This week in Buckinghamshire:

School Redevelopment Approved Amid Traffic Concerns

The West Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee convened this week and approved application 25/06099/FUL, concerning St Michael's Catholic School on Daws Hill Lane, High Wycombe. The application, submitted by John Graham Construction Ltd and The Department for Education, requests permission for the demolition of ten existing school buildings, refurbishment of one block, and construction of three replacement school buildings, along with access, landscaping, parking and associated infrastructure. You can read the agenda here.

• Traffic Woes: Councillor Lesley Clarke called in this application due to concerns about the Travel Management Plan, unresolved Neighbourhood Plan issues, traffic and infrastructure.
• Green Space Impact: A substantial portion of the application site is designated as Green Space under Policy DM12¹.
• Neighbourhood Support with Caveats: The Daws Hill Neighbourhood Forum supports the principle of the proposals but not without the inclusion of all the necessary improvements required to address the existing parking and traffic issues that have been outstanding since 2015.

The planning officer's report recommended that the committee approve the application, subject to conditions.

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing: Complaints Soar, Revocations Rise

The Licensing (Public Protection) Committee met this week, noting the annual review of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing for 2024/25. The review highlighted increases in licensed drivers, hackney carriage vehicles and private hire operators, alongside a decrease in private hire vehicles. The committee also acknowledged a high volume of complaints, predominantly related to driver behaviour, driving standards and parking issues. You can read the agenda here.

• Complaint Surge: 469 complaints were received, with the most common pertaining to behaviour (387), followed by driving standard (272), parking (224), and vehicle condition (181).
• Revocations Up: 40 driver licences were revoked, up from 26 last year, mainly for criminal behaviour such as violence, sexual assault, drink or drug driving, and mobile phone use.
• Automated Passenger Services (APS): The committee discussed the new APS Permitting Scheme, introduced under the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, which creates a legal framework for self-driving passenger services.

The increase in complaints and revocations raises concerns about the safety and quality of taxi and private hire services in Buckinghamshire.

Council Reviews Disability Facilities Grants and Education Health and Care Plans

The Cabinet met this week to discuss a range of topics, including updates to the Disability Facilities Grant and Housing Assistance Policy, and the Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) Waiting List Recovery Plan. You can read the agenda here.

• Disability Facilities Grants: The Cabinet considered a proposal to update the Disability Facilities Grant and Housing Assistance Policy.
• EHCP Waiting List: The Cabinet discussed the Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) Waiting List Recovery Plan. An EHCP² is a legal document that describes a child or young person’s special educational, health and social care needs and what support will be put in place to meet those needs.

The report pack includes confidential appendices relating to the Disability Facilities Grant Policy Update, which will be discussed in private due to the likely disclosure of exempt information.

Other Matters

• The Growth, Infrastructure & Housing Select Committee met to discuss town centre regeneration, the Active Places and Spaces Strategy, and performance monitoring. No video was provided. Read the agenda here.
• The Senior Appointments and Pay Committee met to discuss senior recruitment. No video was provided. Read the agenda here.
• The Buckinghamshire Council Schools Forum met to discuss the Dedicated Schools Grant revenue budget and to review the outcomes of recent consultations. No video was provided. Read the agenda here.

Upcoming Meetings

• Buckinghamshire Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 26 November 2025, to discuss a range of topics including street trading controls, reports from cabinet members, and several notices of motion. Read the agenda here.
• The High Wycombe Town Committee is scheduled to meet on 25 November 2025. The agenda includes a presentation on the Wycombe Vision, updates from Thames Valley Police and on town centre development, and reports on special expenses, the Community Infrastructure Levy, and place partnerships. Read the agenda here.
• The Finance and Resources Select Committee is scheduled to meet on 27 November 2025 to discuss the council's budget management, IT strategy, performance monitoring, and budget scrutiny process. Read the agenda here.
• The Health and Wellbeing Board is scheduled to meet to discuss the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, the Director of Public Health's annual report, and updates from the Integrated Care Boards on 27 November 2025. Read the agenda here.
• The Pension Fund Committee is scheduled to convene to discuss a range of topics, including scheme improvements, a McCloud update, the Carbon Metrics Report, and the Conflicts of Interest Policy on Monday 01 December 2025. Read the agenda here.
• Meetings of unknown committees are scheduled for Tuesday 02 December 2025, [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/88501), Thursday 04 December 2025, [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/88117), and Friday 05 December 2025, [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/88129). No further information is available about these meetings.

