Department for Transport guidelines and that the only option as a result of this report is for a 50mph speed limited to be implemented (Note - if a 50mph limit was requested then this would be supported by TfB subject to the outcome of public consultation.)

5.13 It is appropriate to note that no speed data was gathered as part of this assessment.

5.14 Therefore the LAF is recommended to request the gathering of speed data (at a cost of £380 + VAT) before considering the application for a full speed limit review.

5.15 In terms of meeting the Local Priorities Budget funding criteria: a) the proposal is a good fit with the LAF’s local priority ‘Traffic calming and road safety’ because it addresses the issue of excess speed and road safety. b) The proposal fits by exception to the Buckinghamshire County Council strategic priority 'Keeping Bucks Thriving and Attractive' recognising that in some local areas speeding remains a pressing concern, LAFs will be permitted to continue investing in speeding projects subject to the evidence of need. c) Value for money cannot be assessed at this time due to the lack of relevant information. 23

6 Future Proposals

After allocation of the recommendations above, this would leave £10,680 to be assigned to proposals meeting the local priorities which will be agreed at a future date. Any proposals must adhere to the guidance given for the allocation of the Local Priorities budget.

LAF members are asked to submit further proposals by 13th April 2016 which will be considered at the next LAF meeting on 18th May 2016.

Report ends

24 Agenda Item 8

Haddenham & Long Crendon Local Area Forum Update report from Transport for Buckinghamshire

Date of meeting 10th February 2016

Date of report 28th January 2016 Author Calvin Richardson Area Manager Aylesbury Vale District Contact officer Calvin Richardson Area Manager Aylesbury Vale District Electoral divisions Parishes within the LAF affected

25

Haddenham and Long Crendon Local Area Forum

SUMMARY

1. This report forms a briefing from Transport for Buckinghamshire and is intended to give information to participants Local Area Forum (LAF) / Local Community Partnership (LCP) as to matters, projects and initiatives ongoing within Transport for Buckinghamshire, which may affect the local LAF area.

2. It will aim to provide a comprehensive update on current and relevant Transportation issues which are tailored to each individual LAF / LCP.

3. Standard topics to be covered will include:

 Schemes group update  Network safety

 Revenue maintenance  Rights of Way

 Winter Service  Public Transport

 Street Lighting  Communications

4. In addition, it will cover any emerging issues which could or will affect Local Area Forum / Local Community Partnership areas.

26 Haddenham and Long Crendon Local Area Forum

SCHEMES GROUP UPDATE The scheme delivery team has responsibility for design and construction of highway capital maintenance and improvement schemes across the county, Transport, Economy and Environment (TEE) schemes and third party related schemes originating from a number of sources. The team is split into two main areas of delivery:

 Capital Maintenance Scheme Delivery (Countywide) – The Capital Maintenance Team oversees delivery of the main Capital carriageway and footway maintenance programme, funded directly from Buckinghamshire County Council. Transport for Buckinghamshire have been entrusted with the delivery of a record budget spend this year, with £24.8m being spent on carriageway maintenance schemes and £1.8m on footways as well as an additional Plane and Patch programme on minor roads throughout the county, equating to £1.1m in 2015/16 and £1.9m in 2016/17.

 Area Scheme Delivery – In addition to the above Transport for Buckinghamshire also have responsibility for delivery of various stages of improvement projects, including initial scoping and investigation to determine feasibility, design to current standards, consultation and liaison, procurement and construction. This includes schemes originating from LAF’s, TEE, third parties through Section 106 funding and other sources and currently equates to over 300 individual schemes ongoing in 2015/16.

Capital Maintenance Scheme Delivery (Countywide) In the first ten months of the financial year (April to December) progress has been excellent against this challenging programme. 269 of the 288 Capital Maintenance schemes in the overall programme are now complete (92%), with over £23.5m invested in the network. Appendix 1 gives details of work carried out and remaining within the Haddenham and Long Crendon LAF area (Appendix 1).

Schemes delivered have ranged from low cost surface treatment schemes, designed to address immediate defects and extend the overall life of the carriageway, to major resurfacing of sections of carriageway which have reached the end of their serviceable life. The programme is fed by intelligence from asset survey which provides information regarding optimum intervention periods to provide maximum value for money.

Planning for 2016/17 is now well progressed, with a draft programme developed in conjunction with Members to meet prioritised demands on both the Strategic and Local road network in 2016/17. Final programmes will be available to share prior to the beginning of the next construction phase in April 2016.

Area Scheme Delivery Transport for Buckinghamshire have recognised the desire for a more transparent and visible process within the delivery of Area Maintenance minor improvement projects. This follows concerns raised regarding visibility of programme and progress, cost and budget and communication paths.

27 Haddenham and Long Crendon Local Area Forum

It should be borne in mind that minor or major improvement projects on the highway network, even relatively small scale projects, can often contain significant complexities within design, consultation and construction. Transport for Buckinghamshire are legally and professionally bound to ensure that any change is undertaken in line with appropriate design standards and with due regard to any health and safety implication which may arise.

Often, the most complex areas of work are those which are not visible at the outset; determination of ground conditions, identification and relocation of buried services etc. Resolution of such issues can result in escalation of cost and lengthening of delivery timescales which must be effectively identified and communication to Clients.

To aid transparency, Transport for Buckinghamshire together with BCC Localities have developed a three stage process to be applied to all such schemes.

 Initiation/Feasibility – determine whether the project can progress within the agreed parameters, and where appropriate define options for Client consideration.  Design/Consultation – upon confirmation of Client preference, design the chosen scheme to current standards and undertake any necessary informal or statutory consultation to bring the scheme to construction stage.  Construction – progress work to site upon completion of design.

All schemes within the current delivery programme now have the three elements of progress determined with anticipated costs identified against each.

It is important to note that costs for each stage cannot be confirmed until the work against the preceding stage is progressed (e.g. if is not possible to confirm construction costs until the design is carried out). Forward looking costs will therefore be advisory and include reasonably anticipated elements of work. A change control process ensures the Client is made aware at early stage should either potential cost or programme require altering.

The revisions to process implemented in 2015 have been integral in improving delivery and certainty of budget, although challenges still remain where complex schemes can alter throughout the feasibility, design and consultation stages. As such, the support and assistance of LAF’s Parishes and other stakeholders has been vital to the successful delivery noted in 2015, and will continue to be so in 2016.

Specific progress against schemes within the boundaries of the Haddenham and Long Crendon Local Area Forum are detailed within the table attached (Appendix 2).

