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BULLETIN FOR BURNHAM NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH COORDINATORS TO FORWARD TO THEIR MEMBERS (and for representatives of other community groups to cascade down to their members)
(Items to me by Thursday evenings please!)

Please update me if you change your e-mail address !

burnhamneighbourhoodwatch@gmail.com

Wendy Strathdee
Area NHW Coordinator, Burnham

RECOMMENDATION NEEDED PLEASE !

One of our members is seeking a reliable bathroom wall and floor tiler. Recommendations to me please at: burnhamneighbourhoodwatch@gmail.com and I will pass them on. Thank you .

WORKSHOP ADVICE - WORTH A READ AFTER THIS WEEK'S SNOWY CONDITIONS.

News from Buckinghamshire County Council

18 January 2019

Free online workshop reminds drivers of winter road safety essentials

A free online winter driving workshop has been launched to help drivers prepare for driving in winter conditions. Developed by road safety officers at Buckinghamshire County Council it covers the challenges that winter weather can cause.

The Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transportation, Mark Shaw, explained: "this innovative workshop is very thorough and contains loads of useful advice for drivers of all vehicles. It only takes about ten minutes and is totally free to use.

"We’ve been lucky with the milder winter weather so far this year but there are some icy nights and frosty mornings, so we want everyone to take the time to do this workshop and arrive safely, wherever they’re going."

The workshop is intended to ensure road users come away with memorable new tips and facts to help them drive more safely. It can be accessed by searching ‘winter driving workshop’ on the Buckinghamshire County Council website, or here: http://buckinghamshire.edrivingsolutions.com/ModuleList.aspx

ENDS

MY BUCKS MAGAZINE:

The January edition of the County's magazine is available via this link:

https://mybucks.buckscc.gov.uk/january-2019/mybucks/welcome-to-your-january-mybucks

PLEASE NOTE IF YOU NEED TO EMAIL STAFF AT SOUTH BUCKS OR CHILTERN DISTRICT COUNCIL: .

From Monday 21 January 2019 all emails sent to and from officers/staff at Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Council will be joint and in the following format -firstname.secondname@chilternandsouthbucks.gov.uk

Please be assured that this new email address format is genuine and your message will get to the intended person at either Chiltern or South Bucks District Councils.

SCHOOL PERFORMANCE TABLES

For those interested in the performance of Bucks schools this week's published results for secondary schools are available via this link

.https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/schools-by-type?step=default&table=schools&region=825&geographic=la&for=secondary

The Safe Place Scheme

The Safe Place scheme was launched in Buckinghamshire in 2012, and has built a network of suitable venues, such as local shops and restaurants, where staff will give help, assistance and reassurance to vulnerable people and their carers or anyone who finds themselves in challenging situations.

What is the Safe Place scheme?
The scheme helps vulnerable people deal with any incident that takes place when they are out and about in the community, for example, being subjected to harassment or bullying. Above all, the scheme aims to help vulnerable people lead independent lives and feel safe whilst out in Bucks.

How does the scheme work?
A sticker in the window of a business identifies the premises as a safe place.

A vulnerable person may carry a safe place contact card that they can show to a business; however you do not have to have a card to seek assistance from those businesses supporting the scheme.

What will businesses be expected to do?
If a vulnerable person seeks help, members of staff would be expected to make a phone call if necessary, provide a temporary safe haven for vulnerable people and also to reassure them and keep them safe until help and support arrives.

Who will use the scheme?
A number of agencies working in the local area will identify vulnerable people who could benefit from the scheme; someone with a physical or learning disability, an illness or severe medical condition or the elderly, although anyone can seek help if they are feeling vulnerable at that point in time.

How can I get involved?
If you own or manage a business and would like to become a safe place, or if you know of someone who would benefit from the scheme, please contact the Chiltern District Council and South Bucks District Council’s Community Safety Team on 01494 586535, or email communitysafety@chiltern.gov.uk.

