Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairman welcome everyone to the meeting and explained that while last year’s meetings had been themed, the decision was taken that this year’s meeting would not be themed as it gave more scope for broader agendas. The Chairman also explained that the meetings were no longer recorded.

Apologies were received from the following:

Rachel Fisher - CIB

Tony Marmo – Chesham Town Council

Vicki Mistry – Sustainable Chesham

Ryan Robinson -

Diane Rutter – Chiltern Foodbank

Cllr Sue Smith – Chenies Parish Council

John Spence – St Mary’s Church

Graham White – Bucks Council

There were none.

The minutes of the meeting held on 27 October 2022 were agreed as an accurate record.

Stuart Grosse of Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service gave a presentation and updated the Board on the local Chesham area in terms of Fire and Rescue. Slides were available upon request.

During the presentation, the following was noted:

·      That the authority was made up of 5 Councillors from Milton Keynes Council, 12 Councillors from Buckinghamshire Council, consisting of 11 Conservative, 3 Labour and 3 Liberal Democrats.

·      There were 300 wholetime operational staff, 96 on-call (part-time contracted staff) and 126 support staff.

·      There were 9 wholetime stations, 7 of which had on-call units, 10 stand-alone on-call stations, 30 fire appliances, 10 specialist appliances and 5 Urban Search and Rescue Modules.

·      The source of funding for the authority was from Business Rates and Revenue Support Grants, Specific Grants and Council Tax, which totalled £33,480 million.

·      There were 4 community safety priorities: Safer Homes; Safer Neighbourhoods; Safer Roads and Safer Environment.

·      Community Prevention was divided into Service Delivery Areas with a wholetime station at its core. The Service Delivery for Amersham was as follows:

-        Wholetime Station – Amersham Fire Station

-        On-call station at Chesham Fire Station with 1 x pumping appliance and 1 x Community Responder.

-        The Station Commander was Paul Henderson who was an on-call Station Commander.

·      The Community Safety Priorities included:

-        Reduction in accidental dwelling fires. To focus on less affluent/larger households within the Chiltern Area.

-        Reduce Secondary Fires in the Amersham Chiltern Area.

-        To tackle Suspected Arson/Deliberate Fire setting in the Chesham Area.

-        Community Engagement.

·      There were record temperatures in 2022 particularly from 16^th to 19^th July and again the 9^th to 15^th August which presented the emergency services with many challenges. For the first time, the Met Office issued a red warning for heat affecting Central and South England on the 18^th and 19^th July. Over these dates in July, the Authority declared two major incidents, one in the north of the county and one near High Wycombe in the south of the county. BFRS was supported by neighbouring FRS’s to help with these two incidents; they were from Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Royal Berkshire and Hertfordshire along with a specialist water carrier from Dorset & Wiltshire. It was noted that on the 19^th July the service received 220 calls and on the 12 August they received 157 calls compared to the average figures of 41 and 44 respectively.

·      There were a number of challenges on the horizon, particularly HS2 as this area would have the second longest tunnel in the UK beneath the Chilterns; Climate Change, meaning hotter summers and wetter winters; Development within Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes; the Fire Reform White Paper.

During questions, the following was noted:

·         Stuart Grosse confirmed and the Chesham station was manned by volunteers and that it there was a major fire in Chesham the most available station would respond, possibly Amersham or Princes Risborough and if they could not attend, then the next nearest station would be called on.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Presented by Cllrs Mike Stannard, Qaser Chaudhry and Nick Southworth

Councillor Stannard reported that a visit to the ward had taken place the previous Tuesday along with the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive and that several other councillors attended. It was noted that there were several areas that needed work doing, to ‘level up’, in particular Milton Road, Bachelors Way and Pond Park. These were areas where residents did not appear to be proud of where they lived and maybe they should be areas to hone in with funding received from Opportunity Bucks to ensure the best areas for everyone.

Councillor Chaudhry also commented on the amount of litter that was noticed in those areas. He also stated that good conversations were had in terms of what to do to improve the areas.

During the ensuing discussion, the following was noted:

·      The visits were concentrated on the Chesham ward and not any rural wards.

·      A group of litter pickers had been organised for the affected area due to some funding being awarded by Paradigm.

·      There was a sum of money coming from central government as Chesham had been identified as the 10^th ward which needed additional support. While the majority of Buckinghamshire was affluent, there were pockets of deprivation within the county that needed assistance. Pockets in Aylesbury and High Wycombe had also been identified. Therefore additional funding was being targeted at those areas.

Presented by Cliff Davies

Cliff Davies explained how he and his business partner had taken over the running of Your Chesham magazine recently from the original owners who had approached them with the possibility of them taking it over.

The Chairman commented that the magazine was very popular and expressed her gratitude that Cliff and partner had taken over the running of the magazine.

Cliff Davies welcomed Board members getting in touch if they wanted articles to be put into the magazine and gave his phone number, 01494 722722 for people to get in touch.

Presented by Amber Preen

Amber Preen reported that she had been commissioned, in partnership with Family Support Services, Mama Bee and the Chesham and Villages Community Board, to deliver a detached street-based youth project. This started in September 2022 and ran for 12 weeks.