N.B: Due to funding pressures overall within BCC, Localities have led discussions with LAF’s to determine schemes which can reasonably be deferred from 2015/16 budget spend. The tables reference such instances where relevant. Due to this continued pressure and changing situation, however, the final delivery listing in Appendix 2 is subject to potential further change between January and March 2016.

28 Haddenham and Long Crendon Local Area Forum

REVENUE MAINTENANCE UPDATE

Gullies Since the start of the financial year (April 1st 2015) up to the end of December we have visited/ attended to 23,451 gullies out of a planned 27,000 in the Aylesbury Vale area putting us at about 98% on target.

Potholes Up to the end of December we have attended to 5660 potholes in the Aylesbury Vale area alone. Based on historical evidence our forecast for this period was estimated to be 3361 potholes and as a result we are 60% above forecast to date.

There has been a significant increase in potholes numbers this year across the entire county, this has had an effect on delivering other routine highway services. This has also added pressure to our existing budget as to where money needs to be spent. As a result our usual programme, delivering minor and in particular area maintenance works, has been adversely affected with the need to use our resource to attend to pothole filling.

Minor and Area Maintenance Works Up to the end of November we had carried out a total of 107 minor works schemes, 66% of total. This work comprises of general minor maintenance type works such as footway kerbing/ signing etc.

Grass Cutting We are proposing to commence the Rural grass cutting program in early April initially targeting junctions and vision splays. Our proposals for the number and type of cut required will be verified prior to commencement in the spring.

We will be commencing the Urban grass cutting in April 2016. The extent of our program will be confirmed following the completion/ extent of tranche 2 devolution. Cutting will be carried out between April and October 2016.

Weed Spraying Treatment / removal of noxious weeds, primarily Japanese Knotweed, have been identified on our noxious weed site registry across Aylesbury Vale. A list will be sent out at the end of January to Local members for review. At this stage any new or previously unidentified sites can be added for treatment.

2016/17 Business Planning for 2016/17 Financial Year is now well progressed against very challenging budgets. We will be advising LAF’s of expected Service Levels through our colleagues in Localities during February and March 2016.

29 Haddenham and Long Crendon Local Area Forum

WINTER SERVICE UPDATE

The winter service commenced on the 12th October 2015 and will run through to the 9th April 2016, weather dependant.

So far it has proved to be a mild start to the winter period having only carried out 5 gritting runs up to the end of December. There are some predictions that we may experience a cold front late in the season around Easter time.

There will be no change to our priority routes this season. We are planning to carry out a full review of both the primary and secondary routes in 2016. This will be derived from information gathered over the last 3 years from both our weather stations and from Thermal mapping imagery. Members will be asked to review the final draft which we are proposing to have available by early Spring 2016.

Salt deliveries took place during October and the domes are fully stocked. We currently have a total of 10,500 tonnes in stock across Buckinghamshire of which 5,900 tonnes is in the North/ Aylesbury Vale area.

We have serviced our weather stations and all but one are fully functional. One of the more southern stations is beyond repair and its replacement will form part of the business case currently being put together to replace all 9 stations as they are 12 years old and reaching the end of their service life. By 2017 the software running the current stations will become obsolete favouring a more sophisticated, and somewhat less intrusive, digital version.

All BCC salt bins will be checked/ replenished commencing 02 November 2015. This generally takes 2-3 weeks to complete. We have been capturing data as we visit each site recording the condition and content of each bin backed up with photographic evidence. We have found to date a total of 75 salt bins that are either damaged or missing across the Aylesbury Vale area. A number of replacements will be installed at high priority sites this season. The remaining sites will be reviewed and a program put together to either replace the bin or change to a drop site.

Our winter information leaflet and Primary Route map can be found on the Bucks CC website.

30 Haddenham and Long Crendon Local Area Forum

Priority 1 Precautionary Salting Network - These are the most important routes to keep everyone moving and consist of 1,405km (41%) of the county’s road network including all A & B classified roads. In addition, other important C & U/C roads are included. Network selection takes account of traffic flows, route topography, bus routes (school & public), adjacent key facilities, community links, previous salting regime, efficiency and practicality. We have a total of 25 spreaders operating from four depots across the County. A normal treatment run (for ice) uses 65t of salt (pre-wet salting), the maximum treatment run (for snow) will use 170t of salt.

Priority 2 Secondary Salting Network - These are generally only treated post weather event and include most other roads and footways such as classified roads not included in the Priority 1 network, u/c roads serving communities of 200 dwellings or more, roads with gradients of >10%, high use footways and cycleways.

Snow Routes - Snow Routes are only implemented during severe weather or critical salt shortages. The reduced network of 12 routes, 700km (22%), will consist of A & B roads only and some key links such as major communities, key emergency facilities and facilities for other transport providers.

Weather Forecasting and Decision Making - TfB receive 4 forecasts each day. A morning summary, 24 hour forecast, a 2-5 day forecast and an evening summary. The forecasts include detailed information of predicted surface and air temperatures, precipitation, frost and ice formation, wind direction and speed, snowfall etc. Separate decisions usually made around midday for the north and south of the county and are then communicated.

31 Haddenham and Long Crendon Local Area Forum

STREET LIGHTING UPDATE

The Lighting team has responsibility for maintenance, design (specification) and construction of Lighting capital maintenance and improvement schemes across the county, Transport, Economy and Environment (TEE) schemes and third party related schemes originating from a number of sources. The team is split into two main areas of delivery, with support provided to the Capital Maintenance Schemes team surrounding public lighting delivery:

 Lighting Capital Maintenance Schemes (Countywide) – oversees delivery of the Lighting Capital maintenance programme, funded directly from Buckinghamshire County Council. In 2015/16 this equates to a total budget spend of over £2.25m.  Lighting Planned Maintenance – responsibility for delivery of various maintenance/ improvement projects, including initial scoping and investigation to determine feasibility, design/specification to current standards, consultation and liaison, procurement and construction. This includes schemes originating from LAF’s, TEE, third parties and currently equates to over 5000 works orders ongoing in 2015/16.

LIGHTING CAPITAL MAINTENANCE SCHEMES (COUNTYWIDE)

Transport for Buckinghamshire (TfB) are scheduled to deliver the capital maintenance initiative via two countywide projects this year as detailed below.

Scheme 1 Variable Lighting Project.

This scheme has entered its 4th and final year with a spend equating to £950k for 2015/16.

The project delivers LED lantern replacements of Street lights on major/strategic traffic routes across the county. Not only a reduction of the County energy consumption, it delivers new innovative technology allowing staged dimming and furthermore reduces the required maintenance of the Highway asset. With an impressive 10 year warranty it also allows BCC to proactive manage their Asset, and aid in prediction of the required maintenance costs going forward.

