2025 HPC Annual Report

Halton Parish Council – Annual Report Highlights

Halton Parish Council has delivered a busy year of improvements for our community – from securing grants and cutting costs, to upgrading the Village Hall, launching new wildlife projects, and supporting events like Music in Quiet Places and the annual Remembrance Service with RAF Halton.

We’ve also stepped up efforts to make our roads safer. Community Speedwatch is now active in the village, and we continue to press for solutions to dangerous spots like Perch Bridge. Our new Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group, supported by government funding, is shaping planning policies to protect Halton’s character and prepare for future development.

Sustainability is at the heart of our work – from eco-friendly upgrades at the Village Hall, to recycling initiatives, wildlife planting, and the introduction of an EV charging point to support greener travel.

A new Assistant Clerk & Caretaker has joined the team to strengthen support for the Hall and parish operations. But with four councillor vacancies, we need more local people to join us. Being a councillor is a rewarding way to influence planning, tackle road safety, promote sustainability, and shape Halton’s future.

If you’d like to make a difference and give something back to your community, please visit our Useful Info for Councillors page or contact the Clerk.

 

Read our full report below.

ANNUAL REPORT 2024-25

The PC Office

The Parish Council has focused on streamlining operations, strengthening compliance, and delivering value for money. A rolling annual review schedule for policies, planning records, and the Halton Parish Council website has been implemented. 

Financially, internal audits were completed and a thorough budget review helped set a realistic precept.   Reserves were reviewed and updated along with the asset register, utility costs were cut (including halving broadband fees), and appropriate insurance coverage was secured. Procurement practices were improved along with ground maintenance contracts, and we have applied for devolved services and external grant funding. A full risk assessment and VAT reclaims have been completed. 

Several councillors retired or relocated, leading to a number of vacancies. The clerk has created a new webpage has to provide guidance, support, and training for prospective and new councillors, and a recruitment drive is underway.

 https://www.halton-pc.gov.uk/community/halton-parish-council-20383/useful-info-for-cllrs/

To operate efficiently and prepare for Halton’s future expansion, staff roles we restructured. A new Assistant Clerk and Caretaker position was created to provide administrative, operational, and facilities support to Parish Council functions and the Village Hall operations.

Customer service has been enhanced with the introduction of a new phone line which enables voice messages to be received remotely. The Halton Parish Website, maintained by the clerk, continues to be well visited by on average 300 visitors per month and our top Halton Parish Council social media post in March was for speed awareness reaching 409 views. Work is ongoing to improve interactions with our online content. 

An annual review of employees has taken place to assess performance and ensure the ongoing development and support of our team. Staff training CiLCA and Clerk induction is progressing. The Clerk attends and hosts regular meetings with other parish councils, county councillors, community boards, and other local organisations, RAF, Schools and businesses to ensure good communication and the sharing of best practices. Additionally, parish, local, county, and national news are distributed through the Halton Parish Website and Halton Hub Social Media pages to keep the community informed.

The clerk continues to invest time in planning to improve infrastructure, including improved street lighting and the installation of an EV charging point. Other sustainability initiatives include improved recycling at Council-managed facilities, eco cleaning/hygiene products for the village hall and ensuring the renovation works to the village hall are done in an environmental and sustainable way, in keeping with the building's heritage. Grants were awarded for new signage for the village hall, bug hotels, wildflowers, speed watch awareness and Neighbourhood planning. Additionally, the clerk is supporting the planning and preparation for a Luna Cinema event to bring the community together.

The Clerk has taken on operational responsibility for the village hall. The Village Hall operation has undergone an extensive review and is now compliant, with key upgrades completed in electrics, plumbing, fire safety, and emergency lighting. Further essential renovation and refurbishment works are planned for 2025, supported by grant funding which is currently being secured. The Village Hall management has been fully reviewed and will operate on a break-even model in 2025/26, supported by a new village hall and meeting room online booking system, invoicing system, and promotional webpage. The Hall remains busy with a wide variety of classes and events for all ages. The Assistant Clerk and Caretaker is tasked with the smooth running of the hall, ensuring compliance, excellent customer service, efficient invoicing and management of bookings and ensuring that the hall meets budgeted targets throughout the year. 

