We asked, you said, we did

We asked for views on whether you agreed with opening a Communication and Interaction (Autism) Unit at Overstone Combined School, Wing.

The consultation ran from 30 September to 10 November 2024.

We received 24 responses to the consultation:

• 19 online survey responses
• 5 email and postal responses

On the proposal to open a new Communication and Interaction (Autism) Unit, of the 24 who responded:

• 17 (71%) were in agreement with the proposal; 5 (21%) did not agree; and 2 (8%) didn’t know
• 24 (100%) said that they understood why the proposal had been made

Together with the Governing Board of Overstone Combined School, we have considered the responses to the consultation.

In view of the need for SEND provision and having taken into account all responses received, on 26 November 2024 we published a statutory proposal to open a Communication and Interaction (Autism) Unit at Overstone Combined School.

We asked for your views on proposed changes to Buckinghamshire Council’s Housing Allocations Policy. This policy sets out the priorities and processes for the allocation of social housing throughout the Buckinghamshire Council area. 

The consultation ran from 11 July to 22 August 2024. 

We received 261 responses to the consultation: 

• 245 responses were by individuals and 16 on behalf of organisations 
• 21% of the individual responses were from people on the housing register 

Your views on the proposed changes were as follows: 

Policy proposal 1: to remove legacy district boundaries 

• 60% agreed or strongly agreed with this proposal 
• 11% neither agreed nor disagreed 
• 12% disagreed 
• 15% strongly disagreed 
• 2% didn’t know 

Policy proposal 2: to increase the number of years an applicant will need to qualify for residency from two years to five years 

• 64% agreed or strongly agreed with this proposal 
• 10% neither agreed nor disagreed 
• 13% disagreed 
• 13% strongly disagreed 

Policy proposal 3: to introduce residency requirements for those over 55 

• 68% agreed or strongly agreed with this proposal 
• 14% neither agreed nor disagreed 
• 7% disagreed 
• 10% strongly disagreed 
• 1% didn’t know 

Policy proposal 4: to strengthen the priority for households in temporary accommodation 

• 67% agreed or strongly agreed with this proposal 
• 18% neither agreed nor disagreed 
• 6% disagreed 
• 5% strongly disagreed 
• 4% didn’t know 

Policy proposal 5: to strengthen the priority for households that have been assessed as homeless and are not in temporary accommodation 

• 64% agreed or strongly agreed with this proposal 
• 21% neither agreed nor disagreed 
• 7% disagreed 
• 5% strongly disagreed 
• 3% didn’t know 

Policy proposal 6: to redefine the requirements for households under occupying affordable housing that are willing to downsize 

• 81% agreed or strongly agreed with this proposal 
• 11% neither agreed nor disagreed 
• 4% disagreed 
• 4% strongly disagreed 
• 1% didn’t know 

Policy proposal 7: to use automatic bidding to proactively match priority households with available housing 

• 48% agreed or strongly agreed with this proposal 
• 22% neither agreed nor disagreed 
• 9% disagreed 
• 17% strongly disagreed 
• 4% didn’t know 

Policy proposal 8: to add homeless households placed in temporary accommodation under a relief duty to the list of applicants the Council reserves the right to directly allocate housing to 

• 52% agreed or strongly agreed with this proposal 
• 23% neither agreed nor disagreed 
• 11% disagreed 
• 11% strongly disagreed 
• 3% didn’t know 

Policy proposal 9: to revise bedroom standards for households with children over the age of 18 

• 71% agreed or strongly agreed with this proposal 
• 13% neither agreed nor disagreed 
• 6% disagreed 
• 9% strongly disagreed 
• 1% didn’t know 

View the analysis of the responses to the consultation (PDF 649KB)  

On 8 October 2024, Cabinet approved the new Housing Allocations Policy. As consultation respondents were generally supportive of the proposed policy changes, these went forward unchanged. 

The least well supported policy change in the consultation was the proposal to use automatic bidding to proactively match priority households with available housing. The report to Cabinet noted that the comments people provided on this change showed that the way the proposal was set out in the consultation had led to some misunderstanding as to how it would be implemented. 

