Safe Place Scheme
Dear residents,
Further to my previous message regarding the Safe Place Scheme, please find below a link to the Buckinghamshire scheme run by the council. Also see attached flyer issued by Buckinghamshire council.
https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/community-and-safety/safety-and-crime-in-your-community/crime-reporting-and-prevention/help-if-you-are-a-victim-of-crime/
This link also gives details of businesses/buildings that have registered for the local run scheme.
Thank you
Attachments
GD000534 Safe Place A5 flyer_v4.pdf
https://members.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/AlertMessage/Attachment/68C03D92FA6001FCA97206E8C8B515BD
Message Sent By
Jo Howland
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Derek R @DerekR
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Posted in: Public Notices
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Posted in: AI ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
The Rt. Hon. Greg Clark, Former Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, has just finished his evidence to the Post Office Inquiry. His final statement was that had AI been used to look at the criminal cases brought by the Post Office, he felt that a pattern may have emerged, resulting in less prosecutions and a saving of time, money and personal damage. -
Posted in: Public Notices
Businesses and other public buildings that have registered as Safe Places under a national scheme can offer help if anyone at all is anxious, scared or at risk while they are out and about and need support. You can recognise a registered Safe Place by a sticker with the official Safe Places logo displayed prominently in the front window. You can also find the nearest Safe Place to your location by downloading the Safe Places app (free to download on both Apple and Android mobile phones). When you open the app, tap on "Get me to the nearest Safe Place" and it will open a map showing the quickest walking route to the nearest Safe Place that is open. For more information visit: Safe Places - Keep Safe with Safe Places https://s-url.co/VNATAA Please share this message with anyone who you feel will benefit from extra support while out and about. Many Thanks Message Sent By Jo Howland (Police, Neighbourhood Administrator, Aylesbury Vale) -
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Posted in: Chenies
An update from Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council 24 July 2024 Dear resident, As promised, I am writing with a further update now that the new Government has set out its legislative programme in last week’s King’s Speech. I want to highlight the key elements of this which affect Buckinghamshire. As I also said in my last update, it’s been a really active period for the council in the run up to the summer break, so I wanted to give more detail on some of that work and also some of the summer activities that are available, hence sending another quite long newsletter to you so soon after the previous one! The King’s Speech This is the way that a government sets out its priority policies and the legislation it intends to bring forward to support them. This King’s Speech contained no less than 40 proposed new Acts of Parliament. These covered a wide range of different public policy areas that impact us all nationally, and many of which will have specific implications for Buckinghamshire too. New Bills cover proposals from major policies on economic growth, planning reform and devolution to buses and schools. There are proposals to limit landlords’ ability to evict tenants. Given the large number of rented properties in Buckinghamshire, that will be significant. There is a Children’s Wellbeing Bill that provides for breakfast clubs in all schools. We will need to see how that will operate and who will pay for the additional costs involved. There will be a new schools’ curriculum which must be taught in all state schools. Well publicised during the election, there will be VAT levied on all independent schools. You can read the full detail of what is being put forward by going onto the Government’s website. https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgiuTFFvGtInairbDN0ilk3PYP9Oj7R1vHGQCTTi8YKb4djed4 Planning Reform I wanted to highlight the area of policy that I believe will have the greatest impact on our area, particularly where planning and development is concerned. The speech included confirmation that the Government will bring forward a new Planning and Infrastructure Bill. We don’t have all the detail yet but from what Ministers have said there appear to be two key aspects to this new Bill which will have major impacts on Buckinghamshire. Firstly, the reimposition of ‘top down’ housing targets. This is for the number of houses actually built, not granted permission. Councils do not build houses, that is done by private house builders and some social housing providers. We do not know the actual size of these targets yet but, given the overall target of 1.5 million during the rest of this Parliament, we anticipate they will be very large. Councils will have to allocate enough land to allow for all this target, and more, to give scope for the rate at which the houses are actually built. The role of local councils and local people in deciding where these houses are built is also likely to be substantially reduced. Of course, the houses will require appropriate infrastructure such as roads, schools, doctors’ surgeries, energy, water and waste water, digital networks etc. However, it is unclear how all of these will be funded and built in the timescales. Also how does this fit with existing approved Local Plans? The second key aspect is the move by government to have local councils reallocate much of the Green Belt, a so called ‘Grey Belt’. There is no definition of what constitutes ‘Grey Belt’. Currently about a third of Buckinghamshire is Green Belt and much of this is also in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). At present the law gives protected status to land designated as Green Belt. The Green Belt was designed to preserve in perpetuity the beauty and openness of the countryside and prevent towns and villages merging. Importantly the Green Belt is about ‘openness’, not about being parkland. It is current council policy to protect and maintain the Green Belt whenever possible, although we accept that there will always be exceptional circumstances where Green Belt can be released. It will have to be seen how Green Belt release will be required and what role will be given to councils in this process or whether developers will be able to take the initiative. Economic growth There is also a clear focus on economic growth through the new Bills being put forward which of course, we recognise is much needed on a national level and an important focus locally too in supporting and building our local economy and securing a bright future for Buckinghamshire and future generations here. We are currently refreshing our strong local growth plan that has been developed through the Buckinghamshire Growth Board. This outlines how our county can make a significant contribution to the UK economy as a whole through our local industries and local plans. Devolution We welcome further confirmation on the intent to progress the devolution agenda too. I was written to by the new Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner last week and look forward to further discussions about how devolved powers will work here after having a devolution deal for Buckinghamshire announced by the last government Tackling the litter louts Onto other priority areas for our residents and I’m really pleased that I can now confirm we have adopted a bold new policy to tackle littering head on – including introducing much higher penalties, which are due to come into force this week. We’re not shying away from this; we want people to sit up and take notice, so we are launching an attention grabbing new anti-littering campaign called ‘For Bucks Sake’. We will also be issuing penalties of £500 for people who are caught littering. Like you, I am fed up and disappointed by the sheer amount of litter that I see blighting our beautiful county and disrupting nature, especially on roadside verges. It’s the same stuff – empty drink cans, cigarette and vape packets, fast food wrapping, plastic bottles and containers, and it’s getting worse and worse. I cannot believe that some people think it’s OK to chuck their rubbish from a vehicle, yet many people seem to be doing this – and think they can get away with it. Not anymore. We are among the first councils to use these new powers of higher fines – and a quicker route to catching and punishing the culprits. We are also using a powerful new weapon in our armoury – dashcam footage. We will be leading the way on this by directly appealing to people to send us any footage they might have of littering – captured in a way that is of course, safe and legal. We are inviting people to upload footage and photos to our new webpage https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgi-TFFq1BW1lz7ZueiNaefuPK5yWBrRASEADQyNbpBY4PtBl0 if their dashcam has captured someone in a vehicle chucking litter out of the window. With car registration details, this will provide us with the evidence we need to trace and fine the culprit. The new policy will also allow us in the coming months to prosecute through the civil process meaning it will be the vehicle owner who will be liable, whether they threw the litter or not – this should encourage drivers to ensure their passengers do the right thing, and hopefully encourage passengers not to risk the driver being given a penalty for littering! I hope that the new approach and penalties will prove a powerful deterrent. Have your say I wanted to draw your attention to some important consultations we have at the moment that we want to invite you to comment on to ensure you are a part of shaping these policies. Of particular note, we are proposing some changes to our library service, including introducing longer opening hours, and extending some self-service aspects, whilst retaining face to face contacts during core hours. We are also currently consulting on our Housing Allocations Policy for social housing tenants and our draft Air Quality Action Plan. These are really important council services and policies to many of you, so please do visit our ‘Your Voice Bucks’ https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjOTFFp86-wWPQRaRH6XdfdcJZefAyxHkgTwlVaXrfTisv6_y webpage to comment and be involved in the decision-making process. Summer break We have reached the end of another school year and the start, for many, of the summer break. I’m sure many of you have holidays planned, whether at home or abroad, and I hope you can also make the most of the array of wonderful walks, events and attractions we have on our doorstep here in Buckinghamshire. We have many low-cost and free activities and events on the Buckinghamshire Family Information Service website https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjeTFFqJkdBeTb3KsoySCq0gfg11e3oQcE_M6HVPdu-aex3B6 so I urge you to take a look if you want ideas on keeping children – and adults alike – entertained! There are also full details of how to access all aspects of family support and advice on these webpages if you need it. I also wanted to affirm our continued support for local families over the summer too. We know juggling finances over the summer months can be tricky. We are running our Holiday Activities and Food programme across the summer for families who get benefits-related free school meals, so those children have access to free childcare and a healthy meal all provided within the scheme. We have also issued £50 food vouchers to eligible families too, to help with food costs over the summer. I remain very conscious that for many households the cost of living still presents a significant challenge and I hope this support makes a difference. Well done to schools and students I also want to thank all school staff and school leaders for their hard work over the last academic year and wish all the very best to students, particularly those awaiting exam results in the coming weeks. I’m really proud of the achievements of all of our schools that we celebrated in our recent School Awards. We have a higher level of children and young people attending good and outstanding schools than the national average and this is testament to everyone involved, families, students and the tireless efforts of teachers and all who work in schools. I hope you can enjoy a well-earned break in the coming weeks. Proud of Bucks! Last, but not least; nominations are now open for our annual ‘Proud of Bucks’ awards. https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjuTFFoBXLwUzBHho1V6T94rfrN8Pyc3uqjDTELY9ndB-O_sW Is there someone who you think is a community hero worthy of more recognition? These awards, being run through our sixteen Community Boards, aim to shine a light on the incredible contributions of the unsung heroes in our communities across the county so please take a look how to make a nomination if you have someone in mind! I hope you have a great summer and that we can finally see the back of the rain! Stay safe and well, Yours, Martin Tett Leader of Buckinghamshire Council -
Posted in: Penn
