A new website designed to encourage new businesses to invest in Aylesbury Vale as well as providing essential help and advice for start-up and existing firms is now online.
The website www.investaylesburyvale.com will act as a single point of contact for business advice and support provided by Aylesbury Vale District Council and partner organisations.
Commissioned by AVDC, the website has been designed to provide user-friendly information and interactive tools for start-up, growing and relocating businesses. From the homepage users can choose which journey they wish to take, with each pathway providing tailored resources and information for the user.
The site includes lots of hints and tips, information about the support AVDC and partners can provide and signposting to other sources and help, including:
• Grants and access to sources of finance;
• Premises and commercial agents;
• Business networks and support; and
• Colleges and training organisations
There is also information about the quality of life living and working in Aylesbury Vale offers and case studies from a wide range of companies who have recently established themselves in the area who are keen to give their perspective on doing business in the Vale.
Local businesses or those thinking of relocating will also be able to sign up to the council’s online business directory and carry out commercial land and property searches.
The new website is just part of a package of support AVDC can offer businesses, including a start-up grant for businesses with a three-month trading history and directing start-ups to a range of serviced accommodation in Aylesbury Vale, including the AVDC-supported Aylesbury Enterprise and Innovation Centre, where businesses can network or hot desk, depending on their office needs.
Claydon House
Claydon House Gardens
Thursday, 7 July 2011
Saturday, 21 May 2011
HS2 consultation roadshow comes to Calvert Green
The government's consultation roadshow event on the proposed HS2 rail scheme will come to Calvert Green Community Centre on Thursday 26th May.
The roadshow will give local people the opportunity to find out more about the project and discuss specific concerns with experts from HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport.
There will be maps and information available, including all the documents which were used to develop the proposals and the strategic thinking behind them. There will also be explanatory factsheets on a wide range of issues including local impacts and benefits. DVDs containing all the documents and maps will also be available.
All the information will also be available on the website http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/, with the documents also available as DVDs. The public can also contact the HS2 public enquiry team on 020 7944 4908 or hs2enquiries@hs2.gsi.gov.uk
The roadshow will be held on 26 May from 8am to 8pm at:
• Calvert Green Community Centre Car Park, Cotswolds Way, Calvert Green, Bucks, MK18 2FJ
Other roadshows are being held across the other areas affected by HS2 and there is a link to these details on the consultation website. The consultation is open until 29 July.
The roadshow will give local people the opportunity to find out more about the project and discuss specific concerns with experts from HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport.
There will be maps and information available, including all the documents which were used to develop the proposals and the strategic thinking behind them. There will also be explanatory factsheets on a wide range of issues including local impacts and benefits. DVDs containing all the documents and maps will also be available.
All the information will also be available on the website http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/, with the documents also available as DVDs. The public can also contact the HS2 public enquiry team on 020 7944 4908 or hs2enquiries@hs2.gsi.gov.uk
The roadshow will be held on 26 May from 8am to 8pm at:
• Calvert Green Community Centre Car Park, Cotswolds Way, Calvert Green, Bucks, MK18 2FJ
Other roadshows are being held across the other areas affected by HS2 and there is a link to these details on the consultation website. The consultation is open until 29 July.
Gardens in East Claydon and Verney Junction open for charity
On Sunday May 29th three gardens in East Claydon and one in Verney Junction will be open for the National Garden Scheme. All proceeds go to charity.
Combined admission £4, children free. Opening times 2-6pm.
Homemade teas in the village hall.
Gardens Open in East Claydon:
9, Church Way (plants for sale)
Inglenooks
The Old Vicarage (plants for sale)
Garden open in Verney Junction:
3, Jubilee Cottages
For more information about the gardens and to see the charities supported by the NGS see The Yellow Book, or visit www.ngs.org.uk
Combined admission £4, children free. Opening times 2-6pm.
Homemade teas in the village hall.
Gardens Open in East Claydon:
9, Church Way (plants for sale)
Inglenooks
The Old Vicarage (plants for sale)
Garden open in Verney Junction:
3, Jubilee Cottages
For more information about the gardens and to see the charities supported by the NGS see The Yellow Book, or visit www.ngs.org.uk
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Message to the Electors of Steeple Claydon Ward
It has been a great privilege to serve as your District Councillor for the last four years, and I would be very grateful for your vote to enable me to continue to do so in the forthcoming election on May 5th.