This week in Buckinghamshire:

Fire Service Cuts: Public Consultation on On-Call Fire Engine Reductions Sparks Controversy

The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority's plan to launch a public consultation on the future of the on-call fire service is facing scrutiny, with concerns raised about potential fire engine reductions and station closures. The Fire Authority convened an extraordinary meeting on November 12th to discuss the proposals, which could see the removal of seven fire engines and the closure of Great Missenden Fire Station and Stokenchurch Fire Station. You can read the agenda here.

• Underperforming System: The report pack states that the current on-call system is underperforming, with only one of 18 standard fire engines typically available during the day.
• Rural Firefighting Vehicles: The proposals include replacing standard on-call fire engines in Buckingham and Amersham with rural firefighting vehicles, designed for the increasing risks from extreme heat.
• No Staff Reduction? The report pack asserts that there are no intentions to reduce On-Call staff numbers, and that there are plans to increase staffing levels over the lifetime of the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) 2025-2030.

The report pack claims that the proposals are not intended to generate financial savings, but to improve the value for money of the On-Call service. As previously reported, these proposals have already caused controversy, with some councillors alleging that they contradict the previous Conservative-led Executive Committee's direction.

Beaconsfield Apartment Plan Sparks Density Debate - Again

The East and South Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee met on November 11th to discuss a planning application for the demolition of an existing dwelling and the erection of seven apartments at 2 Westfield Road, Beaconsfield. You can read the agenda here.

• Previous Refusal: This application follows a previously refused scheme, which was turned down because it would significantly increase the density of housing on the site to a level that would not reflect the prevailing density of development within the immediate locality.
• Residential Area of Exceptional Character: The report pack notes that the site is located within a Residential Area of Exceptional Character (RAEC) and a 'Woodlands' road.
• Local Objections: The Beaconsfield Town Council has objected to the proposal, stating that they do not feel that seven flats within the property are in keeping with the locality.
• Ecology Concerns: The council's Ecology Officer has said that the site lies within the 5.6km zone of influence of Burnham Beeches Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Councillor Jackson Ng said that committee scrutiny is appropriate to ensure the scheme demonstrably meets s135 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and that any proposed development which is not well designed is refused, especially where it fails to reflect local design policies and guidance. Councillor Adali has said that the planned flats are a clear departure from other developments in this area of town and would set a precedent which could change the character of the area substantially.

Council Reviews Public Health, Parking, and Finances

Buckinghamshire Council's cabinet met on Tuesday 11 November 2025 to discuss a range of topics, including the Director of Public Health's annual report, budget management, parking strategy, and the sale of surplus sites. You can read the agenda here.

• Director of Public Health's Annual Report: The cabinet discussed the Director of Public Health for Buckinghamshire's Annual Report 2025, titled Tomorrow's World - Health and Wellbeing in Buckinghamshire in 2045 .
• Financial Performance: The council's financial performance was reviewed, with discussions on the Q2 Budget Management Report 2025-26 and Q2 Capital Budget Adjustments and Reprofiling.
• Delivering the Parking Strategy: The cabinet discussed the Delivering the Parking Strategy – Parking Enforcement Operating Model .
• Sale of Surplus Sites: The council is considering the sale of surplus sites at High Wycombe, Aylesbury, Wing and Winslow.
• Princes Risborough Southern Road Link: The cabinet discussed the Princes Risborough Southern Road Link (PRSRL) and the Princes Risborough Expansion Area (PREA).

Other Matters

• The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority Executive Committee met on Wednesday 12 November 2025 to consider a recommendation regarding the Corporate Risk Management Policy and Framework, as well as reviewing performance management and budget monitoring reports. No video was provided. Read the agenda here.
• The Audit and Governance Committee convened to discuss treasury management, the council's statement of accounts, company governance, contract procedure rules, and the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023 on Wednesday 12 November 2025. No video was provided. Read the agenda here.
• The Senior Appointments and Pay Committee met on Thursday 13th November 2025 to discuss the Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS). No video was provided. Read the agenda here.

Upcoming Meetings

• The Buckinghamshire Council Schools Forum is scheduled to meet on Monday 17 November 2025 to discuss Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) budget monitoring and consultation outcomes. Read the agenda here.
• The Growth, Infrastructure & Housing Select Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 18 November 2025 to discuss town centre regeneration, the Active Places and Spaces Strategy, and performance monitoring. Read the agenda here.
• The Licensing (Public Protection) Committee of Buckinghamshire Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 18 November 2025 to discuss the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Annual Review 2024/25. Read the agenda here.
• The West Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 19 November 2025 to discuss a planning application for the redevelopment of St Michael's Catholic School in High Wycombe. Read the agenda here.
• A meeting of the Buckinghamshire Council Cabinet is scheduled for Wednesday 19 November 2025. Read the agenda here.
• The Senior Appointments and Pay Committee are scheduled to meet on Friday 21 November 2025 to discuss senior recruitment. Read the agenda here.
• Meetings of unknown committees are scheduled for Tuesday 25 November 2025, [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/87255), Wednesday 26 November 2025, [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/87257), and Thursday 27 November 2025, [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/87259), [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/87261). No further information is available about these meetings.