An update from Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council 24 July 2024 Dear resident, As promised, I am writing with a further update now that the new Government has set out its legislative programme in last week’s King’s Speech. I want to highlight the key elements of this which affect Buckinghamshire. As I also said in my last update, it’s been a really active period for the council in the run up to the summer break, so I wanted to give more detail on some of that work and also some of the summer activities that are available, hence sending another quite long newsletter to you so soon after the previous one! The King’s Speech This is the way that a government sets out its priority policies and the legislation it intends to bring forward to support them. This King’s Speech contained no less than 40 proposed new Acts of Parliament. These covered a wide range of different public policy areas that impact us all nationally, and many of which will have specific implications for Buckinghamshire too. New Bills cover proposals from major policies on economic growth, planning reform and devolution to buses and schools. There are proposals to limit landlords’ ability to evict tenants. Given the large number of rented properties in Buckinghamshire, that will be significant. There is a Children’s Wellbeing Bill that provides for breakfast clubs in all schools. We will need to see how that will operate and who will pay for the additional costs involved. There will be a new schools’ curriculum which must be taught in all state schools. Well publicised during the election, there will be VAT levied on all independent schools. You can read the full detail of what is being put forward by going onto the Government’s website. https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgiuTFFvGtInairbDN0ilk3PYP9Oj7R1vHGQCTTi8YKb4djed4 Planning Reform I wanted to highlight the area of policy that I believe will have the greatest impact on our area, particularly where planning and development is concerned. The speech included confirmation that the Government will bring forward a new Planning and Infrastructure Bill. We don’t have all the detail yet but from what Ministers have said there appear to be two key aspects to this new Bill which will have major impacts on Buckinghamshire. Firstly, the reimposition of ‘top down’ housing targets. This is for the number of houses actually built, not granted permission. Councils do not build houses, that is done by private house builders and some social housing providers. We do not know the actual size of these targets yet but, given the overall target of 1.5 million during the rest of this Parliament, we anticipate they will be very large. Councils will have to allocate enough land to allow for all this target, and more, to give scope for the rate at which the houses are actually built. The role of local councils and local people in deciding where these houses are built is also likely to be substantially reduced. Of course, the houses will require appropriate infrastructure such as roads, schools, doctors’ surgeries, energy, water and waste water, digital networks etc. However, it is unclear how all of these will be funded and built in the timescales. Also how does this fit with existing approved Local Plans? The second key aspect is the move by government to have local councils reallocate much of the Green Belt, a so called ‘Grey Belt’. There is no definition of what constitutes ‘Grey Belt’. Currently about a third of Buckinghamshire is Green Belt and much of this is also in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). At present the law gives protected status to land designated as Green Belt. The Green Belt was designed to preserve in perpetuity the beauty and openness of the countryside and prevent towns and villages merging. Importantly the Green Belt is about ‘openness’, not about being parkland. It is current council policy to protect and maintain the Green Belt whenever possible, although we accept that there will always be exceptional circumstances where Green Belt can be released. It will have to be seen how Green Belt release will be required and what role will be given to councils in this process or whether developers will be able to take the initiative. Economic growth There is also a clear focus on economic growth through the new Bills being put forward which of course, we recognise is much needed on a national level and an important focus locally too in supporting and building our local economy and securing a bright future for Buckinghamshire and future generations here. We are currently refreshing our strong local growth plan that has been developed through the Buckinghamshire Growth Board. This outlines how our county can make a significant contribution to the UK economy as a whole through our local industries and local plans. Devolution We welcome further confirmation on the intent to progress the devolution agenda too. I was written to by the new Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner last week and look forward to further discussions about how devolved powers will work here after having a devolution deal for Buckinghamshire announced by the last government Tackling the litter louts Onto other priority areas for our residents and I’m really pleased that I can now confirm we have adopted a bold new policy to tackle littering head on – including introducing much higher penalties, which are due to come into force this week. We’re not shying away from this; we want people to sit up and take notice, so we are launching an attention grabbing new anti-littering campaign called ‘For Bucks Sake’. We will also be issuing penalties of £500 for people who are caught littering. Like you, I am fed up and disappointed by the sheer amount of litter that I see blighting our beautiful county and disrupting nature, especially on roadside verges. It’s the same stuff – empty drink cans, cigarette and vape packets, fast food wrapping, plastic bottles and containers, and it’s getting worse and worse. I cannot believe that some people think it’s OK to chuck their rubbish from a vehicle, yet many people seem to be doing this – and think they can get away with it. Not anymore. We are among the first councils to use these new powers of higher fines – and a quicker route to catching and punishing the culprits. We are also using a powerful new weapon in our armoury – dashcam footage. We will be leading the way on this by directly appealing to people to send us any footage they might have of littering – captured in a way that is of course, safe and legal. We are inviting people to upload footage and photos to our new webpage https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgi-TFFq1BW1lz7ZueiNaefuPK5yWBrRASEADQyNbpBY4PtBl0 if their dashcam has captured someone in a vehicle chucking litter out of the window. With car registration details, this will provide us with the evidence we need to trace and fine the culprit. The new policy will also allow us in the coming months to prosecute through the civil process meaning it will be the vehicle owner who will be liable, whether they threw the litter or not – this should encourage drivers to ensure their passengers do the right thing, and hopefully encourage passengers not to risk the driver being given a penalty for littering! I hope that the new approach and penalties will prove a powerful deterrent. Have your say I wanted to draw your attention to some important consultations we have at the moment that we want to invite you to comment on to ensure you are a part of shaping these policies. Of particular note, we are proposing some changes to our library service, including introducing longer opening hours, and extending some self-service aspects, whilst retaining face to face contacts during core hours. We are also currently consulting on our Housing Allocations Policy for social housing tenants and our draft Air Quality Action Plan. These are really important council services and policies to many of you, so please do visit our ‘Your Voice Bucks’ https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjOTFFp86-wWPQRaRH6XdfdcJZefAyxHkgTwlVaXrfTisv6_y webpage to comment and be involved in the decision-making process. Summer break We have reached the end of another school year and the start, for many, of the summer break. I’m sure many of you have holidays planned, whether at home or abroad, and I hope you can also make the most of the array of wonderful walks, events and attractions we have on our doorstep here in Buckinghamshire. We have many low-cost and free activities and events on the Buckinghamshire Family Information Service website https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjeTFFqJkdBeTb3KsoySCq0gfg11e3oQcE_M6HVPdu-aex3B6 so I urge you to take a look if you want ideas on keeping children – and adults alike – entertained! There are also full details of how to access all aspects of family support and advice on these webpages if you need it. I also wanted to affirm our continued support for local families over the summer too. We know juggling finances over the summer months can be tricky. We are running our Holiday Activities and Food programme across the summer for families who get benefits-related free school meals, so those children have access to free childcare and a healthy meal all provided within the scheme. We have also issued £50 food vouchers to eligible families too, to help with food costs over the summer. I remain very conscious that for many households the cost of living still presents a significant challenge and I hope this support makes a difference. Well done to schools and students I also want to thank all school staff and school leaders for their hard work over the last academic year and wish all the very best to students, particularly those awaiting exam results in the coming weeks. I’m really proud of the achievements of all of our schools that we celebrated in our recent School Awards. We have a higher level of children and young people attending good and outstanding schools than the national average and this is testament to everyone involved, families, students and the tireless efforts of teachers and all who work in schools. I hope you can enjoy a well-earned break in the coming weeks. Proud of Bucks! Last, but not least; nominations are now open for our annual ‘Proud of Bucks’ awards. https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjuTFFoBXLwUzBHho1V6T94rfrN8Pyc3uqjDTELY9ndB-O_sW Is there someone who you think is a community hero worthy of more recognition? These awards, being run through our sixteen Community Boards, aim to shine a light on the incredible contributions of the unsung heroes in our communities across the county so please take a look how to make a nomination if you have someone in mind! I hope you have a great summer and that we can finally see the back of the rain! Stay safe and well, Yours, Martin Tett Leader of Buckinghamshire Council -
Posted in: Taplow
An update from Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council 24 July 2024 Dear resident, As promised, I am writing with a further update now that the new Government has set out its legislative programme in last week’s King’s Speech. I want to highlight the key elements of this which affect Buckinghamshire. As I also said in my last update, it’s been a really active period for the council in the run up to the summer break, so I wanted to give more detail on some of that work and also some of the summer activities that are available, hence sending another quite long newsletter to you so soon after the previous one! The King’s Speech This is the way that a government sets out its priority policies and the legislation it intends to bring forward to support them. This King’s Speech contained no less than 40 proposed new Acts of Parliament. These covered a wide range of different public policy areas that impact us all nationally, and many of which will have specific implications for Buckinghamshire too. New Bills cover proposals from major policies on economic growth, planning reform and devolution to buses and schools. There are proposals to limit landlords’ ability to evict tenants. Given the large number of rented properties in Buckinghamshire, that will be significant. There is a Children’s Wellbeing Bill that provides for breakfast clubs in all schools. We will need to see how that will operate and who will pay for the additional costs involved. There will be a new schools’ curriculum which must be taught in all state schools. Well publicised during the election, there will be VAT levied on all independent schools. You can read the full detail of what is being put forward by going onto the Government’s website. https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgiuTFFvGtInairbDN0ilk3PYP9Oj7R1vHGQCTTi8YKb4djed4 Planning Reform I wanted to highlight the area of policy that I believe will have the greatest impact on our area, particularly where planning and development is concerned. The speech included confirmation that the Government will bring forward a new Planning and Infrastructure Bill. We don’t have all the detail yet but from what Ministers have said there appear to be two key aspects to this new Bill which will have major impacts on Buckinghamshire. Firstly, the reimposition of ‘top down’ housing targets. This is for the number of houses actually built, not granted permission. Councils do not build houses, that is done by private house builders and some social housing providers. We do not know the actual size of these targets yet but, given the overall target of 1.5 million during the rest of this Parliament, we anticipate they will be very large. Councils will have to allocate enough land to allow for all this target, and more, to give scope for the rate at which the houses are actually built. The role of local councils and local people in deciding where these houses are built is also likely to be substantially reduced. Of course, the houses will require appropriate infrastructure such as roads, schools, doctors’ surgeries, energy, water and waste water, digital networks etc. However, it is unclear how all of these will be funded and built in the timescales. Also how does this fit with existing approved Local Plans? The second key aspect is the move by government to have local councils reallocate much of the Green Belt, a so called ‘Grey Belt’. There is no definition of what constitutes ‘Grey Belt’. Currently about a third of Buckinghamshire is Green Belt and much of this is also in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). At present the law gives protected status to land designated as Green Belt. The Green Belt was designed to preserve in perpetuity the beauty and openness of the countryside and prevent towns and villages merging. Importantly the Green Belt is about ‘openness’, not about being parkland. It is current council policy to protect and maintain the Green Belt whenever possible, although we accept that there will always be exceptional circumstances where Green Belt can be released. It will have to be seen how Green Belt release will be required and what role will be given to councils in this process or whether developers will be able to take the initiative. Economic growth There is also a clear focus on economic growth through the new Bills being put forward which of course, we recognise is much needed on a national level and an important focus locally too in supporting and building our local economy and securing a bright future for Buckinghamshire and future generations here. We are currently refreshing our strong local growth plan that has been developed through the Buckinghamshire Growth Board. This outlines how our county can make a significant contribution to the UK economy as a whole through our local industries and local plans. Devolution We welcome further confirmation on the intent to progress the devolution agenda too. I was written to by the new Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner last week and look forward to further discussions about how devolved powers will work here after having a devolution deal for Buckinghamshire announced