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Sustainable Community Strategyfor Wycombe District 2009–2026

BSP

promoting prosperity, tackling inequalities

Part of the Buckinghamshire family of county-wide and district level Sustainable Community Strategies

2 Buckinghamshire Sustainable Community Strategies – Wycombe District

The Wycombe Partnership draws together the work of all the key public sector, business and voluntary partners in the area to deliver the agreed priorities for the District. It is responsible for directing resources and coordinating the work of partners to deliver improved outcomes for residents.

Contents:

Foreword 3

Wycombe District in 2009 4-5

Our vision for Wycombe District in 2026 6-7

Summary of key challenges 8

Delivering the vision for 2026 10-11

Themes, outcomes and cross-cutting themes 12-13

o Thriving Economy 14-15

o Sustainable Environment 16-17

o Safe Communities 18-19

o Health and Wellbeing 20-21

o Cohesive and Strong Communities 22-23

What each one of us can do to make our area a better place 24

Partnership working in Buckinghamshire 26

Buckinghamshire Sustainable Community Strategies – Wycombe District 3

Foreword

We have much to be proud of in Wycombe District, with 84 per cent1 of local people saying that this is a good place to live. We want to make Wycombe District even better.

This Sustainable Community Strategy (previously called a Community Plan) outlines an ambitious and exciting future for the District to 2026. It will ensure that High Wycombe, with its beautiful rural communities and towns such as Marlow and Princes Risborough, continues to develop as a thriving sub-regional centre. .

This strategy refreshes our 2005 Community Plan. We see 2009 as a milestone on a much longer journey. A key difference between this strategy and our previous Community Plan is that it is the result of a joint review with the other districts in Bucks and the County Council. This joint work has resulted in a ‘family’ of Sustainable Community Strategies for Buckinghamshire.

The vision and themes here have been updated and Wycombe District is increasingly being seen as a destination in its own right, with exciting aspirations and developments in progress. These include the Bucks New University, the Regional Coachway, and a new railway station as well as the continued redevelopment of our town centre. In addition, we continue seeking opportunities to provide for large scale social, leisure and community events.

This is a proud and ambitious strategy - we invite you to be part of our exciting future and to share our vision for Wycombe:Wycombe District – economically strong and the place to live, work and visit.

Cllr Lesley ClarkeLeader of Wycombe District Council and Chairman of The Wycombe Partnership

1 2008 Place Survey


Wycombe District in 2009

Wycombe District is a special place. It has a population of 161,400 (mid-2007 population estimate) – with fewer young people and more older people. It is a mainly rural area with most people living in or around the towns of High Wycombe, Marlow and Princes Risborough.

A rich historyIt has a rich and historic landscape sculptured by generations of rural activities, with pre and post-industrial revolution manufacturing geared to its rural hinterland, including the once great chair making industry, now in decline. It is a patchwork of rural towns, villages and hamlets. Much of our District is environmentally protected, with 71 per cent in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and 48 per cent covered by the green belt. This has resulted in more intensive redevelopment in the urban areas to protect the countryside.

Modern WycombeModern Wycombe now has a broad-based economy as part of the globally significant Thames Valley economic sub-region. The number of local jobs is expected to grow faster than the local workforce and the regeneration of the District is a key issue. The redevelopment of our town centre is an important part of this, as is the growing ’knowledge economy’ with its hi-tech, financial services, and pharmaceutical industries all providing high levels of ‘value added’ employment. Thanks to new technology, some businesses are able to employ fewer people, which in turn will reduce pressure on the District, such as the need for new homes. There is low unemployment, although this masks considerable local variations and a skills gap that needs to be closed. Our District is also a hub for the creative industries, media and green business sectors.

The District is home to Wycombe Wanderers Football Club and London Wasps Rugby Club who share a constrained site. This limits the scope of both clubs’ ambitions and all partners are working to see how a new stadium in the District could be provided.

Generally a prosperous area, the District has pockets of deprivation in both urban and rural areas.