This week in Buckinghamshire:

Fire Service Cuts: Public Consultation on On-Call Fire Engine Reductions Proposed

The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority is considering significant changes to the on-call fire service, potentially impacting response times and public safety. At an extraordinary meeting scheduled for November 12th, the Authority will discuss launching a 10-week public consultation on proposals that could see the removal of seven fire engines and the closure of two stations. You can read the agenda here.

• Underperforming System: The report pack states that the current on-call system is underperforming, with only one of 18 standard fire engines typically available during the day.
• Station Closures: The proposals include permanently closing Great Missenden Fire Station and Stokenchurch Fire Station.
• No Staff Reduction? The report pack asserts that there are no intentions to reduce On-Call staff numbers, and that there are plans to increase staffing levels over the lifetime of the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) 2025-2030.
• Climate Change Risk: The report pack identifies climate change as a risk that the On-Call improvement programme will support, ensuring resources are appropriately located to respond to emerging environmental threats.

The report pack claims that the proposals are not intended to generate financial savings, but to improve the value for money of the On-Call service.

School Redevelopment in High Wycombe Faces Scrutiny Over Traffic Concerns

The West Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee is scheduled to meet on November 19th to discuss a planning application for the redevelopment of St Michael's Catholic School in High Wycombe. You can read the agenda here.

• Demolition and Construction: The proposal involves demolishing ten existing school buildings and constructing three new ones, along with new access routes, landscaping, and parking.
• Traffic Concerns: Councillor Lesley Clarke called in this application due to concerns about the Travel Management Plan, unresolved Neighbourhood Plan issues, traffic and infrastructure.
• Green Space Impact: A substantial portion of the application site is designated as Green Space under Policy DM12¹.
• Neighbourhood Support with Caveats: The Daws Hill Neighbourhood Forum supports the principle of the proposals but not without the inclusion of all the necessary improvements required to address the existing parking and traffic issues that have been outstanding since 2015.

The Daws Hill Neighbourhood Forum recommends that a formal consent for this development must include mandatory Conditions/ Obligations that ensure this is a 'sustainable' development and that all the aforementioned works required are to be implemented prior to commencing work on the school.

Beaconsfield Apartment Plan Sparks Density Debate

The East and South Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee are scheduled to meet on November 11th to discuss a planning application for the demolition of an existing dwelling and the erection of seven apartments at 2 Westfield Road, Beaconsfield. You can read the agenda here.

• Previous Refusal: This application follows a previously refused scheme, which was turned down because it would significantly increase the density of housing on the site to a level that would not reflect the prevailing density of development within the immediate locality.
• Residential Area of Exceptional Character: The report pack notes that the site is located within a Residential Area of Exceptional Character (RAEC) and a 'Woodlands' road.
• Local Objections: The Beaconsfield Town Council has objected to the proposal, stating that they do not feel that seven flats within the property are in keeping with the locality.
• Ecology Concerns: The council's Ecology Officer has said that the site lies within the 5.6km zone of influence of Burnham Beeches Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Councillor Adali has said that the planned flats are a clear departure from other developments in this area of town and would set a precedent which could change the character of the area substantially.

Other Matters

• Buckinghamshire Council's cabinet is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 11 November 2025 to discuss the Director of Public Health's annual report, budget management, parking strategy, and the sale of surplus sites. Read the agenda here.
• The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority Executive Committee are scheduled to meet on Wednesday 12 November 2025 to consider a recommendation regarding the Corporate Risk Management Policy and Framework, as well as reviewing performance management and budget monitoring reports. Read the agenda here.
• The Audit and Governance Committee is scheduled to convene to discuss treasury management, the council's statement of accounts, company governance, risk management, charity annual reports, contract procedure rules, and the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023 on Wednesday 12 November 2025. Read the agenda here.
• The Senior Appointments and Pay Committee are scheduled to meet on Thursday 13th November 2025 to discuss the Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS). Read the agenda here.
• The Buckinghamshire Council Schools Forum is scheduled to meet to discuss Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) budget monitoring and consultation outcomes on Monday 17 November 2025. Read the agenda here.

