The HSA would like to update its email list. If you have been a previous subscriber and if you wish to continue to receive the newsletter, or wish to start receiving it, please send your e-mail address to Stan Jones, at stan.jonestheelectric@btinternet.com. It will only be used to send you the HSA Newsletter.
Thank you
The Climate Group are organising a litter pick for Sunday 6th April between 2-4pm as part of the Great British Litterpick.
Meet at the Village Hall for a briefing, everything will be provided, although if anyone has their own litterpickers that would be helpful. There are areas around the fields that will be suitable for younger helpers to collect litter from.
The Council is recruiting an Administration Assistant. The closing date for applications is 12 noon on the 28th February 2025.
Person Specification and Application forms are available from Jason Wise, Deputy Clerk/Service Manager, Council Offices, The Common, Great Kingshill HP15 6EN, or at https://www.hughenden-pc.gov.uk/admin-vacancy/
Tel: 01494 715296
The quiz has been running and the prize cup awarded since 1985 when a team from Valley Wives won. This record was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022. Doors will open at 7pm and the quiz at 7.30 pm.
We recommend that teams can be of up to 8 people. (more than that & you cannot all fit around the table!)
Price: £15 per person, which includes catering of savoury & dessert courses. Please bring your own glasses & drinks.
Entries to the Quiz are now closed as the team limit has been reached. If you wish your team to be put on the reserve list, please email Paul Woodford pbwoodford@icloud.com
A successful meeting of Hughenden Parish Council was held on 19th November.
Items covered included risk assessments that are being carried out on our four
ponds. The first, Cockpit Hole, was found to be “low risk” with some
recommendations regarding signs and short fence extensions. A plan to address
these was agreed.
An update was given on the renovations to the Templewood and Great Kingshill
playgrounds. The former is under construction, with completion within the next
two weeks and the latter should be ready in spring 2025.
The appointment of a full time Chief Officer (Clerk) is imminent. The handover
from our present locum clerk is being arranged.
The re-mapping of the graves at the Garden of Rest was approved as there is a
legal requirement to keep it updated.
The present contractors for our open spaces, hedges and verges will run out at the
end of the financial year. A consultant has drawn up a tender procurement
document that was approved by council and will be sent to a number of potential
suppliers.
The election of members of the council will be held next spring and it is vital that
residents put themselves forward so that we have a full complement of councillors
in the future.
Stan Jones (Chair)
Dear Resident,
After many meetings with relevant County Councillors and other parties, this ePetition has been posted on the Bucks CC website. It remains live for 28 days (until 20th Dec.) , if you choose to do so please support it as soon as possible , many have already said they will. Remember all residents in a household who are 16 or over can support it. After the 28 days there will be a consultation period and we will hopefully hear the outcome at a meeting of the North West Chilterns Community Board on 6th March which I will attend – it’s a long process!
I will be adding supporting evidence later as well. Some of you have already told me or written to me with examples of, e.g., near misses. Can you please email me a short letter about them so I can add them as ‘residents’ evidence’ – we will be adding information on speed recordings carried out recently. This shows that not many drivers exceed the 50 limit, however we are basing our petition on the concern that the actual limit is itself too high – you will see the wording when you read the ePetition.
If you need any help accessing it just let me know and I will help you.
Kind regards
Brian McCollum
Next year there are elections for Town, Parish and Unitary Authorities in our area.
This event promotes the idea of standing for elections as a councillor – be it at Parish or County level.
The event is called Democracy in Action – Make A Change and Be A Councillor. It is already being advertised on the HPC website (https://www.hughenden-pc.gov.uk/council_events/democracy-in-action/) .
The event is free, but you do need to register.
Democracy in Action – Make A Change and Be A Councillor
Do you want to give something back to your community? To empower your place in uncertain times? To use the momentum from the recent general election to renew your local area?
This NALC Make A Change (https://www.nalc.gov.uk/campaigns/becoming-a-councillor.html) and LGA Be A Councillor (https://www.local.gov.uk/be-councillor) event aims to promote the idea of standing for election as a local (parish, town and community) and principal authority (district, county, borough or unitary) councillor at the May 2025 local council elections. We need people from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect the communities they serve to put themselves forward for election. Join us to hear from experts in the field who have become brilliant local councillors at various local government levels, from all quarters.