Scheme commenced year 4 this month and is currently on target to deliver to Programme.

Scheme 2 Annual Structural Replacement

With a successful MTP bid last financial year, TfB have an increased spend for this year to replace the aged/damaged Lighting Assets equating to £1.3m for 2015/2016. This is to rise to £1.7m next year complete the last phase of this Programme.

This project follows the results of the Revenue based Electrical and Structural Testing Programme not only fulfilling the legal requirement to maintain their adopted highway assets, but ensuring the areas highlighted as age expired can be located, programmed, and completed within the financial year. Assets completed via this Programme also benefit

32 Haddenham and Long Crendon Local Area Forum from an LED conversion as additional energy reduction initiative. The new assets installed as part of this project have an indicative life span of 35years.

This project is scheduled to start in October this year. TfB are currently on target to meet the project commencement date.

To ensure value for money is demonstrated and maintained, all projects have been tendered and awarded to the Ringway Infrastructure Services (Technology Division). This framework agreement forms a key part of ensuring the service quality maintained whilst delivered in line with the current contractual arrangements with BCC.

LIGHTING PLANNED MAINTENANCE

Providing the main core of the Lighting works, the Lighting Planned Maintenance budget for 2015/16 equates to £2.2m. Within this BCC agreed budget and the TfB framework, it is the Lighting Teams area of responsibility to manage and pay the Energy for the public Lighting Assets. This has been subject to reductions following completed Energy efficiency projects under the Lighting Capital Maintenance schemes over the past 3 years.

Planned maintenance is not only a reactive service completing faults on the highway. Its nomination in the Industry recognized Vinci Innovation awards for its approach to Night time patrols is just one area TfB have improved the proactive service for BCC.

This year, with the introduction of the Network Asset Database ‘CONFIRM’, the Lighting Department are striving to take this innovation further by introducing Strategic Asset Profiling. This will now allow TfB to capture information to link key Highway attributes to the Asset.

This means TfB can determine the Speed of the Road on which the Asset is situated, whether or not the Asset is present on a Primary Salting Route etc., and if any Asset is in a potential accident hot-spot etc.

This additional information will allow us to predict where the trends recommend and proactively manage the areas highlighted to be at an elevated risk position. This also will ensure that we capture any asset information that results in an increased maintenance spend, allowing regimes of works to be created to further mitigate risk of Asset fault.

33 Haddenham and Long Crendon Local Area Forum

STRUCTURES UPDATE

The Structures Team comprises 3 engineers (1 Revenue works and 2 Capital works) with a technical administrator, a bridge inspector and a team leader. The structures team also has a team of 9 operatives who undertake a significant amount of the revenue structures maintenance.

The Structures Team look after around 600 main structures and in excess of 100 retaining walls.

The main structures are inspected on a 2 year cycle. These inspect ions are key to determine the ongoing programme of Capital and Revenue structures works. The inspections use a national agreed condition scoring systems and the resulting condition scoring allows the available Capital and Revenue budgets to be targeted effectively.

In the 2015/16 financial year there are 11 structures Capital schemes programmed and approaching 70 Revenue schemes programmed.

The Haddenham and Long Crendon LAF area will not be affected by any Capital schemes during the remainder of 2015/16 financial year

There are no remaining planned revenue maintenance works within the area. However where necessary reactive maintenance works will be carried out if required.

34 Haddenham and Long Crendon Local Area Forum

NETWORK SAFETY UPDATE Older Driver Assessments

All driving Instructors are being invited to attend a training day for delivering Older Driver Assessments, to be held at Aylesbury on the 18th February 2016. This is in response to the increasing demand from older drivers for assessments throughout the county.

Demand for older driver assessments is increasing as a result of publicity generated by Cabinet Member Mark Shaw and racing driver Paddy Hopkirk.

For more info, follow the link: http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/transport/more/road- safety/approved-driving-instructors/

Safety Scheme - B4011 / Drakes Drive Roundabout, Long Crendon

Sign work and surface retexturing is complete. Lining will be carried out in the next 4 weeks which will complete the scheme.

RIGHTS OF WAY OPERATIONS UPDATE

35 Haddenham and Long Crendon Local Area Forum

Condition Surveys So far in 2015/16, over 250 bridges, mostly the larger structures on Byways and Bridleways have been inspected; 47 bridges were found to have defects, and 6 bridges had to be closed on the grounds of safety. Wherever possible, bridge repairs will be carried out using TfB’s own labour, with some of the larger repairs and replacement structures being undertaken by contractors.

Summer / Autumn Clearance The Rights of Way summer clearance schedule commenced in May and ended in October with a length of paths cleared of 143 kilometres by the Rights of Way Work gangs. Some additional clearance has also been undertaken during November and December on routes that have become very overgrown by more substantial vegetation, and this has amounted to 17km.

Donate a Gate Project The total number of donors paying for installation of new gates to replace stiles on rights of way has reached approximately 340 gates. The Donate A Gate project (DAG) is run by the Chiltern Society in partnership with Buckinghamshire County Council. Donors pay for a gate to be installed on their local network. Most donations are in memorial of a loved one and have a plaque added to the new gate accordingly. The web page address for details of DAG can be found at http://www.chilternsociety.org.uk/support-donatagate.php .

36 Haddenham and Long Crendon Local Area Forum

PUBLIC TRANSPORT UPDATE

The Passenger Transport team works with bus companies to develop and promote bus routes in Buckinghamshire. We subsidise around 65 routes across the county which would not operate without financial support from TfB.

We also provide timetable information at bus stops, via printed publicity and online at http://www.transportforbucks.net

TfB subsidise most of the local bus routes in the Haddenham & Long Crendon area with the main exception being Service 280 where we have worked closely with Arriva over recent years to develop the route to the point where it now operates successfully with no public funding required.

 There are no planned timetable changes for February or March.

 Please be aware that Oxfordshire County Council has announced it may withdraw all funding for local bus services from summer 2016. Service 118 which serves Oakley & Brill is mainly funded by OCC and if the decision is confirmed then this route would be taken off. Further information will be available in February.

37 Haddenham and Long Crendon Local Area Forum

COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE December was all about winter – which never came! We experienced an exceptionally mild December, and temperatures on the day of the winter solstice (21st December) were as warm as those on the summer solstice (21st June) in many parts of the country. As a result, TfB carried out absolutely no gritting in December. On the 18th we published a blog entitled “Where’s Winter?!”, expressing our curiosity about the lack of cold, but highlighting the continued work by operations teams, who have been allowed more freedom to carry out work such as sign cleaning, vegetation clearing, and – of course – pothole filling.