by the last government Tackling the litter louts Onto other priority areas for our residents and I’m really pleased that I can now confirm we have adopted a bold new policy to tackle littering head on – including introducing much higher penalties, which are due to come into force this week. We’re not shying away from this; we want people to sit up and take notice, so we are launching an attention grabbing new anti-littering campaign called ‘For Bucks Sake’. We will also be issuing penalties of £500 for people who are caught littering. Like you, I am fed up and disappointed by the sheer amount of litter that I see blighting our beautiful county and disrupting nature, especially on roadside verges. It’s the same stuff – empty drink cans, cigarette and vape packets, fast food wrapping, plastic bottles and containers, and it’s getting worse and worse. I cannot believe that some people think it’s OK to chuck their rubbish from a vehicle, yet many people seem to be doing this – and think they can get away with it. Not anymore. We are among the first councils to use these new powers of higher fines – and a quicker route to catching and punishing the culprits. We are also using a powerful new weapon in our armoury – dashcam footage. We will be leading the way on this by directly appealing to people to send us any footage they might have of littering – captured in a way that is of course, safe and legal. We are inviting people to upload footage and photos to our new webpage https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgi-TFFq1BW1lz7ZueiNaefuPK5yWBrRASEADQyNbpBY4PtBl0 if their dashcam has captured someone in a vehicle chucking litter out of the window. With car registration details, this will provide us with the evidence we need to trace and fine the culprit. The new policy will also allow us in the coming months to prosecute through the civil process meaning it will be the vehicle owner who will be liable, whether they threw the litter or not – this should encourage drivers to ensure their passengers do the right thing, and hopefully encourage passengers not to risk the driver being given a penalty for littering! I hope that the new approach and penalties will prove a powerful deterrent. Have your say I wanted to draw your attention to some important consultations we have at the moment that we want to invite you to comment on to ensure you are a part of shaping these policies. Of particular note, we are proposing some changes to our library service, including introducing longer opening hours, and extending some self-service aspects, whilst retaining face to face contacts during core hours. We are also currently consulting on our Housing Allocations Policy for social housing tenants and our draft Air Quality Action Plan. These are really important council services and policies to many of you, so please do visit our ‘Your Voice Bucks’ https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjOTFFp86-wWPQRaRH6XdfdcJZefAyxHkgTwlVaXrfTisv6_y webpage to comment and be involved in the decision-making process. Summer break We have reached the end of another school year and the start, for many, of the summer break. I’m sure many of you have holidays planned, whether at home or abroad, and I hope you can also make the most of the array of wonderful walks, events and attractions we have on our doorstep here in Buckinghamshire. We have many low-cost and free activities and events on the Buckinghamshire Family Information Service website https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjeTFFqJkdBeTb3KsoySCq0gfg11e3oQcE_M6HVPdu-aex3B6 so I urge you to take a look if you want ideas on keeping children – and adults alike – entertained! There are also full details of how to access all aspects of family support and advice on these webpages if you need it. I also wanted to affirm our continued support for local families over the summer too. We know juggling finances over the summer months can be tricky. We are running our Holiday Activities and Food programme across the summer for families who get benefits-related free school meals, so those children have access to free childcare and a healthy meal all provided within the scheme. We have also issued £50 food vouchers to eligible families too, to help with food costs over the summer. I remain very conscious that for many households the cost of living still presents a significant challenge and I hope this support makes a difference. Well done to schools and students I also want to thank all school staff and school leaders for their hard work over the last academic year and wish all the very best to students, particularly those awaiting exam results in the coming weeks. I’m really proud of the achievements of all of our schools that we celebrated in our recent School Awards. We have a higher level of children and young people attending good and outstanding schools than the national average and this is testament to everyone involved, families, students and the tireless efforts of teachers and all who work in schools. I hope you can enjoy a well-earned break in the coming weeks. Proud of Bucks! Last, but not least; nominations are now open for our annual ‘Proud of Bucks’ awards. https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjuTFFoBXLwUzBHho1V6T94rfrN8Pyc3uqjDTELY9ndB-O_sW Is there someone who you think is a community hero worthy of more recognition? These awards, being run through our sixteen Community Boards, aim to shine a light on the incredible contributions of the unsung heroes in our communities across the county so please take a look how to make a nomination if you have someone in mind! I hope you have a great summer and that we can finally see the back of the rain! Stay safe and well, Yours, Martin Tett Leader of Buckinghamshire Council -
Posted in: Forty Green
An update from Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council 24 July 2024 Dear resident, As promised, I am writing with a further update now that the new Government has set out its legislative programme in last week’s King’s Speech. I want to highlight the key elements of this which affect Buckinghamshire. As I also said in my last update, it’s been a really active period for the council in the run up to the summer break, so I wanted to give more detail on some of that work and also some of the summer activities that are available, hence sending another quite long newsletter to you so soon after the previous one! The King’s Speech This is the way that a government sets out its priority policies and the legislation it intends to bring forward to support them. This King’s Speech contained no less than 40 proposed new Acts of Parliament. These covered a wide range of different public policy areas that impact us all nationally, and many of which will have specific implications for Buckinghamshire too. New Bills cover proposals from major policies on economic growth, planning reform and devolution to buses and schools. There are proposals to limit landlords’ ability to evict tenants. Given the large number of rented properties in Buckinghamshire, that will be significant. There is a Children’s Wellbeing Bill that provides for breakfast clubs in all schools. We will need to see how that will operate and who will pay for the additional costs involved. There will be a new schools’ curriculum which must be taught in all state schools. Well publicised during the election, there will be VAT levied on all independent schools. You can read the full detail of what is being put forward by going onto the Government’s website. https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgiuTFFvGtInairbDN0ilk3PYP9Oj7R1vHGQCTTi8YKb4djed4 Planning Reform I wanted to highlight the area of policy that I believe will have the greatest impact on our area, particularly where planning and development is concerned. The speech included confirmation that the Government will bring forward a new Planning and Infrastructure Bill. We don’t have all the detail yet but from what Ministers have said there appear to be two key aspects to this new Bill which will have major impacts on Buckinghamshire. Firstly, the reimposition of ‘top down’ housing targets. This is for the number of houses actually built, not granted permission. Councils do not build houses, that is done by private house builders and some social housing providers. We do not know the actual size of these targets yet but, given the overall target of 1.5 million during the rest of this Parliament, we anticipate they will be very large. Councils will have to allocate enough land to allow for all this target, and more, to give scope for the rate at which the houses are actually built. The role of local councils and local people in deciding where these houses are built is also likely to be substantially reduced. Of course, the houses will require appropriate infrastructure such as roads, schools, doctors’ surgeries, energy, water and waste water, digital networks etc. However, it is unclear how all of these will be funded and built in the timescales. Also how does this fit with existing approved Local Plans? The second key aspect is the move by government to have local councils reallocate much of the Green Belt, a so called ‘Grey Belt’. There is no definition of what constitutes ‘Grey Belt’. Currently about a third of Buckinghamshire is Green Belt and much of this is also in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). At present the law gives protected status to land designated as Green Belt. The Green Belt was designed to preserve in perpetuity the beauty and openness of the countryside and prevent towns and villages merging. Importantly the Green Belt is about ‘openness’, not about being parkland. It is current council policy to protect and maintain the Green Belt whenever possible, although we accept that there will always be exceptional circumstances where Green Belt can be released. It will have to be seen how Green Belt release will be required and what role will be given to councils in this process or whether developers will be able to take the initiative. Economic growth There is also a clear focus on economic growth through the new Bills being put forward which of course, we recognise is much needed on a national level and an important focus locally too in supporting and building our local economy and securing a bright future for Buckinghamshire and future generations here. We are currently refreshing our strong local growth plan that has been developed through the Buckinghamshire Growth Board. This outlines how our county can make a significant contribution to the UK economy as a whole through our local industries and local plans. Devolution We welcome further confirmation on the intent to progress the devolution agenda too. I was written to by the new Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner last week and look forward to further discussions about how devolved powers will work here after having a devolution deal for Buckinghamshire announced by the last government Tackling the litter louts Onto other priority areas for our residents and I’m really pleased that I can now confirm we have adopted a bold new policy to tackle littering head on – including introducing much higher penalties, which are due to come into force this week. We’re not shying away from this; we want people to sit up and take notice, so we are launching an attention grabbing new anti-littering campaign called ‘For Bucks Sake’. We will also be issuing penalties of £500 for people who are caught littering. Like you, I am fed up and disappointed by the sheer amount of litter that I see blighting our beautiful county and disrupting nature, especially on roadside verges. It’s the same stuff – empty drink cans, cigarette and vape packets, fast food wrapping, plastic bottles and containers, and it’s getting worse and worse. I cannot believe that some people think it’s OK to chuck their rubbish from a vehicle, yet many people seem to be doing this – and think they can get away with it. Not anymore. We are among the first councils to use these new powers of higher fines – and a quicker route to catching and punishing the culprits. We are also using a powerful new weapon in our armoury – dashcam footage. We will be leading the way on this by directly appealing to people to send us any footage they might have of littering – captured in a way that is of course, safe and legal. We are inviting people to upload footage and photos to our new webpage https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgi-TFFq1BW1lz7ZueiNaefuPK5yWBrRASEADQyNbpBY4PtBl0 if their dashcam has captured someone in a vehicle chucking litter out of the window. With car registration details, this will provide us with the evidence we need to trace and fine the culprit. The new policy will also allow us in the coming months to prosecute through the civil process meaning it will be the vehicle owner who will be liable, whether they threw the litter or not – this should encourage drivers to ensure their passengers do the right thing, and hopefully encourage passengers not to risk the driver being given a penalty for littering! I hope that the new approach and penalties will prove a powerful deterrent. Have your say I wanted to draw your attention to some important consultations we have at the moment that we want to invite you to comment on to ensure you are a part of shaping these policies. Of particular note, we are proposing some changes to our library service, including introducing longer opening hours, and extending some self-service aspects, whilst retaining face to face contacts during core hours. We are also currently consulting on our Housing Allocations Policy for social housing tenants and our draft Air Quality Action Plan. These are really important council services and policies to many of you, so please do visit our ‘Your Voice Bucks’ https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjOTFFp86-wWPQRaRH6XdfdcJZefAyxHkgTwlVaXrfTisv6_y webpage to comment and be involved in the decision-making process. Summer break We have reached the end of another school year and the start, for many, of the summer break. I’m sure many of you have holidays planned, whether at home or abroad, and I hope you can also make the most of the array of wonderful walks, events and attractions we have on our doorstep here in Buckinghamshire. We have many low-cost and free activities and events on the Buckinghamshire Family Information Service website https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjeTFFqJkdBeTb3KsoySCq0gfg11e3oQcE_M6HVPdu-aex3B6 so I urge you to take a look if you want ideas on keeping children – and adults alike – entertained! There are also full details of how to access all aspects of family support and advice on these webpages if you need it. I also wanted to affirm our continued support for local families over the summer too. We know juggling finances over the summer months can be tricky. We are running our Holiday Activities and Food programme across the summer for families who get benefits-related free school meals, so those children have access to free childcare and a healthy meal all provided within the scheme. We have also issued £50 food vouchers to eligible families too, to help with food costs over the summer. I remain very conscious that for many households the cost of living still presents a significant challenge and I hope this support makes a difference. Well done to schools and students I also want to thank all school staff and school leaders for their hard work over the last academic year and wish all the very best to students, particularly those awaiting exam results in the coming weeks. I’m really proud of the achievements of all of our schools that we celebrated in our recent School Awards. We have a higher level of children and young people attending good and outstanding schools than the national average and this is testament to everyone involved, families, students and the tireless efforts of teachers and all who work in schools. I hope you can enjoy a well-earned break in the coming weeks. Proud of Bucks! Last, but not least; nominations are now open for our annual ‘Proud of Bucks’ awards. https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjuTFFoBXLwUzBHho1V6T94rfrN8Pyc3uqjDTELY9ndB-O_sW Is there someone who you think is a community hero worthy of more recognition? These awards, being run through our sixteen Community Boards, aim to shine a light on the incredible contributions of the unsung heroes in our communities across the county so please take a look how to make a nomination if you have someone in mind! I hope you have a great summer and that we can finally see the back of the rain! Stay safe and well, Yours, Martin Tett Leader of Buckinghamshire Council -