A prime locationWycombe is in a prime location and designated as a town of sub-regional importance (a regional hub). We have excellent access to the M25/M40/M4 corridor, good rail links between London and Birmingham and are close to Heathrow Airport and London.

However, we must improve road and public transport services to address congestion and growth, particularly road and rail links to


Aylesbury and Milton Keynes to the north, and south into the rest of the Thames Valley in Berkshire. Motorway noise is an issue for residents living near the M40 motorway.

The District is a popular but expensive place to live and work. Local house prices are increasingly beyond the means of key workers and local people. The level of commuting, both in and out of the District, contributes to a worsening transport situation. There are slightly more people commuting into the District than going out each day, with about 30,000 journeys in each direction.

Diverse communitiesWe have a large and increasing ethnic minority population, with around 10,000 residents in the District having family ties to Pakistan. People of Black Caribbean origin form the second largest ethnic minority community, although their number has fallen very slightly

since 1991. The Muslim faith community is the second largest in the South East. Work continues to promote community cohesion across all of our communities.

Healthy communitiesThe health of people in Wycombe is generally better than average for England. Life expectancy is higher, although there are health inequalities by area and gender. Over the past ten years, deaths from all causes have decreased and are lower than the average in England. Residents have relatively healthy lifestyles although challenges remain, particularly around smoking and physical activity.

Looking aheadFurther growth is planned in the rest of the Thames Valley. This may significantly increase commuter activity in and through the District.

This is a pivotal period in the life of Wycombe District and Buckinghamshire. The Government’s Sustainable Communities Plan is resulting in significant growth in the north of the County as part of the Milton Keynes/South Midlands growth area, with lower, but still noteworthy, levels of development in the south of the County within an area of significant environmental constraints.

We are ready for the challenge to ensure Wycombe District becomes a destination in its own right by being economically strong and the place to live, work and visit.


Our vision for Wycombe District in 2026…

Wycombe District will be economically strong and the place to live, work and visit

If we successfully address the challenges facing Wycombe District 2009 and set ambitious but deliverable partnership goals, this is how residents might describe the County in 2026:

A total of 171,000 people now live here, but despite this increase Wycombe District is still a special place, where our rich heritage and outstanding natural beauty are in harmony with our vibrant modern communities, technology and jobs. The people of the District are fitter, healthier, safer, living longer and enjoying an improved quality of life.

We have thriving rural and urban economies, drawing on the distinctive strengths of each community. New developments both support and enhance the attractiveness and sustainability of local places. Older industrial areas have been regenerated to provide

modern, clean high-tech premises for business. We have thriving small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and the creative media and green business sectors continue to prosper. We have greater biodiversity, more effective and efficient use of rural energy and resources, and carbon dioxide levels have been reduced.

High WycombeHigh Wycombe’s improved transport links and transformed town centre make it a distinctive place and the centre for jobs, retail and leisure activities in southern Buckinghamshire. Regeneration improvements, started by the development of Eden, have extended into the High Street and Frogmoor and with changes to the town centre road network there is now less traffic, better pedestrianisation, and good cycle routes. In addition, parts of the River Wye through central High Wycombe have been opened up and naturalised.

The thriving university and new campus facilities, high-tech economic growth, and better transport links to the North and South have all strengthened the District’s economy.

The M40 is a safer, quieter motorway offering improved access for the District and the Regional Coachway enables better public transport links to Heathrow and London and other centres. There is a good match between local jobs and the local labour supply. The quality and choice of existing homes, particularly affordable homes, have improved, while protecting the countryside as far as possible.

Our premier sporting facility is not only home to professional football and rugby clubs, but is well used by the local community, including the university. This asset helps to maintain the District’s profile nationally and supports our local economy.

Our beautiful countryside and open spaces have been enhanced by positively managing the urban areas and enabling people to enjoy their benefits. We are much more environmentally friendly, conserving more of our resources and generating less waste.


MarlowMarlow has retained its character and reputation as an attractive, vibrant and accessible place that meets the day-to-day needs of those who live and work in the town and visitors. Thanks to good stewardship, the River Thames continues to attract many visitors.

