News From Buckinghamshire County Council
19/11/2022
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Last chance for people to comment on budget It’s really important that the council hears from residents and stakeholders about plans for next year’s budget – particularly in the face of such a challenging economic context. We need to know which services and spending areas residents want us to prioritise so this can feed into the decision-making process.
Our Money Matters survey, which asks people to share their views, closes this weekend.
Thank you for helping us to promote the survey to your local community. If possible, please can you give a final reminder to anyone who wants to take part – and please do fill this in yourselves as individuals. The consultation closes at midnight on Sunday 20 November.
Welcoming Spaces scheme expands As part of our response to the current Cost of Living Crisis, we recently opened up our local and community libraries as ‘Welcoming Spaces’, allowing people to come together in warm, safe and supportive spaces, free of charge, to shelter from the cold over the winter. We are now looking to expand the scheme and are engaging with other local community groups and organisations who already provide invaluable services in the heart of our local community, who are able to register their own venues as a ‘Welcoming Space’. We have created a new Community Toolkit for those who would like to join the scheme, with instructions on how to register and useful information and advice around use of the space and location, safety including risk of illness, downloadable marketing materials and possible activities to encourage residents to visit. Community groups and organisations can register with us via the Bucks Online Directory. The Welcoming Spaces initiative forms part of the wider work of the council on the cost of living pressures. For more information visit our website. |
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On 1 December our Electoral Register will be updated with the new information residents have given us during the annual canvass. Please remind anyone who is eligible, but isn’t yet registered, they still have until Monday 22 November 2022 to register. |
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Last chance to comment on constituency boundaries The Boundary Commission for England has recently published its revised proposals for constituency boundaries across the country. Comments on the proposals can be submitted up until 5 December. The proposed new map can be viewed online where comments can be submitted. Can you help promote the Christmas toy appeal? With greater pressure than ever on family finances we want to do what we can to ensure our most vulnerable children and young people don’t miss out this Christmas. That is why we have once again joined forces with local charity, Inspire Bucks, to raise funds for gifts for children in touch with our social care service.
The initiative is always a great success. Last Christmas more than 2,000 Buckinghamshire children and young people with disadvantaged backgrounds received presents thanks to the generosity of local donors, who pushed funds well over the target of £10,000. During the past year funds have also allowed birthday gifts to be given to 200 children.
Donating is simple, just go to the GoFundMe page and Inspire Bucks and our social services team will do the rest, helping to ensure a happy Christmas for children and young people across Buckinghamshire.
Help shape our vision for libraries The previous item on welcoming spaces just shows how important our libraries are as community hubs. Over a million items are borrowed every year from Buckinghamshire Libraries and they provide diverse services, from book lending, to reading groups, digital access and local events and activities – plus much, much more.
We want our libraries to continue meeting the needs of our communities so are seeking views on what the priorities should be for Buckinghamshire’s libraries. We want as many people as possible to take part in this survey, not just current library users so please spread the word and take part in the consultation too.
It’s open until Sunday 15 January at www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/libraries-your-views
Are your residents ready for winter? With temperatures dropping and weather conditions likely to turn more unpredictable as we approach winter, we are asking local residents to think about what they can do to prepare for the worst of the cold season in order to keep themselves and their loved ones safe and well. From knowing how to report an issue such as a flooded road to keeping items such as wellies and snow shovels handy, there are lots of tips people can take note of to ensure they are fully prepared. Find out more on our website.
National Tree Week is approaching, starting on 26 November and once again we are using the focus to plant more trees around the county, and we need your help! Working in partnership with Chiltern Rangers, we are inviting residents to help us plant 4,000 hedgerow plants and trees along the Platinum Way Greenway in Aylesbury as part of a £1.4m upgrade.
Please invite your local community to get involved. Anyone who would like to take part in the planting which takes place between 30 November and 9 December – even just for a couple of hours – can email info@chilternrangers.co.uk. They will then forward further details of each day's location for planting.
Details on the different events can also be found on Eventbrite, just search for Platinum Way at: www.eventbrite.com
Networking opportunity for charities and community groups Local charity, Community Impact Bucks, is hosting the next Local Voluntary Sector Network forums for not-for-profit organisations in Buckinghamshire to share information and collaborate on local issues. The North Buckinghamshire Network takes place on 22 November and the South Buckinghamshire Network on 24 November.
To register and get more information visit:
Help us keep your local spaces safe We are continuing to review our local Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) and would like your help in asking residents to give their feedback.
PSPOs deal with a particular nuisance or problem in an area that affects the local community’s quality of life, by imposing conditions on the use of that area.
Four consultations are now open. People can have their say by clicking the survey link below and sending in their views by midnight on Monday 28 November.
World Cup raises further awareness of smokefree sidelines With the FIFA World Cup just around the corner, football is a current hot topic of conversation. On a local level we are using the opportunity to encourage football clubs in Buckinghamshire to sign up to our #SmokefreeSidelines initiative, run in partnership with Berks & Bucks Football Association.
The initiative encourages smokers to refrain from smoking during matches or to move away from the sidelines so they are not in sight of children and young people who are more likely to copy what they see. Free campaign materials are available, please let your local clubs know. More information can be found online.
Deadline for cashing council tax energy rebate vouchers is approaching Earlier this year the Government announced that all households in council tax bands A to D would receive a £150 payment as part of a range of measures to support people with the rising cost of energy pressures. Residents who were eligible for an energy rebate who had not received a BACS transfer were sent a voucher in the post in August this year. The vouchers need to be taken with a form of photo ID, to a post office, where they can be exchanged for £150. The deadline for cashing the vouchers is Wednesday 30 November. Our latest figures show that around 3,600 vouchers are still waiting to be cashed in Buckinghamshire so please could you to urge residents in your area who haven’t yet cashed their vouchers to do so before it is too late. The process is fully explained in the voucher letter and on the council website. Kind regards,
Steve Bowles Cabinet Member for Communities
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