Historic Day for Buckinghamshire

'Historic day for Buckinghamshire’ as Government gives green light to unitary council

 

A brand new county-wide unitary council will be established in Buckinghamshire, the Government confirmed today.

The announcement by Secretary of State James Brokenshire has been hailed as a ‘truly historic day’ by County Council leader Martin Tett.

 

The new council, which will replace the county council and four districts, will be simpler, better value and more local to Buckinghamshire communities than the current two-tier system, ultimately moving to a more sustainable future for the county.

Services which complement one another but are currently divided between the district and county councils such as bin collections, waste disposal, planning and roads, would be brought together under the single unitary council, resulting in more efficient, joined-up services for residents.

 

The Secretary of State said in his statement: "Having assessed both proposals against the criteria that we announced to the House on 28 February 2017 (PQ 65271), I have concluded that whilst both proposals meet the criterion for a “good deal of local support”, only the proposal for a single unitary council satisfies the criteria for “improving local government” and for “being a credible geography” and that in any event the proposal for a single unitary council is better able to meet the criteria overall. 

 

"Accordingly, I am today announcing that I have decided to implement, subject to Parliamentary approval, the locally-led proposal to replace the existing five councils across Buckinghamshire – the two tier structure of Buckinghamshire County Council and the district councils of Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern, South Bucks and Wycombe – by one new single unitary district council, and that I have decided not to implement the proposal for two new unitary councils."

 

View the Secretary of State's full statement at: https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-11-01/HCWS1058/ 

County Council leader Martin Tett said: “This is a truly historic day for Buckinghamshire. The announcement paves the way for a brand new council, fit for the future, created by combining the best of both county and district councils. This new council will be simpler, better value and more local to our residents. It will also have more clout to face head-on the great strategic challenges facing the county over the coming decades.

 

“There has been robust debate over the last couple of years over how best to modernise Buckinghamshire’s out-dated two-tier system. Everyone has agreed that a change to a unitary form of governance is the only way forward.

 

“Now a decision has been made it is the time to put the past behind us and work together, to build the better future Buckinghamshire’s residents deserve.

 

"There are a number of issues we will need to agree with Government, and I look forward to giving you further details as these become known over the coming weeks.”

View Martin Tett's video message to residents at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl_31giSjLw&feature=youtu.be 

For more information on the business case for a single unitary council visit www.futurebucks.co.uk

HS2 Community Drop In Sessions at Steeple Claydon Library

From our HS2 Community Officer Cheryl Snudden

 

I would like to let you know that I have arranged to have monthly drop in sessions in SteepleClaydon Library between 12 – 4pm

 

The session will begin on Friday 9^th February 2018 I will then take place every second Friday of the month.

-      9^th March

-      13^th April

-      11^th May

-      8^th June

-      13^th July

-      10^th August

-      14^th September

-      12^th October

-      9^th November

Bucks County Council supports the southern (Aylesbury) route for the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway

Buckinghamshire County Council’s preferred option

1) What is Buckinghamshire County Council’s preferred Corridor and why?

Buckinghamshire County Council’s preferred option for the route of the Corridor is the Southern Option (Road Option A on the Expressway Options diagram below).This proposed route is near to Aylesbury.

 3 Buckinghamshire County Council’s preferred option is the Southern corridor linking Oxford/M40/Thame/Aylesbury and Milton Keynes. This selection mirrors our preference set out in the BCC’s response to the National Infrastructure Commission’s call for evidence on the Oxford – Cambridge growth corridor. This was submitted by BCC in 2016.

 The key reasons for selecting this as the preferred corridor are the anticipated housing and economic growth along this corridor and the current lack of connectivity.

 BCC’s preference for the Southern road option is based largely on planning for the future of growth along the southern corridor stretch. By selecting a corridor with a high level of expected growth, it would help ensure that any infrastructure investment would maximise the return on investment through the creation of new homes and jobs. If there is no national investment planned we risk having a piecemeal approach to infrastructure which may be detrimental to towns and areas where this growth is planned.

Aylesbury Vale’s emerging Local Plan1 suggests that somewhere in the region of a housing requirement of 27,400 new homes over the plan lifespan (up to 2033) -19,400 to meet the districts own needs and 8,000 of unmet need from other authorities under the Duty to Cooperate. Within the district, the southern option takes in some of Aylesbury Vale’s largest proposed growth areas; the county town of Aylesbury, Westcott and Woodlands Enterprise Zones, planned growth in nearby Thame and links to Didcot Garden Town (Thame and Didcot both being located in Oxfordshire) .)

HS2 update April 2018

HS2 Commonplace website for Buckinghamshire/Oxfordshire HS2 Ltd has now been given permission by the government to develop its own branded website, separate to the .Gov website, which can be difficult to navigate. The new website is now live: https://www.hs2.org.uk/

HS2 Ltd has also developed a Commonplace type pages for Buckinghamshire/Oxfordshire with local information. They have also developed some Community Engagement Plans. Where available, you can find them here: https://hs2inbucksandoxfordshire.commonplace.is/

HS2 Community Environment Fund (CEF) Steeple Claydon Methodist Church has been awarded £12,000 from the HS2 CEF for refurbishments.

