Agenda and draft minutes

Cllr Mark Dormer welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained how to contribute and ask questions

No further apologies

No declarations of interest

Minutes of last meeting agreed

• Questions from members of the public can be submitted in advance of the meeting to Amersham@Buckinghamshire.gov.uk
• Buckinghamshire Council updates

Cllr Mark Dormer congratulated everyone for the POB awards. Cllr Martin Tett presented the awards. Nearly 160 people in attendance. Delighted that the Community Board and community involvement is growing.

Successful Bright Ideas Competition working with schools in the area. Summary of winners, runners up and their projects

(Powerpoint slides to be published with the notes)

Chiltern & South Bucks Police survey is open for residents to comment on. Meeting open to residents next Wednesday. Contact Sgt Darren Walsh for meeting details. Setting priorities for neighbourhood policing teams.

Amersham Museum have a printer they no long require, Xerox Phaser 6510 plus cartridges if a school or community group could make use of it. Cllr Mark Dormer suggested this should be posted on Acts of Kindness Facebook group.

St Marys Church events – Saturday 29^th July Heritage of British choral music 8-10^th activities around beauty of the earth floral festival

Attendees invited to raise community matters for the Board to explore. None raised.

See Corporate update in reports pack, highlights include,

Play Streets initiative; Ultra-Fast Broadband for Businesses; Rural Business Grant launched; Buckinghamshire Film Locations; Local Transport Plan;

Helping Hand team supporting residents experiencing hardship; Boundary Commission recommendations report; Consultations on Your Voice website

·         The Theatre Shed – Mary Mobbs-Beal

·         Amersham Owned – Fay Richardson

·         Adviza/Skill Up Bucks – Emma Whiting

·         Bucks Fire Update - Stuart Grosse

1. Bucks Fire – presentation – GC Stuart Grosse

Presentations being made at request of Chairman of the Fire Authority (Powerpoint slides to be published with the notes)

Discussion around key service delivery areas for the Fire Service locally.

Safer Homes – prevention of accidental dwelling fires

Safer Environments – secondary fires

Safer Roads - Biker down and parking related scenarios

Safer Neighbourhoods – Community Engagement

2. Theatre Shed – presentation Mary Mobbs-Beal

(Powerpoint slides to be published with the notes)

Mary thanked the Community Board for funding the Theatre Shed Wellbeing workshops and outreach project. Update provided about the project and how the team mirror the abilities of the young people they work with to provide specific tailored support.

Theatre Shed evaluate the project via questionnaires with young people and parents. School assemblies raise the profile of Theatre Shed and wellbeing services.

Mary thanked Lizzie for support contacting schools and helping Theatre Shed.

3. Amersham Owned – Hospice of St Francis – Fay Richardson

(Powerpoint slides to be published with the notes)

Fay thanked Lizzie for all her help.

Overview of the history of the hospice and care provision. Community Board funding has supported Spring centre services to be delivered in the Amersham Owned charity shop starting September 2023, providing a including a community space, Dementia drop-in and bereavement group. They have 1,200 volunteers but are always looking for more.

Question about how to raise profile of Amersham Owned – suggestions for open days, local media promotion.

Chiltern Voice radio invited all groups to be interviewed.

4. Adviza / Skill Up Bucks – Emma Whiting

(Powerpoint slides to be published with the notes)

Overview of Adviza the Learning and Careers charity making a positive difference to people to progress into work. Schools Information, Advice and Guidance; Building futures; BEEP; Princes Trust; Skill Up Bucks which also supports the Multiply project

Community events relating to priorities

(Powerpoint slides to be published with the notes)

Overview of Community Board community engagement. Invitation to attend drop-ins and discuss any project ideas. Encouraged everyone to sign up to newsletter – contact Lizzie

Thank you to everyone for the invitations to attend local community events which present opportunities to engage with residents, community groups and organisations.

Project updates

(Powerpoint slides to be published with the notes)

Commended Roger and Helen for their patience, hard work and tenacity to set up the Dementia Café, Café 23 which is very nearly ready.

Update about the Outdoor Cinema event which is progressing, and tickets are selling well. There will tickets for low-income families to make the event inclusive. Coopers market providing the food.

Projects, engagement and funding

Priorities are Health & Wellbeing / Improving the Environment / Strengthening our community. Based on feedback from residents at community engagement events. 

Request for project suggestions which match the priorities. Examples are, online safety for older people and positive online presence on social media for younger people; rewilding Amersham and dawn and dusk wildlife walks

Cllr M Tett suggested working with schools and youth groups to help encourage walking and physical activity to promote healthy weight, nutrition and diet information.

Action – all to contact Lizzie with suggestions for projects or areas of focus

Action – Lizzie to talk to Public Health and other partners such as Amersham Youth about potential healthy weight and physical activity projects

2^nd November 2023

2^nd November 2023