I care deeply about the quality of life for all the residents of the Claydons. If elected I will do everything I can to represent your interests. I have actively opposed both the proposed Energy From Waste incinerator at Calvert, and the High Speed Two plans (especially the proposals for a new infrastructure maintenance depot at Steeple Claydon), which threaten our rural way of life and the beauty of our countryside and villages.
I have lobbied hard to get our potholes fixed, our drains and pavements repaired, new salt bins installed, and our roads properly gritted in the winter. I have been closely involved in planning applications, to ensure that any new development is appropriate and sensitive to the area, and have supported plans to improve the amount of affordable housing available.
I have been happy to support successful grant applications for District Council funding to improve East and Botolph Claydon village hall, the planned new East and Botolph Claydon recreation ground and the Steeple Claydon skateboard park, and I am delighted that a popular local bakery was helped through the Council’s vital villages grant scheme.
It has been a great pleasure to be involved in so many events and activities in our villages over the last four years. The Big Society is active and thriving in the Claydons, with the local community taking over the running of its library with triumphant success, and with so many active village organisations including those caring for the elderly and providing activities for our young people. I have worked closely with our local PCSOs on issues such as illegal parking, vandalism, graffiti and anti social behaviour and feel that over this period there have been significant improvements.
As a member of the District Council I have had the honour for the past three years of
serving as Chairman of the Audit Committee, as well as on the Economy and Resources
scrutiny committees. I am proud of our many achievements, and that we have been able to freeze Council Tax this year despite severe budget pressures. In particular I have been involved closely in discussions on how we can best help the local economy through the recession, and support rural businesses and those who work from home.
We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the countryside. I grew up in Buckinghamshire and have lived in the area for the past twenty years. If elected I will do everything in my power to keep the Claydons a great place to live.
John Chilver
I care deeply about the quality of life for all the residents of the Claydons. If elected I will do everything I can to represent your interests. I have actively opposed both the proposed Energy From Waste incinerator at Calvert, and the High Speed Two plans (especially the proposals for a new infrastructure maintenance depot at Steeple Claydon), which threaten our rural way of life and the beauty of our countryside and villages.
I have lobbied hard to get our potholes fixed, our drains and pavements repaired, new salt bins installed, and our roads properly gritted in the winter. I have been closely involved in planning applications, to ensure that any new development is appropriate and sensitive to the area, and have supported plans to improve the amount of affordable housing available.
I have been happy to support successful grant applications for District Council funding to improve East and Botolph Claydon village hall, the planned new East and Botolph Claydon recreation ground and the Steeple Claydon skateboard park, and I am delighted that a popular local bakery was helped through the Council’s vital villages grant scheme.
It has been a great pleasure to be involved in so many events and activities in our villages over the last four years. The Big Society is active and thriving in the Claydons, with the local community taking over the running of its library with triumphant success, and with so many active village organisations including those caring for the elderly and providing activities for our young people. I have worked closely with our local PCSOs on issues such as illegal parking, vandalism, graffiti and anti social behaviour and feel that over this period there have been significant improvements.
As a member of the District Council I have had the honour for the past three years of
serving as Chairman of the Audit Committee, as well as on the Economy and Resources
scrutiny committees. I am proud of our many achievements, and that we have been able to freeze Council Tax this year despite severe budget pressures. In particular I have been involved closely in discussions on how we can best help the local economy through the recession, and support rural businesses and those who work from home.
We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the countryside. I grew up in Buckinghamshire and have lived in the area for the past twenty years. If elected I will do everything in my power to keep the Claydons a great place to live.
John Chilver
Friday, 4 March 2011
Bridge over troubled railway...
At a recent Local Area Forum it was confirmed by Transport for Bucks that the bridge over the railway on the road leading to Twyford and Charndon will be closed for at least 18 months for structural repairs. There is apparently some uncertainty over the ownership of the adjacent land. Meanwhile a lot of traffic has been diverted along the road from Steeple Claydon to Calvert (Pond Lane)and a road which was already in a bad state has got a whole lot worse.