For clarity, automatic bidding will not be used for most households on the housing register. 

We will use automatic bidding on behalf of households who are in priority but are not using their weekly bids. Automatic bidding will be switched on in conversation with the household as part of their personal housing plan, or if someone is unable to log on to the website to submit bids themselves and they request that we do this on their behalf.  

Where automatic bidding is switched on, the bidding parameters (location, type of property etc.) will be agreed with the household.

We asked for the views of unpaid carers of all ages and levels of responsibility, to help us understand what is important for carers on the following topics:  

• being a carer  
• about the support you receive   
• time away from caring  
• health and wellbeing   
• work, education and training  
• financial support   

Face to face and online engagement activities took place including: 

• 8 face to face engagement sessions with adult carers  
• 2 online engagement events with adult carers   
• 5 face to face engagement events with young carers between the ages of 5-16   

Feedback from professionals and community organisations who support unpaid carers and those they care for, was also received. 

The engagement ran from 22 July to 18 August 2024.

We received 345 responses to the online survey.  

Feedback from all carers, professionals and organisations identified the following key themes: 

• understanding a carers role and identifying carers 
• assessment and care planning process 
• available resources and information 
• communication from Adult Social Care 
• health and wellbeing support for carers 
• carers taking a break 
• financial support 

Young carers also identified the following: 

• establish assessment process for young people 
• siloed support within schools and uncertainty around transitions between schools 
• support at home during school breaks 

We used your views feedback to create our draft All-Age Carers Strategy with 4 equally important priorities: 

• to provide a system that best works for carers, by joining up services and identifying carers at the earliest stage 
• to ensure carers can find information and advice they need easily, when they need it 
• to support our carers health and wellbeing, helping them to access support, meet other carers and prepare for the future 
• to support carers in accessing employment, to minimise the financial impact of caring 

On 4 November 2024 launched a consultation on the Buckinghamshire All-Age Carers Strategy 2025 to 2030. 

Residents and businesses were asked for their thoughts on the following restrictions in the Elm Farm Estate in Aylesbury:

Overall, majority of residents supported the following restrictions:

Following the Informal Consultation, we shared the results with Elected Members for Aylesbury South - East.

We have amended the 'No Loading Mon - Sat 8am - 10pm' restriction to the following:

We asked for your views on the proposal to merge:  

• the Highlands and Watchcroft ward into the Buckingham North ward 
• the Fisher’s Field ward into the Buckingham South ward 

The consultation ran from 7 May to 16 June 2024.  

We received 21 responses to the survey: 

• 18 agreed with the proposal that Highlands and Watchcroft ward be merged into Buckingham North ward; 2 disagreed; 1 didn’t know 
• 17 agreed with the proposal that Fisher’s Field ward be merged into Buckingham South ward; 2 disagreed; 1 didn’t know 

The responses in support of the proposals were generally for community identity reasons.  

The responses against the proposals were: 

• an objection to merging a smaller ward into a larger ward 
• a suggestion that Fisher’s Field was more closely linked to Nelson Street and the town centre and therefore should be in the North ward, rather than the South ward 

The 2 responses that said they didn’t know referred to matters outside of the scope of this review. 

On 10 September 2024, the Standards and General Purposes Committee agreed: 

• to merge Highlands and Watchcroft ward into Buckingham North ward 
• to merge Fisher’s Field ward into Buckingham South ward

This will better reflect community identity, electoral equality and promote efficient and effective local government.

A Reorganisation Order was also agreed by the Committee which means the changes will take effect on 1 March 2025, in time for the next scheduled local elections on 1 May 2025. 

We asked for your views on the proposal to change the parish boundary between Burnham and Dorney to align with the M4 and better reflect the community identity.  

The consultation ran from 7 May to 16 June 2024.  

We received 11 responses to the survey:

• 10 agreed with the proposal to move the parish boundary; 1 disagreed

The responses in support of the proposal were generally for community identity reasons, as was the one that disagreed.  

