Join us for the final official “Clap for Carers” tonight at 8pm.
This is the 10th and final week of the official “Clap for Carers” where communities around the country have been showing their support and appreciation of those incredible people working on the front line.
Let’s make this the biggest thank you yet.
Councillor’s 2020 Annual report to parishes
The 2019/2020 year has again been not only extremely busy but a year of extraordinary change, the historic formation of a brand-new Council, and unforeseen circumstances; the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic.
As your local councillor for Grendon Underwood ward representing nineteen parishes and parish meetings, I was also the Leader of AVDC and was on the Shadow Executive of the new Buckinghamshire Council. I am now the Deputy Leader of the new Council and responsible for adult social care.
The year and workload leading up to the formation of the new Buckinghamshire Council from the five councils, county and districts, involved a tremendous amount of ‘behind the scenes’ work and decision making including legal, finance and systems, IT, HR and recruitment to the top three tiers of management to name but a few areas. As you are aware the local elections for the new unitary and for parish councils and the police and crime commissioner were postponed until May 2021.
Fortunately, a great deal of work was done before vesting day and then the Covid 19 pandemic overshadowed everything.
The coronavirus is of great concern to everyone in Buckinghamshire. We are working together, across all the partner organisations in Buckinghamshire, with Public Health England and the Department for Health and Social Care to tackle the outbreak to support our residents, communities, businesses and schools during this difficult time. This is an incredibly fast-moving situation and the council is closely following government guidance to provide accurate and up to date information. We are well-prepared for these situations and have robust plans in place to focus on keeping essential services running to look after our elderly, the most vulnerable, children, and safeguard local communities.
As the impact of Coronavirus increases, we may need to make some temporary changes to some services. For example, we had temporarily closed the household recycling centres and country parks, additionally we had suspended green waste collections, but following guidance have now been able to reintroduce these services carefully following government guide lines. This is so we can protect people from infection and use our staff and resources where they are most needed.
The Council will communicate any changes to residents and ongoing engagement with communities will be a priority. Information about any service changes will be released to the press and published on our website www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk Do check the Council website as it has many useful links to Government policy and what is happening locally and where you can get help.
Despite Covid there were many other significant matters of concern to me as your local councillor.
In the north of my ward particularly affecting Calvert Green Steeple Claydon Twyford Edgcott and Charndon, HS2 continues apace. I have spent many many hours writing to ministers, peacefully protesting, engaging with our new MPs and supporting the community but sadly the Notice to Proceed with the main works has been issued and it looks as if the project will continue despite spiralling costs exceeding £100billion. One can only hope that in the current circumstances Westminster might reconsider and use the resource to support people and businesses following the impact of the coronavirus.
Continuing on the campaigning theme I was particularly active this year in campaigning against the proposed new ‘motorway’ – the Expressway which we heard is planned to join up Oxford to Cambridge and ‘unlock’ growth across the area. There were many reasons to oppose this which I did vigorously – not least its environmental impact, its business case and the potential to bring vast numbers of unnecessary and misplaced housing to our rural area which is not included in the emerging VALP (Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan) Instead the council has lobbied for much needed improvements to the existing roads network.
A snapshot of some of the other things I have been involved in over the last year is leading the district council in environmental initiatives such as tree planting schemes, protection of wildlife, wildflower meadow development and supporting the reduction of carbon emissions.
Recently I have been very involved as a Trustee of the Bernwode Community Bus (Bernie!) in collecting for the food banks in both Buckingham and Aylesbury and we have visited several villages in my ward who have been immensely generous.
It is a pleasure working with parish councils. Thank you and take care in these very unusual times.
Your Councillor
Angela Macpherson
19th May 2020
Members of the public were invited to submit additional items for inclusion on the agenda no later than Friday 15th May @ 4pm to The Clerk
https://chiltonpc.org.uk/meeting-requests or use the details below
Please note: Members of the public cannot comment during the meeting until invited to do so by The Chairperson.
Comments can only be made in relation to published agenda items
Any non-agenda items will be noted and added to the agenda for the following meeting
Full minutes of meetings are available on from www.chiltonpc.org.uk
or on request from The Clerk for a fee of £3 for hard copies
Today, Friday 8 May 2020 marks 75 years since Victory in Europe Day, more commonly known as VE Day, which celebrates the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Nazi Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces.
