Have your say on how High Wycombe is run: Your Voice, Your Town

Closed 7 Apr 2024

Opened 12 Feb 2024

Feedback updated 19 Sep 2024

We asked

We asked for views on whether you would prefer to keep arrangements in High Wycombe as they are, or if a town council should be created.

The consultation ran from 12 February to 7 April 2024.

55,000 were invited to take part in the consultation. An information booklet, survey and pre-paid envelope were sent to every household. You could also take part online, email us or write to us.

You said

We received 2,532 responses to the consultation (4.6% of the High Wycombe electorate).

Of those responding:

  • 1,517 were in favour of a town council (2.7% of the electorate)
  • 1,087 were in favour of a town council and willing to pay for it (1.9% of the electorate)
  • 1,162 were unwilling to pay for a town council (2.1% of the electorate)

Responses commonly demonstrated an appetite for local improvements and better engagement, suggesting that this was more important than governance structure.

View the consultation analysis report.

We did

On 18 September 2024, Council approved the recommendations made by the Standards and General Purposes Committee on 10 September to not establish a town council for the whole of the unparished High Wycombe area but rather strengthen the current governance arrangements so that they can deliver improvements in the High Wycombe area.

View the final recommendations on the Buckinghamshire Council website.

Overview

Buckinghamshire Council logo

We are reviewing how High Wycombe is governed.

As Buckinghamshire Council, we are responsible for reviewing local governance arrangements to ensure they meet local needs. Local governance arrangements are the processes in place for decision making that affects you and your local area. This includes how you and your local community are represented, such as by your local councillors at council meetings. It also includes who you can contact if you have a query about services in your area.

This review is called a Community Governance Review and investigates whether:

  • decisions made in your local area reflect the identity and interests of the local community
  • arrangements are as convenient and effective as possible

What is community governance?

Community governance is about how you and your local community are represented. It is about decision making that affects you and your local area. There are many types of local governance, for example:

  • local councils
  • community groups
  • trusts
  • societies
  • faith groups
  • residents’ or tenants' associations
  • neighbourhood groups

This review is about governance processes involving local councils. It is not about other types of local governance listed above.

In 2019, the former Wycombe District Council started a community governance review. We suspended this because the county council and district councils merged into one - Buckinghamshire Council. Since then, there has also been a review of ward boundaries in Buckinghamshire. We’ve now launched a new community governance review for High Wycombe.

In some parts of the country, town or parish councils are responsible for services and decision making in their local community. In other areas, such as High Wycombe, different arrangements are in place. High Wycombe does not have a parish or town council – this is known as an unparished area.

View a map of the unparished area of High Wycombe (PDF 1.02MB).

We want to hear if you would prefer to keep arrangements in High Wycombe as they are, or whether a town council should be created.

The current governance arrangements

Existing governance arrangements in the unparished area of High Wycombe include:

  • Buckinghamshire Council and its ward councillors
  • High Wycombe Town Committee
  • Charter Trustees and Mayor
  • High Wycombe Community Board

Buckinghamshire Council

Buckinghamshire Council is responsible for providing all local authority services to High Wycombe. Examples of these include education, social care, highways planning, bin collections, grass cutting, street lighting and town centre redevelopment. These services are funded by the Council Tax that you pay.

Currently there are 24 Buckinghamshire Council councillors who are elected by residents in the High Wycombe area. This will reduce to 16 councillors in 2025 representing the new wards of:

  • Abbey
  • Booker and Cressex
  • Castlefield and Oakridge
  • Disraeli
  • Downley
  • Hazlemere
  • Marsh and Micklefield
  • Sands
  • Terriers and Amersham Hill
  • Totteridge and Bowerdean

Most of the Downley ward and Hazlemere ward are not in the unparished area of High Wycombe. But a small section of each ward is in the unparished area.

Our councillors represent High Wycombe at Buckinghamshire Council meetings. They also serve on the High Wycombe Town Committee and as Charter Trustees.

Find out about our Buckinghamshire Councillors.

