Community Engagement - Current Status

Two areas of Wycombe will be used to pilot a new partnership-driven scheme designed to create closer contact between authorities and residents.

Instead of engaging with communities independently of each other, authorities such as the county and district councils, and police, fire & rescue and primary care trust, will now all meet together.

The rural area of Stokenchurch-West Wycombe-Lane End, along with the town-based Downley-Disraeli community, will be trialling this new kind of Pathfinder (partnership) meeting in April.

"Inviting all the key local authorities to a community meeting will enable a larger number of local issues to be aired and a wide range of opinions to be heard," said Nick Cave, of the Pathfinder team. "The result should be quicker, more efficient resolutions to any matters raised."

A second Pathfinder-led initiative also being rolled out this spring is the New Deal for Buckinghamshire.  Through this, the county and district councils will devolve responsibility for certain services, such as grass and hedge cutting, minor road repairs, park maintenance and community safety schemes, to town and parish councils.

"By working closely in partnership, the local councils offer an excellent means of shaping the decisions that affect their communities," explained Nick. "Local councils would identify those services they can best deliver so making them even better value for money."

For more information call 01494 421980 or email Charles_Meekings@wycombe.gov.uk