Finance Committee 

Held biannually in April and December to oversee the management of our resources and budgets, including precept setting.  We had a detailed review of the budget for next year and managed to restrain the necessary increase to 6%. This is due primarily to:

- The increase in National Insurance contributions imposed by central government

- Increased pension costs

- Continuing impact of increased utility bills.

The overall impact of this increase on a Band D house would be an extra 67p per month or £8.00 per year. The Finance Committee’s recommendation was endorsed by the Parish Council at its January meeting. The Annual audit of the Parish Council’s accounts and governance took place on 22 April 2025.  We are pleased to report that due to our robust financial processes the Annual Internal Audit Report and the Annual Governance and Accountability Return for 2024/25 had no comments or recommendations.

The Team

We have a very small team of volunteers with a very large remit, due to the closure of RAF Halton. We are supported by our part time Parish Clerk Fiona Richardson, who is very driven and has worked hard to complete our change agenda this year.

Last year we reported an increase in our precept so that we could recruit a Village Hall Caretaker and Bookings Clerk, who will also spend some hours each week conducting Assistant Clerk duties.  We were pleased to recruit Suzanne Cheshire to our team, and she has settled in very well.  

There has also been lots of change this year for the team, we said goodbye and thank you to Councillors Cat Booker - Communications, Jon Kumela - Community Events and Caroline Waddams – Environment and Communications.  They have all made great contributions to the parish and will be very much missed.  

However, we are very fortunate in that Caroline has agreed to become one of our volunteers, so she will continue to edit and organise our quarterly newsletters and will remain on our Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group.

We could not do all we do without our marvellous volunteers; they are the unsung heroes who support our work.  

Thank You to Paul for setting the newsletter each quarter and for monitoring and posting on the Halton Hub on behalf of the Council.  

Thank you to Alex and Andy who maintain our MVAS signs, download the traffic data and create reports so we can monitor and analyse road usage and use them as evidence for our bids to Buckinghamshire Council. 

Thanks also go to our intrepid Community Speed-watch Volunteers, Gary, Rod, Colin, Rachel, Sarah, Stuart, Jane and Geoff, who are out in all weathers helping to make our roads safer.

HPC has nine posts, of which five are filled by very proactive Councillors. On behalf of our parishioners, we would like to thank them for the hours they spend protecting and enhancing our Parish, bringing our community together, and working as a team to progress our interests.  It requires a big commitment from very few people, Thank You All for delivering so much for our community. 

We welcome any parishioners who are willing to take up the four vacant posts and would like to support us in our work. 

Community

After lobbying Bucks Council for two years, the On Demand Community Bus finally came into service in August 24, giving Halton Village a much-needed public transport service to connect with surrounding villages, Aylesbury, and Stoke Mandeville hospital.

Funded by central government for rural villages, the contract is managed by Bucks Council and is badged as Village Connect, it is proving a very popular service.

On 22 June the Council supported Music in Quiet Places, a concert held in St Michael and All Angels an opportunity to bring the local community together in the beauty of our church and its setting.  There is a separate report from St Michaels Church. 

Our Annual Service of Remembrance took place on 10 November in the churchyard, the service was presided over by our vicar Sally Mooring and supported by RAF Halton with the RAF Halton volunteer band.

Wreaths were laid by HPC, Bucks Council, RAFA, Halton Apprentices, and Halton’s youth movements, including, Rangers, Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, Brownies, Rainbows, and the Sea Scouts.

We would like to thank the Matthews family who take over the village hall each year and generously provide an amazing feast of refreshments for the recruits and parishioners who attend.  

As we are a small Parish Council, we are very grateful to our residents who make up Halton Socials.  They organise events throughout the year to bring our community together in our Village Hall, there is a separate report from Halton Socials.

HPC has a close working relationship with the Community Board.  Together we are organising an outdoor cinema event for the local community.  As the PC has no outdoor space, we approached RAF Halton and held a meeting in March to agree the hiring of the Nuffield Pavilion, with its fields and parking spaces.  The Community Board will fund the cinema, the Parish Council will fund the licence fee and will organise the event to be held in September.