Princes RisboroughPrinces Risborough has become the natural centre for the north of the District, still retaining its bustling market town environment, but with improved local facilities and services. The town has seen regeneration and change, particularly in economic terms, securing its long-term vibrancy.

Rural areasOur rural areas have stayed rural. Towns and villages have kept their unique identities while benefiting from improved access to services and better public transport and facilities. Local enterprise continues to be encouraged and the special character and

quality of the countryside has been maintained and enhanced. The Chilterns has retained its outstanding natural beauty and has a thriving rural life.

A better quality of life for allThe standard of living has risen for everyone and the gaps between the most affluent and less well off communities have been narrowed significantly. People have a strong sense of pride in their communities, valuing others’ identities and beliefs, and taking personal and active responsibility for improving their local quality of life. Services have been redesigned to cater for our growing numbers of older people whose skills and experience make a valuable positive contribution to the overall well-being of the District. Young people are also taking an active role as responsible citizens.

People are living active, healthy lifestyles and the fear of crime and actual crime has been dramatically reduced.

The District has positively contributed towards the wider vision for Buckinghamshire,

which has maintained its economic success and its position as one of the most prosperous counties in England. At the same time, it has enhanced its environment and improved the well-being and quality of life of all the residents in Buckinghamshire.

Looking back to the turn of the century from 2026, people feel that the community leaders of that time left a legacy that their children and grandchildren are proud to inherit.

Wycombe District has remained economically strong and is still the place to live, work and visit.


Summary of key challenges in 2009

l Preserving and enhancing the special character of our built environment and countryside and the environmental quality we all enjoy, while being economically strong.

l Preventing the District from either becoming a dormitory area or overheating – striking the best balance we can between jobs and labour supply.

l Supporting business in periods of growth and in difficult times.

l Providing more homes and the infrastructure to support these, including more affordable homes to meet the needs of local people.

l Creating a good transport infrastructure, especially between the growth areas of Aylesbury/Milton Keynes and Wycombe District (north-south), and links to the rest of the Thames Valley.

l Improving people’s quality of life in sustainable ways by striking the best balance between the economic, social and environmental challenges that communities face.

l Helping communities become stronger and more inclusive within themselves and between each other, including tackling our pockets of deprivation.

l Promoting and enhancing our town centres as thriving destinations.

l Providing a new stadium to meet the needs of our football and rugby clubs and the local community.

l Responding to the changing demographics in our District and the need for greater personal responsibility

The key challenges for Wycombe District in 2009 are:


This Sustainable Community Strategy is the over-arching long-term plan for Wycombe District. It is not a detailed action plan, but a framework to help partner organisations take collective responsibility, work together and make the best use of resources to deliver the outcomes set out here.

Delivering the vision to 2026 will require determined action by a range of public, private and voluntary sector bodies working in partnership at neighbourhood, District and County level.

We will review this strategy every year to make sure that it continues to reflect local people’s views and addresses new challenges as they emerge. As the area’s priorities develop and change, the action plans of the partnership and individual partners will change to reflect this.

These action plans are set out in a variety of documents, including:• Local Development Framework• Community Cohesion and Inequalities

Strategy• Housing and Homelessness Strategies• Community Safety Partnership Plans• Healthy Communities Strategy.

In addition, a number of specific projects and activities will target geographic areas and/or groups of people. These projects and activities will be monitored to ensure they are making a positive difference to people’s lives.

The outcomes are widely supported by national indicators and local measures, including those already agreed in the Buckinghamshire Local Area Agreement. This will help us compare our performance against other areas in the country.

For more information about the delivery of the vision, visit our website at www.wycombe.gov.uk

Buckinghamshire Local Area AgreementThe Buckinghamshire Local Area Agreement is central to the delivery of the family of Sustainable Community Strategies.

The Local Area Agreement is led and co-ordinated by the Bucks Strategic Partnership. It is a contract between partners in Buckinghamshire and the government to deliver measurable improvements to the quality of life and services for residents over a three year period. The agreement consists of an agreed framework of improvement targets which reflect the priorities in the Sustainable Community Strategies.