Posted in: Burnham
An update from Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council 24 July 2024 Dear resident, As promised, I am writing with a further update now that the new Government has set out its legislative programme in last week’s King’s Speech. I want to highlight the key elements of this which affect Buckinghamshire. As I also said in my last update, it’s been a really active period for the council in the run up to the summer break, so I wanted to give more detail on some of that work and also some of the summer activities that are available, hence sending another quite long newsletter to you so soon after the previous one! The King’s Speech This is the way that a government sets out its priority policies and the legislation it intends to bring forward to support them. This King’s Speech contained no less than 40 proposed new Acts of Parliament. These covered a wide range of different public policy areas that impact us all nationally, and many of which will have specific implications for Buckinghamshire too. New Bills cover proposals from major policies on economic growth, planning reform and devolution to buses and schools. There are proposals to limit landlords’ ability to evict tenants. Given the large number of rented properties in Buckinghamshire, that will be significant. There is a Children’s Wellbeing Bill that provides for breakfast clubs in all schools. We will need to see how that will operate and who will pay for the additional costs involved. There will be a new schools’ curriculum which must be taught in all state schools. Well publicised during the election, there will be VAT levied on all independent schools. You can read the full detail of what is being put forward by going onto the Government’s website. https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgiuTFFvGtInairbDN0ilk3PYP9Oj7R1vHGQCTTi8YKb4djed4 Planning Reform I wanted to highlight the area of policy that I believe will have the greatest impact on our area, particularly where planning and development is concerned. The speech included confirmation that the Government will bring forward a new Planning and Infrastructure Bill. We don’t have all the detail yet but from what Ministers have said there appear to be two key aspects to this new Bill which will have major impacts on Buckinghamshire. Firstly, the reimposition of ‘top down’ housing targets. This is for the number of houses actually built, not granted permission. Councils do not build houses, that is done by private house builders and some social housing providers. We do not know the actual size of these targets yet but, given the overall target of 1.5 million during the rest of this Parliament, we anticipate they will be very large. Councils will have to allocate enough land to allow for all this target, and more, to give scope for the rate at which the houses are actually built. The role of local councils and local people in deciding where these houses are built is also likely to be substantially reduced. Of course, the houses will require appropriate infrastructure such as roads, schools, doctors’ surgeries, energy, water and waste water, digital networks etc. However, it is unclear how all of these will be funded and built in the timescales. Also how does this fit with existing approved Local Plans? The second key aspect is the move by government to have local councils reallocate much of the Green Belt, a so called ‘Grey Belt’. There is no definition of what constitutes ‘Grey Belt’. Currently about a third of Buckinghamshire is Green Belt and much of this is also in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). At present the law gives protected status to land designated as Green Belt. The Green Belt was designed to preserve in perpetuity the beauty and openness of the countryside and prevent towns and villages merging. Importantly the Green Belt is about ‘openness’, not about being parkland. It is current council policy to protect and maintain the Green Belt whenever possible, although we accept that there will always be exceptional circumstances where Green Belt can be released. It will have to be seen how Green Belt release will be required and what role will be given to councils in this process or whether developers will be able to take the initiative. Economic growth There is also a clear focus on economic growth through the new Bills being put forward which of course, we recognise is much needed on a national level and an important focus locally too in supporting and building our local economy and securing a bright future for Buckinghamshire and future generations here. We are currently refreshing our strong local growth plan that has been developed through the Buckinghamshire Growth Board. This outlines how our county can make a significant contribution to the UK economy as a whole through our local industries and local plans. Devolution We welcome further confirmation on the intent to progress the devolution agenda too. I was written to by the new Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner last week and look forward to further discussions about how devolved powers will work here after having a devolution deal for Buckinghamshire announced by the last government Tackling the litter louts Onto other priority areas for our residents and I’m really pleased that I can now confirm we have adopted a bold new policy to tackle littering head on – including introducing much higher penalties, which are due to come into force this week. We’re not shying away from this; we want people to sit up and take notice, so we are launching an attention grabbing new anti-littering campaign called ‘For Bucks Sake’. We will also be issuing penalties of £500 for people who are caught littering. Like you, I am fed up and disappointed by the sheer amount of litter that I see blighting our beautiful county and disrupting nature, especially on roadside verges. It’s the same stuff – empty drink cans, cigarette and vape packets, fast food wrapping, plastic bottles and containers, and it’s getting worse and worse. I cannot believe that some people think it’s OK to chuck their rubbish from a vehicle, yet many people seem to be doing this – and think they can get away with it. Not anymore. We are among the first councils to use these new powers of higher fines – and a quicker route to catching and punishing the culprits. We are also using a powerful new weapon in our armoury – dashcam footage. We will be leading the way on this by directly appealing to people to send us any footage they might have of littering – captured in a way that is of course, safe and legal. We are inviting people to upload footage and photos to our new webpage https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgi-TFFq1BW1lz7ZueiNaefuPK5yWBrRASEADQyNbpBY4PtBl0 if their dashcam has captured someone in a vehicle chucking litter out of the window. With car registration details, this will provide us with the evidence we need to trace and fine the culprit. The new policy will also allow us in the coming months to prosecute through the civil process meaning it will be the vehicle owner who will be liable, whether they threw the litter or not – this should encourage drivers to ensure their passengers do the right thing, and hopefully encourage passengers not to risk the driver being given a penalty for littering! I hope that the new approach and penalties will prove a powerful deterrent. Have your say I wanted to draw your attention to some important consultations we have at the moment that we want to invite you to comment on to ensure you are a part of shaping these policies. Of particular note, we are proposing some changes to our library service, including introducing longer opening hours, and extending some self-service aspects, whilst retaining face to face contacts during core hours. We are also currently consulting on our Housing Allocations Policy for social housing tenants and our draft Air Quality Action Plan. These are really important council services and policies to many of you, so please do visit our ‘Your Voice Bucks’ https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjOTFFp86-wWPQRaRH6XdfdcJZefAyxHkgTwlVaXrfTisv6_y webpage to comment and be involved in the decision-making process. Summer break We have reached the end of another school year and the start, for many, of the summer break. I’m sure many of you have holidays planned, whether at home or abroad, and I hope you can also make the most of the array of wonderful walks, events and attractions we have on our doorstep here in Buckinghamshire. We have many low-cost and free activities and events on the Buckinghamshire Family Information Service website https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjeTFFqJkdBeTb3KsoySCq0gfg11e3oQcE_M6HVPdu-aex3B6 so I urge you to take a look if you want ideas on keeping children – and adults alike – entertained! There are also full details of how to access all aspects of family support and advice on these webpages if you need it. I also wanted to affirm our continued support for local families over the summer too. We know juggling finances over the summer months can be tricky. We are running our Holiday Activities and Food programme across the summer for families who get benefits-related free school meals, so those children have access to free childcare and a healthy meal all provided within the scheme. We have also issued £50 food vouchers to eligible families too, to help with food costs over the summer. I remain very conscious that for many households the cost of living still presents a significant challenge and I hope this support makes a difference. Well done to schools and students I also want to thank all school staff and school leaders for their hard work over the last academic year and wish all the very best to students, particularly those awaiting exam results in the coming weeks. I’m really proud of the achievements of all of our schools that we celebrated in our recent School Awards. We have a higher level of children and young people attending good and outstanding schools than the national average and this is testament to everyone involved, families, students and the tireless efforts of teachers and all who work in schools. I hope you can enjoy a well-earned break in the coming weeks. Proud of Bucks! Last, but not least; nominations are now open for our annual ‘Proud of Bucks’ awards. https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjuTFFoBXLwUzBHho1V6T94rfrN8Pyc3uqjDTELY9ndB-O_sW Is there someone who you think is a community hero worthy of more recognition? These awards, being run through our sixteen Community Boards, aim to shine a light on the incredible contributions of the unsung heroes in our communities across the county so please take a look how to make a nomination if you have someone in mind! I hope you have a great summer and that we can finally see the back of the rain! Stay safe and well, Yours, Martin Tett Leader of Buckinghamshire Council -
Posted in: Stoke Poges
