We asked, you said, we did

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.

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.  

We asked for your views on proposed polling districts and polling places for Buckinghamshire. 

Following recent boundary changes, there were small number of proposed changes to polling districts and polling places in the county. 

The consultation ran from 2 October to 4 December 2023. 

We received 16 responses.  

View the full responses on the Consultation Response report.

We made amendments to the proposed changes following feedback: 

• Bedgrove Pavillion to be designated polling place instead of Weston Turville Village Hall to accommodate the revised polling district 
• Foxhills Indoor Bowls Club to be designated polling place instead of The Grange School 
• Hawkslade Farm Community Centre to be designated polling place instead of Stoke Mandeville Methodist Church to accommodate the revised polling district 
• Southcourt Community Centre to be designated polling place in addition to Prebendal Community Centre to accommodate the revised polling district 
• Church House, Long Crendon to remain as designated polling place 
• Stoke Hammond Community Centre to remain as designated polling place 
• Roman Park Hall to be designated polling place instead of Berryfields Family Centre 
• Youth Centre, Chalfont St Giles to be designated polling place instead of The Memorial Hall 
• Abbey View Primary Academy to remain designated polling place until the suitability of Daws Hill Community Centre, as an alternative polling place, is confirmed and available for use 
• Cressex Community Centre to be designated polling place instead of The Church of Christ the Servant King to accommodate the revised polling district 
• The Hive to be designated polling place instead of Hannah Ball School 
• Hicks Farm Rise Community Room to remain as designated polling place 
• Micklefield Community Centre to remain as designated polling place 
• Wrights Meadow Centre to be designated polling place in addition to Micklefield Community Centre to accommodate the revised polling district 

Proposed changes that were supported or not commented on were approved. 

View the full responses on the Proposed changes to polling stations that received feedback identifying other options.

On 18 January 2024 the Standards and General Purposes Committee approved the changes to designated polling places.  

View further information about the review of polling stations, places and districts on the Buckinghamshire Council website.  

We asked for your views on a statutory notice to: 

• open a new Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) Unit at Juniper Hill School 
• close the physical disabilities Additional Resource Provision (ARP) at Juniper Hill School 

The consultation ran from 13 October to 9 November 2023.

We received 29 responses to the consultation: 

• 25 online survey responses 
• 4 email or post responses 

Of the 29 who responded, 24 (83%) were in agreement with the proposal to open an SEMH Unit; 3 (10%) did not agree; 2 (7%) didn’t know or didn’t say. 

Of the 29 who responded, 16 (55%) were in agreement with the proposal to close the physical disabilities ARP; 5 (17%) disagreed; 8 (28%) didn’t know or didn’t say.  

Objections received are summarised below: 

• impact of increased traffic around the school with opening an SEMH Unit 
• impact on the rest of the school with opening an SEMH Unit 
• the need for provision for students with physical disabilities  

For more information, including our responses to the objections received, please see the consultation outcome report (PDF 0.41MB). 

Together with the Governing Body of Juniper Hill School, we have considered the responses to the consultation.  

On 21 December 2023 the Leader of Buckinghamshire Council approved the opening of an SEMH Unit and closure of the physical disabilities ARP at Juniper Hill School. 

We asked for views on a statutory notice for the proposed relocation of Furze Down School Sixth Form to the Short Breaks Day Service building in Buckingham (also known as the Buckingham Opportunities Centre). 

The consultation ran from 11 October to 7 November 2023.

We received 35 responses to the consultation:

• 32 online survey responses 
• 3 email or post responses 

Of the 35 who responded, 28 (80%) were in agreement with the proposal to relocate the sixth form; 5 (14%) did not agree; and, 2 (6%) didn’t know or didn’t say.  

Objections received are summarised below: 

• additional travel time  
• lack of specialist facilities in the Buckingham Opportunities Centre 
• impact of sharing space with Short Breaks 
• disruption to students 

For more information, including our responses to the objections received, please see the consultation outcome report (PDF 0.41MB).

Together with the Governing Body of Furze Down School, we have considered the responses to the consultation.  

On 21 December 2023 the Leader of Buckinghamshire Council approved the relocation of Furze Down School Sixth Form.

Every year, the Safer Buckinghamshire Board runs a survey to understand community safety concerns from the past 12 month, including: 

• the impact of crime and anti-social behaviour in your area 
• your experience of reporting crimes 
• how safe or unsafe you feel 

The survey ran from 11 September to 29 October 2023.

We received 872 online responses.  

