Agenda and draft minutes

Matthew Walsh (MW) welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced Carl Etholen (CE) the Vice Chair, and Jackie Binning (JB) the Community Board Manager.

MW advised that due to the weather and other events being held in the patch, attendance was low, so appreciated those that were able to attend.

A thank you was received from Steven Broadbent on the funding opportunities given in the ward of Hughenden.

Apologies were received from Buckinghamshire Council Councillors Gary Hall, Maz Hussain, Robert Carrington, David Carroll, Darren Hayday, Orsolya Hayday, Paul Turner, Shade Adoh; Councillor Helen Holman, Ellesborough Parish Council, Councillor Simon Cope, West Wycombe Parish Council, Sharon Henson, Parish Clerk, West Wycombe Parish Council and Colin Courtney (Resident).

There were no declarations of interest.

To agree the minutes held on 23 November 2023.

The minutes of the meeting, dated 23 November 2023, were approved by the North West Chilterns (NWC) Community Board.

To present the success of the play equipment project, funded by the NWC Community Board in 2021. To be presented by Reverend David Williams.

See report attached to the meeting minutes.

Revd David Williams (DW) thanked the NWC Community Board for the funding received for St Mary’s Play Café, which was now approaching it’s second anniversary. DW confirmed that the project was to meet the needs of young families to allow them the opportunity to meet and make friends and connections.

Between six and eight volunteers ran the Play Café during term time on a Tuesday between 0930-1100 hours. DW said that all the activities were free and currently running to capacity. St Mary’s were looking to expand to opening a further day in the week and to seek further volunteers.

Question (MW): Have you looked at replacement and longevity of the equipment?

Answer: St Mary’s are looking to replace some of the items and invest long term as some of the soft play items have slightly tired after two years of use.

Question (MW): Is this one of the most successful initiative’s the church has started?

Answer: DW advised that this activity was a valuable asset for Princes Risborough.

MW confirmed that this scheme was also supporting local businesses after the sessions in terms of coffee shops and further networking.

CE said that the Play Café was ideal for those parents moving to the area to start a network of friends in a safe environment.

Question (CE): Could the Play Café accommodate families from outside of Princes Risborough?

Answer – DW stated that this was the reason they were looking for a second day for the Café to run.

Question (Steve Broadbent): Were single fathers welcome to attend?

Answer: The majority were mums but there were some Dad’s and grandparents or childminders who benefitted from the activities on offer.

Question (MW): If we were to share across the County, would DW be happy to share the model?

Answer: DW said he was more than happy to share.

To provide an update on the key activities of the action groups(reports for each group included in the agenda pack).

To be presented by Councillor Matthew Walsh.

See reports detailed in the Agenda Pack.

MW asked Valerie McPherson (VM) for an update on the work of the Community Resilience Action Group. VM confirmed:

Orchard View Farm Community Garden: Once the weather improved, the fences and ground would be sorted. There was enormous interest, which included two disability groups. Eight plots would initially be available.

Walk with us Bucks: There would be varying levels of ability and approximately 14 volunteers were ready to start. The comms was being produced by the National Trust (NT), Hughenden, and would be promoted by the NT and the Community Board. Social Prescribers and various groups had been approached and hope to refer appropriate clients.

Environment and Climate Change: MW highlighted that discussions were being had with Stokenchurch Scouts on a proposed pond renovation, the Environment team at Buckinghamshire Council on Carbon Literacy training for Town and Parish Council’s, groups and organisations to attend, a wildflower project on Chipps Hill with Piddington and Wheeler End Parish Council, a Cycling Signage proposal with the Chiltern Society and an energy efficiency lighting project with Great Kingshill Village Hall.

Economic Regeneration and Development: MW advised that the Business Networking event was on 29 February 2024. JB confirmed that 40 individuals had booked to attend, which included Buckinghamshire Councillors from the North West Chilterns and South West Chilterns Community Board’s. One of the attendees was part of a camper van business which would be parked outside to promote.

Transport and Road Issues: CE said he was now chairing this group as Jim Stevens (JS) had decided to step down. CE said thank you to JS, who was the lead for several years, whose expertise was second to none. CE believed we were very fortunate to have him on board. For example he wrote the A4010 strategy, which the Community Board were still progressing. CE advised that there was a lack of funding and it would take many years to improve the A4010 (which was a strategic north-south route) as we would require government funding to complete the various elements of work.

CE stated that the group were progressing the three petitions (from Radnage Parish Council, Lacey Green Parish Council and Bledlow cum Saunderton Parish Council) for improving road safety. The group were also looking to engage with Buckinghamshire Highways (BH) as they were one year into their contract, and as we can now contact BH more freely, the group would like to discuss some of the recommendations generated at our meetings. On the rail front, the group would be inviting representatives from Chiltern Railways to an action group meeting in April, because Princes Risborough did not appear to be a main stopping point. Trains stopped at Thame and Haddenham Parkway, and the group wanted to encourage them to stop more frequently at Princes Risborough station, the gateway to The Chilterns. Also, from an economic regeneration perspective, if we could encourage more tourism from London to spend a weekend in the Chilterns, (which had so much offer),  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To agree the Community Board’s Priorities for 2024/25.

