Your voice counts - Have your say on local matters

The council regularly seeks views from local people on a range of topics, from developing and updating policies, to making key changes to services.

It couldn’t be easier to have your say and all views and comments are considered when final decisions are made.

Three consultations which the council would like to hear views on are:

• Development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy – consultation open until 18 August
• Library Flex transformation programme – consultation open until 18 September
• Review of the Housing Allocations Policy for Social Housing Tenancies – consultation open until 22 August

The council is seeking views to help in the development of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. Local Nature Recovery Strategies were introduced in the Environment Act 2021 and every area in England is producing one.

The strategy will be used to help protect and preserve local nature and wildlife habitats which are integral to the region but which, through a variety of reasons, including climate change and economic factors, may be under threat. The council would like to find out which aspects of nature are important to local people and find out their views on the draft priorities that have been drawn up as part of initial discussions with residents and partners.

To find out more about the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Local Nature Recovery Strategy and to take part in the consultation visit: https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/environment/lnrs-priorities

The council would also like to ask residents for help with redesigning library services so they will continue to meet Buckinghamshire’s needs while responding to current and future challenges.

The Library Flex model proposes a new way of operating some Buckinghamshire libraries, reflecting changes in library usage over the years, by having staff available at times of greatest customer need and use of self-operated technology to provide library services at quieter times.

Library Flex will also provide an opportunity to increase opening hours, benefitting people who work, commuters and students. Currently many libraries open from 10am but could open earlier without staff and until later in the evening, and for longer during exam times so that people can go there to study.

Residents are being asked when they would most like staff to be available and when they would prefer to be able to visit the library.

The consultation also includes a review of opening hours at Burnham Library and a proposal to open High Wycombe Library on Monday instead of Sunday – both of which are separate from the Library Flex proposals.

To find out more about the proposals and to take part in the consultation visit: https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/culture-sports-and-leisure/library-flex

The Housing Allocations policy sets out the procedures that must be followed when assessing the eligibility of applicants for social housing tenancies. The policy details how applicants, via the Bucks Home Choice scheme, can apply to the housing register, what the eligibility requirements are, how the assessment process works, and how it proposes housing is allocated in the future.

The council is in the process of reviewing the policy and would like to gain feedback on the proposed changes from current and prospective housing tenants, local residents, and partners.

To find out more about the Housing Allocations Policy consultation and to take part, visit: https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/housing/housing-allocations-policy-consultation

All consultations being run by Buckinghamshire Council can be found on the website: https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com