An update from Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council 24 July 2024 Dear resident, As promised, I am writing with a further update now that the new Government has set out its legislative programme in last week’s King’s Speech. I want to highlight the key elements of this which affect Buckinghamshire. As I also said in my last update, it’s been a really active period for the council in the run up to the summer break, so I wanted to give more detail on some of that work and also some of the summer activities that are available, hence sending another quite long newsletter to you so soon after the previous one! The King’s Speech This is the way that a government sets out its priority policies and the legislation it intends to bring forward to support them. This King’s Speech contained no less than 40 proposed new Acts of Parliament. These covered a wide range of different public policy areas that impact us all nationally, and many of which will have specific implications for Buckinghamshire too. New Bills cover proposals from major policies on economic growth, planning reform and devolution to buses and schools. There are proposals to limit landlords’ ability to evict tenants. Given the large number of rented properties in Buckinghamshire, that will be significant. There is a Children’s Wellbeing Bill that provides for breakfast clubs in all schools. We will need to see how that will operate and who will pay for the additional costs involved. There will be a new schools’ curriculum which must be taught in all state schools. Well publicised during the election, there will be VAT levied on all independent schools. You can read the full detail of what is being put forward by going onto the Government’s website. https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgiuTFFvGtInairbDN0ilk3PYP9Oj7R1vHGQCTTi8YKb4djed4 Planning Reform I wanted to highlight the area of policy that I believe will have the greatest impact on our area, particularly where planning and development is concerned. The speech included confirmation that the Government will bring forward a new Planning and Infrastructure Bill. We don’t have all the detail yet but from what Ministers have said there appear to be two key aspects to this new Bill which will have major impacts on Buckinghamshire. Firstly, the reimposition of ‘top down’ housing targets. This is for the number of houses actually built, not granted permission. Councils do not build houses, that is done by private house builders and some social housing providers. We do not know the actual size of these targets yet but, given the overall target of 1.5 million during the rest of this Parliament, we anticipate they will be very large. Councils will have to allocate enough land to allow for all this target, and more, to give scope for the rate at which the houses are actually built. The role of local councils and local people in deciding where these houses are built is also likely to be substantially reduced. Of course, the houses will require appropriate infrastructure such as roads, schools, doctors’ surgeries, energy, water and waste water, digital networks etc. However, it is unclear how all of these will be funded and built in the timescales. Also how does this fit with existing approved Local Plans? The second key aspect is the move by government to have local councils reallocate much of the Green Belt, a so called ‘Grey Belt’. There is no definition of what constitutes ‘Grey Belt’. Currently about a third of Buckinghamshire is Green Belt and much of this is also in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). At present the law gives protected status to land designated as Green Belt. The Green Belt was designed to preserve in perpetuity the beauty and openness of the countryside and prevent towns and villages merging. Importantly the Green Belt is about ‘openness’, not about being parkland. It is current council policy to protect and maintain the Green Belt whenever possible, although we accept that there will always be exceptional circumstances where Green Belt can be released. It will have to be seen how Green Belt release will be required and what role will be given to councils in this process or whether developers will be able to take the initiative. Economic growth There is also a clear focus on economic growth through the new Bills being put forward which of course, we recognise is much needed on a national level and an important focus locally too in supporting and building our local economy and securing a bright future for Buckinghamshire and future generations here. We are currently refreshing our strong local growth plan that has been developed through the Buckinghamshire Growth Board. This outlines how our county can make a significant contribution to the UK economy as a whole through our local industries and local plans. Devolution We welcome further confirmation on the intent to progress the devolution agenda too. I was written to by the new Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner last week and look forward to further discussions about how devolved powers will work here after having a devolution deal for Buckinghamshire announced by the last government Tackling the litter louts Onto other priority areas for our residents and I’m really pleased that I can now confirm we have adopted a bold new policy to tackle littering head on – including introducing much higher penalties, which are due to come into force this week. We’re not shying away from this; we want people to sit up and take notice, so we are launching an attention grabbing new anti-littering campaign called ‘For Bucks Sake’. We will also be issuing penalties of £500 for people who are caught littering. Like you, I am fed up and disappointed by the sheer amount of litter that I see blighting our beautiful county and disrupting nature, especially on roadside verges. It’s the same stuff – empty drink cans, cigarette and vape packets, fast food wrapping, plastic bottles and containers, and it’s getting worse and worse. I cannot believe that some people think it’s OK to chuck their rubbish from a vehicle, yet many people seem to be doing this – and think they can get away with it. Not anymore. We are among the first councils to use these new powers of higher fines – and a quicker route to catching and punishing the culprits. We are also using a powerful new weapon in our armoury – dashcam footage. We will be leading the way on this by directly appealing to people to send us any footage they might have of littering – captured in a way that is of course, safe and legal. We are inviting people to upload footage and photos to our new webpage https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgi-TFFq1BW1lz7ZueiNaefuPK5yWBrRASEADQyNbpBY4PtBl0 if their dashcam has captured someone in a vehicle chucking litter out of the window. With car registration details, this will provide us with the evidence we need to trace and fine the culprit. The new policy will also allow us in the coming months to prosecute through the civil process meaning it will be the vehicle owner who will be liable, whether they threw the litter or not – this should encourage drivers to ensure their passengers do the right thing, and hopefully encourage passengers not to risk the driver being given a penalty for littering! I hope that the new approach and penalties will prove a powerful deterrent. Have your say I wanted to draw your attention to some important consultations we have at the moment that we want to invite you to comment on to ensure you are a part of shaping these policies. Of particular note, we are proposing some changes to our library service, including introducing longer opening hours, and extending some self-service aspects, whilst retaining face to face contacts during core hours. We are also currently consulting on our Housing Allocations Policy for social housing tenants and our draft Air Quality Action Plan. These are really important council services and policies to many of you, so please do visit our ‘Your Voice Bucks’ https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjOTFFp86-wWPQRaRH6XdfdcJZefAyxHkgTwlVaXrfTisv6_y webpage to comment and be involved in the decision-making process. Summer break We have reached the end of another school year and the start, for many, of the summer break. I’m sure many of you have holidays planned, whether at home or abroad, and I hope you can also make the most of the array of wonderful walks, events and attractions we have on our doorstep here in Buckinghamshire. We have many low-cost and free activities and events on the Buckinghamshire Family Information Service website https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjeTFFqJkdBeTb3KsoySCq0gfg11e3oQcE_M6HVPdu-aex3B6 so I urge you to take a look if you want ideas on keeping children – and adults alike – entertained! There are also full details of how to access all aspects of family support and advice on these webpages if you need it. I also wanted to affirm our continued support for local families over the summer too. We know juggling finances over the summer months can be tricky. We are running our Holiday Activities and Food programme across the summer for families who get benefits-related free school meals, so those children have access to free childcare and a healthy meal all provided within the scheme. We have also issued £50 food vouchers to eligible families too, to help with food costs over the summer. I remain very conscious that for many households the cost of living still presents a significant challenge and I hope this support makes a difference. Well done to schools and students I also want to thank all school staff and school leaders for their hard work over the last academic year and wish all the very best to students, particularly those awaiting exam results in the coming weeks. I’m really proud of the achievements of all of our schools that we celebrated in our recent School Awards. We have a higher level of children and young people attending good and outstanding schools than the national average and this is testament to everyone involved, families, students and the tireless efforts of teachers and all who work in schools. I hope you can enjoy a well-earned break in the coming weeks. Proud of Bucks! Last, but not least; nominations are now open for our annual ‘Proud of Bucks’ awards. https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjuTFFoBXLwUzBHho1V6T94rfrN8Pyc3uqjDTELY9ndB-O_sW Is there someone who you think is a community hero worthy of more recognition? These awards, being run through our sixteen Community Boards, aim to shine a light on the incredible contributions of the unsung heroes in our communities across the county so please take a look how to make a nomination if you have someone in mind! I hope you have a great summer and that we can finally see the back of the rain! Stay safe and well, Yours, Martin Tett Leader of Buckinghamshire Council -
Posted in: Fulmer
An update from Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council 24 July 2024 Dear resident, As promised, I am writing with a further update now that the new Government has set out its legislative programme in last week’s King’s Speech. I want to highlight the key elements of this which affect Buckinghamshire. As I also said in my last update, it’s been a really active period for the council in the run up to the summer break, so I wanted to give more detail on some of that work and also some of the summer activities that are available, hence sending another quite long newsletter to you so soon after the previous one! The King’s Speech This is the way that a government sets out its priority policies and the legislation it intends to bring forward to support them. This King’s Speech contained no less than 40 proposed new Acts of Parliament. These covered a wide range of different public policy areas that impact us all nationally, and many of which will have specific implications for Buckinghamshire too. New Bills cover proposals from major policies on economic growth, planning reform and devolution to buses and schools. There are proposals to limit landlords’ ability to evict tenants. Given the large number of rented properties in Buckinghamshire, that will be significant. There is a Children’s Wellbeing Bill that provides for breakfast clubs in all schools. We will need to see how that will operate and who will pay for the additional costs involved. There will be a new schools’ curriculum which must be taught in all state schools. Well publicised during the election, there will be VAT levied on all independent schools. You can read the full detail of what is being put forward by going onto the Government’s website. https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgiuTFFvGtInairbDN0ilk3PYP9Oj7R1vHGQCTTi8YKb4djed4 Planning Reform I wanted to highlight the area of policy that I believe will have the greatest impact on our area, particularly where planning and development is concerned. The speech included confirmation that the Government will bring forward a new Planning and Infrastructure Bill. We don’t have all the detail yet but from what Ministers have said there appear to be two key aspects to this new Bill which will have major impacts on Buckinghamshire. Firstly, the reimposition of ‘top down’ housing targets. This is for the number of houses actually built, not granted permission. Councils do not build houses, that is done by private house builders and some social housing providers. We do not know the actual size of these targets yet but, given the overall target of 1.5 million during the rest of this Parliament, we anticipate they will be very large. Councils will have to allocate enough land to allow for all this target, and more, to give scope for the rate at which the houses are actually built. The role of local councils and local people in deciding where these houses are built is also likely to be substantially reduced. Of course, the houses will require appropriate infrastructure such as roads, schools, doctors’ surgeries, energy, water and waste water, digital networks etc. However, it is unclear how all of these will be funded and built in the timescales. Also how does this fit with existing approved Local Plans? The second key aspect is the move by government to have local councils reallocate much of the Green Belt, a so called ‘Grey Belt’. There is no definition of what constitutes ‘Grey Belt’. Currently about a third of Buckinghamshire is Green Belt and much of this is also in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). At present the law gives protected status to land designated as Green Belt. The Green Belt was designed to preserve in perpetuity the beauty and openness of the countryside and prevent towns and villages merging. Importantly the Green Belt is about ‘openness’, not about being parkland. It is current council policy to protect and maintain the Green Belt whenever possible, although we accept that there will always be exceptional circumstances where Green Belt can be released. It will have to be seen how Green Belt release will be required and what role will be given to councils in this process or whether developers will be able to take the initiative. Economic growth There is also a clear focus on economic growth through the new Bills being put forward which of course, we recognise is much needed on a national level and an important focus locally too in supporting and building our local economy and securing a bright future for Buckinghamshire and future generations here. We are currently refreshing our strong local growth plan that has been developed through the Buckinghamshire Growth Board. This outlines how our county can make a significant contribution to the UK economy as a whole through our local industries and local plans. Devolution We welcome further confirmation on the intent to progress the devolution agenda too. I was written to by the new Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner last week and look forward to further discussions about how devolved powers will work here after having a devolution deal for Buckinghamshire announced by the last government Tackling the litter louts Onto other priority areas for our residents and I’m really pleased that I can now confirm we have adopted a bold new policy to tackle littering head on – including introducing much higher penalties, which are due to come into force this week. We’re not shying away from this; we want people to sit up and take notice, so we are launching