Anyone who would like a card to carry around giving their emergency contact details can contact the Community Safety team on 01494 586535 or email on communitysafety@chiltern.gov.uk

There's more information about the Safe Place scheme at:
www.chiltern.gov.uk/safeplacescheme and www.southbucks.gov.uk/safeplacescheme

.

News Release
21 January 2019

Nominations now open for South Bucks' Chairman's Community and Volunteering Awards 2019

South Bucks District Council is inviting nominations for the annual Chairman's Community and Volunteering Awards which celebrates local volunteers who give their time freely to help others in their community.

We are looking for nominations for both the Adult and the Young Persons categories. Criteria can be found on the Council's website at www.southbucks.gov.uk/ChairmansAwards2019.

The awards are kindly sponsored by GLL, our leisure providers at Beacon Sports Centre and Evreham Sports Centre. Winners of the awards will receive a 12 month membership at the centres, runners up will receive a six month membership.

Chairman of South Bucks District Council, Councillor Wendy Matthews says: "These awards highlight the outstanding achievements by volunteers and community groups working tirelessly in our community for the benefit of others. We're very grateful to the hundreds of unsung heroes who selflessly give up their time to make a positive difference to individuals and the communities in South Bucks. This year marks the 13th year of the awards. I hope you will take the time to make a nomination so that we can say thank you."

For further details please email community@chilternandsouthbucks.gov.uk or call 01895 837306.

The closing date for nominations is Friday 15 March 2019 with the award ceremony being held on Thursday 11 April 2019 at South Bucks Council Offices, Capswood, Denham, UB9 4LH.

News from Buckinghamshire County Council

17 January 2019

Scammer jailed and loses driving licence for preying on vulnerable

A ruthless criminal who even drove one of his victims to a bank to get money for the shoddy work he carried out on their property, has been jailed and had his driving licence seized. The conviction follows an investigation by Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards who were alerted to the original case by contacts in the local community and subsequently found the two other victims targeted by the same fraudster.

Edward 'Ned' O'Reilly, aged 18, from Great Billington in Bedfordshire, was convicted after pleading guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation under section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006. At his sentencing at Aylesbury Crown Court last week (9 January), the court heard how O'Reilly, trading under the business names of O'Reilly Cleaning Services and Castles Roofing and Building Services, conned three victims in Steeple Claydon between 14 and 21 June 2017.

O'Reilly, who was 17 years old at the time, claimed over £15,000 in total for the roofing work he carried out at the three addresses. However examination by an independent, expert witness valued the total for all the works at just £90. The work carried out was deemed to either not have been needed at all or be of no value due to the poor workmanship. Two of the three victims involved were identified as vulnerable adults.

O'Reilly even drove one of his victims to the bank afterwards in order to get the money for the job and then took them for a coffee.

Sentencing O'Reilly, Judge Francis Sheridan passed on a custodial sentence for the 3 counts: Count 1 - 13 months imprisonment; Count 2 - 7 months imprisonment concurrent; Count 3 - 2 months imprisonment concurrent. Total - 13 months imprisonment.

Making use of all powers available to the court in such cases, as the defendant had driven one of his victims to the bank to claim his payment, Judge Sheridan also disqualified O'Reilly from driving for 15 months. If a vehicle is used for the purpose of a crime the courts have the power to disqualify the driver to ensure it is as difficult as possible for them to re-offend.

In summing up, Judge Sheridan praised the quality of the work by Trading Standards in preparing the case for court, describing the case summary as 'an outstanding piece of work'.

Trading Standards officers are continuing to work on the case with a view to attempting to recover some of the money lost by the victims, ensuring O'Reilly doesn't benefit financially from his crimes.

Speaking after the verdict, Councillor Noel Brown, Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health said: "Scammers of this kind simply won't be tolerated in Buckinghamshire. This man preyed on some of the more vulnerable members of our community in a bid to line his own pockets and even had the gall to drive one of his victims to the bank in a guise of being helpful when in reality he was out to con them.

