Agenda item

Requested items to be notified to the Chair Community Board Manager in advance of the meeting.

Suggestion Box

·       Future agenda items/guest speakers

·       Priorities for 2023-24 financial year

Former TSB building in Market Square, Winslow and Revitalising Winslow

The Chairman of the Community Board agreed that this item could be raised under Any Other Business and was presented by representatives of the Revitalising Winslow Group who were working to improve the vitality and viability of the Winslow Shopping Area as defined in the Winslow Neighbourhood Plan. 

They referred to a decision made by Buckinghamshire Council to give consent to an application for ‘prior approval’ in respect of the conversion of the ground floor of the former bank premises to two residential units. They explained that the Revitalising Winslow Group believed that in their opinion this loss of commercial space would have a severely negative affect on the vitality and viability of the commercial heart of the town and that further units might now be brought forward for conversion from retail to residential via the same planning process. It was stated by the Group that they were actively taking advice on the possibility of securing a Judicial Review of the decision.

It was explained that despite the decision on the former TSB premises, the Revitalising Winslow Group were actively working to support and enhance the retail offer in the town especially in the run up to Christmas and had been in touch with Winslow Town Council in the hope that the Town Council would be supportive of their immediate proposals. In the longer term, it was explained that the Group were seeking to secure support from Buckinghamshire Council through the Local Members and the Council’s Economic Development Team. The Group were therefore asking the following of the Community Board:

1. ‘Will Bucks Council organise and fund a survey of residents within the Community Board area to establish the views of residents with regard to what types of retail and commercial services they would like to see in Winslow? This survey might also cover such matters as local transport issues and car parking.’
2. ‘Will the Community Board support the group in seeking a meeting with Lisa Michelson, Director at Bucks Council for Economic Growth and Regeneration, with a view to establishing what other support Bucks Council can give to supporting the vitality and viability of Winslow as retail and commercial hub?’

The Chairman thanked the Members of the Revitalising Winslow Group for their update. 

In response to the request to organise and fund a survey, Sophia Comer (Community Board Manager Winslow and Villages) explained that as ‘economic recovery’ was one of the Community Board’s priorities, the Community Board might wish to set up an Action Group on this issue in order to take it forward. ACTION: Sophia Comer to support the setting up of a Task and Finish Action Group on this issue and to report back to next meeting.

The Chairman stated that he would contact Lisa Michelson or relevant officers and ask them to work with the Task and Finish Action Group with regards to the second request.

Suggestion Box

On the conclusion of the formal part of the meeting, Members of the Community Board were invited to put suggestions for future agenda items and ideas for priorities for the 2023-24 financial year into a suggestion box.