On 10 September 2024, the Standards and General Purposes Committee agreed to change the boundary between Burnham and Dorney to better reflect community identity.  

A Reorganisation Order was also agreed by the Committee which means the changes will take effect on 1 March 2025, in time for the next scheduled local elections on 1 May 2025. 

We asked for your views on the proposal to increase the number of parish councillors from 12 to 16 due to an increased workload and increasing housing in the area.  

The consultation ran from 7 May to 16 June 2024.  

We received 29 responses to the survey:  

• 21 agreed to the proposal to increase the number of councillors from 12 to 16; 6 disagreed; 2 didn’t know   

The responses in support of the proposal generally referred to increases in population, property development and workload. 

Those that disagreed or didn’t know referred to past councillor vacancies and workload.  

On 10 September 2024, the Standards and General Purposes Committee agreed to increase the number of councillors from 12 to 16 to promote effective and convenient local government.  

A Reorganisation Order was also agreed by the Committee which means the changes will take effect on 1 March 2025, in time for the next scheduled local elections on 1 May 2025. 

We asked for your views on the proposal to increase the number of parish councillors from 7 to 9 due to an increased workload and increasing housing in the area.  

The consultation ran from 7 May to 16 June 2024.  

We received 3 responses to the survey: 

• 1 agreed to the proposal to increase the number of councillors from 7 to 9; 2 disagreed    

The response in support of the proposal referred to increases in population.  

Of those that disagreed 1 questioned the need to increase the council size, and 1 referred to a past vacancy.  

On 10 September 2024, the Standards and General Purposes Committee acknowledged the small number of responses. It recognised that the proposal was supported by the Longwick-cum-Ilmer Parish Council who had requested the review. It agreed to increase the number of councillors from 7 to 9 to promote effective and convenient local government. 

A Reorganisation Order was also agreed by the Committee which means the changes will take effect on 1 March 2025, in time for the next scheduled local elections on 1 May 2025. 

We asked for your views on the proposal to increase the number of parish councillors from 8 to 10 due to an increased workload, taking on the management of the community hall, an increasing population, and a planned housing development.  

The consultation ran from 7 May to 16 June 2024.  

We received 30 responses to the survey: 

• all respondents agreed to the proposal to increase the number of councillors from 8 to 10 

The responses in support of the proposal generally referred to increases in population, new developments, and workload. 

On 10 September 2024, the Standards and General Purposes Committee agreed to increase the number of councillors from 8 to 10 to promote effective and convenient local government.  

A Reorganisation Order was also agreed by the Committee which means the changes will take effect on 1 March 2025, in time for the next scheduled local elections on 1 May 2025. 

You were asked for your views on a speed limit change from 40mph to 30mph between Crosspath Cottages and Thatch Cottage (near the junction of the A355), along with new 30mph terminal and repeater signs and roundels.

94.3% of respondents support the speed limit reduction, with 5.7% objecting or were not sure about our proposal.

Several respondents asked for horse warning signs to be installed as well.

We have produced a report of our findings and submitted it to the Council. They have approved our reccomendations of proceeding as advertised. The report can found here.

From Friday 16th August 2024, a legal order to reduce the existing speed limit of 40mph to 30mph will be effective.

Buckinghamshire Highways will start the Detailed Design process to show the locations of the signs and road markings.

We have also contacted the British Horse Society for their views on horse safety. As a result, we will include temporary posters warning drivers of horses on Magpie Lane.

We asked for views on a statutory notice for the proposed closure of Westcott Church of England School.

The representation period ran from 8 May to 4 June 2024.

This followed an initial consultation on the proposal from 31 January to 13 March 2024.

We received 5 representations:

• 4 online survey responses
• 1 email response

Of the 5 responses:

• 2 (40%) agreed with the proposal to close the school from 31 August 2024
• 2 (40%) did not agree
• 1 (20%) didn’t know or didn’t say

No respondents said they were parents / carers of pupils currently at the school.