I reported it on the Transport For Bucks new online 'report a problem' service recently. Currently this is inaccessible - like the roads themselves it is apparently in need of repair.
http://www.transportforbucks.net/Error/error.aspx?aspxerrorpath=/Roadworks-Centre/Report-a-problem.aspx
I reported it on the Transport For Bucks new online 'report a problem' service recently. Currently this is inaccessible - like the roads themselves it is apparently in need of repair.
http://www.transportforbucks.net/Error/error.aspx?aspxerrorpath=/Roadworks-Centre/Report-a-problem.aspx
County Council reconfirms Calvert incinerator decision
Following the call in by our County Councillor John Cartwright, the decision to award the incinerator contract to WRG at Calvert was reconsidered by the County Council cabinet. On 28th Feb they decided to reconfirm the decision.
From the County Council website:
Energy from Waste - where we are now
On 28th February 2011, the County Council’s Cabinet decided that Energy from Waste was the best option to manage the county’s waste, as they reaffirmed their decision to award preferred bidder status to Waste Recycling Group (WRG) with their facility at Greatmoor, near Calvert, north Buckinghamshire.
This followed the Overview and Scrutiny Commissioning Committee’s recommendations for Cabinet to reconsider the decision to award preferred bidder status to WRG and to seek clarification on financial, legal and planning aspects of their bid. The project team prepared a detailed response to these recommendations, which were provided as part of the Cabinet papers.
WRG’s proposed facility at Greatmoor, near Calvert would supply 22MW of electricity to the national grid, enough to power up to 36,000 homes in the area. The Council expects the facility to be operating by 2014, subject to WRG gaining planning and permitting consents. The contract, once agreed, will be for a 30 year period.
The project team will now work with WRG to clarify and confirm commitments and undertake final due diligence. The final decision to award the contract will be considered by the County Council’s Cabinet in the autumn of this year.
The decision to award Preferred Bidder status to WRG has been a procurement decision, not a planning exercise. WRG’s planning application will be decided by the independent Development Control Committee.
This is disappointing but not unexpected. It was clear that the County Council had effectively made up its mind, despite the many valid objections raised. The focus of attention now shifts to the planning application, which is likely to be hotly contested.
From the County Council website:
Energy from Waste - where we are now
On 28th February 2011, the County Council’s Cabinet decided that Energy from Waste was the best option to manage the county’s waste, as they reaffirmed their decision to award preferred bidder status to Waste Recycling Group (WRG) with their facility at Greatmoor, near Calvert, north Buckinghamshire.
This followed the Overview and Scrutiny Commissioning Committee’s recommendations for Cabinet to reconsider the decision to award preferred bidder status to WRG and to seek clarification on financial, legal and planning aspects of their bid. The project team prepared a detailed response to these recommendations, which were provided as part of the Cabinet papers.
WRG’s proposed facility at Greatmoor, near Calvert would supply 22MW of electricity to the national grid, enough to power up to 36,000 homes in the area. The Council expects the facility to be operating by 2014, subject to WRG gaining planning and permitting consents. The contract, once agreed, will be for a 30 year period.
The project team will now work with WRG to clarify and confirm commitments and undertake final due diligence. The final decision to award the contract will be considered by the County Council’s Cabinet in the autumn of this year.
The decision to award Preferred Bidder status to WRG has been a procurement decision, not a planning exercise. WRG’s planning application will be decided by the independent Development Control Committee.
This is disappointing but not unexpected. It was clear that the County Council had effectively made up its mind, despite the many valid objections raised. The focus of attention now shifts to the planning application, which is likely to be hotly contested.
Friday, 4 February 2011
Council Tax frozen for 2011/12
Aylesbury Vale District Council is freezing its share of council tax for the coming year despite the authority suffering a larger than expected drop in its grant funding from the government.
The zero per cent rise was agreed at a meeting of the full council on 2 February, meaning that local taxpayers will not face any increase on the average £2.52 a week they pay for all the services provided by AVDC.