Buckinghamshire County Council HS2 team: Jackie Copcutt jcopcutt@buckscc.gov.uk Tel: 01296 383793 Laura Leech lleech@buckscc.gov.uk Tel: 01296 382163 2 HS2 Blueprint Mailbox HS2Blueprint@buckscc.gov.uk BCC HS2 Webpages: http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/environment/hs2/

Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan Examination

Information on the examination of VALP

The Inspector

Our Local Plan was submitted for examination on 28 February 2018 and Paul Clark BA MA MRTPI from the Planning Inspectorate has been appointed by the Secretary of State to carry out an independent examination of our Local Plan (2013-2033).

The Inspector's task is to consider the soundness of the submitted Plan, based on the criteria set out in paragraph 182 of the National Planning Policy Framework (the Framework).

The relevant soundness criteria are whether the Local Plan is:

• Positively prepared: it should be based on a strategy that looks at meeting objectively assessed development and infrastructure requirements. This includes, where reasonable to do so, those unmet by our neighbours. It should also be consistent with achieving sustainable development
• Justified: it should be the most appropriate strategy, when considered against reasonable alternatives, based on proportionate evidence
• Effective: it should be deliverable and based on effective joint working with partners and neighbours; and
• Consistent with national policy: it should enable the delivery of sustainable development set out by national policy.

Programme Officer

Louise St John Howe has been appointed as the Programme Officer. She is an independent officer of the examination and works on the Inspector's behalf, organising and managing the administrative and procedural matters of the examination process.

Any queries about the examination or any correspondence to the Inspector should be sent to:

Louise St John Howe

Programme Officer
PO Services
PO Box 10965
Sudbury
Suffolk
CO10 3BF

Vale of Aylesbury Plan timetable update

Local Plan timetable update

The timetable for preparing the Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan (VALP) is being extended to ensure that all essential evidence is in place, before it gets sent for government approval.
The plan, which will help to accommodate national growth demand, allows for around 27,000 new homes in the Vale by 2033 – around half of this housing requirement is either already completed or has planning permission.
 This is an incredibly complex plan, which will affect the Vale for generations to come and getting it right is Aylesbury Vale District Council’s priority.
 The main reason for the extension to the timetable is a slight delay to the final Sustainability Appraisal which is being carried out by external consultants. This is a critical piece of evidence which will feed into the breadth and depth of the plan’s content and it is vital that sufficient time is allowed for it to be completed properly.
Cllr Carole Paternoster, Cabinet Member for Growth Strategy said: “Our teams are working incredibly hard to ensure VALP delivers growth responsibly. We believe this short extension is essential to making absolutely sure we have all the necessary evidence to support us in this goal. Central government have informally advised that their priority is to ensure we are progressing with a sound plan, and that they understand the need for a short extension. ”
Work on the plan will continue during the summer, including continuing discussions with key stakeholders to ensure we have addressed all potential issues.
Following the new timetable, there will be changes to some key meeting dates. VALP Scrutiny on 11 July will still take place to receive an update on the key evidence documents. .
The proposed submission plan will be considered by VALP Scrutiny on 26 September, Cabinet on 10 October and Council on 18 October. The plan will then be published for public comment, before being submitted for independent examination in January - two months later than previously publicised.
News of all updates can be found at www.aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk/valp

East West Rail Public Consultation 2017

Latest information from the East west Rail Consortium:

 Network Rail is proposing to improve the railway between Oxford and Bedford, and Milton Keynes, Aylesbury and Princes Risborough by upgrading disused and underused rail track to provide a new rail link between these important conurbations, and provide additional routes and capacity for both passengers and freight. On completion, this new rail link will connect the Great Western, Chiltern, West Coast and Midland Main Lines north of London and become a vital strategic rail link in Britain’s rail network.

In September 2015 Network Rail consulted on plans to upgrade and reconstruct existing and mothballed sections of line linking Bedford-Bicester and Milton Keynes-Princes Risborough as part of the East West Rail Western Section Phase 2 project. We will require statutory powers under a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) granted by the Secretary of State for Transport in order to construct, maintain and operate the project.

We have undertaken further development following the first round of consultation and will be holding a second round of consultation beginning on 30 June and ending on 11 August 2017. 

We will be holding a number of public exhibitions to give local communities and local residents a chance to view our plans and give feedback.  The project team will be available at all events to answer any queries.

These events will take place at the following times and venues: 

Location	Date	Time	Address
Bicester	10 July	12-8pm	John Paul II Centre, Henley House, The Causeway, OX26 6AW
Bletchley	11 July	12-8pm	Scots Sports and Social Club, Selbourne Avenue, MK3 5BX
Winslow	12 July	12-8pm	Public Hall, Elmfields Gate, MK18 3JG
Launton	13 July	12-8pm	Sports and Social Club, Bicester Road, OX26 5DP
Waddeson	14 July	12-8pm	Waddesdon Village Hall, Baker Street, HP18 0LQ
Newton Longville	17 July	3-7pm	2 Paradise, MK17 0AQ
Bedford	18 July	12-8pm	Harpur Suite, St. Paul’s Square, MK40 1SJ
Marston Moretaine	19 July	12-8pm	The Forest Centre, Station Road, MK43 0PR
Charndon	20 July	3-7pm	Community Centre, Charndon Playing Fields, Steeple Claydon Road, OX27 0BL
Princes Risborough	21 July	12-8pm	Elim Church@Risborough, 9 Bell Street, HP27 0DE