an attention grabbing new anti-littering campaign called ‘For Bucks Sake’. We will also be issuing penalties of £500 for people who are caught littering. Like you, I am fed up and disappointed by the sheer amount of litter that I see blighting our beautiful county and disrupting nature, especially on roadside verges. It’s the same stuff – empty drink cans, cigarette and vape packets, fast food wrapping, plastic bottles and containers, and it’s getting worse and worse. I cannot believe that some people think it’s OK to chuck their rubbish from a vehicle, yet many people seem to be doing this – and think they can get away with it. Not anymore. We are among the first councils to use these new powers of higher fines – and a quicker route to catching and punishing the culprits. We are also using a powerful new weapon in our armoury – dashcam footage. We will be leading the way on this by directly appealing to people to send us any footage they might have of littering – captured in a way that is of course, safe and legal. We are inviting people to upload footage and photos to our new webpage https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgi-TFFq1BW1lz7ZueiNaefuPK5yWBrRASEADQyNbpBY4PtBl0 if their dashcam has captured someone in a vehicle chucking litter out of the window. With car registration details, this will provide us with the evidence we need to trace and fine the culprit. The new policy will also allow us in the coming months to prosecute through the civil process meaning it will be the vehicle owner who will be liable, whether they threw the litter or not – this should encourage drivers to ensure their passengers do the right thing, and hopefully encourage passengers not to risk the driver being given a penalty for littering! I hope that the new approach and penalties will prove a powerful deterrent. Have your say I wanted to draw your attention to some important consultations we have at the moment that we want to invite you to comment on to ensure you are a part of shaping these policies. Of particular note, we are proposing some changes to our library service, including introducing longer opening hours, and extending some self-service aspects, whilst retaining face to face contacts during core hours. We are also currently consulting on our Housing Allocations Policy for social housing tenants and our draft Air Quality Action Plan. These are really important council services and policies to many of you, so please do visit our ‘Your Voice Bucks’ https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjOTFFp86-wWPQRaRH6XdfdcJZefAyxHkgTwlVaXrfTisv6_y webpage to comment and be involved in the decision-making process. Summer break We have reached the end of another school year and the start, for many, of the summer break. I’m sure many of you have holidays planned, whether at home or abroad, and I hope you can also make the most of the array of wonderful walks, events and attractions we have on our doorstep here in Buckinghamshire. We have many low-cost and free activities and events on the Buckinghamshire Family Information Service website https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjeTFFqJkdBeTb3KsoySCq0gfg11e3oQcE_M6HVPdu-aex3B6 so I urge you to take a look if you want ideas on keeping children – and adults alike – entertained! There are also full details of how to access all aspects of family support and advice on these webpages if you need it. I also wanted to affirm our continued support for local families over the summer too. We know juggling finances over the summer months can be tricky. We are running our Holiday Activities and Food programme across the summer for families who get benefits-related free school meals, so those children have access to free childcare and a healthy meal all provided within the scheme. We have also issued £50 food vouchers to eligible families too, to help with food costs over the summer. I remain very conscious that for many households the cost of living still presents a significant challenge and I hope this support makes a difference. Well done to schools and students I also want to thank all school staff and school leaders for their hard work over the last academic year and wish all the very best to students, particularly those awaiting exam results in the coming weeks. I’m really proud of the achievements of all of our schools that we celebrated in our recent School Awards. We have a higher level of children and young people attending good and outstanding schools than the national average and this is testament to everyone involved, families, students and the tireless efforts of teachers and all who work in schools. I hope you can enjoy a well-earned break in the coming weeks. Proud of Bucks! Last, but not least; nominations are now open for our annual ‘Proud of Bucks’ awards. https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjuTFFoBXLwUzBHho1V6T94rfrN8Pyc3uqjDTELY9ndB-O_sW Is there someone who you think is a community hero worthy of more recognition? These awards, being run through our sixteen Community Boards, aim to shine a light on the incredible contributions of the unsung heroes in our communities across the county so please take a look how to make a nomination if you have someone in mind! I hope you have a great summer and that we can finally see the back of the rain! Stay safe and well, Yours, Martin Tett Leader of Buckinghamshire Council -
Posted in: Iver Heath
24 July 2024 Dear resident, As promised, I am writing with a further update now that the new Government has set out its legislative programme in last week’s King’s Speech. I want to highlight the key elements of this which affect Buckinghamshire. As I also said in my last update, it’s been a really active period for the council in the run up to the summer break, so I wanted to give more detail on some of that work and also some of the summer activities that are available, hence sending another quite long newsletter to you so soon after the previous one! The King’s Speech This is the way that a government sets out its priority policies and the legislation it intends to bring forward to support them. This King’s Speech contained no less than 40 proposed new Acts of Parliament. These covered a wide range of different public policy areas that impact us all nationally, and many of which will have specific implications for Buckinghamshire too. New Bills cover proposals from major policies on economic growth, planning reform and devolution to buses and schools. There are proposals to limit landlords’ ability to evict tenants. Given the large number of rented properties in Buckinghamshire, that will be significant. There is a Children’s Wellbeing Bill that provides for breakfast clubs in all schools. We will need to see how that will operate and who will pay for the additional costs involved. There will be a new schools’ curriculum which must be taught in all state schools. Well publicised during the election, there will be VAT levied on all independent schools. You can read the full detail of what is being put forward by going onto the Government’s website. https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgiuTFFvGtInairbDN0ilk3PYP9Oj7R1vHGQCTTi8YKb4djed4 Planning Reform I wanted to highlight the area of policy that I believe will have the greatest impact on our area, particularly where planning and development is concerned. The speech included confirmation that the Government will bring forward a new Planning and Infrastructure Bill. We don’t have all the detail yet but from what Ministers have said there appear to be two key aspects to this new Bill which will have major impacts on Buckinghamshire. Firstly, the reimposition of ‘top down’ housing targets. This is for the number of houses actually built, not granted permission. Councils do not build houses, that is done by private house builders and some social housing providers. We do not know the actual size of these targets yet but, given the overall target of 1.5 million during the rest of this Parliament, we anticipate they will be very large. Councils will have to allocate enough land to allow for all this target, and more, to give scope for the rate at which the houses are actually built. The role of local councils and local people in deciding where these houses are built is also likely to be substantially reduced. Of course, the houses will require appropriate infrastructure such as roads, schools, doctors’ surgeries, energy, water and waste water, digital networks etc. However, it is unclear how all of these will be funded and built in the timescales. Also how does this fit with existing approved Local Plans? The second key aspect is the move by government to have local councils reallocate much of the Green Belt, a so called ‘Grey Belt’. There is no definition of what constitutes ‘Grey Belt’. Currently about a third of Buckinghamshire is Green Belt and much of this is also in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). At present the law gives protected status to land designated as Green Belt. The Green Belt was designed to preserve in perpetuity the beauty and openness of the countryside and prevent towns and villages merging. Importantly the Green Belt is about ‘openness’, not about being parkland. It is current council policy to protect and maintain the Green Belt whenever possible, although we accept that there will always be exceptional circumstances where Green Belt can be released. It will have to be seen how Green Belt release will be required and what role will be given to councils in this process or whether developers will be able to take the initiative. Economic growth There is also a clear focus on economic growth through the new Bills being put forward which of course, we recognise is much needed on a national level and an important focus locally too in supporting and building our local economy and securing a bright future for Buckinghamshire and future generations here. We are currently refreshing our strong local growth plan that has been developed through the Buckinghamshire Growth Board. This outlines how our county can make a significant contribution to the UK economy as a whole through our local industries and local plans. Devolution We welcome further confirmation on the intent to progress the devolution agenda too. I was written to by the new Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner last week and look forward to further discussions about how devolved powers will work here after having a devolution deal for Buckinghamshire announced by the last government Tackling the litter louts Onto other priority areas for our residents and I’m really pleased that I can now confirm we have adopted a bold new policy to tackle littering head on – including introducing much higher penalties, which are due to come into force this week. We’re not shying away from this; we want people to sit up and take notice, so we are launching an attention grabbing new anti-littering campaign called ‘For Bucks Sake’. We will also be issuing penalties of £500 for people who are caught littering. Like you, I am fed up and disappointed by the sheer amount of litter that I see blighting our beautiful county and disrupting nature, especially on roadside verges. It’s the same stuff – empty drink cans, cigarette and vape packets, fast food wrapping, plastic bottles and containers, and it’s getting worse and worse. I cannot believe that some people think it’s OK to chuck their rubbish from a vehicle, yet many people seem to be doing this – and think they can get away with it. Not anymore. We are among the first councils to use these new powers of higher fines – and a quicker route to catching and punishing the culprits. We are also using a powerful new weapon in our armoury – dashcam footage. We will be leading the way on this by directly appealing to people to send us any footage they might have of littering – captured in a way that is of course, safe and legal. We are inviting people to upload footage and photos to our new webpage https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgi-TFFq1BW1lz7ZueiNaefuPK5yWBrRASEADQyNbpBY4PtBl0 if their dashcam has captured someone in a vehicle chucking litter out of the window. With car registration details, this will provide us with the evidence we need to trace and fine the culprit. The new policy will also allow us in the coming months to prosecute through the civil process meaning it will be the vehicle owner who will be liable, whether they threw the litter or not – this should encourage drivers to ensure their passengers do the right thing, and hopefully encourage passengers not to risk the driver being given a penalty for littering! I hope that the new approach and penalties will prove a powerful deterrent. Have your say I wanted to draw your attention to some important consultations we have at the moment that we want to invite you to comment on to ensure you are a part of shaping these policies. Of particular note, we are proposing some changes to our library service, including introducing longer opening hours, and extending some self-service aspects, whilst retaining face to face contacts during core hours. We are also currently consulting on our Housing Allocations Policy for social housing tenants and our draft Air Quality Action Plan. These are really important council services and policies to many of you, so please do visit our ‘Your Voice Bucks’ https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjOTFFp86-wWPQRaRH6XdfdcJZefAyxHkgTwlVaXrfTisv6_y webpage to comment and be involved in the decision-making process. Summer break We have reached the end of another school year and the start, for many, of the summer break. I’m sure many of you have holidays planned, whether at home or abroad, and I hope you can also make the most of the array of wonderful walks, events and attractions we have on our doorstep here in Buckinghamshire. We have many low-cost and free activities and events on the Buckinghamshire Family Information Service website https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjeTFFqJkdBeTb3KsoySCq0gfg11e3oQcE_M6HVPdu-aex3B6 so I urge you to take a look if you want ideas on keeping children – and adults alike – entertained! There are also full details of how to access all aspects of family support and advice on these webpages if you need it. I also wanted to affirm our continued support for local families over the summer too. We know juggling finances over the summer months can be tricky. We are running our Holiday Activities and Food programme across the summer for families who get benefits-related free school meals, so those children have access to free childcare and a healthy meal all provided within the scheme. We have also issued £50 food vouchers to eligible families too, to help with food costs over the summer. I remain very conscious that for many households the cost of living still presents a significant challenge and I hope this support makes a difference. Well done to schools and students I also want to thank all school staff and school leaders for their hard work over the last academic year and wish all the very best to students, particularly those awaiting exam results in the coming weeks. I’m really proud of the achievements of all of our schools that we celebrated in our recent School Awards. We have a higher level of children and young people attending good and outstanding schools than the national average and this is testament to everyone involved, families, students and the tireless efforts of teachers and all who work in schools. I hope you can enjoy a well-earned break in the coming weeks. Proud of Bucks! Last, but not least; nominations are now open for our annual ‘Proud of Bucks’ awards. https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/c/AQj0xw4Q5vBuGIyF8lYgjuTFFoBXLwUzBHho1V6T94rfrN8Pyc3uqjDTELY9ndB-O_sW Is there someone who you think is a community hero worthy of more recognition? These awards, being run through our sixteen Community Boards, aim to shine a light on the incredible contributions of the unsung heroes in our communities across the county so please take a look how to make a nomination if you have someone in mind! I hope you have a great summer and that we can finally see the back of the rain! Stay safe and well, Yours, Martin Tett Leader of Buckinghamshire Council -
