APPENDIX A

Greater Local Area Forum Choose 4 Greater Aylesbury

fter a successful first year, the Greater Choose 4 Greater Aylesbury 2013 A Aylesbury Local Area Forum’s enabled residents in the nine parishes of participatory budgeting project Choose 4 the Greater Aylesbury local area the Greater Aylesbury ran again in 2013. The project opportunity to vote for which excellent had a shorter timescale than previously, projects they would like to see receive a running from 1 September - 31 October. share of £17,500. Residents from across the parishes in the Run by Greater Aylesbury Local Area Greater Aylesbury area (Aylesbury Town, Forum (GALAF), Choose 4 Greater Bierton with Broughton, Park, Aylesbury was open to residents of Fairford Leys, Hulcott, Quarrrendon, Stoke Mandeville, Watermead and Weedon) were voting age and also young people who eligible to vote. were actively encouraged to vote and have their say through organised Eight projects meeting local area priorities activities or at school. participated, all encompassing the Greater Aylesbury local area: All the participating projects met local priorities which included Reducing • Aylesbury Homeless Action Group: Winter social isolation including Homelessness and Warmth Project • Aylesbury Youth Action: Emerge for young Activities and facilities for young people. people • Fire & Rescue Service: Children in Year 6 at Stoke Mandeville Combined School Youth 999 • Bucks Play Association: Multi-Sports Course • Healthy Living Centre: Group for Deaf people • Men in Sheds Aylesbury • Vale of Aylesbury Vineyard Church: Storehouse Food Bank • Youth Concern (Aylesbury): Music Studio and Multi-Media Project

December 2013

All the projects are strong local initiatives, which meet local priorities that local people have identified. What a great opportunity for residents to get involved in deciding where some of their money is spent, and for the community to reap the benefits.

County Councillor and GALAF Chairman,

Brian Roberts

Some of the projects Voting participating in Choose 4 Greater Aylesbury: Voting was open to all residents in the Healthy Living Centre (left) and the Men in Greater Aylesbury area, either online at: Sheds (above) www.choose4greateraylesbury.com or via paper voting in ballot boxes throughout the • Buckingham Park Community Centre area. • Fairford Leys Community Centre Voting was undertaken by ranking all eight • Haydon Hill Community Centre project choices from 1—8 (with 1 being the • Healthy Living Centre—Walton Court highest). The top three projects would receive • Southcourt Children’s Centre the £4,000, projects four and five would receive £2,000 with £500 for each of the final • Stoke Mandeville Community Centre three projects. • Tesco Broadfields

Residents were asked to provide their post- • Youth Concern drop-in, Aylesbury code and name, to preclude the likelihood of The Market Square event took place in Aylesbury multiple voting and check that voters came in early September. from the relevant area. All ballot forms not containing postcode and name details, or with ticks instead of ranking, have been disqualified.

Ballot boxes—provided by AVDC—were placed in the following locations:

• Aylesbury Library • AVYFC (box taken to youth activities) • Bedgrove Budgens • Bierton: The Bell public house Participating • Bierton: The Red Lion public house projects talked to • Buckinghamshire County Council: County residents about the work they did Hall reception and why they needed funding

2 The majority of the 2,040 valid votes were collected from the ballot boxes.

In addition there were 518 incorrectly completed or invalid forms which were not included in the final result. This large number of invalid votes have been assessed and the following was noted:

• Many of the invalid forms from adults did not contain address or postcode

information. This may be reduced in future by providing an FAQ on the other side explaining why this information is required. Voting can be online or by paper voting in ballot boxes • A large percentage of the votes came from non-residents and these could not be considered. opportunity to vote. In one village, without a The form states that voting is open to youth group or village store, the voting boxes residents in Greater Aylesbury and lists the were placed in pubs. Other boxes were placed areas covered. in community centres, health centres, local There were fewer incorrect forms from the shops, children’s and family centres. Market Stall, Friars Square and Tesco voting In one store, Supercuts in Aylesbury, votes events, as there were people on hand to were proactively collected by a staff member. check the forms if needed. This also meant that people with literacy difficulties were able Just over three percent of the votes came via to vote— as was also the case at Aylesbury the website—at 72—but it was worthwhile as Library and some other locations where staff it gave residents another means of voting. were on hand to assist with voting. There was an increase of postal votes this The busiest ballot boxes were those located year. at Tesco Broadfields and Aylesbury Library box. This Tesco box filled within two weeks Other activities/voting opportunities of placement. The box had an extremely Greater Aylesbury Market Square event prominent position with large posters publicising the project and the store kept the An event involving all eight participating box in place for the whole period. projects took place in Aylesbury Market Square on 2 September. There were a wide range of locations and type of business premise/community building to Over 600 voting forms were distributed and increase the likelihood of residents coming 403 residents took the opportunity to vote, across a voting box and thereby have the have refreshments—sponsored by Aylesbury

3 Town Council—and talk to the participating Young people’s activities projects and also the members of the Local A range of activities were held in conjunction Area Forum (LAF) in attendance, which with youth groups in the area. Run by AVYFC, included LAF Chairman, Brian Roberts, and these offered young people the opportunity to Vice Chairman, Steve Lambert. vote while they participated in activities such Mix 96 and BBC 3 Counties Radio publicised as computer games. sumo suits and the sports the event. cage.