We’ve been enjoying interacting with local children this month, with the grand finale of our Christmas competitions. Daisy, from Hyde Heath Brownies, has provided us with our lovely new winter mascot, The Frozen Donut, while year 6 at Ickford School have written a brilliant winter rap, complete with actions, to help people remember how to stay safe in winter! Expect to see the frozen donut emblazoned on gritter doors this winter, along with our crucial seasonal message: “Donut get caught out this winter!” It is always rewarding to work with local children, and receiving their fantastic pictures and poems was a joy for the team.

As far as works are concerned, to limit disruption during the busiest time of the year, there was a ‘Christmas embargo’ on planned works across Buckinghamshire in ‘traffic sensitive’ areas. The embargo runs from 7th December to 8th January, and is a practice we adopt every year at this time.

Looking forward…

As January approached we prepared for the embargo to end, and for routine works to resume. These will increase in scope during February and March. We also anticipate the onset of colder weather, and ensured we were up to date with the necessary Communications processes we will be undertaking should the roads become icy, or snow should fall.

Our primary concern was to keep the public informed and safe, and will be promptly updating the website and Twitter with gritting routes, and possible road closures. We do, regardless of the weather forecast, post daily gritting bulletins at this time of year – follow @TFBAlerts on Twitter to stay informed.

38 Capital Maintenance Schemes Delivery (Countywide) Team Appendix 1 - 2015/16 Carriageway & Footway Surfacing Programme - Haddenham & Long Crendon Local Area Forum Update

Month of Financial Year Financial Year Financial Year Financial Year Road Planned or Task Name Road Name Town / Village Members Programme Status 2015/16 Quarter 1 2015/16 Quarter 2 2015/16 Quarter 3 2015/16 Quarter 4 Comments Number Actual (April to June 2015) (July to Sept 2015) (Oct to Dec 2015) (Jan to Mar 2016) Completion Conventional Carriageway Surfacing Programme

Targeted patching. Work not yet programmed. 150237 C70 Thame Rd Haddenham Margaret Aston Not Yet Programmed 2016/17 Deferred scheme - will now form part of the 2016/17 programme.

150006 A418 Oxford Rd Dinton Paul Irwin Completed  November All works completed.

150008 A418 Aylesbury Rd Haddenham Margaret Aston Completed  October All works completed. 39

150042 C59 Menmarsh Rd Worminghall Margaret Aston Completed  November All works completed.

Surface Dressing Carriageway Surfacing Programme

150060 C70 Lower Rd & Portway Dinton Paul Irwin Completed  October All works completed.

Micro Carriageway Surfacing Programme

150238 U156 Crabtree Rd Haddenham Margaret Aston Completed  January All works completed.

Footway Surfacing Programme

150198 The Green Cuddington Paul Irwin Completed  July All works completed.

150194 Banks Road Haddenham Margaret Aston Completed  June All works completed.

Plane & Patch Programme

150422 Tramhill Brill Angela Macpherson Completed  October All works completed. AREA BASED SCHEME DELIVERY UPDATE Appendix 2 Definitions: Stage Description Initiation Scheme identified and resource allocated - where possible key programme dates identified Feasibility Scheme feasibility stage including feasibility check/design, informal/formal consultation, decision report writing and decision process. Detailed Design Detailed design and completion of construction information. (Does not include procurement) Construction Start of construction on site and date of substantial completion.

Haddenham and Long Crendon LAF Schemes TfB County Parish Actual Start Actual Finish Scheme Name Description Project Work Stage Comments / Status Update Councillor Council Date Date Lead No schemes currently 40 ongoing

Non-LAF Schemes within Haddenham and Long Crendon LAF Area TfB County Parish Actual Start Actual Finish Scheme Name Description Project Work Stage Comments / Status Update Councillor Council Date Date Lead From 2013/14 - Proposals & costs to Parish Council 10/9/13, chased Initiation 13/1/14. Still no response 10/03/14. Awaiting reply - Scheme Closed 2013/14 12-Aug-15 Stone with 12/08/15 David Stone Jubilee Pavillion Private Sign Paul Irwin Bishopstone & Feasibility Cairney Hartwell PC Detailed Design Construction CRN 493671 (customer enquiry): Request for direction sign on A418 Initiation 10-Jul-15 28-Sep-15 Oxford Road. Parish Council comment sought. Stone with St John the Baptist Church, David Feasibility May progress 2016 on recepit of Parish comments Private Sign Paul Irwin Bishopstone & Stone Cairney Hartwell PC Detailed Design Construction

Scheme funded through Aylesbury Vale District Council New Homes Bonus Funding scheme. Haddenham Parish Council hold these funds. Initiation meeting held with Parish Council, Cllr Margaret Aston, Schools and local scheme promoters on 16 September 2015. Agreement made to define the scope of the proposed scheme. TfB have developed budget estimate for agreed scope including all fees for Initiation 16-Sep-15 16-Sep-15 consultation, design and implementation. Key risk to budget estimate is the scope and costs of lighting works, and TFB have undertaken work seeking Zebra Crossing to reduce this element of works. The updated budget estimate has been Woodways, Haddenham installation and Margaret Haddenham Adrian issued to the Parish Council and is currently shown within the current Zebra Crossing removal of build- Aston Parish Council Lane available funding out Feasibility study previously completed (2013). As part of ongoing work the feasibility stage will now only include the completion of public consultation Feasibility 2013/14 2013/14 and subsequent decision to implement the crossing and revised speed cushion location. To commence on agreement of works scope and estimate with Parish Detailed Design Council. Agreement to be sought from AVDC to defer funding into 2016-17. Construction Scheme anticipated for implementation April/May 2016. Scope of commission to provide statutory utility information to MVAS Initiation 11-Sep-15 11-Sep-15 groundscrew contractor. Margaret Feasibility Completed and issued to Dave Catling (Ground Screw Contractor) 21-Sep-15 25-Oct-15 Ickford Stats Information Stats Searches Ickford PC Sarah Reid Aston Detailed Design Construction 41 Appendix 3 - 2015/16 Street Lighting Programme - Haddenham & Long Crendon Local Area Forum Update

Financial Year Financial Year Month of Financial Year Financial Year Road 2015/16 Quarter 3 2015/16 Quarter 4 Planned or Task Name Road Name Town / Village Members Programme Status 2015/16 Quarter 1 2015/16 Quarter 2 Comments Number (Oct to Dec (Jan to Mar Actual (April to June 2015) (July to Sept 2015) 2015) 2016) Completion

Street Lighting

Street lighting quaterly night time patrols carried out 160015 Various Various Haddenham Paul Irwin Programmed  Quarterly covering entire area

Street lighting quaterly night time patrols carried out 160015 Various Various Long Crendon Paul Irwin Programmed  Quarterly covering entire area 42 Agenda Item 11

Aylesbury Vale District Council Briefing note for t h e

Haddenham and Long Crendon L o c a l Area Forum

January 2016

1. Vale of Aylesbury Plan 2. Potential delay to East-West rail 3. General planning update 4. Swan Pool and Aylesbury town centre developments 5. AVDC budget update 6. New commercial venture l 7. Website delivers more benefits 8. Changes to recycling and waste collection dates 9. Vale Lottery 10. Grants and Section 106 money

1. Vale of Aylesbury Plan

Issues & Options consultation on the Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan (VALP) closed on 4 December. Over 900 individual responses are now being considered by planning colleagues with a view to publishing a summary and responses by end of January/early February.