Delivering the vision for 2026


Links to spatial planningThe ambitions in this strategy cannot be achieved without a direct link to the spatial plans for the area. This is done through ‘Local Development Frameworks’ at District level. Local Development Frameworks are a new kind of planning framework and set out planning policy for each District, and for the County overall to 2026. They are closely aligned with the family of Sustainable Community Strategies and these will work together to achieve our vision.

The diagram on the right shows the key development issues affecting Wycombe District to 2026.


Themes and Outcomes:

This Sustainable Community Strategy has five broad themes. These reflect the issues that you have told us matter most:

For each theme we have identified key outcomes that will improve the quality of life in our District.

Outcomes shown in bold type are shared aspirations across Buckinghamshire and will be found in the Sustainable Community Strategy for each District area and the County – making a ‘family’ of plans.

The outcomes in normal text show where the Wycombe Partnership needs to focus locally. Each of our areas is different and the District plans reflect this.

The five themes link and overlap. Therefore, taking action in relation to one theme will often have a positive effect on another theme. For example, tackling crime and anti-social behaviour (Safer Communities) makes the area safer and more attractive for business to invest in (Thriving Economy). This is illustrated through the ‘wheel’ showing links between the themes.

Thriving Economy

Sustainable Environment

SafeCommunities

Health and Wellbeing

Cohesive and Strong Communities


Cross Cutting Themes

There are also three cross-cutting themes which are central to the Sustainable Community Strategy. These are:– Responding to demographic change– Addressing inequalities– Personal responsibility

To meet the vision for 2006, these cross-cutting themes must be fully considered when developing action plans

Responding to demographic changeBy 2026, our District will see a six percent increase in the overall population from 161,400 to 171,000. The number of younger people will remain constant and the number of working age people will dip slightly. However, there will be a 20 per cent increase to 15,600 in the 65-74 age group and a 68 per cent increase to 19,100 in the over 75 age group. We must plan for these changes if we are to achieve the outcomes set out in this strategy.

Addressing inequalitiesTackling disadvantage is crucial if we are to achieve the outcomes set out in the strategy. Our approach must include targeted actions and ways of working which best address the inequalities experienced by different groups and communities.

Personal responsibilityThis is a strategy for the community and cannot be effectively delivered without the support and active involvement of residents. Important examples include improving health through active lifestyles, and creating a sustainable environment through reduced waste and carbon emissions. Please look at page 24 to see how you can help.

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Thriving Economy

Wycombe District has a highly developed ‘knowledge economy’ but has a low business start-up and survival rate compared to the other districts in Bucks. A proportion of our knowledge-based sector jobs are taken by workers commuting into our area. The number of local jobs is expected to grow faster than the local workforce. We want to strengthen our existing prosperity to become an acknowledged ‘global centre’ for enterprise and entrepreneurship, even in the face of difficult economic conditions.

This means: • providing support for existing

businesses and encouraging inward investment in both our urban and rural areas;

• developing world class business clusters and exploiting new technology, particularly IT and broadband;

• creating job opportunities;

• ensuring that the right workforce is available at the right time to match local business need;

• developing tourism in the area; and • capitalising on the opportunities that

London 2012 and the Paralympics bring.

Wycombe District has a high employment rate and a highly educated workforce, but we do have pockets of unemployment in some of our Wards and a significant number of people without any qualifications. Of those who are unemployed, we have a higher than average number of 20–24 year olds compared to our neighbouring districts. We also have more incapacity benefit claimants/long-term sick than the other districts. We want to encourage more people into work.

This means providing both academic and vocational skills development for our workforce. This will focus on improving opportunities for those with few qualifications and those who need to retrain or find

employment for the first time. Also, it includes more support to enable disabled people to reach their full potential in the workplace.