High Wycombe Town Committee

High Wycombe Town Committee advises us on issues affecting the High Wycombe town area, for example:

  • regeneration
  • community and facilities grants
  • transport, cycling and walking strategies and plans
  • High Wycombe and Penn Road Cemeteries
  • events in the town centre
  • All Saints Churchyard

The Committee is made up of the 24 Buckinghamshire Council elected councillors whose wards currently include any part of the unparished area of High Wycombe. The Committee also works with local organisations.

Charter Trustees

The Charter Trustees of High Wycombe were established in 1974. The 24 Buckinghamshire Council councillors whose wards currently include any part of the unparished area of High Wycombe are appointed as the Charter Trustees. They have a ceremonial role, in addition to their Buckinghamshire Council responsibilities. They are responsible for preserving the historic identity and civic traditions of the town. Annually, one of the Charter Trustees is nominated by their peers to be Mayor of the Town. The Mayor of High Wycombe is a ceremonial and non-political role. The Mayor represents the town at civic and ceremonial events.

Find out more about the Charter Trustees and Mayor of High Wycombe.

High Wycombe Community Board

In 2020, Buckinghamshire Council established community boards uniting local councillors and key partners. We did this to understand and respond to local issues and priorities. The High Wycombe Community Board delivers projects that meet local needs using our funding. The Board would continue regardless of whether a town council was created or not.

View examples of the projects delivered by the High Wycombe Community Board.

Current arrangements for paying for services

All Buckinghamshire residents pay a Council Tax which funds the key local authority services provided by Buckinghamshire Council across the county. In addition, the Council Tax paid by High Wycombe town residents includes a fee for ‘special expenses’ which cover services which would normally be provided by a town or parish council. This fee is sometimes called a precept. This fee supports the maintenance of local amenities and projects in High Wycombe Town including:

  • cemeteries
  • recreation grounds
  • allotments
  • footway lighting
  • war memorials
  • community grants
  • town twinning
  • town centre events

The special expenses annual fee we receive from High Wycombe town residents for a Band ‘D’ property is £17.66. This is based on 2023/24 Council Tax.

The High Wycombe Town Committee makes recommendations to us on the allocation of this funding and proposes an annual budget.

Options that we considered

We considered different governance options for the area of High Wycombe. We decided on two options for consultation:

  • keep arrangements as they are (as described above)
  • replace current arrangements with a town council

What is a town council?

Town and parish councils are a legally independent, additional local government layer. Town councils are similar to parish councils but usually cover larger areas.

Town councils have elected town councillors. They are elected in the same way as our Buckinghamshire Council councillors and their term of office is four years.

Town councils:

  • are consulted on local planning matters (Buckinghamshire Council would remain as the planning authority and make the final decision on any planning issue)
  • can represent the views of local people on issues that they are concerned about
  • can provide some local services for residents and businesses in the area they cover
  • provide a forum for local people to discuss issues they are concerned about and to plan local action

What services could a town council provide?

A new town council could provide a number of local services. Town councils already established in Buckinghamshire provide services such as:

  • arranging events such as the Christmas lights switch-on and farmers’ market
  • managing open spaces, play areas, football pitches and allotments
  • managing cemeteries and memorial gardens
  • maintaining benches and some footway and street lighting
  • managing local community venues such as public halls
  • maintaining flower beds and hanging baskets
  • local grass and hedge cutting

A town council could provide some of the very local services instead of Buckinghamshire Council. It could also choose to provide some new services.

In Buckinghamshire there are town councils established in Amersham, Aylesbury, Beaconsfield, Buckingham, Chesham, Gerrards Cross, Marlow, Princes Risborough, and Winslow.

If a town council was created, what would happen to the Charter Trustees and Mayor?

If we establish a town council, we would dissolve the Charter Trustees and Mayoral roles. A new town council could decide to create a new Mayoral role.

If a town council was created, what would that mean for Buckinghamshire Council?

A new town council would not replace Buckinghamshire Council as the principal council for the area.  We would continue to be responsible for providing most of the local authority services to High Wycombe. This includes services such as education, social care, highways, planning, bin collections and recycling.

Buckinghamshire Council and our councillors would continue. A new town council would need separate elections for additional councillors. Based on a similar population, this could be between 13 and 25 additional councillors.

