Matters Arising – Wendover Parish Council, August 2021

View from the Chair
As I write this month’s view, we are still in a sort of lockdown, England are playing Denmark at Wembley and Roger Federer is out of Wimbledon! Meanwhile in Wendover, the weather is changeable, and the work of the Parish Council continues. The newly-formed Council is settling in with various working groups and an exciting new group has been convened to look at the Parish 5-year strategic plan, which will set out the aspirations for the Council, looking at areas for improvement, projects etc!

Our focus at the moment is to complete a number of works that have been delayed due to Covid-19. These include looking into speeding with a survey in September, and a possible 20mph zone down the High Street, so please make your comments when that is up and running. Parking is on a second informal consultation for South St and Little Hampden Close. Other areas are moving to the statutory consultation when that closes.

The canal path near Bankside

The canal path has secured an outside grant, so work is now being done to finalise the details and timing for the refurbishment in conjunction with the Canal and Rivers Trust. Our thanks go to Peter Elwin of the Wendover Arm Trust, for his help and perseverance in gaining funding for the project. Maintenance of the Hampden Pond area is also on track to be completed this year.

That’s all for now but I do hope that you are able to have a good summer wherever you decide to spend it and that the sun shines a bit!
Sheila Bulpett

Budget Setting 2022/23
The Budget is agreed every December for the forthcoming financial year. The financial year starts on 1 April and ends on 31 March. We get most of our money via the “Precept” which is a demand on Buckinghamshire Council to enable us to function. This demand is then passed on to Parishioners via the Council Tax. If we have any large projects for example playground equipment, we can apply for grants from outside bodies or the Community Board. (www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/community-and-safety/improving-your-local-community/wendover-community-board/). We will start to build the budget over the next couple of months. Do you have proposals or ideas on projects that could benefit the residents of Wendover that would require budgeted funds? Contact clerk@wendover-pc.gov.uk.

Working Group Updates
A recommendation from the Noise and Speed Working Group, resulted in the Council applying to the HS2 Road Safety Fund for funding to install a speed camera along the A413 bypass. The HS2 RSF received 35 applications for schemes which collectively would cost upwards of £4m against a budget for the year of £1m. Schemes were shortlisted by a panel of technical advisors, and unfortunately our application was not successful. We will be appealing this decision; in addition, we are now having the same conversations with the Wendover Community Board to see if they would support and part fund the project.

Our Open Spaces group are looking at designs for a skate park in Ashbrook and are tendering for a partner company to help progress the project. The inclusive play equipment is also being considered and funding will be sought over the course of the next few months. Both will be part of the 2022-23 Council program of works. Similarly, the refurbishment of the Clock Tower wall with drinking fountain has been moved to next year.