We asked if crime and anti-social behaviour had impacted you in the past 12 months: 

• Fraud was report as the crime impacting the most:  
  • 94 respondents had been directly affected by fraud 
  • 127 respondents had witnessed fraud 
• Criminal damage had the second most impact: 
  • 31 respondents had been victims of criminal damage 
  • 80 respondents had witnessed criminal damage 
• Cybercrime had the second most victims: 
  • 35 respondents had been victims 
  • 71 respondents had witnessed cybercrime 

We asked if you have any other community safety concerns where you live, work or study: 

• Lack of police presence was the highest concern identified  
• Anti-social driving, including speeding and racing 
• Drugs including drug use and drug litter 

We asked about your experience of reporting crime: 

• 298 of respondents had been a victim of crime in the last 12 months 
• 32% (95) of respondents did not report that they had been a victim of crime 
• of the respondents that had been a victim of crime but did not report it: 
  • 28% believed there was little chance of catching the perpetrator 
  • 19% believed it was too trivial to report 
  • 12% believed it was a waste of time to report it  
  • 12% had a previous bad experience of the police

We asked how safe or unsafe you feel in your local area, in town centres, and in parks and open spaces in the daylight and after dark: 

Of the respondents that answered these questions: 

• 88% felt safe outside in the daylight, alone 
• 47% felt safe outside in the dark, alone 
• 85% felt safe in the town centres in the daylight 
• 31% felt safe in town centres after dark 
• 84% felt safe in parks in the daylight 
• 21% felt safe in parks after dark 

As outlined in The Safer Buckinghamshire Strategy 2023 - 2026, our intention is for Buckinghamshire to be one of the safest places to grow up, raise a family, live, work and do business. 

To support this, we have five partnership priorities: 

• neighbourhood crime – working in partnership to tackle crime hotspots and raise awareness of fraud, scams and cybercrime 
• anti-social behaviour – tackling repeat victimisation and encouraging reporting as well as working with partners to address concerns 
• serious violence – raising awareness and supporting early intervention / prevention for young people at risk 
• violence against women and girls – education and training of professionals to increase awareness and increasing confidence in reporting 

• exploitation of vulnerable people – identifying places where there is an exploitation risk and making sure communities can recognise the signs and report concerns 

The priorities focus on known causes of crime and concerns of people in Buckinghamshire. Each priority has a partnership action plan – to reduce crime and increase community safety.  

In March 2024, the findings of the community safety survey were presented to the Safer Buckinghamshire Board. Your views will help partners to shape these actions plans for the coming year, to ensure we are focussing our efforts on the issues that matter to those that live, work and study in Buckinghamshire. 

More information about each priority, and how the partnership will deliver them, is in the Safer Buckinghamshire Strategy 2023 to 2026. 

Each year we must prepare a budget. All councils have a legal duty to limit their spending to the income they receive each year - our budget must balance. 

Most of our annual budget needs to be spent on the services we are required by law to provide, such as social care for adults and children. 

We consulted on the proposed budget allocation and service priorities from 31 August to 15 October 2023.

We received 1,493 responses to the consultation: 

• 1,486 from residents 
• 7 from organisations 

3 responses were received by email, these respondents did not complete the survey so were considered for verbatim only. 

Views on proposed allocation of annual budget for 2024 to 2025: 

• 29% of respondents agreed with the proposed allocation of Buckinghamshire Council’s annual budget for 2024 to 2025 
• 39% of respondents disagreed with the proposal 
• 32% of respondents neither agreed nor disagreed with the proposal 

The top 10 services where respondents felt we should prioritise funding: 

1. Care and support for older people and vulnerable adults (60%) 
2. Road maintenance (51%) 
3. Educational services (40%) 
4. Community safety (37%) 
5. Maintaining parks, open spaces, playing fields and the countryside (32%) 
6. Protecting the environment (30%) 
7. Housing (27%) 
8. Pavement maintenance (27%) 
9. Services and support for children and young people (26%) 
10. Public transport (24%) 

The top 10 services where respondents felt we should not prioritise funding: 

1. Public Health services (50%) 
2. Culture and tourism (48%) 
3. Car parking (41%) 
4. Library services (35%) 
5. Services to attract and support local businesses (33%) 
6. Town centre regeneration (30%) 
7. Planning services (27%) 
8. Sport and leisure services (26%) 
9. Housing (18%) 
10. Road infrastructure and planning (17%) 

171 residents also provided feedback on their priority areas for spend at Bucks County Show on 31 August 2023.  

The Buckinghamshire Youth Voice Executive Committee shared their views on priority areas for spend by sending a letter to the Leader, the Section 151 Officer and the Corporate Director for Children’s Services.  

More information about the budget consultation results (PDF 1.0MB) 

The consultation results were reviewed by Cabinet, alongside the final budget report, at its meeting on 4 January 2024. 

During the week of 8 January 2024, the Budget Scrutiny Select Committee Inquiry reviewed and challenged the budget proposals. 

They made recommendations on potential change to the budget which were presented to Cabinet on 13 February 2024. 

At its meeting on 21 February 2024, Buckinghamshire Council approved the proposed budget allocation for 2024 to 2025.  

Details of all the proposed budget changes (PDF 0.24MB).