The High Wycombe Town Committee met on 12 May 2026 to discuss a range of priorities and strategies for the town. Key decisions included the renewal of a £450,000 spending limit for the coming year, the approval of funding for various community projects, and the endorsement of a vision and strategy for High Wycombe that aligns with Buckinghamshire Council's corporate and economic growth plans. The committee also discussed plans for a neighbourhood plan and initiatives to boost the town's nighttime economy and market activities.

Priorities Update and Vision for High Wycombe

The committee discussed the progress of High Wycombe's priorities and its future vision and strategy. Councillor Ed Gemmell, Chairman of the High Wycombe Town Committee, reported on a productive meeting with the leadership of Buckinghamshire Council, where priorities totalling between £181,500 and £236,500 were positively received. Several specific projects were confirmed:

• Traffic Calming Measures: £6,000 per ward has been agreed for traffic calming measures, with flexibility for wards to determine the most appropriate interventions and collaborate on resources.
• Bulbs and Wildflowers: Ward budgets for bulb and wildflower planting have been agreed.
• Wickham Life and Gaia: Both organisations will receive £10,000, with an expectation that Gaia will aim for a return on investment and potentially repay the contribution.
• Member of Staff: The allocation of £28,000 for a member of staff has been agreed and is progressing.
• Neighbourhood Plan: The concept of a neighbourhood plan has been accepted, with a potential budget of £50,000 to £100,000.
• High Wycombe Town Committee Information on Bucks Council Website: The idea of improving the council's website information for High Wycombe has been approved, though no specific budget was allocated.

A significant decision was the renewal of the £450,000 spending limit for the coming 12 months, which was set by the previous committee. Councillor Gemmell emphasised the collaborative spirit of Team Wycombe, highlighting that the progress made was a result of working together across political divides and wards.

The vision and strategy for High Wycombe, developed over ten months, was presented to the leadership and chief executive of Buckinghamshire Council and received a warm reception. This vision aligns with the Buckinghamshire Corporate Plan and Economic Growth Plan, focusing on prosperity, environment, stronger communities, and protecting the vulnerable. Key areas for work within the vision include the economy and jobs, environment, public realm, youth and education, visitor numbers, and green spaces.

Specific initiatives within the vision include:

• Night-time Economy: This was widely accepted as a focus area.
• Youth: Addressing youth needs was a priority, stemming from resident feedback. Suggestions include coordinating clubs and events, reviving youth clubs, and promoting sports and cultural competitions. There is also a focus on improving access to opportunities for children in state schools, particularly concerning grammar school admissions, and familiarisation with the 11-plus exam.
• Trees: The council's commitment to retaining or relocating trees will be mirrored in High Wycombe, with plans for increased tree planting and potential ward budgets for this purpose.
• Health: The committee sees an opportunity with the NHS acquiring a local building for a training centre and potential community facilities, aiming to coordinate efforts with existing council health initiatives.

Councillor Hazel Arthur-Hewitt raised a concern about the emphasis on equal access to grammar schools, suggesting that supporting secondary schools more broadly might be a better approach. Councillor Julia Wassell voiced concerns that the vision focused too much on glitzy headlines rather than addressing pressing issues of deprivation, inequality, and poverty faced by residents, citing struggles with council tax and childcare allowances. Councillor Chris Chilton supported Julia Wassell's points, emphasising the need for the town committee to be responsive to residents' immediate needs while also acknowledging the importance of a broader vision.

The committee indicated a general agreement to propose that the vision and strategy be presented to Cabinet for further consideration.

Neighbourhood Plan Update

The committee accepted the principle of moving forward with a neighbourhood plan for High Wycombe. A budget of £50,000 to £100,000, potentially funded from Section 106 (S106) monies, was discussed. The process will involve the formation of a neighbourhood forum, which the High Wycombe Town Committee will help to catalyse. This forum will be responsible for developing the plan, which will then be subject to Buckinghamshire Council's planning authority review, an inspector's assessment, and a resident referendum.

Councillor Julia Wassell expressed concerns about the vagueness of the costings and advocated for a more grassroots, democratised approach, fearing that the process could be dominated by articulate individuals from affluent areas. Councillor Lesley Clarke OBE disagreed, supporting the need for a neighbourhood plan and a structured approach, citing positive experiences with a neighbourhood forum in Dawes Hill.

Councillor Trevor Snaith raised concerns about the lack of transparency regarding development plans for the Eastern Quarter of High Wycombe, stating that elected representatives and those involved in creating a neighbourhood plan should have access to all relevant information. Councillors Jacqueline Ford and Lesley Clarke OBE echoed these concerns, highlighting the need for better information sharing and transparency, even for commercially sensitive information.

Special Expenses Reserves Update

Wendy Morgan-Brown, Head of Partnerships & Communities, presented an update on the Special Expenses Reserves. The committee noted that £166,500 to £240,500 had been allocated to eleven agreed priorities, with a further £450,000 being recommended for renewal for the coming year. The report detailed a list of further priorities for consideration, including support for institutions like the Wycombe Museum and Chiltern Rangers, improvements to town entry points, play area upgrades, and additional grass cutting.