The consultation document set out the issues and options for the VALP and invited the local community to give their views and ideas on what the plan should achieve, how new homes and jobs should be distributed and what new policies could be introduced to manage development between now and 2033.

At least 31,000 new homes are needed. Whilst still in its early stages, once finalised the Local Plan will provide firm guidance on how planning applications should be considered and say where new development should or should not take place. This was the second public consultation stage in the new Local Plan’s preparation and it includes nine potential options for distributing new development.

The options include developing urban extensions at Milton Keynes/Bletchley; using land more efficiently by raising the average density of new development; creating a whole new settlement somewhere in the Vale; and a combination of these.

The responses received will inform the development of the next stage of the process a draft local plan coming in late Spring 2016. There will be two further consultation periods prior to the local plan being considered at a public examination in early 2017. The first of these consultations is expected to take be in Spring 2016 with submission of the plan in early 2017. After the examination, the final plan would be adopted. This expected to be summer 2017.

For more information, please visit www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/valp.

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2. Work continues on East-West rail

AVDC is a Member of the East West Rail Consortium and Joint Delivery Board for the Western Section. The Board represents nine local authorities along the East West Rail route in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire, and three Local Enterprise Partnerships. For over 15 years we have been working within the District Council to re- open the East West Rail ‘moth-balled’ route between Bicester and Bletchley, with the Aylesbury spur. Over the years the project has grown into the key piece of national infrastructure it has become today.

East West Rail is one of the rail enhancement projects in Network Rail’s five year plan (2014 – 2019), known as CP5. In June the Secretary of State for Transport asked Sir Peter Hendy to review and re-plan all railway enhancements and how they should be delivered, taking into consideration affordability and deliverability.

All members of the Consortium have been garnering support over the last few weeks to influence the Government decisions, so that the East West Rail programme may be recovered and the line delivered by March 2019, as originally envisaged.

Sir Peter Hendy, published his review of the nationwide Railway Upgrade Plan on 25th November 2015. His report confirms that the second phase of the Western Section of East West Rail will go ahead with development work continuing and delivery starting as soon as possible before March 2019 (referred to as Control Period 5 or CP5), for completion in the following five-year railway control period (Control Period 6 or CP6).

Further development work, now being done by the newly-appointed EWR2 Alliance, is needed before final delivery dates can be confirmed.

3. General planning update

Watermead, Aylesbury Crematorium

Following a recent hearing, Watermead Parish Council has been granted leave for a judicial review challenging the Council’s decision on the proposed crematorium at Watermead. It is unlikely to be heard in the High Court until late January 2016.

Wind Turbine Appeal, Ford

The appeal against a single wind turbine at Lower Waldridge Farm, Owlswick Road, Ford has been dismissed by the Secretary of State for the reasons of the harm to landscape character, to the AONB, to visual amenity and to heritage assets, along with the conflict with the transitional provisions contained in the Written Ministerial Statement of 18 June 2015. Attached below is a link to the decision: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/recovered-appeal-lower-waldridge-farm- owlswick-road-ford-aylesbury-buckinghamshire-hp17-8xw-ref-2213617-15-october-2015

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5. 4. Swan Pool and Aylesbury town centre developments

Swan Pool

The Swan Pool and Leisure Centre redevelopment works are now largely complete and have been handed over to the Leisure Centre operator, Everyone Active. All that remains is for some external works to be finished and the completion of the fit out of the new climbing wall facility. Throughout the project, the Centre has remained operational with disruption to the centre users being kept to a minimum, despite considerable structural changes. The refurbished changing village with the inclusion of a Changing Places (changing facilities for people with a disability) area has been well received together with a new family changing area and sauna has opened for general use, alongside the extended gym which opened during the summer. The overall reaction has been extremely positive.

To the front elevation, the new entrance, spectator area and reception areas are now open to the public whilst the climbing wall facility and new spinning studio will be complete towards the end of January 2016. The official opening of the centre is scheduled for Saturday 6 February 2016, where AVDC will be supported by our partners Everyone Active (Leisure Management Operators) with free activities being programmed throughout the day. A programme of events will be released nearer the time.

The Swan Pool works are being funded by AVDC (£2.1m) and Sport England (£500,000)

Aylesbury town centre

The new University Campus has now been handed over by AVDC to tenants BEST - Buckinghamshire Education, Skills and Training. BEST are fitting out the new premises which initially will include two Technology Centres combining research, innovation and education.

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The Telehealth and Assistive Technology Centre

Building on the success of Aylesbury College’s Assisted Living Lab, the UCAV centre will provide an innovation hub for existing and new businesses within the Assisted Living Technology sector.

Professional development courses up to Postgraduate level will support the private and public social care sector, alongside the living lab offering technician and higher workforce skills. The centre will also provide opportunities for research into innovative and cutting edge practice.

The Cyber-Security Technology Centre

The Cyber-Security Technology Centre will develop and deliver cyber-security and cyber- fraud services with a high level of direct employer engagement where Aylesbury already has major specialist business expertise.

Aylesbury Waterside North – phase 1

A new temporary surface car park behind the old county offices opened in November 2015. The car park is owned and managed by Bucks County Council and provides 98 short stay spaces with six spaces for people with a blue badge. The parking charges are the same as those charged by AVDC for the adjacent Exchange Street car park.

On 2 December, AVDC full council approved the appointment of a development partner to progress the mixed used scheme comprising restaurants, 1 and 2 bedroom apartments and a new public square between the cinema and the top of the existing Exchange Street car park. A detailed planning application is expected to be submitted in Spring 2016 enabling work to start on site in autumn 2016.

