Agenda item
Minutes:
The following hot topics were discussed:-
Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services
Last week the Council hosted the green schools Dragons’ Den challenge, where Waddesdon Church of England School won with their idea of installing 20 RE:GEN bikes in the school gym to generate renewable energy to enable savings of £17,000. Four schools took part including Waddesdon C of E School, The Grange, Buckingham School and John Colet. Students had the opportunity to work with local green businesses and discuss ‘green careers’ with council colleagues – from country parks to waste and recycling, and ecology to flood preparedness.
Cabinet Member for Transport
Free parking was being offered to residents over the Christmas period which hopefully would attract residents back to the high street.
The Council had already done a lot of gritting and temperatures were monitored daily to assess what maintenance was required. In relation to the cold snap expected shortly the Cabinet Member asked residents to drive carefully when winter conditions were expected.
Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration
Reference was made to a controversial planning application for Tralee Farm in Holmer Green, High Wycombe. The Planning Inspectorate had issued their decision following a planning appeal. Following the Public Inquiry in July which concluded at the end of September, the planning appeal was dismissed and the costs application by the appellant was also dismissed. Hopefully this would reinforce the premise that schemes submitted by landowners meet the requirements of planning policy and that developers would align their proposals to bring forward comprehensive development across the whole of the allocation.
Planning enforcement sat at the heart of the planning system and without it legislation would be meaningless. The Cabinet Member had read a report that many Councils considered themselves under staffed in this regard and have difficulty recruiting staff. This was not the case in Buckinghamshire who had a well-resourced team who were achieving good results to uphold the planning system. This Council was fourth outside the city of London authorities in terms of enforcement cases.
Cabinet Member for Communities
The Cabinet Member referred to the cost of living crisis and how Community Boards were supporting this with around 30 projects currently with Boards for consideration including various ideas such as food hampers, Christmas presents and supporting Christmas events. The Boards were working closely with the Helping Hands Team to maximise the benefits of these projects and would be seeking to continue the support into the New Year.
The Council had received the Silver Award for the Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion – Talent Inclusion and Diversity Evaluation. The TIDE Scheme measured the Council’s performance and progress and this was an improvement on the Bronze award received last year.
Cabinet Member for Homelessness and Regulatory Services
On 1 December the Council started the Winter Warmth Programme for rough sleepers and units have been procured in Wycombe and Aylesbury to provide another option for rough sleeping during the winter period. There were 15 units in Wycombe and 4 in Aylesbury.
In relation to mould in any rented properties the Cabinet Member urged residents to contact their landlord if there were any issues and if no help was forthcoming to get in touch with environmental health. He also mentioned that he had a meeting about this issue this week with local housing associations.
Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure
The Chiltern Lifestyle Centre had been open one year and was going from strength to strength. The National Paralympic Heritage Trust would receive a tree from Buckingham Palace which would be installed at Stoke Mandeville Stadium. He also promoted the two pantomimes at Wycombe and Aylesbury theatres.
Leader
The Leader referred to the Inspire Bucks Programme where organisers were looking for toys for children from deprived areas and backgrounds such as Ukrainian children. He also referred to a Strategy being launched next week in relation to the Integrated Care System which addressed the way health and social care was provided across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and some of Berkshire.