A discussion ensued regarding the process for submitting and approving new projects. Councillor Julia Wassell advocated for projects to be voted through in principle immediately, followed by one-to-one meetings with officers to discuss rationale and funding. Councillor Mazamal Hussain suggested dedicating more time to discussing these priorities. Councillor Arman Alam proposed including a footpath around Booker Recreational Ground in the next set of priorities.

Concerns were raised about the lack of costings for many proposed projects. Councillor Trevor Snaith emphasised the need for financial figures to be included, and Wendy Morgan-Brown confirmed that officers would liaise with services to obtain costings for Wickham-wide projects, while ward members would be responsible for providing cost estimates for ward-specific proposals.

Councillor Chris Chilton highlighted the importance of one-to-one meetings between councillors and officers to clarify project scope and costs, a process that had been agreed previously but had not yet been fully implemented. There was a general agreement to explore a process where officers would hold meetings with councillors over the next two to four weeks to discuss projects, followed by offline review meetings for councillors.

Councillor Hazel Arthur-Hewitt raised concerns about a lack of joined-up communication regarding projects for the Wycombe Museum, noting that multiple funding streams were being pursued without full awareness of each other. Councillor Chris Chilton also raised a specific issue regarding a proposed CCTV and lighting project near the cemetery and museum, which had been missed from the priority list. Following discussion, there was an indication that this project would be resubmitted and added to the list for consideration.

Nighttime Economy Discussion

Jacqueline Ford, Economic Partnerships Lead, presented ideas for developing High Wycombe's nighttime economy. She highlighted that the current economy is functional in the early evening, with a mix of dining, cultural, and leisure activities. The perception, however, often focuses solely on alcohol-related activities.

Ford proposed three pilot areas for development:

1. Messaging and Visibility: Improving how activities are communicated to normalise High Wycombe as a place with evening offerings beyond individual venues.
2. Animation Tests: Delivering small-scale, early-evening events and activities that build on existing calendars and can be scaled up.
3. Visibility Nudge: Enhancing signage and communication to make it easier for people to discover what's happening in the town.

The committee expressed enthusiasm for these ideas. The committee indicated support for further development of these proposals, with a view to bringing a more fleshed-out programme back in June.

High Wycombe Market Update

Jacqueline Ford also provided an update on High Wycombe Market. The Tuesday market is seeing traders return, with interest from new participants, although converting interest into regular traders remains a challenge. The Sunday market, which launched its 2026 season on 3 May, is running monthly until December and has already secured Christmas bookings.

A new initiative for young traders (aged 16-30) has been launched in partnership with the National Market Traders' Federation (NMTF), offering a pathway to regional and national finals. This is the first such initiative in Buckinghamshire. The market is also exploring introducing a twilight market and re-establishing a traditional farmers' market, aligning with the council leader's ambition to support the rural economy. Funding limitations were noted, particularly for High Wycombe compared to Aylesbury.

Councillor Hazel Arthur-Hewitt expressed interest in promoting the initiative for young traders to local craftspeople and suggested exploring ways to fill market stalls more effectively. The committee also discussed the potential for extending youth enterprise initiatives to market stalls.

Parking and Infrastructure Sub-Group Update

Councillor Chris Chilton, Chairman of the Parking and Infrastructure Sub-Group, provided an update on the group's work. The sub-group has a list of member requests for new parking restrictions and is also compiling a list of existing yellow lines and markings that need redoing. Approximately £300,000 of funding remains from the High Wycombe Parking Review. The parking team is expected to provide an update in two weeks on whether all requested measures can be implemented within the available budget.

Councillor Lesley Clarke OBE raised concerns about outstanding yellow line work on the High Street island, which has been ongoing for several years. Councillor Mazamal Hussain praised the work of Jared Peart, Head of Parking, for his responsiveness. Councillor Hazel Arthur-Hewitt inquired about the potential for the town committee to buy in time for parking enforcement services for specific events or peak times, and also raised concerns about the loss of parking spaces at Eastern Street car park and the adequacy of alternative parking. Councillor Chilton confirmed that enforcement would be discussed with the Enforcement Manager at the next meeting and that the Infrastructure and Parking Group is open to all members. Councillor Trevor Snaith requested a populated list of proposed repainting jobs to be shared.

Cabinet Forward Plan and Work Programme

The committee noted the Cabinet/Leader Forward Plan for May and June 2026.

The Work Programme was discussed, with suggestions for future agenda items including:

• A discussion on establishing a webpage and social media presence for the High Wycombe Town Committee.
• Information on the use of Article 4 Directions to manage Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).
• Proposals on how the committee can submit views on planning applications for the unparished area.
• A discussion on inconsistencies between officers' and members' interpretations of parking standards in planning applications.
• The committee's engagement with the Buckinghamshire Local Plan.
• Further priorities for expenditure from the HWTC Special Expenses Reserve.
• An update on the progress of agreed projects, distinguishing between those already funded and those awaiting funding.
• An update on the Infrastructure and Parking Sub-Group's work.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 23 June 2026 at 7 pm.