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5. AVDC budget update

The Council recently received its government grant numbers for the next four years. These, as we'd predicted, show the ending of grant for some councils by 2018/19 and significant reforms to the way that grant cuts are distributed, including locally generated business rates. Some extra freedom was given to certain councils to increase council tax by higher amounts, although Aylesbury Vale narrowly missed out on this new freedom. Cabinet are therefore likely to recommend (Monday 11 January) that the council increases its tax by the maximum permissible (1.99%) for 2016/17.

The government also announced a far reaching consultation on the future of New Homes Bonus with the aim of reducing the national cost of the scheme by as much as 2/3rds. With Aylesbury Vale receiving more than any other district in the country, the implications for this council will obviously be significant and will have ramifications for the district's parish NHB scheme. We will be responding to the consultation which closes on the 10 March 2016. For any parishes which are interested, the consultation paper can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/new-homes-bonus-provisional- allocations-for-2016-to-2017-and-consultation-on-reforming-the-bonus

6. New commercial venture New Commercial Venture

Vale Commerce is the name of the new limited liability company wholly owned by Aylesbury Vale District Council which aims to:  generate a substantial income stream for the Council.  support improvement in the local economy  help foster an enterprise management perspective within the Council  showcase the Council’s determination to become more self-sufficient

Vale Commerce will market and deliver services under two distinct customer brands, Limecart for consumers and Incgen for businesses and will strive to be associated with excellent value and utmost convenience and reliability.

The primary strategy for both brands is founded on a membership/subscription model. In other words, customers choose and subscribe to a package of services/products, with further discount and reward privileges on special offers.

Updated 8 January 2016 Page 5

47 Limecart will be the first to launch by focusing on gardens and then creating a number of packages to improve home living and make life easier. The base subscription will be free and gives access to regular guides and information – via a multi-media magazine and digital updates.

The company will be relatively unique in comparison to other local authority trading companies in that a high percentage of the services and products offered will go beyond those associated with a typical council.

The first news and offer to come from AVDC about Limecart will be towards the end of January. This will take the form of a free prize draw aimed at garden waste customers. This will be followed by an online garden magazine which will develop into wider content about the home and garden.

Look out for more news on this through the AVDC’s communications and media channels.

7 . More features added to the new AVDC website

Following the introduction of the new AVDC website in August 2015, the Aylesbury Vale My Account has now gone live with over 8,000 customers signing up by early January. All customers who were signed in to the former portal (council tax & benefits & business rates customers) have been asked to complete the sign in process to access their new online account with us. All garden waste customers have also been contacted to let them know they also have an account which they can now access.

All enquiries about the Aylesbury Vale My Account are being handled via the AVDC Customer Service Team. To make this process easier, a new My Account phone number (01296 585000) has been added to the website.

With My Account, customers can now:

 View and pay their council tax online  Manage their personal and contact details held with AVDC and ‘Tell us once’  Apply for the garden waste service or order garden waste another bin  View real time benefit statement and business rate information  Customers can talk to us instantly online via the new web chat service

Taxi drivers can also apply for/renew their license online too and business account users can view and pay business rates online.

Over the next few months, we will continue to add new features to the website.

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8. Changes to recycling and waste collection dates

On Tuesday 5 April 2016 AVDC is changing the days it collects recycling and waste from households. This change will affect most households throughout the district.

All households will be notified by AVDC directly by letter in late March, before the change takes place, backed up by a publicity campaign in the run up to this. The changes take place after the Easter bank holiday and will not directly affect properties with communal bins, e.g. those living in flats.

Residents can check on whether they are affected or not by checking our website www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/findyourbinday or download the free app from android or Apple - search AVDC bins. The new days will be posted online after Saturday 2 April.

The change is needed to maximise efficiencies in the waste service following the growth of around 4,000 new homes in the district, and changes to disposal arrangements for garden, food and residual waste being introduced by Bucks CC.

9. Vale Lottery

Actress Gillian Wright joined local good causes, along with Cllr Janet Blake, to officially launch the online Vale Lottery in early November.

So far, more than 69 good causes have signed up to the lottery which enables them to raise much-needed money whilst giving supporters the chance to win a £20,000 jackpot.

On Wednesday 6 January, we approved the first payments to the good causes. This will happen in the first week of every month in future.

A total of 6349 tickets were sold across the 6 playing weeks generating a total of £3682,42 for a total of 69 good causes that had sold tickets. There are actually 83 causes registered and still rising, but clearly there are a number that have yet to sell a ticket.

Under the scheme, local good causes have their own webpage where their supporters can sign up. 50p in every pound goes directly to that good cause. An additional 8p will go to a general good cause fund, to be administered by AVDC. Those without a favourite cause can choose to just support this general fund if they wish, which would then receive 58p in the pound. The rest of the money goes towards running costs and prize fund. AVDC does not take a penny.

Good causes and those who wish to take part should visit www.valelottery.co.uk

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10 . Grants and section 106 money

Parish Amount Project (£)

Brill 3,024 Final payment for preparation of junior football/rugby pitch at King George V Playing Field

Marsworth 35,482 Play Equipment, safety surfacing, parking & access works at Marsworth Recreation Ground

Quainton 2,350 Final payment for extension of Sports Pavilion at Quainton FC

Grants

Section 106

S106 Leisure Projects funded (01/09/2015 – 12/11/2015)

Service Level Agreements (SLAs): The Informal Grants Panel met in early November to consider seventeen applications from existing SLA partners, grant support for lunch clubs in Aylesbury Vale and the council’s contribution towards the voluntary sector infrastructure contract. The Panel’s recommendations have now been confirmed.

Grant support has been awarded to 16 organisations for 2016/17 totalling £393,730. A list of the organisations supported and the level of the awards will be available on the AVDC website at the end of March.

New Homes Bonus: The Advisory Grants Panel met on 18 November, to consider eight applications from Parish and Town Councils and were unanimous in recommending funding for seven projects, totalling £1,114,826. The recommendations were approved by Cabinet in December and are now confirmed.

Projects supported include a new toilet block and permanent base for Shopmobility in Buckingham Town Centre, the remodelling of the Manor Waste in Wendover and the building of a new community hub in Aston Clinton. For a full list of the projects supported, please follow visit the AVDC website: http://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/new-homes- bonus-funding-scheme

Buckinghamshire Community Funding Fair (organised by the Bucks Funding Group, of which AVDC is a member) is due to take place at the Gateway on Tuesday 23 February 2016, 1pm-5.30pm.

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50 Agenda Item 12

News from your County Council – February 2016

For the Haddenham Area Forum At a glance….