Wycombe District is a popular but expensive place to live and work. Local house prices are high, with the average house price in 2008 being £328,000. This sharpens the divide between those who can afford to buy homes and those who cannot. First time buyers, young people, key workers and those on lower incomes find it especially difficult to enter the local housing market.

As set out in the South East Plan, 7,800 new homes will be built in our area between 2006 and 2026. This means 390 homes a year, 350 of which will be in the southern part of the District (High Wycombe and Marlow). We need to ensure the right mix of housing so that affordable homes are available for those who need them.


“..the entrepreneurial heart of Britain”

We aim to:Build business, enterprise and innovation and promote global competitiveness

�Support business in periods of growth and in difficult times

��Nurture entrepreneurship and innovation, supporting new business start-ups and improving survival rates

��Support a dynamic rural economy and encourage enterprise

��Maintain our vibrant shopping and commercial centres including our market towns and villages

Develop skills and employment for the future

�Ensure equality of access to training opportunities coupled with targeted support

Increase affordable housing�Meet local housing needs in all new developments

Support strategic infrastructure requirements

Promote investment in Buckinghamshire

�Promote our District as a ‘destination’ for tourism and culture

Our plans for a thriving economy will falter unless growth is managed through a careful balance of housing development, new jobs and the skills to match them. It means making

the best use of our existing infrastructure and maximising the benefit of any new infrastructure, including employment land (land used by business and industry for offices,

warehousing and technology parks etc). We must achieve this without threatening the character, distinctiveness and vibrancy of our towns and villages.

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• Access to services and opportunities

• Crime

• Attractive environment

• Vibrant towns and villages

• Reduced need to travel

• Transport network

• Fire safety• Volunteering


Sustainable Environment

Wycombe District has an urban heritage, natural environment and wide ranging biodiversity that are highly valued by both residents and visitors. Seventy one per cent of our District is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and 48 per cent is green belt. Our green spaces contribute to the health and well-being of the population. High Wycombe has recently been designated as a regional hub2 to reflect its importance as a service centre, a focus for economic activity and a strategic location in transport terms. A key challenge is to balance development requirements with the need to preserve and enhance the quality and character of our environment. We must also ensure that necessary development will meet our current needs without affecting the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Wycombe District’s carbon footprint is high and ranked 39 out of 408 districts, although

this is not as high as South Bucks (ranked 2 out of 408) and Chiltern (ranked 4 out of 408). By comparison, Aylesbury Vale is ranked 86 out of 408.

We want to set an example for others to follow in reducing our carbon footprint. This means a clear focus on reducing carbon emissions and ensuring a sustainable approach to environmental issues. Making the best use of resources and energy as well as reducing and recycling waste will bring benefits both locally and globally.

Every two years we ask our residents to say what is most important in making somewhere a good place to live and what needs improving most in our District . According to our 2008 residents survey, road and pavement repairs, followed by traffic congestion are the two most important quality of life factors that need improving3.

2 South East Plan - the regional spatial strategy for the South East of England3 Top 10 mentions of what needs improving most: traffic congestion (1); road and pavement condition (2); activities for teenagers (3); level of crime (4); affordable housing (5); public transport (6); street cleaning (7); health services (8); sports / leisure facilities (=9) and wages and cost of living (=9) [2008 Place Survey]


We aim to: Tackle climate change

Work to combat climate change

Support green business practices and environmental management

Reduce the need to travel and increase the use of sustainable transport

Enhance and protect the local environment�Maintain a sustainable balance between homes, jobs and the essential infrastructure

�Create better environments for people to live and work in and to visit

Maintain the quality of our natural environment, biodiversity and rural and urban heritage

Manage flood risk

Reduce waste, re-use resources, increase recycling and energy recovery

�Reduce waste, reuse resources, increase recycling, energy recovery

Efficiently manage and maintain the transport network

��Develop a strong transport infrastructure to support our rural and urban communities

Improve the conditions of our roads and pavements

Reduce traffic growth and congestion

“ Protecting our heritage, protecting our future.”