Posted in: Public Notices
Today is the launch of the Thames Valley Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Mediation Service. This service is available to residents across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes, and is being delivered by Alternatives to Conflict (previously known as Mediation Bucks) https://s-url.co/PeYTAA Mediation provides an independent support service and can offer a solution when there is no clear course of action open to a statutory agency, such as the police or local authority. It also represents an alternative to court proceedings and intervention by statutory agencies. For further details, please visit the news page. https://s-url.co/PuYTAA If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. mailto: opcc.comms@thamesvalley.police.uk Message Sent By Corporate Communications -
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Posted in: AI ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
So far, my use of AI has been confined to the written word. For example, if I write a story, it is useful to run it past AI and ask for a summary of what is written. If the summary comes back with what you have intended to convey, then all is well. If there is conflict, you can re-visit your writing to edit the part(s) causing confusion. When posting a news story on SL, I will, occasionally, copy the text from the source article that I reference, pass it through AI and post a summary of the story. This shows a high level list of points relating to the article and allows the user to decide whether to just take those details or read the more in-depth story. I have used AI to edit photographs on my phone, but to date have done nothing which couldn't have been easily done using Photoshop. -
Posted in: Public Notices
please find attached fraud prevention advice for those working from home this summer holidays that the Central Fraud Unit has requested be shared. If you have been a victim of fraud, please report to Action Fraud online at www.actionfraud.police.uk ,or by calling 0300 123 2040. For more advice on types of fraud and how to protect yourself please visit Advice about fraud | Thames Valley Police https://s-url.co/d50TAA . Attachments Work from Home Fraud TV Alert - July 24 Final 2.pdf https://members.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/AlertMessage/Attachment/592C7285689A9CBBFDE66026AE1BAC1D Message Sent By April Baldwin (Police , Administrator , High Wycombe) -
Posted in: Public Notices
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Posted in: Public Notices
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Israel has launched an airstrike targeting a top Hamas military commander believed to be behind the Oct. 7 attack. The strike hit an area designated as a humanitarian zone, resulting in over 70 fatalities, according to Gazan authorities. The fate of the commander, Muhammad Deif, remains uncertain. Hamas denied Israel's claims of targeting leaders and accused them of attempting to conceal the extent of civilian casualties. The strike occurred in Mawasi, a coastal strip where displaced Palestinians reside. Eyewitness accounts and videos revealed the presence of displaced people in the targeted area, contradicting Israel's claims. • The strike caused significant damage, including a large crater and collapsed tents, resulting in numerous fatalities and injuries. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/07/13/world/israel-gaza-war-hamas -
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Two astronauts, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, are currently stuck on the International Space Station due to technical issues with their Boeing Starliner capsule. Their return flight has been repeatedly delayed due to safety concerns. NASA engineers are working to ensure the safety of the Starliner before allowing the astronauts to return. The crew rotation on the ISS is scheduled for mid-August, serving as a deadline for the plans. While the astronauts express confidence in the spacecraft's ability to bring them home safely, NASA's commercial crew chief acknowledges challenges with thruster tests. Alternative transportation options, such as SpaceX's Crew Dragon or a Russian Soyuz capsule, are available if necessary. https://www.space.com/boeing-starliner-no-return-date-from-iss -
Posted in: Public Notices
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Posted in: Scams of any type.
BEWARE when you park in Tescos Rickmansworth i went yesterday and came back to a note attached to my car saying somebody had bumped my car it was a very polite message but i was suspicious as i could see no damage so I googled the phone number when i got home and its a HONG KONG phone number .This could be another scam. This could be a new type of scam - be cautious. -
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Posted in: Public Notices
Over 32 million suspicious emails have been reported to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS), with more than a third of all emails reported in the last year, new figures reveal. The reports have led to more than 329,000 websites addresses being removed by the National Cyber Security Centre. Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, launched a national phishing awareness campaign on 24 June 2024, as reporting reached its highest level since SERS launched. New data shows a rise of 44% year-on-year, with almost 11,611,400 reports made to SERS in 2023, up from 8,074,200 reports in 2022. Alongside emails, there has also been a huge number of text messages reported to 7726. In March 2024, more than 60,000 malicious websites were removed as a result of being reported using 7726. This is a free service, offered by mobile network providers, allowing customers to report suspicious text messages in order to prevent other people from receiving them too. Claire Webb, Deputy Head of Action Fraud, said: “When fraudsters go phishing for valuable information, anyone could be a target. They will hook an unknowing victim with a genuine-looking email, in a bid to get them to share personal information, or bank details. “Year on year, the amount of people reporting phishing emails and texts is growing. Action Fraud is urging everyone to be extra vigilant of suspicious-looking emails landing in their inbox, which could contain malicious links leading to unknown websites. “Remember, if you think you have received a phishing email or text message, make sure you report it. You can forward emails to report@phishing.gov.uk or forward spam text messages to 7726.” SERS was launched by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the City of London Police in April 2020, to enable the public to forward suspicious emails and report any malicious website links. Since its launch, more than 32 million reports have been made to the service. What is phishing? 'Phishing', ‘quishing’ or ‘smishing’ is when criminals use scam emails, text messages, QR codes, or phone calls to trick victims. Whether it’s an email asking you to “verify” your bank account details, or a text message claiming you’ve missed a delivery and are required to pay a redelivery fee, the goal is usually the same - to trick you into revealing personal and financial information. In 2023, a doctor from London lost more than £150 to a fake email claiming to be from TV Licensing. The email claimed that they needed to renew her TV licence as soon as possible. What made the phishing email so believable was that the victim’s TV licence had recently expired and the link in the email led to a fake TV Licensing website that replicated the real one. Here’s some practical advice you can follow when it comes to dealing with suspicious messages and calls: If you have any doubts about a message, contact the organisation directly using the contact details on their official website. Do not use the number or web address in the message. Your bank, or any other official source, will not ask you to provide sensitive information by email. Received an email that doesn’t feel right? STOP! Report suspicious emails by forwarding them to: report@phishing.gov.uk Send emails to this address that feel suspicious, even if you're not certain they're a scam – they will be checked. Always report suspicious text messages or scam call numbers, free of charge, to 7726. Your provider can find out where the text came from and block or ban the sender. To report a scam text, forward it to 7726 and then send the sender’s number when prompted. To report a scam call, simply text 7726 with the word ‘Call’ followed by the scam caller’s number. If you’ve lost money or provided financial information as a result of a phishing scam, notify your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101. (If you found this information useful, please share it) Message Sent By Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National) -
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Posted in: Public Notices
Public Notices Thames Valley Policing Issues Forum - this evening: "last call" for attendees (Edited)I have received the following from Thames Valley Police: I am conscious that you don't want to be “spammed” by me: but, on behalf of the community-spirited individuals who run the Policing Issues Forum, I've been requested to provide some last-minute publicity to the online meeting, which will take place at 6:30 pm this evening. More details as to the sterling work of the forum can be found at: Chiltern & South Bucks Policing Issues Forum – Community and Neighbourhood Police stronger together ( csb-forum.org ) For a link/invite to tonight's event, simply email: contact@csb-forum.org As the local head of Community Policing, I will be presenting on current policing issues, and available for questions. We will also be collectively agreeing our community's priorities for my teams, for the coming quarter. I hope to see you then. Kind Regards, Message Sent ByJames Ellis (Police, Inspector, South Buckinghamshire) -
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"Good news! We recently carried out a health check on your account and, based on our best estimate, we believe that you’re paying more than you need to for your energy. To make sure our estimate is accurate, we recommend providing us with up-to-date meter readings." (There was a nice yellow box marked: "Enter meter readings") Why on earth do they want me to send a meter reading when they get actual data from my Smart Meter? By the time it would take to read it and send it, it would be out of date against what they can press a button to see! How ridiculous" It went on to say" "We want to help you avoid overpaying and get your account back in good shape. Based on our estimate, we recommend you decrease your Direct Debit using our online Direct Debit Manager tool. You can review and adjust your monthly payments to see the impact it will have on your expected balance at your next payment review." My account is in good shape, there is no need to get it back to that position. They have today reduced my monthly payment by £101, leaving me still in credit. It's not a particularly smart system they are running! Grrrr! -
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Prom Dreams, a charity in West Sussex, provides free prom dresses and suits to students in need. Emma Green, the founder, aims to make prom affordable for families by offering donated outfits. Recipients can book appointments and choose to keep or return the clothes. The charity has helped numerous families in the past - and even provided a wedding dress. Despite an uncertain future, Prom Dreams continues to support students during the cost of living crisis. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cl44y7kkr6mo -
Posted in: Public Notices
Sadly with a cost of living crisis loan sharks are becoming more prevalent. Stoploansharks gives advice for those needing credit but can't access mainstream credit and also provides a phone line for reporting loan sharks on 0300 555 2222 The latest Stop Loan Sharks newsletter can be read here. https://s-url.co/czgSAA Stay safe! Message Sent By Neil Gunnell (NWN, MSA, Thames Valley, South Oxfordshire) -
Posted in: Public Notices
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TV doctor Michael Mosley went missing while on holiday in Symi, Greece, after failing to return from a walk. A search and rescue team with advanced equipment is expected to arrive from Athens to assist in the search. Mosley is known for his appearances on British TV shows, his work as a columnist, and his contributions to diet and exercise documentaries, including the invention of the 5:2 diet. He has four children with his wife, Clare Bailey Mosley, also a doctor and author. The couple recently attended the Hay Festival, where Mosley presented a special edition of his podcast. https://www.itv.com/news/2024-06-06/tv-doctor-michael-mosley-reported-missing-in-greece -
