Council approves balanced budget for coming financial year
Buckinghamshire Council has agreed a balanced budget for the coming year despite increasing financial challenges brought about by national government decisions which mean funds raised locally are being diverted away from Buckinghamshire to other local areas around the country.
The final budget was voted on by full council at a meeting today (Wednesday 25 February). It is a legal requirement for councils to put forward a balanced budget, but it has warned it is doing so under increasingly difficult national funding conditions. As a result of the government’s ‘Fair Funding Review’, Buckinghamshire is seeing a reduction in funding of £44.5m as the Government diverts resources away from the county to other geographical areas with higher modelled needs.
The council has made significant savings to run a balanced budget, totalling £116.8 million in its first five years of operation as a unitary authority. A further £70.5m of savings is expected to be delivered by the end of 2025/26. Additional savings totalling £109m have been identified over the next three years, to allow the council to keep investing in local services as well as providing the critical statutory support services such as social care.
This means that in order to set a balanced budget the total savings made since Buckinghamshire became a unitary authority in 2020 will total £296m, the equivalent of 67% of the council’s budget since 2020.
Some confirmation of some additional grants from the government has been received, however, these are ringfenced grants that can only be spent within certain areas and do not match the funding lost via the Fair Funding Review.
The basic rate of council tax in Buckinghamshire will rise by 2.99 per cent from 1 April 2026, and the Adult Social Care precept will increase by 2 per cent, meaning a total rise of 4.99 per cent, or an extra £1.86 per week for the average Band D home during 2026/27.
Connect to Work scheme launches to help residents secure good-quality employment
Buckinghamshire Council is delighted to announce the launch of the ‘Connect to Work’ scheme which is being delivered by Intuitive Thinking.
Connect to Work is a nationally funded scheme and will support residents with long-term health conditions, disabilities, or those facing complex barriers to employment (including carers, veterans, and ex-offenders), to find and sustain employment.
Working with Intuitive Thinking, which have many years’ experience in delivering supported employment programmes, means residents will be able to work with a dedicated employment specialist who will identify their skills, experience, wants and needs, and then tailor their work search accordingly.
The scheme not only supports people who are looking for work, but also those who are already employed and facing challenges due to a disability or health issue. This includes help to stay in work or to return after a period of ill-health. Support continues beyond starting a job, with ongoing coaching, training and advice to help residents remain in work and progress in their careers.
Register interest.
Council urges drivers to show respect for school crossing patrollers
Buckinghamshire Council is reminding motorists to respect the essential work carried out by the county’s school crossing patrollers as they help children and families reach school safely each day.
Often known as lollipop men and women, Buckinghamshire’s 60 patrollers are out in all weathers, morning and afternoon during term time, using their STOP signs to ensure safe passage across busy roads. While most drivers stop as required, a minority continue to display abusive or dangerous behaviour, putting both patrollers and pedestrians at risk.
Between the start of the 2021 school year and November 2024, there were 39 reported incidents involving drivers failing to stop or behaving inappropriately. These included four injury incidents, 29 near misses and several verbal abuse reports. Actual numbers are likely to be higher as many incidents go unreported. Since 1 December 2024 to 31 Jan 2026, there have been a further 8 reported incidents, all of which were near misses.
When patrollers do report issues to the police, witness evidence is often needed, so the council is urging parents and carers to come forward should they see unsafe behaviour.
School crossing patrollers have a legal right to stop traffic for anyone needing help to cross the road. They hold the same authority as police officers when displaying their STOP sign. Failing to stop is an offence that could lead to a £1,000 fine, three penalty points or even disqualification. Patrollers are encouraged to report any driver who refuses to stop.
Examples of problematic behaviour include drivers using abusive language, failing to stop even when the patroller is already in the road, swerving around patrollers, blocking pavements and parking irresponsibly - particularly on ‘School Keep Clear’ markings and bus stops.
Drivers are reminded to:
- Slow down when you see a patrol warning sign or flashing lights and be prepared to stop.
- Stop when the patroller displays the STOP sign.
- Be patient and do not move forward until instructed.
- Avoid parking on zig‑zag lines, bus stops or anywhere that obstructs the patroller’s view or movements.
Reporting incidents
To report any incidents involving School Crossing Patrollers, residents can contact:
Aylesbury Vale and Wycombe (West): Corinne Randall – 01296 383 432
Chiltern & South Bucks and Wycombe (East): Georgina Longley – 01494 586 639
We have a date that we want you to put in your calendars. 1-7 June will be Neighbourhood Watch Week – the theme this year will be “communi-tea”. Yes, you read that correctly, it’s a mixture of community and tea party, and who doesn’t love a tea party? Find out more about what we have planned here.
Highlights this month
- Our impact report shows the difference we’ve made across England and Wales
- Spotlight on Hawthorn and Rosegrove groups
- Watch our webinar on reducing violence against women and girls in our communities
- Our Chair Ian Bretman blogs on the plans shaping Neighbourhood Watch until 2030
Full Report Here
This is a message from Val McPherson Area Neighbourhood Watch Representative and Administrator for South Bucks and Chilterns.
Many of our volunteers who have started Neighbourhood Watch schemes want to live, work and encourage a safer and stronger neighbourhood.
Setting up a Neighbourhood Watch scheme where you live can make a big difference. It is a visible step forward to building a safer community bringing neighbours and residents together with the clear message that crime and anti-social behaviour is not welcome here.
Running a Watch scheme is not a major commitment, as it takes about a couple of hours a month. A scheme can be as small as 5 houses, or cover a Road/Street/Drive of 20 to 50 houses, or a block of flats or it can be a larger area covering a hamlet, or even extend into a village or small town.
One to one advice and guidance is given to all volunteers as well as providing free NW stickers, NW street signs and crime prevention information.
So come on and join making it safer for you, your home, family and local community
Please follow these steps:
- Go to www.ourwatch.org.uk and sign up
- Click on the tab “Find my local NW” and do the postcode search to either join a local scheme or set a scheme up yourself.
- If no local scheme visible where you live simply scroll down and map your road. Submit to apply to set up the new scheme and I will be in touch.
- Or if you prefer you can contact me first to discuss by emailing valpranddnhwatch@aol.com
I look forward to hearing from you.