During the presentation, the following was noted:

·      The reason for carrying out the project was because there had been problems with youths in Chesham Town Centre and for an intervention to find out, through the PCSO’s what was going on.

·      Detached work meant meeting people in the areas they lived.

·      A maximum of 4 questions were asked to everyone the questioners met with the average age proving to be 14 years with most attending Chiltern Hills Academy although 3 of those questioned classed themselves as NEET.

·      Questions asked were: What is there do to? What’s good about being a young person? What’s not good? Have you been to a youth centre?

·      First question: 43 responses were the same to this question one – nothing. There were sports clubs available, but at a cost.

·      Second question: everyone knew everyone. They didn’t have to pay taxes. They felt they had a lot of freedom.

·      Third question: 54 out of 57 respondents said there was a lack of places for young people to go particularly any free places to go to. There was no decent youth club. Boredom caused a number of issues which had been highlighted more since the Covid pandemic. Complaints about grumpy adults and police being called out for little or no reason.

·      It was generally agreed that youngsters would attend a club if it did not cost anything.

·      Popular areas to meet were the town centre and Lowndes Park.

·      Recommendations were:

-     To find and use a space specifically for younger people that was free to go to.

-     That there be a more joined-up approach by decision makers such as Councillors, the Youth Team, PCSO’s etc.

-     That a pop-up café be created preferably in a central location. It would be a space for young people to go to, grab a drink and some food and have conversations about positive things that were happening within the area. It would mean engagement with those decision makers who would run and attend the café. The suggestion that suitable spaces within the town centre be identified and put forward.

-     That an exploration of free sports facilities be undertaken.

During questions, the following was noted:

·      The exercise was targeted at Chesham ‘hot-spots’, which had been identified, only and not outlying villages.

·      There were a number of ‘warm spaces’ within Chesham but it was noted a more informal space was needed.

·      That a lot of respondents were male who wanted to talk about sports facilities in particular.

The Chairman thanked Amber Preen for her presentation.

Presented by Ross Tackley

-          Funding Summary & Projects

-          Proud of Bucks Awards

-          Homes for Ukraine scheme

Funding Summary and Projects

Ross Tackley, Community Board Manager, explained that there was a budget of £111,000 of which £45,712 was already allocated meaning there was a remainder of £65,416. However, there were projects which were on track to be allocated and would therefore mean that 100% of the budget would be allocated. A couple of projects had been put aside for allocation next year.

Proud of Bucks Awards

The Proud of Bucks Awards had now been launched and nominations were now open. The application form was easy to complete and nominations were invited. It was noted that the closing date was 12 February 2023.

Homes for Ukraine

The following update was noted:

·      There were 70 Ukrainian Guests in Chesham & Villages Board Area supported by 31 Sponsors.

·      From 12 months, sponsor payments will be £500/month. 

·      Until then, the Council had increased the payments (in addition to £350/month

-     £150 extra – 1-3 guests

-     £300 extra – 4-5 guests

-     £450 extra – 6+ guests

·      Talent Pool - Resourcing Team provided employment support, specialist information and advice. Including CV writing, covering letters and roles within the Council.

·      Private Rent Scheme – Council support on access to rent including essential household items.

·      Guarantor by the Council being devised. Update in February.

·      Please contact Ryan (Area Lead) on Ryan.Robinson@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Welcoming Spaces

Ross Tackley shared flyers with the Board showing welcoming and warm spaces for people to go. Should anyone want a flyer, please contact Ross although they were already uploaded on to the Community page on Facebook.

-          Consultations, Public Questions, Petitions (Kevin Goad)

-          Buckinghamshire Council Updates

-          HS2 Update

Consultations, Public Questions, Petitions

There were none.

Buckinghamshire Council Updates

It was noted this update was within the agenda pack.

Kevin Goad requested that the visitor economy survey be completed. For instance, where people might like to see additional car charging points, preferably on-street charging points.

HS2 Update

It was noted this update was within the agenda pack.

- Updates for each Board Member (Unitary Councillors)

- Update from Villages Forum (Chris Brown)

Updates from each Board Member (Unitary Councillors)

There were none.

Updates from Villages Forum

A question was asked about what celebrations might take place around the Coronation of King Charles III. It was noted that there may be similar celebrations that took place to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

It was noted there was a message in the chat bar about the Chesham Youth Council and that they were seeking sponsors. If any company or individual was interested to please get in touch. https://www.cheshamyouthcouncil.co.uk/awards-ceremony

The Council was acutely aware of the state of the roads in Buckinghamshire and that there were more category 1 potholes than usual due to the heavy rainfall and cold weather that was experienced recently.

In relation to accommodation for Ukraine refugees; it was noted that it was hoped to keep those who were being hosted locally would be able to stay locally particularly those with children in local schools. The aspiration was to keep those children in their current schools by giving the families accommodation locally.

Community Engagement Event and Proud of Bucks Awards

Thurs 27^th April 2023 (venue tbc)

Community Engagement Event and Proud of Bucks Awards on Thursday 27 April 2023 (venue tbc).