"Protecting all our residents from crime and particularly safeguarding the most vulnerable members of our community is a high priority in Buckinghamshire and our Trading Standards team works tirelessly to investigate dishonest traders and bring them to justice but we often need your help to know where it is happening."
He continued: "Rogue Traders often deliberately target vulnerable people, as they know they are less likely to report it. Cases like this are often only brought to light by close contacts in the community and people looking out for each other. We would encourage friends and neighbours to keep an eye out for any vulnerable people in their local community and to report anything suspicious."

Trading Standards issue the following guidance:

Rogue traders can appear as being polite and charming in order to get work, but this soon changes once they have your money. They often put pressure on people to make quick decisions and only take cash so they cannot be traced by Trading Standards and the Police.
Never assume a doorstep caller is a legitimate business, just because they have vehicles with sign writing on, or the workers are wearing smart uniforms. More and more dishonest traders are blending in with the honest hard working tradesmen, making them difficult to spot.
Before agreeing to any work, your local Trading Standards team recommend that you:

Read reviews of traders if possible.
Ask at least three approved traders for quotes.
Always get a detailed written quotation/contract.
Never pay up front and never pay cash.
Say no to doorstep sellers.
Ask your neighbours, family or friends for personal recommendations of builders who have worked for them and carried out a good job.

If you are in any doubt please call us via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on: 03454 04 05 06

News from Buckinghamshire County Council

21 January 2019

Who is Your 2019 Dignity Champion?

If you could publicly thank someone for the support they provided to you or a loved one who would that be…?

Bucks County Council are launching their 6^th annual Dignity In Care Awards to search for the best of the best in the county and to help you say a great big thank you.

With thousands of people being cared for in Bucks by family, friends or professional health and wellbeing teams, there are always those who go above and beyond. Your job is simply to nominate and say what makes them special. (You can nominate here)

Noel Brown, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health told us, ‘Reading about the Dignity In Care Award nominees is something I genuinely look forward to each year. Looking at previous winners, it really hits home the very many ways in which these unsung heroes provide the dignity and respect that people rightly deserve and expect.’

‘From my own personal experience I know that there are some who go well beyond what you would normally expect as a service. These awards are our way of recognising those who do go the extra mile and to say thank you. I really hope you take the time to tell us why a person or team deserves recognition so we can show our gratitude at the awards ceremony in May.’

‘We want to hear about who should be acknowledged in 2019 for being a true superstar!’

This year as well as asking the public to nominate in 8 different categories, the County Council want to make the ceremony even bigger and better and are looking for sponsorship from local businesses and groups to help put on a fantastic celebratory event on 14 May for all the shortlisted nominees.

Local businesses can find out how to show their support and get involved in sponsorship here or by contacting communications@buckscc.gov.uk directly.

NEWS from Buckinghamshire Integrated Care System (ICS)

21 January 2019

How Has Bucks Healthcare Performed So Far This Winter?