Local authorities that accept the challenge of freezing council tax are eligible for a government grant equivalent to a 2.5 per cent increase in their element of the levy.
The 2011/12 budget was set against the national backdrop of unprecedented reductions in council grants to help tackle the UK’s current financial deficit.
The government’s grant settlement figures, issued to AVDC last December, were much worse than expected and mean a reduction in government funding of £2.6 million (22 per cent) for the next financial year with a further cut of £1.2 million (13 per cent) the following year.
Overall, the council faces an 8.4 per cent reduction in its total resources, the largest of any authority in Buckinghamshire.
Due to the severe financial constraints imposed on all local authorities by the government’s austerity measures, some difficult decisions have had to be made. But the council, which faces having to make even tougher decisions for the next three years, has done everything in its power to minimise the impact of the budget on frontline services.
To balance its books for the forthcoming financial year the council has identified around 1.8 million in savings across its services. Key savings include £650,000 made through restructuring some services and changes to the structure of the authority’s senior management team and a further £300,000 by making changes to working practices in the refuse and recycling service.
Councillors also approved making use of £445,000 from the authority’s financial reserves to help reduce the budget deficit. However, the reserves cannot be used to finance the shortfall indefinitely and significant savings will need to be found in subsequent years if key services are to be maintained.
It is anticipated that further savings of £2.6 million will need to be made by 2012/13 alone. The council’s priority is to continue to look for further efficiencies and find new ways of generating income.
Councillor Neil Blake, Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “In common with all local authorities, this has been an extraordinary year for budget setting against the background of such deep cuts from the government. We have, however, worked hard to maintain essential frontline services, freeze council tax at present levels and identify significant cost savings to assist us with what will undoubtedly be a very difficult budget setting next year.”
He added: “It is important residents know we are on their side and always looking to ensure value for money. We continue to think carefully about how to spend the funds we have. It is residents’ money and they rightly expect results from it.”
The zero per cent rise was agreed at a meeting of the full council on 2 February, meaning that local taxpayers will not face any increase on the average £2.52 a week they pay for all the services provided by AVDC.
Local authorities that accept the challenge of freezing council tax are eligible for a government grant equivalent to a 2.5 per cent increase in their element of the levy.
The 2011/12 budget was set against the national backdrop of unprecedented reductions in council grants to help tackle the UK’s current financial deficit.
The government’s grant settlement figures, issued to AVDC last December, were much worse than expected and mean a reduction in government funding of £2.6 million (22 per cent) for the next financial year with a further cut of £1.2 million (13 per cent) the following year.
Overall, the council faces an 8.4 per cent reduction in its total resources, the largest of any authority in Buckinghamshire.
Due to the severe financial constraints imposed on all local authorities by the government’s austerity measures, some difficult decisions have had to be made. But the council, which faces having to make even tougher decisions for the next three years, has done everything in its power to minimise the impact of the budget on frontline services.
To balance its books for the forthcoming financial year the council has identified around 1.8 million in savings across its services. Key savings include £650,000 made through restructuring some services and changes to the structure of the authority’s senior management team and a further £300,000 by making changes to working practices in the refuse and recycling service.
Councillors also approved making use of £445,000 from the authority’s financial reserves to help reduce the budget deficit. However, the reserves cannot be used to finance the shortfall indefinitely and significant savings will need to be found in subsequent years if key services are to be maintained.
It is anticipated that further savings of £2.6 million will need to be made by 2012/13 alone. The council’s priority is to continue to look for further efficiencies and find new ways of generating income.
Councillor Neil Blake, Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “In common with all local authorities, this has been an extraordinary year for budget setting against the background of such deep cuts from the government. We have, however, worked hard to maintain essential frontline services, freeze council tax at present levels and identify significant cost savings to assist us with what will undoubtedly be a very difficult budget setting next year.”
He added: “It is important residents know we are on their side and always looking to ensure value for money. We continue to think carefully about how to spend the funds we have. It is residents’ money and they rightly expect results from it.”
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Steeple Claydon spire seen through oak trees
Map of Claydon Station
Meeting our local PCSO
Supporting our local businesses
With anti HS2 campaigners in Calvert