On 12 July 2024, the Leader of Buckinghamshire Council approved the closure of Westcott Church of England School with effect from 31 August 2024.

The responses did not include any alternative proposals to closure from external organisations or local schools.

You were asked if you support the proposals to implement Double Yellow Line restrictions at the junction between Stubble Hill, Mill Meadow and Long Leys (which forms part of the Platinum Way Cycleway).

This proposal was to improve the visibility for those crossing the junction, allowing all users to see oncoming traffic more easily. This in turn, will allow users of the Platinum Way Cycleway to be more clearly seen by drivers, reducing the risk of accidents at the junction, and mitigating potential hazards for vulnerable users and other persons, from traffic travelling through this junction

Overall, residents were concerned that the proposals would further limit parking options aready present in the area.

• 27.66% of respondents supported the restrictions
• 72.34% of respondents did not support the restrictions.

Following the end of Public Consultation, Buckinghamshire Council's Parking Team were consulted for their views.

They confirmed the proposals should proceed, in accordance with Rule 243 of the Highway Code.

Nevertheless, it was decided to reduce the extents of the restrictions on both Mill Meadow and Long Leys.

Buckinghamshire Highways produced a report for the Council detailing our findings and our recommendations to proceed, subject to the double - yellow lines being reduced in the aforementioned roads above. A decision was made by the Leader on 15th October 2024, approving our reccomendations. You can find the decision here: Decision - Platinum Way Cycleway Improvements - Stubble Hill - Modern Council (moderngov.co.uk)

From this, Buckinghamshire Highways will now start the process of sealing the Traffic Regulation Order over the next couple of weeks.

We asked for your views on several parking restrictions over several roads in Stoke Mandeville. They consisted of the following proposals:

Following a consultation in April / May 2024, 105 people had responded to our consultation for proposed restrictions on five roads in Stoke Mandeville (420 individual responses in total).

The table below shows the results:

We submitted our findings to the Council for their decision, which came in June 2024.

Following this, we are planning to legalise a Traffic Regulation Order on 25th September 2024 to make these enforceable. In the meantime, we are currently putting together the design package for our contractors.

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.

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.

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.

We asked for views on whether you agreed with the proposal to close Westcott Church of England (CE) School, Westcott. 

The consultation ran from 31 January to 13 March 2024.

We received 70 responses to the consultation: 

• 61 online survey responses 
• 9 email responses 

Of the 70 who responded, 17 (24%) were in agreement with the proposal to close the school from 31st August 2024; 52 (74%) did not agree; and, 1 (2%) didn’t know or didn’t say. 

Of the 70 responses received 54 (77%) said that they understood why the proposal had been made to consult on closure of the school (even if they didn’t necessarily agree with it). 11 (16%) said that they didn’t understand the proposal and 5 (7%) that they didn’t know. 

The Governing Board of Westcott CE School, together with the Oxford Diocesan Board for Education (ODBE) and the Council, have considered the responses to the consultation. 

As it did not provide any viable options to support the school remaining open, on 8 May 2024 we published a statutory proposal for closure. 

We asked for your views on the draft RAF Halton Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) 

The consultation ran from 22 January to 4 March 2024. 

We received 336 responses to the consultation. 

Comments and suggestions were received about a number of topics including: 

• health, education 
• highways, active travel, public transport, parking 
• heritage 
• dwelling design and type 
• green infrastructure and biodiversity 
• local centre, sports and leisure facilities 

For more information, including our responses please see the Consultation Statement (PDF 1.0MB) 

Some minor changes were made to reflect the consultation responses: 

• the need for the developer to work with the Integrated Care Board to understand healthcare requirements and explore the potential to reuse the existing facilities on site 
• clarification that a contribution towards secondary school provision will form part of the planning application S106 requirements  
• relocation of a play area to be in a more prominent and overlooked position next to the residential area at Chestnut Avenue 
• County Museum Resource Centre to remain in its current location with the potential for artifacts from the Trenchard Museum to be relocated here 
• images inserted to help explain the design of roads and cycle ways, plus the provision of trees and landscaping 
• insertion of a list of Non-Designated Heritage Assets to compliment the map that shows these buildings 
• clarification of the requirement for 25% affordable housing 
• minor wording changes to clarify the need to maintain the openness of the Green Belt and purpose of land swaps 
• further detail on the requirement for the planning application to include the need for an approved phasing strategy to ensure comprehensive development and open book financial appraisal. 