With the Christmas and New Year season well and truly over, Bucks health leaders are taking a look at how well our health services have coped so far and what we should be doing in preparation for the expected cold snap.
Bucks GP Winter Champion, Dr Dal Sahota told us, “Overall, Bucks has had a fairly steady winter in terms of avoiding any major health service problems or outbreaks of illness, which is great news.
“However, with the weather being relatively mild in December and January, we shouldn’t assume that any potential winter health and wellbeing issues are over for the year. As snow and ice becomes more frequent there are still lots of things everyone can do.
“I gave a 93 year old patient her flu jab yesterday whilst she was in the surgery for something else. Unsure where else to book one, she was really pleased to find out that her local pharmacy or the practice nurse could also do it. Getting that flu jab, using local pharmacy advice and calling the NHS 111 service will all help us remain healthy and keep our health services free to cope with any rise in demand”
Bucks System Winter Director Frances Woodroffe agrees. She said: “The #HelpUsHelpYou winter campaign, which we have are publicising locally seems to have really made an impact. “There has been a fantastic focus on working together and forward planning across key health and support services in Bucks to improve patient care and reduce the risk of flu, but nationally we have seen small outbreaks of flu which have caused untold upset and misery. If more people remain flu free it helps us ensure urgent care is provided to the right people in the right way, swiftly and effectively.”
Noel Brown, Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Health wants to make sure everyone’s ready when more severe weather arrives. “We should all remember to also take extra care when we’re out and about in frosty or icy weather. If you’re going by car then only undertake essential journeys, allowing extra time in case the weather worsens. If you’re out walking then do take care to avoid slipping over and causing yourself an injury. And do keep an eye out for elderly or vulnerable friends, relatives and neighbours
”For our health partners, winter doesn’t stop at the end of January. In previous years February and March have brought worsening weather and an increased demand for health services. I want to remind everyone what they can do to help themselves, so I really encourage people to take a look at the three key Help Us Help You messages below.’

Use your local pharmacy– do this when you start to feel unwell, don’t wait.
Call 111 – get professional advice and direction of where to go for help if you need it.
GP surgeries now open longer and at weekends - if your surgery is closed for the day you can book via 111.

Working together to serve the county’s healthcare needs are: NHS Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, Buckinghamshire County Council, the Red Cross and South Central Ambulance Service.

Chiltern And South Buckinghamshire Welcomes New Lpa Commander

Superintendent Amy Clements has been appointed as the new Commander for the Chiltern & South Buckinghamshire local policing area (LPA).
Superintendent Amy Clements starts in her new role today, Monday 21 January, taking over from Superintendent Neil Kentish who has returned to the Milton Keynes area as Deputy Commander.
Supt Clements joined Thames Valley Police in 2017 as part of the Direct Entry programme and has worked as a police officer in stations across Buckinghamshire. Supt Clements previously worked as a senior lawyer in the Government Legal Service, where she specialised in Public Law litigation and criminal prosecutions. This included a fraud prosecution in 2012 which led to fishing companies in Spain and the UK being fined £1.6m.
She has also worked with the Legal Services Commission developing policy and strategy for civil legal aid.
Supt Clements will work together with Deputy Commander Chief Inspector Tim Hurley to lead the policing team for the area. In collaboration with their local officers and the communities themselves, they will ensure issues impacting local residents and businesses are identified and opportunities to prevent and disrupt crime and disorder and taken to ensure Chiltern and South Buckinghamshire remains a desirable area to live and work.
On her new role, Supt Clements said: “I am excited to be taking up the role of Commander for the Chiltern and South Buckinghamshire area and know that I have a great team of colleagues to work alongside in continuing to keep the community safe.
“There will be challenges ahead but I look forward to working closely with our partners and members of the community, finding ways in which we can deliver effective policing, making the very best use of our resources.”

Latest Thames Valley newsletter from Matthew Barber,
Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner

In 2019, TVP are introducing a range of new entry routes into policing, including the newly launched Police Community Support Officer Apprenticeship (PCSOA).
Applications are now open for our new PCSO Apprenticeship, with the first cohort of Officers planned to join the force in May.

Matthew Barber, Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner said; “This is a great opportunity for people to learn on the job and gain valuable qualifications. Policing is a complex business and the public rightly expect the best from Thames Valley Police. The new PCSO apprentices will play a vital role in delivering policing in our communities and transforming routes into policing.”
Click here to find out more about the apprenticeship scheme and the role of PCSOs.