Upcoming Meetings

• The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority Executive Committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 12 November 2025 to consider a recommendation regarding the Corporate Risk Management Policy and Framework, as well as reviewing performance management and budget monitoring reports. Read the agenda here.
• The Audit and Governance Committee is scheduled to convene to discuss treasury management, the council's statement of accounts, company governance, risk management, charity annual reports, contract procedure rules, and the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023 on Wednesday 12 November 2025. Read the agenda here.
• The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority is scheduled to hold an extraordinary meeting on 12 November 2025, to discuss the future of the On-Call service and operational independence for the Chief Fire Officer. Read the agenda here.
• The Senior Appointments and Pay Committee are scheduled to meet on Thursday 13th November 2025 to discuss the Mutually Agreed Resignation Scheme (MARS). Read the agenda here.
• The Buckinghamshire Council Schools Forum is scheduled to meet to discuss Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) budget monitoring and consultation outcomes on Monday 17 November 2025. Read the agenda here.
• Meetings of unknown committees are scheduled for Tuesday 18 November 2025, [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/86473), [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/86477), [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/86478), Wednesday 19 November 2025, [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/86480), [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/86482), and Thursday 20 November 2025, [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/86484). No further information is available about these meetings.

This week in Buckinghamshire:

Aston Clinton Residents Win: 24-Hour Alcohol Sales Denied

Residents of Aston Clinton have successfully opposed a new premises licence application for Shell Aston Clinton, which sought permission to sell alcohol 24 hours a day. The Licensing (Premises) Sub-Committee met on Monday, October 20th, to consider the application, and ultimately rejected it. You can read the agenda here.

• Resident Power: Eight valid objections were received, citing concerns about anti-social behaviour, noise, litter, underage sales, and public safety.
• Licensing Objectives Upheld: The sub-committee agreed that granting the licence would undermine the four licensing objectives¹, potentially leading to increased crime, nuisance, and risks to children.
• Community Relief: The decision will come as a significant relief to residents in Aston Clinton, particularly those living near the petrol station.

This outcome demonstrates the power of community engagement in local decision-making.

Housing Development Approved for Ashwells Field Despite Concerns

The West Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee met on Wednesday, October 22nd, to discuss planning applications in the Buckinghamshire area, including a controversial application for a 106-unit residential development at Ashwells Field in Tylers Green. You can read the agenda here.

• Gomm Valley Expansion: The application, submitted by Hill Residential, seeks to fulfil the requirements of a previous outline planning permission for the site, which forms part of the Gomm Valley and Ashwells residential led housing allocation.
• Affordable Housing Component: 33 of the dwellings will be shared ownership, and 6 will be custom build, fulfilling requirements of the outline permission and the Section 106 Legal Agreement.
• Parish Council Concerns: Despite concerns raised by the Parish Council and Ward Councillors, the committee approved the application, stating that it accords with the development plan and relevant material considerations.

This decision will pave the way for a significant expansion of housing in the Tylers Green area.

Council to Dispose of Property Company Assets and Wind Down Operations

Buckinghamshire Council's cabinet met on Tuesday, October 21st, to discuss options for Consilio Property Ltd, a company wholly owned by the council. You can read the agenda here.

• Financial Concerns: As previously reported, Consilio Property Limited (CPL) was incorporated in 2017 with the aim of developing building projects and managing real estate.
• Strategic Shift: The cabinet approved a recommendation to begin marketing the Tatling End site owned by CPL for disposal, transfer the remaining assets and liabilities of CPL to the Council, and wind up CPL in an orderly manner.
• Transparency Concerns: Further discussion of this topic was held in a closed session, due to the discussion of information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person .

The decision to wind down CPL raises questions about the council's future approach to property development and investment.

Other Matters

• The West Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee met on Wednesday, October 22nd, to discuss planning applications in the Buckinghamshire area, including an application for the erection of terrace of 3 x 2 bed dwellinghouses and ancillary works including modified vehicular access, following demolition of garaging at a garage site on Hicks Farm Way in High Wycombe. You can read the agenda here.
• The Buckinghamshire Council Cabinet met on Tuesday, October 21st, to consider a report on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. You can read the agenda here.

Upcoming Meetings

• Meetings of unknown committees are scheduled for Tuesday 04 November 2025, [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/84653), Wednesday 05 November 2025, [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/84658), [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/84660), [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/84655), Thursday 06 November 2025, [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/84663), [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/84665), and Friday 07 November 2025, [http://opencouncil.network/meetings/84667). No further information is available about these meetings.