For more information, please see the Report for RAF Halton SPD. 

On 16 July 2024, Cabinet approved the RAF Halton SPD for adoption.

As part of a wider regeneration programme of works, we asked for your views relating to the introduction / amendment / revocation of Traffic Regulation Orders across the Town Centre, centered on the following roads:

1. Buckingham Street
2. Cambridge Street
3. George Street
4. Kingsbury / Kingsbury Square
5. Market Street

Our proposals include (but not limited to):

• Prohibition of Motor Vehicles
• Removal of Pay & Display
• Removal of Pedestrian Zone
• New Goods Vehicle Loading Only
• Revoking a One - Way system
• Other parking restrictions

Respondents were able to respond to each of the 5 roads mentioned above. A total of 32 responses were given (160 individual responses in total). The list below shows the results.

Cambridge Street

• 9 supported the proposals
• 17 objected the proposals
• 6 were not sure

Market Street

• 7 supported the proposals
• 15 objected the proposals
• 10 were not sure

George Street

• 9 supported the proposals
• 12 objected the proposals
• 11 were not sure

Buckingham Street

• 7 supported the proposals
• 17 objected the proposals
• 8 were not sure

Kingsbury

• 6 supported the proposals
• 22 objected the proposals
• 4 were not sure

Following the consultation, Buckinghamshire Council met with the Hackney Carriage Association and businesses to resolve concerns raised.

The meeting has led to the following result (please note this is for the original proposals):

Cambridge Street

• 24 supported the proposals
• 5 objected the proposals
• 3 were not sure

Market Street

• 24 supported the proposals
• 1 objected the proposals
• 7 were not sure

George Street

• 24 supported the proposals
• 1 objected the proposals
• 7 were not sure

Buckingham Street

• 23 supported the proposals
• 3 objected the proposals
• 6 were not sure

Kingsbury

• 6 supported the proposals
• 21 objected the proposals
• 5 were not sure

As a result, we will be proposing an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) in Kingsbury to take place in Autumn 2024.

The proposals on the other four roads will be made permanent when the wider regeneration works commence.

We asked for your views on the proposals for: 

• transport eligibility where walking routes have been reassessed as being safe 
• updates to our home to school transport policies  
• to make them easier to understand 
• to provide more information to make them clearer 

The consultation ran from 6 December 2023 to 29 January 2024. 

We received 47 responses, 41 online and 6 via email.  

We received comments on the following themes: 

• disagreement with the statutory eligibility criteria for free home to school transport 
• the nearest suitable school in the respondents’ area 
• safety of walking routes including parking and congestion around schools 
• cost to families of providing school transport 
• grammar school transport not being free when the school is not also the nearest suitable school 
• burden to the taxpayer due to the cost of school transport 

The following suggestions were made: 

• free school transport eligibility be extended to catchment schools as well as nearest suitable school 
• families of eligible pupils aged 5 to 16 years are asked to pay towards the cost of school transport 

Approximately half of respondents to the online survey did not find the policies easy to understand.  

More information about the results of the school transport policies consultation (PDF 0.37MB) 

As a result of the consultation some changes were made to the Home to School Policy (PDF 0.36MB) and the Post-16 Transport Policy Statement (PDF 0.20MB). The changes are highlighted in green on the linked documents. 