Local Schools Other voting opportunities

The Choose 4 Greater Aylesbury Project was All of the projects were given the opportunity presented to many Mandeville School pupils to take a stand in Friars Square, Aylesbury and during their daily assemblies over four days. also at Tesco Broadfields, Aylesbury. After hearing about the projects, the pupils Many of the projects valued the opportunity were given the opportunity to vote. for further publicity and to promote the Over 350 pupils voted, with 321 eligible votes important work they do in the local counted in the project results. community.

Year 6 classes at Bearbrook Combined School and Stoke Mandeville Combined School also Project outcome participated, learning about the projects and The voting has been counted and members of democracy and subsequently voted. the Greater Aylesbury Local Area Forum will Also in Aylesbury Town, William Harding be asked to ratify the results of the vote at its school distributed the voting forms in book meeting on 9th December 2013. bags, which were collected by the school. Points were awarded for each ranking given, with 1 scoring the highest and 8 the lowest Aylesbury Town Council number of points. Aylesbury Town Council supported the The top three projects to receive full funding of refreshments at the Market Stall event. £4,000 are:

• Aylesbury Homeless Action Group: Winter Warmth Project What a great opportunity to trust the • Healthy Living Centre: Group for Deaf children with the responsibility of a little People influence in their community. Appreciating • Men in Sheds Aylesbury the needs in the community helps them to value what they have. The next two projects to receive part funding of £2,000 are:

Cathy Smith, Year 6 Teacher at Stoke Mandeville Combined School • Aylesbury Youth Action: Emerge

4 • Bucks Play Association: Multi Sports Course

The following three projects will each receive £500 funding:

• Aylesbury Vineyard: Storehouse Foodbank • Youth Concern Aylesbury: Music Studio and Multi Media Project • Bucks Fire and Rescue: Youth 999

After the LAF has ratified the resident voting, the projects and residents (through posters and other publicity) will be advised of the • Haydon Hill Community Centre outcome. • Healthy Living Centre—Southcourt Acknowledgements Children’s Centre • Healthy Living Centre—Walton Court On behalf of the Greater Aylesbury Local • Mandeville School, Aylesbury Area Forum, thanks are given to the following businesses, organisations and schools for their • Mix 96 generous support for this project: • Sir William Harding School • Stoke Mandeville Combined School • Aylesbury Library • Stoke Mandeville Community Centre • Aylesbury Town Council • Tesco Broadfields • Aylesbury Vale District Council • Aylesbury Vale Youth for Christ • BBC Three Counties Radio The project was led, on behalf of the Greater • Bearbrook Combined School Aylesbury Local Area Forum, by Jackie Wesley • Bedgrove Budgens and Louise Willis, Locality Services. For further information, please telephone • Bierton: The Bell public house 01296 382241 or email locality- • Bierton: The Red Lion public house [email protected] • Bucks Herald • Buckinghamshire County Council

• Buckingham Park Community Centre • Fairford Leys Community Centre The number of valid votes per location or event are shown overleaf

5 AVY4C Aylesbury Library BCC Reception Bearbrook Bedgrove Buckingham Park CIB Conference Fairford Leys Haydon Hill Healthy Living Centre Internal Internet Mandeville School Market Stall Post Red Lion Bierton Southcourt Childrens Centre Park,10 11 CIB Bedgrove, Bedgrove, 5 Buckingham Hill,11 Haydon Bearbrook, 40 Conference, BCC BCC Reception, 35 Internal,30 Internet, Internet, 72 Fairford 106 Leys, 242 Healthy LivingCentre, 182 AylesburyLibrary, AVY4C, AVY4C, 43 MandevilleSchool,321 Tescos, 386 The The Bell,Bierton, 5 Youth Youth Concern, 28 Market Stall,354 Post, 101 , 18 , Stoke Stoke Stoke Stoke Supercuts Combined School,26 Mandeville Centre, Centre, 4 Centre, Centre, 7 Childrens Red Red Lion Mandeville Community Bierton, 3 Southcourt The number The of valid votes per location or event

6