1. Cabinet recommends 3.99% council tax rise to maintain key services after huge reduction in Government funding

2. Check out the Family Information Service website for help and advice for all families.

3. Remaining 2015/16 school term dates.

5. Supporting men in Buckinghamshire

6. Cabinet backs new measures to fight child sexual exploitation

7. Elderly and vulnerable urged to try opportunities centres

8. One-stop shop for Bucks residents worried about their memory

In detail….

1. Cabinet recommends 3.99% council tax rise to maintain key services after huge reduction in Government funding

A large reduction in grant from central Government has led to the County Council’s Cabinet proposing a council tax increase of 3.99%.

This comes in the wake of new funding rules which mean the Council is losing tens of millions of pounds in grant reductions each year.

On January 11, the Cabinet recommended the 3.99% increase with the aim of keeping key services as robust and viable as possible, and importantly protecting the most vulnerable, in the face of the financial difficulties. 2% of this is the acceptance of the Government's proposal to allow councils to raise extra money specifically to meet the rising costs of adult social care.

Members also proposed further 3.99% increases each year for the next three years to help the Council maintain its services.

However, Cabinet members are campaigning to make the Government aware of the county’s situation – and have arranged a meeting with Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The Cabinet heard how the funding announcement made last month (December) had come as a shock, with Buckinghamshire the second worst- affected area in the country in terms of losing its grant.

51 Council Leader Martin Tett said: “It is with great regret that we have had to make these proposals but we really have no choice due to the imminent complete loss of central government grant to the County Council as well as the increase in demand for high-cost services such as those to the county’s elderly and the safeguarding of vulnerable children.”

He pointed out that the Council had managed to keep Council Tax at the same level for four years until 2014/15 when it was raised by 1.5% and then a further 1.99% the following year.

But Government funding – which was £60.8m a year in 2013/14 - will be reduced to zero by 2018/19.

Martin Tett added: “This is a very well-managed and efficient Council and we have made enormous cost savings over the last few years. We budgeted for a steep cut in funding but unfortunately, the grant announced at the end of 2015 was far, far more challenging than anything we had anticipated. The massive scale of the reductions was totally unforeseen and the changes to the way the cuts were allocated were not consulted upon. This gave us very little time to come up with credible and deliverable proposals needed to balance the budget.

“Not only do we lose all Government Grants earlier than any other county in the country but our Business Rates and New Homes Bonus will also be heavily cut.”

He plans to make this all clear at the meeting with Greg Clark. “We do recognise and support the Government’s task in reducing the budget deficit but this is a really, really difficult budget for us and one that none of us expected to have to put forward.”

The financial difficulties have been compounded by the Government’s decision, in line with the move towards all schools being either academies or free schools, to reduce the Education Services Grant of £4.5m by 2019/20. The Council estimates it will only be able to reduce £1.5m of these costs by then, meaning a net loss of £3m.

According to Martin Tett, the financial challenges will mean:

* Significant reductions across most services;

* The closure of a number of children's centres;

* A lack of funding to support the integration of health and social care services to residents; and

* The inability to resource support to the housing growth plans of the district councils and, in particular, provide the key infrastructure required such as roads and schools.

However, the Cabinet, in keeping with the wishes of residents in a recent survey of budget priorities, also aims to commit £15m to its Highways Maintenance budget in 2016/17.

52 The council tax increase is in line with the limits set by the Secretary of State before a referendum has to be been triggered. Local authorities are allowed to raise the tax by 1.99% but those with adult social care responsibilities are permitted to increase it by a further 2%.

The final decision on the proposals and overall budget, which will now go out to consultation and scrutiny, will be agreed by full Council at its meeting on February 18.

2. Did you know that the Buckinghamshire Family Information Service, run by the County Council, has a special website designed for all families in Buckinghamshire?

The site, at www.bucksfamilyinfo.org, has been averaging almost 23,000 users per month. It is free to access and offers impartial information, support and advice for the public. It has more than 400 pages giving comprehensive details of children’s centres, childcare, events and activities.

The site hosts the Buckinghamshire Local Offer for children with special educational needs and disabilities (www.bucksfamilyinfo.org/localoffer) and there is a new ‘Youth Space’ section for young people (www.bucksfamilyinfo.org/youth).

The site has recently undergone a revamp so it can now work more efficiently on mobile phones and tablets. The Buckinghamshire Family Information Service provides support to families with children aged 0-19 (or 25 if they have a disability).

3. Remaining 2015/16 School Term dates

Term Open on morning of Close at end of afternoon of Tuesday 5 January 2016 Friday 12 February 2016 Spring 16 Monday 22 February 2016 Thursday 24 March 2016 Tuesday 12 April 2016 Friday 27 May 2016 Summer 16 Monday 6 June 2016 Thursday 21 July 2016

The recommended in-service training days for teachers are:

 Monday 4 January 2016  Monday 11 April 2016  The 2 additional in-service training days will be decided by each school

53 4. Supporting men in Buckinghamshire

HeadsUp is a new local campaign which aims to prompt men to recognise if they are feeling low and to take action. One in four of both men and women experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year, with anxiety and depression being the most common problems. However, the difference is that women are more likely to recognise early warning signs and act on them but men often don't. This campaign aims to change that.

HeadsUp, developed with the input of local men, has found that men are more likely to seek information online or turn to a family member or partner when they are feeling low. The campaign went live on 7th December, featuring the straplines 'Tired of putting on an act' and 'Helping men stay happy.' It directs men to a website (www.buckscc.gov.uk/headsup) with online check-ups, a toolkit of resources, case studies from local men and celebrities, a section encouraging partners and friends to look out for their man and 'How to Keep Happy' with hints and tips on how to stay well. There are also links to local and national support and information groups.

Martin Phillips, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health said: "Men suffer from mental health problems like anxiety and depression at similar rates to women but are more likely to leave it until crisis point before they seek help.

"Men tend not to seek advice or help for their mental health early, yet nationally and locally the male suicide rate is consistently higher in men than women.

"The idea of the campaign is to approach the subject of mental health and wellbeing in men in a unique way. Based on what men in Buckinghamshire have told us we hope we can encourage men to keep happy and support them to seek help early if they need it. I would urge everyone in Buckinghamshire to visit the HeadsUp website and take a look at what’s out there. It may help you or someone you know get access to the advice or help needed to live a happier life."

Dr John Pimm, Consultant Clinical Psychologist from the local NHS psychological therapies service Buckinghamshire Healthy Minds said: "National research suggests that men are less likely to seek help early, sometimes because they don’t recognise the symptoms of anxiety or depression, they are concerned about how other people may react or because they are not sure what to do. The reality is there is a lot of help available, and the earlier it is sought the better the outcome. HeadsUp includes a wealth of information from how to stay well, symptoms to look out for, and contact details - including Healthy Minds - for those who would like more help."