In summary, we have made changes to the following sections to make them clearer:  

• travel assistance for children under statutory school age (0-4yrs) –  Section 2 
• eligibility when a preferred and nearest suitable school is out of county – Section 3 
• eligibility due to an unsafe walking route and / or where a walking route has been reassessed as safe – Section 3.6 
• criteria for pupils with SEND – Section 3.9 
• placement for pupils with an EHCP – Section 10.2 
• medical needs whilst onboard home to school transport – Section 10.3 
• identification of new routes – Section 10.14 

In response to the suggestions received:  

• the decision to provide transport to the nearest suitable school only, in line with statutory guidelines, was agreed at the Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet meeting on 27 February 2012 and was implemented from September 2012  
• our Home to School Transport Policy continues this arrangement of providing free school transport to the nearest suitable school only, in line with statutory guidelines and eligibility criteria  
• the legislation does not stipulate catchment school 
• local authorities have a statutory duty to make arrangements, free-of-charge to parents / carers, for eligible children to travel to school 
• it is not possible to ask families of eligible children aged 5 to 16 years to pay towards the cost of school transport 

We have included additional information in the Home to School Transport Policy 2024 to meet the requirements of updated DfE guidelines. 

The policies are supplemented by school transport webpages which give guidance on specific areas. 

On 5 June 2024, the Leader of Buckinghamshire Council considered the consultation findings and agreed the Home to School Policy and Post-16 Transport Policy Statement. The policies apply with immediate effect and will cover school travel assistance from September 2024.  

We asked for your views on the priorities and actions in our draft Housing Strategy.  

The consultation ran from 8 November 2023 to 18 January 2024. 

We received 161 responses to the consultation:  

• 135 from individuals 
• 26 on behalf of an organisation 

Priority 1: Responding to the needs of our diverse population; 

• 73% strongly agreed or agreed with this priority 
• 11% neither agreed nor disagreed 
• 10% disagreed 
• 6% strongly disagreed 

47% felt we have identified the right actions to achieve this priority. 

Priority 2: Better homes: good quality, sustainable and matched to need; 

• 79% strongly agreed or agreed with this priority 
• 10% neither agreed nor disagreed 
• 5% disagreed 
• 6% strongly disagreed 

55% felt we have identified the right actions to achieve this priority. 

Priority 3: New homes: affordable, accessible and appropriate; 

• 66% strongly agreed or agreed with this priority 
• 19% neither agreed nor disagreed 
• 6% disagreed 
• 8% strongly disagreed 
• 1% didn’t know 

48% felt we have identified the right actions to achieve this priority. 

We received comments on the following themes: 

• prioritising affordable housing 
• developing supporting infrastructure  
• associated climate change issues 
• protecting green space 
• quality of construction, design and energy efficiency  
• clear priorities for housing vulnerable people 

The following suggestions were made: 

• to have a specific affordable housing definition 
• to create our own housing development company to develop affordable housing 
• to increase the target of 500 new affordable homes per year 

View the full responses in the Consultation Report (PDF 0.45MB).  

For more information, including our responses please see the Report for Buckinghamshire Housing Strategy (PDF 0.19MB)  

As a result of the consultation some changes were made to the strategy. View the changes made to the Buckinghamshire Housing Strategy (PDF 0.06MB) 

On 5 March 2024 Cabinet approved the proposed amendments to the strategy.  

On 17 April 2024  Buckinghamshire Council approved the Buckinghamshire Housing Strategy 2024 – 2029 (PDF 20MB). 

We asked for your views on our magazine, Your Buckinghamshire, and how you would like to hear about the services and benefits the council provides. 

The consultation ran from 4 December 2023 to 14 January 2024. 

We received 221 responses: 

• 90% always read the magazine and wanted to keep receiving it 
• 82% felt is kept them well informed of the council’s activities 
• a few do not like the magazine and would rather not receive it 

If there was no magazine: 

• 37% would like to to be kept informed by email and e-newsletter 
• 28% would like to be kept informed through our website 

Favourite topics included: 

• bin collection information 
• local ‘what’s on’ information and events 
• roads and repairs 
• parking 
• environmental issues 

Your responses were used to help decision making around future of issues of Your Buckinghamshire magazine. 

The council needs to make savings to keep paying for the critical services we provide. This means we will produce only one magazine in the financial year 2024 – 2025. The magazine costs are partly offset by the advertising in each edition.