How would a town council be funded?

Town councils are funded by a town council precept (fee) added to your Council Tax. This would be on top of the existing Council Tax that you already pay (there would be no reduction in how much Buckinghamshire Council charge you). The amount of the precept would be decided by the town council and would depend on factors including: 

  • the number of councillors 
  • the number of staff employed 
  • the cost of the facilities they use
  • the number and nature of the services the town council chooses to provide

So, it is not yet possible to tell you what the additional precept for a town council in High Wycombe could be. But here are some examples for existing town councils of a similar size:

Town council 

Population 

Band ‘D’ precept 2023/24 (£ annually) 

Aylesbury Town Council

63,126

£156.19

Weston-Super-Mare Town Council

82,418

£110.52

Depending on what services a new council would provide, the ‘special expenses’ precept may continue alongside the precept for the new council (if this is the preferred option).

Each year, the increase to the total Council Tax for Buckinghamshire Council is ‘capped’ by Central Government. There is no ‘cap’ placed on increases to the precept for town councils.

More information about special expenses

The Council Tax paid by High Wycombe town residents includes a fee for ‘special expenses’ which cover services which would normally be provided by a town or parish council. This fee is sometimes called a precept.

If a town council is created, the special expenses precept you pay Buckinghamshire Council would decrease based on the services the town council takes on.

If the town council takes on all services and assets currently paid for by special expenses, your Council Tax bill will include a town council precept but not a special expenses precept.

If the town council only takes over some services and assets currently paid for by special expenses, your Council Tax bill will include a town council precept and a special expenses precept.

Why would I pay more Council Tax if a town council is created?

The precept for a town council would be an extra charge on top of your current Council Tax. This is because a town council precept would pay for costs on top of those paid for by your existing Council Tax, such as extra services and support staff.

What would happen if a town council is not created?

The current governance arrangements would continue, including:

    • the High Wycombe Town Committee
    • the Charter Trustees
    • the Mayor
    • the High Wycombe Community Board

As part of this review, there is an opportunity to suggest improvements.

Related documents and links

Before you respond to this activity, please have a look at the following documents and links:

Events

We are hosting public drop-in events in High Wycombe for you to find out more on:

You do not need to book to attend.

How to have your say

You can tell us your views in one of the following ways:

  • complete the online survey using the link at the end of the page
  • email us at highwycombecgr@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
  • write to us at High Wycombe CGR, Buckinghamshire Council, Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1BB

If you live in the unparished area of High Wycombe, you will have received a postal survey through your door. You can also pick up a copy of the postal survey at High Wycombe library or at a public drop-in event, or you can download a postal survey (PDF 0.07MB) to print and return.

You will need to provide your name and address to take part.

If you have any questions about this activity, please email us at highwycombecgr@buckinghamshire.gov.uk.

Please tell us your views by 11:59pm on Sunday 7 April 2024.

What happens next

Update Monday 2 September 2024: Having considered the consultation feedback and statutory criteria, the Community Governance Review (CGR) Working Group has made recommendations on the High Wycombe CGR to the Standards and General Purposes Committee. The recommendations will be considered by the Standards and General Purposes Committee on Tuesday 10 September at 2pm. View the draft recommendations and covering report.

What happens next

Your feedback will be considered by councillors, along with other relevant information. We will then consider the future community governance arrangements for the area.

Standards and General Purposes Committee will consider and approve the draft recommendations and decide on the next stages of the Community Governance Review in Summer 2024.

The final recommendations are expected to be published in December 2024. This is when the Community Governance Review will end.

If a town council is pursued, the Reorganisation Order would be made in December 2024. When the town council would come into being, and when elections would be held, would be included in the final recommendations and Order.

Privacy

We will use the information you provide here only for this activity. We will store the information securely in line with data protection laws and will not share or publish any personal details. For more information about data and privacy, please see our Privacy Policy.

If you have questions about data and privacy, please email us on dataprotection@buckinghamshire.gov.uk. Or write to our Data Protection Officer at Buckinghamshire Council, The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8FF.

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