Community Policing Awards 2019

The Community Policing Awards take place each year at a ceremony held at Eynsham Hall near Witney in Oxfordshire in May.
This ceremony is now in its eighteenth year and provides an opportunity to recognise and nominate the work of officers, staff and volunteers who have made the greatest contribution to their community over the past year.
The nominations will then be sifted down to a shortlist, and a panel of judges will make the final decision of who the community champions of the year are.
Click on one of the eight categories below to find out more and nominate someone...
1. Community Police Officer 2019
2. Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) 2019
3. Special Constable 2019
4. Diversity Champion 2019
5. Cadet 2019
6. Volunteer 2019
7. Community Volunteer 2019
8. Problem Solving Award 2019

PCC announces more investment in frontline policing for the Thames Valley

The Police and Crime Commissioner, Anthony Stansfeld, has today (22/1) approved the capital and revenue plans presented to him by Chief Constable Francis Habgood.
After funding pay and price rises, the increase in Council Tax agreed today enables an investment of around £8.5m in a number of priority policing areas. We will:

Improve services to the public through contact management by reducing 101 call handling times
Increase frontline policing by recruiting additional officers and staff to respond to increasing crime demand and complexity
Improve our investigative capacity and process for complex crimes
Increase our digital capability by exploiting the modern platforms we have been investing in

Anthony Stansfeld Police and Crime Commissioner said
“In December I welcomed the Government’s funding settlement which increased funding for policing and recognised the demand placed on policing nationally.
“Over £100 million has been cut from Thames Valley Police’s annual budget over the last 8 years. While the Force continues to prioritise its work and make efficiency savings, there was significant concern that budget pressures would lead to unacceptable reductions in resources which would impact frontline policing and result in a service less able to respond to increases in demand.
“The 2019/20 funding settlement has allowed us to avoid a reduction in resource and I am pleased to be able to agree a budget today which enables Thames Valley Police to invest in operational policing to help protect our communities.
“It is important to recognise, however that more than half of the funding in the Governments 2019/20 settlement (£509m) available nationally to Police and Crime Commissioners is expected to come from local taxpayers by increasing the police portion of the Council Tax.
“Before I made a decision on the level of Council Tax, I sought views of the residents of the Thames Valley. Of the 8,031 people who completed the survey, 69.7% agreed to an increase to fund policing. I am therefore proposing an increase in the police portion of the Council Tax in 2019/20 of £24 for the equivalent of a Band D property.
“After funding pay and price rise, the increase in Council Tax enables me to invest around £8.5m in a number of priority policing areas. These include the recruitment of additional officers to respond to increasing crime demand and complexity, improved service to the public in investment in 101 call handling, the recruitment of investigators to tackle complex crime and, investment in technology to improve productivity and efficiency.
“I am confident that the budget proposed protects our communities today and plans for the future. Over the next four years, Thames Valley Police will need to continue to make efficiency savings of over £15m with demand on services expected to continue to increase through increased reporting of complex crime and the growing challenge from serious organised crime networks”.
“The budget will now go to the Police and Crime Panel on the 1 February for final ratification.”
Francis Habgood Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police said:
“Firstly I would like to thank the public for showing their support for policing.
“Without this additional investment we would have faced further cuts and it would have seriously damaged our ability to provide the policing services that we want to and our communities expect.
“The increase agreed today will enable us to recruit additional officers and staff to respond to increased demand, recruit more investigators to tackle the increase in complex crimes, deliver an improved 101 service and to invest in technology to improve productivity and efficiency.”

BULLETIN FOR BURNHAM NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH COORDINATORS TO FORWARD TO THEIR MEMBERS (and for representatives of other community groups to cascade down to their members) (Items to me by Thursday evenings please!) Please update me if you change your e-mail address !

Chiltern And South Buckinghamshire Welcomes New Lpa Commander

Community Policing Awards 2019

PCC announces more investment in frontline policing for the Thames Valley

BULLETIN FOR BURNHAM NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH COORDINATORS TO FORWARD TO THEIR MEMBERS (and for representatives of other community groups to cascade down to their members)
(Items to me by Thursday evenings please!)

Please update me if you change your e-mail address !