To be led by Councillor Matthew Walsh.

See attached to the meeting minutes.

MW presented our existing priorities which provided the framework for our Action Groups. MW confirmed that the viewpoint between him and JB was that these remained consistent with what we were trying to achieve and that they didn’t require any substantial changes.

MW opened it up to the Community Board and asked if there was anything we had not addressed. MW confirmed that we had reviewed our priorities in much detail last year and the year before, and thought we were in the right direction and were meeting the work of the action groups and funding we had provided for various organisations.

MW advised that if the Community Board were satisfied, he recommended that our existing priorities remain the same. CE supported this. All approved for the forthcoming year (2024/25).

To provide an update on applications received and the budget for 2023/24.

To provide an update on the Board’s engagement during 2023/24.

To be presented by Jackie Binning, Community Board Manager.

See report attached to the meeting minutes.

JB stressed that although we were not grant givers, it was beneficial to the various groups and organisations in our Board area, to be able to contribute to a wide range of projects which met our local and corporate priorities, demonstrated an evidence of need and were sustainable.

JB highlighted there were two projects which were still being progressed through the Community Board’s funding team. One of those was a “New Shoots” project with the Chiltern Conservation Board. JB stated that this was a project for young people who would be taught about the environment, the wildlife and plants etc. and would learn useful new skills. CE said that one previous young person that attended a New Shoots initiative won a Proud of Bucks award.

The update comprised the organisations the NWC Community Board had collaborated with. This included partnership working with Thames Valley Police and St John’s School in Lacey Green where the children spoke to parents with the local PCSO (Police Community Support Officer) who were parked inappropriately outside the school and/or had their vehicle engines running. Another anti idling campaign was held at Princes Risborough (PR) School and air quality monitors had been placed outside PR School and Stokenchurch Primary school, with another planned outside St John’s School.

JB added that a site visit took place at South Bucks Hospice with the manager of the High Wycombe Community Board. It was appreciated that this organisation was located in High Wycombe, but residents in the North West Chilterns still benefitted.

Further engagement had been had with The Rotary Club in Princes Risborough and Hughenden Street Association, who for example, hold regular lunch clubs and do some amazing work with their residents around crime prevention. As detailed earlier in the meeting, the Community Board was still very much involved in the Orchard View Farm Community Garden.

In terms of events, JB tabled the “Party in the Party” event which was organised by the Community Resilience Action Group. The Community Board also had a presence at Longwick Village Fete and the Christmas Light Switch-On in Princes Risborough.

MW and CE thanked JB for all her hard work in building up relationships and reviewing the various projects. MW agreed that the Community Board was not just about grants, although these were an important element. In previous years we had managed to do more with alittle less, but as we move forward into the next year, it would be very much about building partnerships.

Sophie Payne (SP) said it was useful to see the types of projects funded and the spread across the Board area.

·       Buckinghamshire Council Update: to be presented by Sophie Payne, Service Director, Culture, Sport and Leisure, Buckinghamshire Council (included in the agenda pack).

·       Question Time: to respond to questions received – to be presented by the Chairman.

Corporate update: see report detailed in the Agenda Pack.

SP presented the report – she confirmed the following:

Fostering: This was currently a strong focus from Buckinghamshire Council (BC) due to the national and local shortage of Foster Carers. SP advised there was a task force reviewing all options to attract new Foster Carers for the Council. There was a massive benefit to the children in remaining locally as well as the advantages to the Council. BC were reviewing incentives that could be offered to show that they were committed to looking after Carers. For example, providing opportunities at Leisure Centres and Country Parks. BC would like to use the connections the Community Board had to offer to help engage with those people that would like to be a Foster Carer.

Local Plan: The consultation on our draft vision and objectives had been referred to at previous meetings. The next stages are for the Council to agree how it intends to manage and accommodate future growth and on how consultations would be carried out over the next couple of years.

Housing Strategy: Lots of works had been done on the Strategy in agreeing the vision for this. We know the challenges in Buckinghamshire for affordable quality housing, which was sustainable and accessible.

Buckinghamshire all- age autism strategy: Consultation carried out. The Strategy brings together an all-age plan of lifelong support for autistic people.

SP confirmed there were a number of other consultations planned, for example the Buckinghamshire Walking and Cycling Infrastructure Plan and Housing Allocations Policy – see the update for further information.

Questions received by the NWC Community Board: No questions had been received.

July 2024 – date and venue to be agreed.

July 2024 – date and venue to be confirmed.