Village Hall

Halton Village Hall continues to serve as a cornerstone of community life and a valued heritage asset. This report outlines progress made in enhancing the Hall’s infrastructure, safety, digital access, and sustainability, while strengthening its role at the heart of Halton. Our goal remains to maximise the Hall’s potential as an inclusive, multifunctional space for all, and the hall to be operating at break-even – financially neutral.  This year, we prioritised a modern, robust Health & Safety framework, while making key infrastructure investments.

Key Improvements:

• Installation of a new CTEC fire alarm system and updated signage
• Full electrical system upgrade
• Replacement of the Hall boiler with an energy-efficient model
• Updated Health & Safety Manual, including COSHH and Lone Working Policies
• Implementation of digital tracking systems for weekly, monthly, and annual safety checks
•  An upgraded fire door was installed for the safety of those working in the Parish Office or Meeting Room.
• Weekly Legionella checks

 

Sustainability continues to guide our operational choices. Key developments include:

• Use of eco-friendly products (e.g., Faith in Nature, Smol)
• A refuse collection service fully compliant with recycling and waste standards
• Participation in local community campaigns focused on wildlife and conservation (while not specific to the Hall, these reflect shared values across Halton)

As a registered heritage building, long-term care and future planning are essential. This year Battrams Chartered Surveyors completed a comprehensive structural survey with recommendations for preservation.  The Report has been reviewed, a Tender Document has been drafted, and funding lines are being sourced, so we can take forward the essential repairs (as a minimum) and complete renovations during 2025/26.

Our efforts to build ties with our local community have been strengthened by:

• Regular email updates and Facebook posts via the Halton Village Hub
• Positive feedback received from users highlights:
  • Excellent service
  • Feeling valued
  • Appreciation for recent improvements

Highways

The mission statement for our Highways team is: “Keeping people safe on roads and footpaths while within Halton Parish”. There are some specific areas of concern, each of which is caused by reckless driving, speeding, volume of traffic, lack of maintenance or inconsideration.

The Highways team has been working to:

Reduce on-pavement parking in the Village. There is zero justification for parking a vehicle on a pavement; if there is insufficient space to park safely on the road, drivers should park elsewhere. People with limited vision, anxiety, limited mobility and / or children struggle when pavements are blocked, even by a little amount. Yes, there is insufficient off-road parking in the Village, but cars can be parked entirely on the road surface. Instigated last year, any vehicles found on pavements will have an educational note placed on their windscreen; persistent ‘offenders’ will be subject to further action.

Make Perch Bridge Safer for pedestrians. Although there is a 7.5T weight limit on the bridge, we receive many reports of buses, skip trucks and large commercial vehicles crossing the bridge with impunity. Although the bridge remains in a sound condition, large vehicles crossing the bridge continue to put walkers, runners and cyclists at risk. Sadly, despite many hours investigating with Thames Valley Police, Bucks CC, DVLA, DVSA, Canal and River Trust, Trading Standards, etc., we cannot identify a national, regional or local authority that will enforce the weight limit. We have called and emailed companies who state that they will ‘inform their drivers’. The Bucks CC ‘Road Safety Team’ have conducted a recent trial and we await any news (we have asked for an update...). We recently asked our new MP to help; we are hopeful. In the meantime, we ask residents to monitor large vehicles and provide information to the Parish Council.

Reduce Speeding. Although the 4 working Vehicle Activated Signs (1 is due to be repaired by Bucks CC) in the Village continue to alert drivers when they are speeding, we continue to see a high number of drivers wilfully ignore them, particularly along Halton Lane. Last year, Halton set up a Community Speedwatch system which is designed to educate drivers that high speed will not be tolerated on our small village roads. There are several sites, which will be manned at ‘random days and times’. To find out more about Community Speedwatch and to volunteer, please look at https://communityspeedwatch.org.