Friday 8 May 2020 marks 75 years since Victory in Europe Day
The announcement that the war had ended in Europe was broadcast to the British people over the radio late in the day on 7 May 1945. The BBC interrupted its scheduled programming with a news flash announcing that Victory in Europe Day would be a national holiday, to take place the following day (8 May). The 8 May 1945 saw celebrations all across the UK including a speech from the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, as well as the British Royal Family waving to cheering crowds from the balcony at Buckingham Palace, London.
You can read more about the history of VE Day 1945 on the Imperial War Museum’s website.
VE Day celebrations bring communities across the country together in peace and common friendship, and we hope that this year – the 75th anniversary of VE Day – will be no different. While the usual celebrations of street parties and gatherings at war memorials have had to be postponed or cancelled, there’s still a lot of goodwill to mark the day with celebration and reflection here in Buckinghamshire.
We’ve been working with local partners and organisations to bring our commemorations online, and will be sharing stories, photos and videos on social media throughout the whole weekend – some featuring a few special guests!
If you, or a member of your family, have a treasured memory, intriguing tale or inspiring story from the first VE Day celebrations in1945, then we’d love to hear from you! Similarly, please tell us how you and your family are celebrating VE Day 75 over the bank holiday weekend. You can share photos with us by emailing or tagging us in your social media posts @BucksCouncil on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Buckinghamshire Council and Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies will be posting about lots of local celebrations on Facebook and Twitter so be sure to take a look throughout the day! From sharing your own artistic creations, to videos of local traditional VE Day performances, don’t miss out on seeing how your local community has come together to celebrate VEDay75.
Follow @BucksCouncil and @CenBucksStudies
https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/events/commemorating-veday75-across-buckinghamshire/
Members of the public are invited to submit additional items for inclusion on the agenda no later than Friday 15th May @ 4pm to The Clerk
https://chiltonpc.org.uk/meeting-requests or use the details below
Please note: Members of the public cannot comment during the meeting until invited to do so by The Chairperson.
Comments can only be made in relation to published agenda items
Any non-agenda items will be noted and added to the agenda for the following meeting
Full minutes of meetings are available on from www.chiltonpc.org.uk
or on request from The Clerk for a fee of £3 for hard copies
Good News from Bucks Council:
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Buckinghamshire Council will restart green waste collections across the county from 11 May and also stand ready to open five of its nine household waste sites as soon as the Government gives the green light nationally. The moves to help residents across the county deal with their additional waste were announced at Cabinet today (30 April) by Bill Chapple OBE, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change. Today’s announcement follows the closedown of both areas at the start of the coronavirus outbreak due to government guidance, as well as staff shortages due to sickness and those needing to self-isolate. However Bill Chapple said things had improved sufficiently to reinstate the two services. “Coronavirus has had a massive impact on all our waste services but waste teams from across the county have worked tremendously hard to prioritise collections and keep waste and recycling bin collections going. However, we’re now fighting back and it’s my intention to get services operating somewhere close to normality wherever I can, subject to current conditions continuing. “Bringing back green waste collections will really help residents tend to their gardens during the lockdown. I know collection crews will be working hard particularly on the initial rounds, so could I ask residents to be considerate and avoid over-filling bins or putting additional garden waste out alongside.” Residents’ normal garden bin collection days will stay the same but the Council advises checking their website first just to make sure nothing has changed. Collection times may however change, so residents are asked to put bins out by 6.30am. In addition, no subscribers will be out of pocket while green waste hasn’t been collected as contract extensions or reduced priced renewals are being introduced. The Council will also be reinstating its bulky waste collection service across the county. Bill continued, “To allow residents to dispose of other essential rubbish that might be harmful to store, we’ve also been working behind the scenes to prepare five of our most suitable household waste sites for reopening. These sites are at Amersham, Aston Clinton, Beaconsfield, Buckingham and High Heavens in High Wycombe and are best able to deal with queuing vehicles. “We’re now just waiting for the Government’s final authorisation to open and this is