54 This campaign has been developed by Buckinghamshire County Council and a marketing agency, Social Change.

5. Cabinet backs new measures to fight child sexual exploitation

The County Council has reaffirmed its determination to fight the scourge of child sexual exploitation as its Cabinet agreed to a raft of new measures.

Cabinet members backed the majority of recommendations made by a Council scrutiny body, which carried out a lengthy review of practices across all organisations working with children and young people in Bucks.

Recommendations from the report, by the Children's Social Care and Learning Select Committee, included the development of a toolkit for use in schools to help schools foster resilience in children from an early age.

Lin Hazell, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “Cabinet was very happy to take on the recommendations in the Select Committee’s inquiry report. This was an important and wide-ranging review which will help combat the evil menace of child sexual exploitation.

“The safety of our children is paramount and we need to do as much as we possibly can to keep them away from the sexual predators who destroy young lives. Victims of child sexual exploitation just don’t see themselves as victims until much later in life, so we need to work on their behalf to keep child sexual exploitation at top of everyone’s agenda.”

Leader Martin Tett stressed to Cabinet that tackling child sexual exploitation was a top priority for the Council: “I hear people say it doesn’t happen here – it happens everywhere, quite frankly. It has to remain one of our top priorities. It’s a blot and a shame on our country that this exploitation goes on,” he said.

The only one of the ten recommendations not to be given full backing by Cabinet was that the Council should commission a service to provide support to parents of victims. Members were told that work goes on with families at present but it was not practical, particularly within the current budget difficulties, to commission a whole new service for this.

During the course of the CSE inquiry, scrutiny committee members heard from a spectrum of professionals engaged in the fight against exploitation and from those directly affected by CSE, including a parent of a victim and many victims themselves.

Scrutiny Committee chairman Val Letheren told the Cabinet this was one of the most difficult pieces of work she had done in her long career as a councillor and added: “We want to let the perpetrators know we are on to them.”

She related to Cabinet Members the compelling evidence that victims had given to the inquiry; and told how one child had said she had been leaving school at lunchtime to be sexually exploited, before going back to school for the afternoon.

55 After the meeting she said: “We are assured by Cabinet’s formal backing of our recommendations that the Council considers child sexual exploitation to be a top priority, and I was particularly pleased to see that three of the recommendations we made in the report had already been implemented before the Cabinet meeting.”

Read the full report and its recommendations at: https://democracy.buckscc.gov.uk/documents/s71382/PreventingCSEReport.pdf

Concerned about a child in Buckinghamshire? Call First Response – Buckinghamshire County Council on 0845 460 0001 or email: [email protected]

Buckinghamshire also has a countywide ‘R-U-Safe?’ service for young people run by Barnardo’s, which is able to offer advice and support to any young person worried about these issues. Email: [email protected], text: 07546 075638 or visit http://www.barnardos.org.uk/rusafebucks

6. Elderly and vulnerable urged to try opportunities centres

Elderly and vulnerable adults are being urged to start 2016 in style by enjoying lunch, company and fun at venues across the county.

Buckinghamshire County Council is appealing to people to find out what is available for them at opportunities centres in the area.

Wendy Mallen, Deputy Cabinet Member for Heath & Wellbeing, said: "At a time when many of us are looking forward to enjoying the festive season with our families, it’s easy to forget there are many people in our communities who do not have anyone to spend Christmas and New Year with and who are going into the New Year feeling quite alone.

"But it doesn’t necessarily have to be that way because we have centres all over Buckinghamshire operating all year round to support people in need of company or a hot meal."

The centres are run on behalf of the Council by Buckinghamshire Care, which estimates it provides 18,000 hours of help to the public each week.

Martin Farrow, the organisation’s Managing Director, said: "It's Buckinghamshire Care’s aim to make a genuine positive impact on the people we support – our opportunities centres across the county do this so well. They offer our clients great company – throw in a hot lunch, some fun and a smile or two and you have got a memorable day, not only for our clients but our teams too."

People can seek support and respite at the following places Aylesbury Opportunities Centre; Buckingham Opportunities Centre; Burnham Opportunities Centre, Chesham Opportunities Centre; and Southern Day Services – High Wycombe.

56 Buckinghamshire Care helps and supports thousands of adults both at home, through its reablement and laundry services, and in the community through day opportunities centres, supported employment schemes and respite services.

To find out more about the opportunities centres or respite care, call: 0333 121 0201 or email [email protected]

7. One-stop shop for Bucks residents worried about their memory

Buckinghamshire residents who are concerned about their memory or who have been diagnosed with dementia will be able to benefit from the county's new Memory Support Service.

We (Buckinghamshire County Council) and the Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Groups (Aylesbury Vale and Chiltern), have awarded the Alzheimer's Society with a contract for the new service to start on 1 April.

The service aims to offer one-to-one support for individuals and their carers, from their initial concerns about memory loss, through diagnosis, to planning for the future.

Over 6,500 people in Buckinghamshire have been diagnosed with dementia, and this is expected to rise to over 8,000 in the next four to five years.

Mike Appleyard, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at the Council commented: "This new service gives consistency across the county for anyone who is concerned about their memory, and will give an early indication if someone does have dementia. Forgetting someone's name, or not remembering where you put your car keys, for example, is not necessarily a sign of dementia, but if someone is concerned that their memory is failing they will be able to get support much more quickly than is currently available."

In a joint statement, Dr Alison Banks, Aylesbury Vale CCG’s Clinical Lead on Dementia, and Dr Steve Murphy, Chiltern CCG’s Commissioning Director for Staying Healthy and Mental Health, said: "Getting an early diagnosis for dementia is really important, as it allows time to plan and ensure adjustments can be made to allow people to stay at home for as long as possible. This service means people will get the right information at the right time. Most importantly it means that the individual and their families get the support and guidance they need."

The new support service means that people can expect to get an initial diagnosis within two weeks wherever they live in the county. Their GP will refer the individual to the local Alzheimer’s team who will use a paper-based questionnaire tool, called the GPCOG (General Practitioner assessment of Cognition), to make an initial assessment. For many people the

57 assessment will not lead to a formal diagnosis of dementia and they can be signposted to other services which will support them more appropriately.

For those who score low with the GPCOG, they will be referred to the Memory Clinic for a closer assessment and will be supported through the process by the Alzheimer’s team. When someone is diagnosed with dementia the support will focus on planning for the future and enable the person to live well at home, as well as signposting to support services for the person caring for them.

The service replaces the memory advice service currently split between Age UK Bucks and

the Alzheimer's Society.

58