In some parts of our District, local traffic is not a problem, but inter-county traffic does cause congestion. High Wycombe is a regional transport hub, and this, coupled with growth in the north of the County (Aylesbury Vale) and

a large degree of commuting, means we need to focus on improvements to north-south transport links. We will improve transport connections across the District, using a careful balance of measures. These include:

• public transport improvements (including in rural areas);

• a regional coachway;• a reduction in the need to travel; and • ongoing improvements to road maintenance.

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• Living and working conditions

• Exploit new technology

• Reduced need to travel • Anti-social

behaviour

• Rural access

• Access to transport


Wycombe District is a safe place to live and work, but our ambition is to improve further so that we are among the safest areas in the region.We regularly ask our residents to say which factors are most important in making somewhere a good place to live and which need improving most. Surveys carried out in 2003, 2006 and 20084 all told us that a low level of crime is the most important factor in making somewhere a good place to live.

Our 2008 survey also found that the fourth most important issue that needs improvement is the ‘level of crime’.

Crime within our community has many causes and is best tackled by agencies working together. Wycombe District is a prosperous and beautiful part of the country and crime is often associated with prosperity. It is not surprising that car related crime and burglaries are higher than in some of our neighbouring areas.

Some types of crime are more frequent in some areas than others. For example, anti-social behaviour is more prevalent in our urban areas, particularly around town centres.The fear of crime is higher than the chance of becoming a victim of crime. Press coverage can suggest that there is far more crime than there actually is.

Our key priorities are to:• Reduce serious acquisitive (property related

offences), violent crime and anti-social behaviour to the minimum possible.

• Work with residents to reduce the fear of crime.

• Reduce the impact of alcohol and drug misuse • ‘Design out’ crime in residential and business

developments.

The safety of local people in a broader sense is also important. We will work to further improve our fire safety record as well as the safety of young people and vulnerable communities. We

Safe Communities

4 Top 10 mentions of what makes somewhere a good place to live: crime level (1); health services (2); clean streets (3); education provision (4); access to nature (5); level of traffic congestion (=6); parks and open spaces (=6); shopping facilities (7) and activities for teenagers (8) [2008 Place Survey]


“Being safe, feeling safe”

We aim to:Reduce crime including anti-social behaviour

�Reduce the level of serious acquisitive and violent crime

�Reduce the level of anti-social behaviour

Reduce fear of crime

Reduce the harm caused by alcohol and drugs

Improve the safety of local peopleImprove the safety of young people and vulnerable communities

Reduce the risk of death or injury from fires in the home and promote fire safety

Ensure the effective management of offenders

Improve road safety and reduce the numbers of people killed and seriously injured on our roads

Promote safe development‘Design out’ crime in residential and business developments

Sustain local resilience to violent extremism

will press for even further reductions in the numbers injured or killed in road accidents. We will consider national concerns over violent extremism in a local context and we will work

with all communities to resist extremist activity and promote community cohesion.

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• Health inequalities

• Skills development

• Support for older people

• Reduce fly-tipping

• Job opportunities

• Positive activites for young people

• Family wellbeing


Health and Wellbeing

Overall, Wycombe District residents enjoy good health and a high quality of life. In our 2008 survey, 84 per cent5 of residents said their health and wellbeing is good or very good.

Life expectancy is higher and rates of early deaths from heart disease, stroke and cancer and hospital stays due to alcohol are all lower than the England average.

However, there are health inequalities across our District. Residents have healthier lifestyles than the England average, but an estimated one in five adults is obese, one in six binge drinks, one in six smokes and only one in eight adults takes the recommended level of physical activity.

We want all residents, irrespective of background or where they live, to enjoy optimum health. Changes in the environment, lifestyles and behaviours are all key to support good health and wellbeing. We aim to achieve this by: • promoting active lifestyles;• focusing on prevention; and • intervening early to prevent future problems.

By 2026, a fifth of our residents will be over 65. This means an extra 2,600 people aged over 65 (15,600) and an extra 7,700 people aged over 75 (19,100). We must provide opportunities for older people to live active lifestyles and play an active part in our society. We must also ensure that older people have increased choice, affordable warmth and access to services so they can enjoy continued independence. For the over 75 age group this may require more intensive social and medical support services .

