The High Wycombe Town Committee met on Tuesday 8 September 2026 to discuss a range of issues affecting the town, including the Buckinghamshire Local Plan, the town's nighttime economy, and financial reports. Key decisions included the approval of funding for the Green Hill Crossing improvements and the High Wycombe Bus Station public art project, and a resolution to formally convey members' concerns about the town committee's collective voice on significant matters to the relevant chairs.

Buckinghamshire Local Plan

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a discussion about the Buckinghamshire Local Plan, which councillors expressed concern was not initially on the agenda. Councillor Chris Chilton, Chair of the Parking and Infrastructure Sub-Group, highlighted that the Local Plan is probably the most important thing that the Council will decide in our term over the next four years, outlining its impact on housing, schools, hospitals, and roads. Concerns were raised about the High Wycombe Town Committee's ability to formally respond to the consultation due to its status as an organ of Buckinghamshire Council, with members feeling that High Wycombe was at a distinct disadvantage compared to other towns with town councils that had employed planning professionals.

Following a strong show of hands from members wishing to discuss the Local Plan, a resolution was proposed and passed. This resolution noted members' concerns about the committee's remit and operating arrangements, and requested the Chair and Vice-Chair to convey these concerns to the Chairs of the Audit and Governance and Standard and General Purposes Committees, urging that the committee's remit be considered as part of the forthcoming constitution review. A further motion was passed expressing the committee's dissatisfaction with the Local Plan and its impact on High Wycombe.

Nighttime Economy

Jacqueline Ford, Economic Partnerships Lead, presented an update on the First Friday pilot for the nighttime economy. The initiative aims to shift perceptions of High Wycombe by normalising early evening activity through music, pop-up performances, and town centre animation. The pilot, which focuses on the areas around the Guildhall and Little Market House, has received in-principle funding of up to £20,000 for a six-month trial. While some members, like Councillor Julia Wassell, expressed concerns about the cost and perceived target audience, others, including Councillor Khalil Ahmed and Councillor Darren Hayday, applauded the efforts to revitalise the town centre. Councillor Darren Hayday shared a positive personal experience of visiting High Wycombe on a Saturday evening, noting the increased choice of restaurants and a more welcoming atmosphere. However, concerns were raised by Councillor Darren Hayday and others regarding public safety, including aggressive begging and drug-related activity, prompting a request for a plan from the police. The committee agreed to keep resilience and safety on the agenda, with a focus on vulnerable groups.

High Wycombe Town Committee Special Expenses Report

Fiorella Mugari, Head of Finance, presented the Special Expenses Report for Quarter 1 of the 2026/27 financial year. The report indicated a forecast net outturn position of £574,000, representing a forecast overspend of £154,000. This variance was attributed to the carry-forward of delayed works from the previous financial year, particularly in cemeteries, which would be funded from reserves. Councillor Chris Chilton expressed disappointment at the lack of representation from the cemeteries department and requested an update on a £60,000 parks overspend from the previous year. Concerns were also raised about the clarity of budget reporting, with a request for expenditure to be detailed by project rather than by broad headings.

High Wycombe Town Committee Priorities Update

Sophie Payne, Service Director for Culture, Sport and Leisure, provided an update on the committee's priorities. Two priorities, funding for Wycombe Life magazine and updating the committee's webpages, had been completed. Several projects remained in progress, including traffic calming measures, bulb and wildflower planting, and enhancements to Wycombe Arts Centre. The committee approved a £10,000 funding request for the Green Hill Crossing Improvement project and £3,600 for the High Wycombe Bus Station public art project. Councillor Julia Wassell raised concerns about the process for bringing forward Opportunity Bucks projects and the use of funds for public art on privately owned land. A proposal was supported for future funding applications to identify a Councillor sponsor to improve accountability.

Parking and Infrastructure Sub-Group Update

Councillor Chris Chilton, Chair of the Parking and Infrastructure Sub-Group, reported on the progress of new parking schemes. He stated that 74 new schemes had been discussed and approved, with an estimated cost of £240,000 from the available £300,000 budget. Councillor Chilton highlighted significant delays in previous parking projects and advocated for a smaller, more agile working group to accelerate delivery. He also mentioned the implementation of a SharePoint system for submitting requests for yellow line repainting.

Other Discussions

The committee also discussed the Cabinet Forward Plan and the Work Programme. Under the Work Programme, members agreed to add an update from We Make Wycombe to the agenda for the next meeting. There was also a discussion about the possibility of holding public question sessions, which would require a constitutional change. The issue of resilience in Wycombe, particularly in relation to extreme heat and supporting vulnerable residents, was also raised and agreed to be kept on the agenda. Concerns were also voiced about the diminishing provision of public toilets in the town centre.

The next meeting of the High Wycombe Town Committee was scheduled for Tuesday 24 November 2026.