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Boeing's Starliner, carrying astronauts Barry Wilmore and Suni Williams, successfully launched into space from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on June 5. This marks a significant milestone in NASA's commercial crew program after two decades of planning. Wilmore and Williams, both experienced astronauts and former U.S. Navy test pilots, will spend approximately eight days at the International Space Station, conducting various tests to certify the Starliner for operational crew missions. The spacecraft is scheduled to rendezvous with the ISS on June 6. https://www.space.com/boeing-starliner-crew-flight-test-launch -
Posted in: Public Notices
We are pleased to bring you the latest edition of our newsletter for Neighbourhood Watch supporters across England and Wales. Here are some highlights in June's edition: - Neighbourhood Watch Week is here! It kicked off with The Big Lunch over the first weekend of June, and there's plenty of activity to look out for during the rest of the week - Nominations are now open for our Volunteer Recognition Awards 2024 (nominations close on 30th June) - click here to vote! https://s-url.co/Fc0RAA - The NW Shop is offering a 24-hour flash sale on 4 [popular products from 9am Tuesday 4th June - 9am Wednesday 5th June: NW lanyards (individual and packs of 10), NW mugs (individual and packs of 36), NW small wheelie bin stickers and NW new crime prevention booklets! - Issue 7 of The Lookout has arrived, with hot takes and fresh perspectives from students on safety and wellbeing - click here to read it! https://s-url.co/Fs0RAA - The Our Watch website gets a fresh look - check it out from Thursday 6th June - Patlock offers NW members an extra discount from 24th - 30th June, to celebrate the Month of Community - SimpliSafe offers advice on securing your home during the summer months READ THE JUNE NEWSLETTER HERE. https://s-url.co/F80RAA We hope you enjoy this edition - please share it far and wide with your communities! -
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Posted in: Public Notices
4 June 2024 Celebrating our unpaid carers this Carers Week This Carers Week (10-16 June) the council’s Slough Carers Support team is celebrating our carers in Slough. The theme for the week is “putting carers on the map.” There is a packed timetable for the week with many events and workshops. For more information about the events including details about how to book please call 07519 751640 or email Ramandeep.gogna@slough.gov.uk Carers UK estimate 5.7 million people living in the UK today are carers. This could be a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or is affected by mental health or substance misuse. It includes young people under 18 who may be caring at home. Providing care for another person can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. But there can also be times when people who care find themselves struggling. This year to thank our unpaid carers, beautiful Ditton Manor has kindly donated their venue for free, for our carers week launch event. We are so grateful for this kind gesture and the team have been extremely generous with both their time and use of the venue. The event is open to all unpaid carers in Slough and runs from 11am-3pm on Monday 10 June. It includes live entertainment (magician and dance show), a delicious buffet lunch, laughing yoga, taster massage treatments and beauty treatments and art therapy to name a few. You need to book your place to attend by calling 07519 751640 or emailing Ramandeep.gogna@slough.gov.uk Entrance will not be permitted without a valid booking. The Slough Carers Support team also want to thank all of the other companies that have also kindly donated their time and/or products for this event. Caroline Bowler, Sales Manager, Ditton Manor, said: “We wanted to provide an opportunity for carers to have much-needed time for respite to relax and unwind, we value the work that unpaid carers in Slough do to support their loved ones and are proud to be able to give a little back to them this Carers Week.” Ramandeep Gogna, Carers Support & Development Officer, Slough Borough Council, said: “We learnt from the pandemic what valuable role unpaid carers carry out in Slough. We are very lucky to have such selfless people in our borough caring for their family and friends. National Carers Week shines a light on these wonderful residents and allows us to celebrate them and arrange a pampering launch event for them. There is a whole timetable of events to attend, and we hope that any unpaid carers understand how appreciated you are by not only the people you care for, but by the wider borough.” Many people who carry out caring responsibilities do not recognise themselves as carers but may benefit from some support and could be unaware of the help available to them. Many may feel they are simply carrying out ordinary responsibilities as a friend or family member. For more information: You can contact Slough Carers Support at: Ramandeep.gogna@slough.gov.uk or 07519 751640. Alternatively, if you require extra support or guidance, please use the contacts below: • If you’re caring for an adult, contact Slough Borough Council Adult Social Care on 01753 475111 Option 1. • If you’re caring for a disabled child, please contact Slough Children First on 01753 875362. • If you’re a young person providing care, please contact Slough Young Carers on 01753 875510. • If you’re caring for a person with mental health problems telephone the Community Mental Health Team: 01753 690950 or Older People’s Mental Health Team for a person with dementia on: 01753 635220. -
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A BBC team questioned Jane MacLeod, former Post Office general counsel, about her absence at a crucial inquiry into the Post Office Horizon IT scandal. MacLeod declined to comment. Jo Hamilton, a wrongly convicted former sub-postmaster, expressed disappointment, suggesting MacLeod's presence would demonstrate her commitment to helping the inquiry. Despite being deemed an important witness, MacLeod chose not to provide oral evidence, citing her written statement as sufficient. Sir Wyn Williams, the inquiry chair, emphasized MacLeod's significance but acknowledged limitations in compelling her attendance due to her residing abroad. MacLeod expressed regret for the adverse outcomes faced by sub-postmasters during her tenure and acknowledged the implications of her decisions. Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells named MacLeod as a trusted senior executive, raising questions about the Post Office's handling of the court case against sub-postmasters. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czdd33qd1j0o -
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Anything ! So tell me Mrs Murdoch, why did you decide to marry a 93 year old man with $21.7bn in the bank?Media mogul Rupert Murdoch, 93, married retired molecular biologist Elena Zhukova, 67, in a ceremony at his Californian vineyard after a few months of dating. The couple posed for photos and couldn't stop smiling after the ceremony. Murdoch, who has a net worth of $21.7 billion, met Zhukova through his third wife, Wendi Deng. He has six children from previous marriages. The ceremony was attended by guests including New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his wife Dana Blumberg, as well as News Corp chief executive Robert Thompson. https://metro.co.uk/2024/06/02/rupert-murdoch-93-marries-fifth-wife-elena-zhukova-67-20955740/?ico=mosaic_home -
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Due to soaring shipping costs and trade route disruptions caused by attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, European retailers are expediting their Christmas orders. The surge in shipping prices, particularly for large items, is anticipated to impact the cost of white goods and other big-ticket items. Retailers are planning and booking shipments well in advance to ensure timely deliveries, potentially affecting cash flow and warehouse space. The spot rate for immediate delivery of goods has increased significantly, impacting low-margin items like furniture and kitchen appliances. Consequently, consumers can expect notable price increases for these items in the coming months. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqee78djzmro -
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...if he doesn't move from the Royal Lodge to Frogmore Cottage. Andrew's continued stay at the 30-room mansion strains the King's patience. Despite lacking a known income source, Andrew remains at the Royal Lodge with his ex-wife Sarah. The King suggests Frogmore Cottage as a suitable alternative, offering security and proximity to Windsor Castle. Andrew's reluctance to recognise the situation may prompt the King to reassess his support. Andrew moved into the Royal Lodge in 2004 but reportedly struggles to afford its upkeep. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/royals/king-charles-threatens-andrew-refuses-leave-home-b1161475.html -
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The New York Times, owner of the popular word game Wordle, is taking legal action against a geography-based spinoff called Worldle for allegedly causing confusion and capitalising on Wordle's success. Worldle's creator, Kory McDonald, intends to defend himself by highlighting the existence of numerous other games with similar names. Wordle, created by Josh Wardle in 2021, gained immense popularity, reaching millions of players worldwide, while Worldle has a smaller player base of around 100,000 monthly users. Despite the legal challenge, McDonald remains optimistic and expresses surprise at the situation, stating that he is prepared to change the name if necessary. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjrr5ee5zv8o -
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A study conducted by the Institute of Cancer Research, London, and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust aimed to develop a more accurate at-home test to identify genetic factors that increase the risk of prostate cancer in men. The current blood test used for screening has limitations, including false positives and missing aggressive cancers. The new saliva test showed promising results, producing fewer false positives and detecting a higher proportion of aggressive cancers. Further research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of this saliva test in saving lives. The preliminary findings were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cw44e32veg3o -
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Exactly 53 years ago on 31 May 1971, Tina Whittamore, 15, went for a walk in Luton. She never came back and there have been no confirmed sightings of her since. Now Bedfordshire Police’s Missing Persons team are conducting a review of Tina’s disappearance and they are asking anyone with information to come forward. Officers have one picture of Tina from the time. Experts have aged it as best they can to give an idea of what Tina might look like now. She would be 68. She was born Tina King in Leighton Buzzard in 1955. She lived in Kempston in Bedfordshire under the name Tina Whittamore. In 1971, Tina was placed in the Whitaker Mother and Baby Unit in Grasmere Road, Luton. She was last seen in Luton on 31 May at about 2.30pm when she said she was going for a walk and never returned. In September 1971 Thames Valley Police issued a missing report for a woman called Christine King, who was 18 and had gone missing from High Wycombe. It was established that Tina and Christine were the same person. In the early 1970s there was information to suggest she had lived and worked in Soho and Notting Hill in London but then there was no further reporting until 1990 when the Metropolitan Police believe she was in a London hospital, but discharged herself before she could be identified. She was in Holland Park and in 1991 was reported to be sleeping rough in Notting Hill. Since then, there have been no reported sightings. Tina was described as 5’2”, fresh complexion, light brown hair, brown eyes and has a slight squint in the left eye. She was known to dye her hair blonde or wear a wig. Detective Sergeant James Morgan of Bedfordshire Police said: “We realise this is a case from many years ago, but we never give up trying to find people reported as missing. “Cases, such as these, are reviewed on an ongoing basis and are re-opened if any new information is shared with us. We would just like to know that Tina is safe.” If anyone is able to provide any further information, please can they contact us on 101 quoting reference MPL/109/10 or online: https://www.beds.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/soh/seen-or-heard/ Regarding the photograph: Tina Whittamore: left: aged 15 years, right: how she might look now -
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The jury has found former US President Donald Trump GUILTY of falsifying business records to conceal a hush-money payment made to former porn star Stormy Daniels. He becomes the first former president to be convicted of a crime. This is for the first count of the 34 charges in total. There are more verdicts to come. Source: BBC -
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London's Evening Standard newspaper will cease daily editions and transition to a weekly publication due to financial losses. The change is attributed to fewer commuters, evolving consumer habits, and the introduction of Wi-Fi on the London Underground. The weekly newspaper will feature in-depth analysis, lifestyle, sports, culture guides, and news. The shift to a weekly format aims to preserve the printed newspaper in a digital era while ensuring profitability and securing the brand's future. The Evening Standard draws inspiration from the successful strategic transition of its sister publication, The Independent, which experienced readership growth and commercial success after its own transformation in 2016. https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/evening-standard-to-drop-daily-edition-in-favour-of-weekly-newspaper-b1160845.html -
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A fatal incident occurred at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport when a person was killed after being caught in the running jet engine of a KLM passenger plane. The flight was preparing for departure to Billund, Denmark. Investigations are underway by the airline, Netherland's military police, and Royal Netherlands Marechaussee force. The identity of the deceased remains unknown, and it's uncertain whether it was an accident or suicide. Emergency services responded to the scene, and passengers and employees who witnessed the incident are being cared for. Schiphol airport expressed condolences and is assisting those affected. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0dd9pxnd0lo -
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