Agenda item

·        Economic Recovery

·        Environment

·        Health and Wellbeing

·        Highways

·         HS2/EWR

Members heard updates from the Sub-Group Chairmen on their work since the previous meeting.

David Goss – Economic Recovery

David explained that the group had heard a presentation from Phillipa Batting (Bucks Business First). The presentation highlighted to Members the challenges faced by local businesses in the aftermath of the previous pandemic lockdowns and identified areas in which they could support and be supported in the recovery of the local economy both in the Community Board area and Buckinghamshire as a whole.

Members had also heard a presentation from Donna Wilkinson regarding the ‘Welcome Back’ fund from Buckinghamshire Council. This project provided grants to help rejuvenate local communities with cleaning, seating, and greening projects as well as Christmas events. David requested that attendees of the Community Board meeting promote awareness of this fund within their local communities to ensure that as many people as possible had the opportunity to benefit.

Anyone with an interest in attending the next meeting of the Sub-Group at 7pm on 16th November 2021 was encouraged to contact either David or Leone for further information.

John Chilver – Environment

The previous meeting of the Environment Sub-Group had discussed the ‘Big Bucks Tidy Up’ and ‘The Queen’s Green Canopy’ projects, and had agreed an allocation of £10,000 for the Wilder Aylesbury Vale Grants programme which provide £500 small grants for projects across the Vale.

A sub-group focusing on the availability of green spaces in Winslow had also been established in response to the issues raised by the resident’s group at the previous formal meeting of the Community Board.

The next meeting of the Environment Sub-Group would take place at 7pm, on 17th November 2021. Anyone interested in attending was encouraged to contact Leone.

Phil Gomm – Health and Wellbeing

The Sub-Group would be launching a joint launch event called ‘Let’s get Active!’ with the Haddenham & Waddesdon and Wing & Ivinghoe boards at Waddesdon Manor next Easter. The event would focus on various activities to promote healthy living including walking and cycling.

Additionally, the Sub-Group had requested funding for small-grants from the Internal Funding Panel for litter-picking groups, and the erection of sheds on allotments. There were also ongoing discussions with the Diocese and local farmers about the possibility of using some of their land for new allotment space, given the shortage that existed across the Community Board area.

Local cycling groups and litter picking groups from the Haddenham and Waddesdon area as well as the Chiltern Society Rights of Way Ramblers were due to attend a future Sub-Group meeting to inspire new groups and pass on their knowledge to their counterparts in the Winslow and Villages area.

The next meeting of the Sub-Group was to be confirmed but this would be communicated to Members in due course by Leone.

Billy Stanier – Highways and Transport

Billy informed members that the Sub-Group intended to form a task and finish group concerning community busses to ensure that the services in rural areas remained comprehensive and effective.

The Sub-Group also expressed its support for the Beachampton traffic calming and Drayton Parslow/North Marston curbing initiatives that had been granted funding from the Community Board.

Some members of the Sub-Group had met with PC Lee Turnham of TVP to discuss the rollout of the new Community Speedwatch programme. This would come into effect in Aylesbury Vale from 15th November.

Ian Whipp informed Members that there would be an online training course for residents of who were interested in supporting the Community Speedwatch programme, and if anyone wanted further training, they were more than welcome to contact him.

Leone also confirmed to attendees that as the Council’s approved Contractor, Transport for Buckinghamshire (TfB) would be recommended on road/highway improvement projects. Where Parish Councils had found lower quotes from alternative suppliers, this had largely been due to the expectation that the Parish Council would act as the developer, taking on responsibility for; road space management, required surveys, design/planning, health and safety risk assessments that would otherwise be undertaken by TfB. Leone was happy to discuss this in further detail outside the meeting with those seeking further information.

The next meeting of the Sub-Group would take place at 2pm, on 11th November. Anyone interested in attending was encouraged to contact Leone.

John Chilver – HS2/East-West Rail

John confirmed that Officers from HS2/East-West Rail and Buckinghamshire Council would be in attendance at meetings of this Joint Working Group in addition to Greg Smith MP (Buckingham) and Peter Martin MP (Deputy Cabinet Member with special responsibility for HS2/East-West Rail).

The next meeting would be held at 6pm, on 27th October. Anyone with an interest in attending was encouraged to contact Leone for further information.