expected within the next couple of weeks. “That said, sites will look and operate differently to comply with strict social distancing requirements. We’ll be adopting a ‘supermarket style’ of operation with strict controls on the number of people entering the site at any one time and marked off areas to maintain two metre gaps. “As soon as we get the green light, we’ll publish more detailed guidance on when these sites will reopen and how they will operate so residents can be absolutely clear on what they need to do. “It’s been a concerted effort from the whole waste team to find the best ways to reintroduce services given the extraordinary times we’re in and I really hope it will provide some much-needed help for local residents going forward.” For more information, please visit www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk |
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Are you overwhelmed by the mountain of grass cuttings and plant trimmings in your garden during the coronavirus emergency? Check out today’s Vlog from Buckinghamshire Council for tips on creating the perfect compost! “Composting at home is easier than you think,” says Andrew Jenkins, the council’s Waste Promotion Lead Officer, “And with discounts for local residents on compost bins, it’s a great time to start. So visit www.recycle4bucks.co.uk to order your bin and get started.” Andrew’s composting tips can be found at https://www.recycleforbuckinghamshire.co.uk/ Today’s Vlog can be found at: https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/video-updates/ |
We know lots of you will have a build up of garden waste as you #StayHome and enjoy gardening. 🍃🌳🌸
Please DO NOT burn this waste at home. 🔥 The smoke from bonfires can cause problems for residents (of all ages!) with respiratory difficulties such as asthma. Instead, we ask that you please store garden waste safely until the council’s garden waste service returns or the Household Recycling Centres are safe to reopen.
We apologise for any inconvenience whilst we prioritise our recycling & waste service across Buckinghamshire and thank you for your understanding.
The churchyard and village clean-up scheduled for this coming Sunday has been postponed for obvious reasons.
We shall set a new date for later in the summer.
Many thanks to all those who volunteered.
We’ll keep you posted!
All council car park charges and on-street parking restrictions have been lifted today across Buckinghamshire.
The five existing councils have taken the unprecedented step to help support communities, key workers and volunteers during the Coronavirus outbreak.
The changes will mean all council car parks across the county will be completely free to use and all parking restrictions lifted. This includes parking on yellow lines, limited waiting areas and in pay and display bays. Residents permits will also be extended by a month. Restrictions on disabled parking will however remain in force.
Parking officers will continue patrolling the main routes, car parks, and residential areas to help deal with any obstructions to support emergency services, key workers, essential food deliveries and residents.
**PLEASE NOTE THIS IS ALSO THE CASE FOR ALL PARKING CHARGES ACROSS ALL DISTRICT COUNCIL CAR PARKS IN SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE AND VALE OF WHITE HORSE WHICH ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL 1 JUNE 2020**
If any vehicle does cause an obstruction, officers will attempt to locate the owner via the permits database so that the vehicle can be moved to a safer place. If owners can’t be located, vehicles will be towed to the nearest safe position. This will only be used as a last resort and will be to relocate vehicles, not remove them completely.
Leader of Buckinghamshire’s Shadow Executive, Martin Tett said the new measures were sensible and appropriate given the circumstances. “With most people working from home, parking is at a premium, so this gives everyone more flexibility and should help keep routes clear. If you live near to a council car park, please feel free to use it if it’s suitable.
“It should also make it easier for those key workers and volunteers who need to get around to help those most vulnerable in our communities.”
Martin added: “My only plea to motorists is to park sensibly and safely for the benefit of everyone and maintain social distancing. If we all pull together and use our common-sense, we can make a huge difference for those needing to get around in these testing and difficult times.”
These changes will be regularly reviewed and may be amended in line with further government guidance.
Some car parks are closed overnight, so please check the following links for further details. Specific questions or queries can be sent to the relevant area e-mail addresses.
Aylesbury Area
https://www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/section/car-parks
Email:
Chiltern Area
https://www.chiltern.gov.uk/carparks
Email:
South Bucks Area
https://www.southbucks.gov.uk/carparks
Email:
Wycombe Area
https://www.wycombe.gov.uk/pages/Parking-and-transport/Parking/Car-park-map.aspx
Email:
For information regarding on street parking, please contact
For assistance and the latest advice on coronavirus, please visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus