Key achievements

Formal submission of the Local Plan.

Continued development of the Handy Cross Hub, now including a hotel, day nursery and children's gym, a purpose-built leisure centre and a popular supermarket with park and ride facilities, all in one convenient location.

Construction started at DesBox, a new design-based working community for artists, craftsmen and small businesses, comprised of 57 shipping container units.

Entered into a partnership with Thames Valley Police, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and AVDC to inspect licensed taxis for defects, MOT and insurance and remove unsafe vehicles from the roads.

The Rye and Hughenden Park in High Wycombe and Higginson Park in Marlow retained their Green Flag status.

Launched a new local discovery trail based on locations used in the popular TV detective series Midsomer Murders. The 17-mile (27km) trail starts in Marlow.

 

Formed Wycombe Street Support Partnership, a collaboration between Wycombe District Council, Connection Support, One Recovery Bucks, Wycombe Homeless Connection, Thames Valley Police, Wycombe Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme and Citizens Advice, providing support for housing, helping address substance misuse or, when necessary, using enforcement to address anti-social behaviour and criminality.

 

 

Distributed more than £560,000 in community support grants to local community groups and charities including Dial a Ride and Active in the Community.

Distributed revenue grants totalling £364,884 to groups including Women’s Aid, the Wycombe Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme, Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Wycombe Homeless Connection.

Continued to consult with the local community on the future of the area including on new temporary accommodation in Desborough and a new cemetery for High Wycombe, as well as a community engagement and design event about a new sustainable settlement in the Gomm Valley.

Delivered improvements to Totteridge Recreation Ground following the ‘wish list’ requested by local residents in a public consultation in 2018.

Launch of the new Wycombe Youth Council with 11 elected youth councillors from six local schools, working in partnership with Wycombe Youth Action.

Opening of the new community room at QEII Recreation Ground on Shelley Road, High Wycombe.

Confirmed funding for £1.2million extension for Risborough Springs Swim and Fitness Centre.

 

Partnership with Buckinghamshire Business First Award sponsoring the Best in Wycombe District category to recognise and reward the best of local businesses, won in 2018 by local accountancy practice Seymour Taylor.

First anniversary of community lottery launched by Wycombe District Council. Wycombe Lotto has raised over £21,000 through direct tickets and further £8,000 has been distributed through the central fund.

Successful funding bids to the Housing Infrastructure Fund for new and improved infrastructure to be built ahead of housing projects in High Wycombe and Princes Risborough.

Approved new housing developments in Wooburn Green, Abbey Barn and Desborough Road.

  

Continued excellent financial management and budgeting, with Wycombe District Council residents still receiving the lowest council tax bills in the county and a balanced budget which involves major project investment.

 

 

Preparation for the new unitary authority, working with partners in the other districts and at the County Council to plan for Buckinghamshire Council in 2020.

Streamlined the Wycombe District Council website and increased the use of data insights, improving web traffic by 8.1%.

Increased social media activity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram through forward planning and organised content output.

You Said, We Did: focused service improvement in response to feedback.

Restructured legal services to provide more robust support for commercial objectives.

Implemented GDPR and rolled out training to all services.

Continued successful development of our apprenticeship programme with apprentices in Planning, Finance, HR, Legal and the PA team, who gain on-the-job training and a qualification, earning money while they learn.