Children and young people are important and valued members of our community and contribute to making it a good place to live. We are committed to helping them reach their potential. We will work with the Children and Young People’s Trust to improve outcomes for all children and young people by closing the gap between the most advantaged and disadvantaged in our community. We want to encourage our children and young people to take part in decision making about the place where they live.

Good physical, mental and emotional health is important in enabling us to live our lives to the full. Poor health can limit our ability to play a full part in society and make the most of life. More support is

Buckinghamshire Sustainable Community Strategies 21

We aim to:Promote helathy lifestyles

Reduce obesity, especially in young people; promote physical activity; promote mental health; reduce smoking and improve the sexual health of young people under 25

Reduce health inequalitiesFocusing on improving health where it is needed most

Improve quality of life for an ageing population

Support and promote the Age Well project in Bucks; falls prevention work and end of life care

Help people take care of themselves and live independent lives, for example, by improving support for carers and those with physical, sensory or learning disabilities

Improve quality of life for children and young people

�Improve the quality of life for children and young people

�IRaise children and young people’s educational attainment in and out of school

Reduce homelessness

Create well connected communities Provide accessible, joined-up and tailored services that meet the needs of all sections of the community

“Healthier, happier and longer lives”

5 Percentage rounded up from 83.9%.

needed for people with mental health issues. This includes the unmet needs of those with dementia or depression. We also need to reduce homelessness. The needs of disabled residents will also have a higher profile to ensure they can access the services they need.

Our residents need to be supported by top quality public services, wherever they live. As the pressure on public finances increases over the next few years, it is crucial that partners across Buckinghamshire continue to develop new ways of working together. This will recognise the varying needs of different

communities and deliver better services at less cost. The aim is to ensure that all residents enjoy equal access to quality services, including those who live in rural areas.

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• Employment

• People actively involved

• Quality of the environment

• Housing

• Skills

• Substance misuse

• Anti-social behaviour

• Local facilities


Cohesive and Strong Communities

Wycombe District is the most ethnically diverse of the districts in Bucks. Its non-white population is greater than the national, regional and sub-regional average, with over an eighth of the population classed as non-white.

In our 2008 survey, 77 per cent of residents said that people from different backgrounds get on well together in their area. In 2006, 64 per cent of residents believed this.

We will promote understanding between different age groups, communities, faiths and cultures to encourage a bedrock of mutual respect. This will be achieved in part through improved provision of activities for young people, locally accessible facilities and support to prevent social isolation for older people or those living in rural areas.

A third of Wycombe District residents already play a very active part in their communities by regularly volunteering. The challenge is to sustain and build on this community spirit at a time of great changes in the population and demographic profile of the County. We will

continue to value and support the work of the voluntary and community sector so that it can play an even more prominent role in helping to connect people and build stronger communities in our District.

We will encourage communities to work with partnerships and find local solutions for local issues. One benefit of this will be to help people work together locally to prevent anti-social behaviour. The aim is to involve residents as much as possible in the decisions that affect them, so that their area is shaped and developed to reflect their views. Elected Members have an important role to play in supporting and guiding their local communities.

Wycombe District is by no means a poor area. We have no areas within the 10 per cent most deprived locations in the country, and only one area (part of Oakridge and Castlefield ward) is in the 25 per cent most deprived areas. However, many areas in our District are among the least deprived 10 per cent in the County.

Buckinghamshire Sustainable Community Strategies 23

Cohesive and Strong Communities“Strong, confident and

active communities”

We aim to:Sustain and grow a thriving voluntary and community sector

Support and encourage community participation and volunteering

Increase the confidence of communities Promote better community engagement and enable local people to have a say – especially seldom heard groups and young people

Support our communities to identify and deliver local solutions

Support our elected representatives in their community leadership role

Help all communities get on well together �Improve understanding between communities of age, faiths and culture so more residents feel that people of different backgrounds get on well together in their area

�Provide and promote positive activities for young people

Reduce levels of disadvantage Narrow the gap between communities by tackling specific areas of disadvantage

Reduce social isolation (for example, older people in rural areas / minority groups / vulnerable people and those without access to an internet connection

We must address the gap between the least deprived and the most deprived sections of our community to ensure that relative deprivation does not affect community cohesion.

