Representing the local community

An important role of the Council is to represent the views and concerns of the local community and respond to proposals which might impact on them.

• Planning proposals can be a cause of concern and in the case of planning applications  the Parish Council strives to ensure the views of local residents are reflected to the planning Authority (Chiltern District Council). Planning matters are regularly dealt with at meetings of the parish council, but when urgent issues arise a meeting of the Planning Committee can be called at short notice. The Council responds in writing to Chiltern District Council on local planning applications on which it has concerns and, where appropriate, makes representations at District Council Planning Committee meetings. Equally important is drawing potential infringements of development policies to the Planning Enforcement  team at the District Council.
• Parish Councillors represent the residents’ and parish organisations’ interests at meetings with local authorities. Meetings are held regularly with councillors and officers of Buckinghamshire Council which from April 2020 took over the responsibilities of Bucks County Council and Chiltern District Council. The Parish Council meets on a regular basis with Buckinghamshire Council Members at Parish Council meetings and with Members and Officers at the Chesham and Villages Community Board.
• Parish Councillors also regularly meet with the Chesham Neighbourhood Police Team to discuss local crime prevention measures and recent incidents. The Police also review vehicle speed data obtained from roadside monitoring undertaken at various points in the parish by the Council.  The Chiltern Community Forum meets quarterly to review community questionnare surveys, recent crime statistics, and set police priorities for the next three months across the Chiltern Police Area with the Police Inspector.
• From time to time the Parish Council is called upon to respond to consultations on a range of more major proposals. Examples include High Speed 2, Luton Airport expansion and NATS Airspace proposals. More recently, the Heathrow Expansion plan and the Local Plan. See the Consultations section.

Local facilities

The Council maintains the Springal Hill Allotments , owns The Green at Buckland Common, and pays for dog waste bins at St Leonards Playing Fields and Hawridge and Cholesbury Cricket Ground. The Council also maintains noticeboards. the millennium seat in Cholesbury and benches on Buckland Common. A defibrillator has been installed at Cholesbury Village Hall.

Devolved Services

The Parish Council has an agreement with Buckinghamshirey Council to provide certain limited transportation-related services in return for an annual grant. These services include; signpost cleaning, roadside hedgerow and specified footpath inspection. Roadside verge grass-cutting remains the responsibility of Buckinghamshire Council. In addition, the Council has been awarded one-off funds for the refurbishment of the heritage waymark signposts at Hawridge Bottom and on Swan Lane.

Community wellbeing

The Parish Council recognises it has an important role in improving community well-being. This is achieved in a number of ways. For example, by:-

• working with other community groups to protect vulnerable residents, such as the Covid-19 emergency.
• monitoring vehicle speeds at key points across the parish council area and liaising with the police over results.
• providing grants to the village halls and funding the installation of a cardiac defibrillator at Cholesbury Village Hall,
• pressing for improved road maintenance, retention of winter gritting and snow clearance
• campaigning for the installation of Superfast Broadband,
• securing funding for conserving the rural village environment.
• obtaining grants for local community organisations, including the ‘village halls’, H&C Cricket Club, the Hawridge and Cholesbury Commons Preservations Society, Toddlers Group at St Leonards PH and Good Neighbours Group gentle exercise classes for older adults at Cholesbury VH.