Whether you live in a parished or un-parished area, this unique free event will provide a valuable opportunity to learn about the work and role of local councillors in your community and answer your questions about standing for election as a local councillor in May 2025.
A diverse panel of experts will share their insights, experience, and advice. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in discussions with representatives from areas which held local council elections in May 2024 and elsewhere, to find out how you can change your place for good.
Speakers: Tamsin Hewett, advisor at the Local Government Association, Cllr Jackie Drake, Ulverston town and Westmorland and Furness district councillor, Neil Wedge, chief executive of the Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils and Cllr Chidi Nweke, Loughton Residents Association representative on Epping Forest District Council.
Register (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/democracy-in-action-tickets-947971106097)
12.00 – 13.15 on Wednesday 13th Nov
Buckinghamshire History Festival returns next month for its ninth annual celebration of the county’s history and cultural heritage.
The festival, organised by Buckinghamshire Archives, sees the Archives team come together with partner organisations from across the county to present a huge range of events to see and do throughout November. Buckinghamshire’s past will be brought to life and the untold stories of its people and places will be uncovered.
Buckinghamshire Council Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure Clive Harriss commented: “We’re delighted to be once again joining with partner organisations to showcase our county’s fascinating history and rich culture through the Buckinghamshire History Festival. There’s something for everyone, ranging from tours of the Buckinghamshire Archives, historic walks through High Wycombe, to traditional corn milling demonstrations – and there’s even some pub quizzes where you can show off your historical knowledge! I’d encourage everyone to check out the full listing of events happening throughout November.”
Find the full listing of festival events at: https://histfestbucks.co.uk/whats-on/
Friday 13th Sept for 3 days. See:
https://hughendenresidents.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ntf-manor-road-hughenden-valley-1.pdf
Money Matters – say how you want your council tax spent
Buckinghamshire Council is preparing its spending plans for 2025/26 and is asking residents, businesses and other local stakeholders to give their views on which services should be prioritised.
The ‘Money Matters’ survey is the opportunity for residents to have a say on what’s important to them and they you would like to see the council’s budget distributed.
Councils across the country continue to experience significant financial pressures due to rising costs and added demand on services. In particular, Buckinghamshire Council has seen social care costs escalate even further in recent months due to more vulnerable residents needing help.
With continuing pressures on household budgets after a period of high inflation and other turbulence, it’s important that residents tell the council how they want to see their council tax spent during the next financial year.
Council tax is the main way that local council services are funded – from bin collections to road repairs to looking after adults and children who need care. The council has ongoing costs to provide these services and also draws up capital spending plans too – ‘one-off’ spends on particular projects or schemes such as extra money invested into the local road network for repairs and improvements. The money received from council tax covers 79% of the cost of providing our 700 services, with the rest of our funding coming from Business Rates (13%), the New Homes Bonus (1%) and other grants (7%).
The council’s ‘Money Matters’ survey is now live –and takes just 10 minutes to complete. These views are then fed into the final budget proposals which are scrutinised after Christmas in a series of special meetings. The final budget will then be voted on during February ready to ‘go live’ on 1 April 2025.
Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council, commented:
“Budget setting in recent times has become extremely difficult for all councils, including our own. Since becoming a single unitary council we have made significant savings and efficiencies already, totalling £75.4 million to date, with a further £41.3 million of savings earmarked for this year. This means we’ve taken more than £100 million out of our budgets over the first five years as a council to deliver efficiencies and to pay for key services for our most vulnerable residents. The cost of providing these services – namely social care, temporary housing and providing school transport for children who need it – eats up around 71% of our entire budget, leaving us with less than 30% of our expenditure available to pay for everything else that we do.
Therefore it’s never been more crucial for our residents to tell us where they want their money spent – please let your friends and family know too that they can have a say.”
The survey is accessed via the Your Voice Bucks website.
If you’re unable to complete the survey online, you can access a paper copy of the consultation in libraries and family centres. The Money Matters survey runs until 13 October 2024.
Hughenden Valley Residents Association 