For communities to get on together as well as possible there needs to be equal access to services and opportunities. We have some specific geographic areas as well as groups of people across our area that are disproportionately disadvantaged compared

to the population as a whole. We will tackle disadvantage wherever it occurs and raise up those communities who currently cannot reach their potential.

SUSTAINABLE ENVIRON

MEN

T SA

FE CO

MM

UNITIIES

T

HRI

VIN

G EC

ONOMY

HEALTH AND W

ELLB

EIN

G

COHESIVECOMMUNITIES

• Health inequalities

• Crime

• Homelessness

• Attractive environment

• Affordable housing

• Fear of crime


We all have a part to play in making Buckinghamshire a place we identify with and feel proud of.

We recognise that people have rights and responsibilities. Our Partnerships will respect and promote those rights, while at the same time encouraging personal responsibility. It is essential for individuals and communities to take positive action if our shared vision is to become a reality, as many improvements will require a combination of partnership work and individual lifestyle changes.

All the Buckinghamshire Local Strategic Partnerships are actively encouraging everyone in their areas to do something to help themselves and their local community, as this will directly help to achieve the outcomes in our Community Strategies. The following examples of individual actions would, if carried out by many people, make a significant contribution.

Could you do at least one new activity from the list to help?

l Take simple crime and fire prevention measures by locking doors and windows, fitting alarms, removing valuables from cars and security marking property.

l Join Neighbourhood Watch or other local watch schemes.

l Fit smoke alarms and regularly check the batteries to make sure the alarms are working.

l Adpot a healthy lifestyle by eating healthily, reduce smoking and drinking sensibly to improve physical and mental wellbeing

l Try to get at least half an hour of moderate exercise five times a week.

l Recycle as much household waste as possible and try to save energy around your home.

l Look out for neighbours, especially if they are elderly or frail.

l Join a local group or charity as a volunteer (ask a local volunteer centre for more information).

l Vote in elections and take part in local democracy.

l Support local shops, producers and businesses.

l Learn a new skill for work or pleasure.

l Walk, cycle or take public transport wherever possible.

l Help to keep your community clean and tidy.

This list is not comprehensive and we encourage individuals and communities to add their own ideas to suit their particular needs.

What each one of us can do to make our area a better place


Partnership working in Buckinghamshire

For more information on the Wycombe Strategic Partnership:

Please see the Wycombe District Council website, www.wycombe.gov.uk and from the menu on the left hand side of the page click on ‘council and democracy’, ‘corporate information’ and then ‘partnerships’ to see regular updates on our progress and to track the difference we are making to the lives of all who live and work here. For regular news on issues affecting the County-level Bucks Strategic Partnership, subscribe to our electronic magazine, ‘Buckinghamshire Together’ on www.buckinghamshiretogether.org.uk

• Action4Youth • Amersham and Wycombe College • Buckinghamshire Community Action • Buckinghamshire County Council • Buckinghamshire Economic and Learning

Partnership • Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service • Bucks Hospitals NHS Trust• Bucks New University • Buckinghamshire Primary Care Trust • Business Link Solutions

• 4C Partnership • Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Group

and Wycombe Watch• Thames Valley Police • The Priory Centre • Wycombe Area Access for All • Wycombe District Association of Local

Councils • Wycombe District Council • Wycombe Race Equality Council

The Wycombe Partnership includes representatives from:


For general queries: email [email protected]

website wycombe.gov.uk (council and democracy / corporate information / partnerships)

telephone 01494 421 982

or write to us at:

The Wycombe Partnership, Wycombe District Council, Policy and Research, Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 1BB.

BSP

promoting prosperity, tackling inequalities

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