Take better care of Roadside and Footpath Verges. As a result of many overgrown areas in recent years, Halton Parish Council has taken over the maintenance of roadside verges. Noting the section below about wildflower planting, if you spot a verge that is overgrown, please continue to report through http://fixmystreet.com/

Improve the Footpaths and Rights of Way. We continue to engage with Bucks CC to re-surface some of our footpaths that have fallen into disrepair because of facilities companies’ repair work, wear and tear and on-pavement parking. As you may know, Bucks CC is chronically underfunded for ‘non-essential’ work, particularly in ‘low footfall’ areas. Nevertheless, we will continue to request help with pavement and Rights of Way repairs. Any concerns should be reported on https://fixmystreet.com/

Communications

Halton Hub our Village Facebook Page is monitored and managed by members of our Communications Committee.  It is a well-used resource by councillors, residents and local businesses.  The Parish Council uses it as a vehicle to update residents on our work and community events. The resignation of our Comms lead has reduced the frequency of our official posts, but we hope to improve our interaction when we recruit a new councillor into this role.

The Halton Parish Council website is also well used, and we update it with information on our formal meetings.  It has a ‘contact us’ link which residents regularly use to email us with their queries and information.

We are aware that many of our older residents do not used social media, so we also produce a Quarterly Newsletter which is delivered to every house in the Parish, to keep our residents informed of what is going on in their community. Our new Assistant Clerk has kept the village notice boards updated regularly throughout the year.

Environment

Verges The Parish Council received a grant from the Community Board for wildflower seed to be sown on four of the parish’s roadside verges. A meeting was arranged with representatives from Aston Clinton who have been responsible for producing the stunning display of wildflowers at the bottom of Stable Bridge Road. Their advice on how to create a wildflower verge has been taken on board and we hope that Halton Parish will also have some colourful displays this summer.

In the autumn the grass was removed in places on two of the verges and seed put down, which germinated within five days. The verge at Moor Park had the same treatment carried out in March. The fourth verge had yellow rattle seed sown to inhibit the rampant growth of grasses and allow the previously planted wildflowers to flourish.

Street lighting The Parish Council has set up a street lighting working party, with representatives from all the surrounding parishes, to address the shared concern regarding the procurement, installation and sustainable maintenance of energy efficient and insect-friendly lighting. The Working Party has explored collaborative opportunities for group purchasing installation and ongoing maintenance services.

All the streetlights owned by Halton Parish Council have been identified and mapped on parish online.

Last year the village hall car park was accepted as a site by Buckinghamshire Council for an Electrical Vehicle Charging Point for use by our residents so we can encourage electric car ownership.  The funding is provided by the government as part of the UK’s drive to net zero.  The tender process has been completed, and we await a site survey before implementation later this year.

Planning

Planning Applications are received from Buckinghamshire Council throughout the year for our parish and our neighbouring parishes.  Due to the increase of building development in Aston Clinton and Weston Turville, including the new link road, we have commented on a larger number of planning applications than usual this year.

We awaited the outcome from the public consultation of the RAF Halton Strategic Planning Document (SPD) before we resumed our Neighbourhood Plan.  The final version of the SPD was published in July 24.  Having attended the SPD planning workshops last year we realised that we needed professional assistance to ensure our plan, and our policies are robust.

In September we formally created the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group and made a successful bid to the government for £10,000 to fund professional planning contractors to assist in compiling our new plan.

In January initial work started with a stakeholder mapping meeting, followed by an action planning meeting which identified individuals who will be responsible for taking forward the different elements of the plan.

We followed this in February with another successful bid to the government for a further £8,000 for professional assistance to improve our design code. This will ensure that future development in the parish reflects the local character of its setting.

During March we had a fact-finding day with the Planning Consultants who were given a guided tour of the parish to give them a full understanding of its special nature to shape our new design code.  We would welcome any residents who would like to get involved with this work, which will set our planning policies for our parish, shaping its future. 

Royal Air Force Halton support to the Parish Council

We continue to enjoy a positive relationship with our neighbours at RAF Halton and would like to thank the RAF for the support they have given us in the last year, and in particular Wg Cdr Peter Seanor the Station Commander and Sqn Ldr Eddie Lismore who attends our Parish Council Meetings and takes forward and resolves our concerns.

Councillors Jane MacKinnon and Brian Thompson attended the RAF Halton Annual Reception.  This was a good opportunity to meet Station personnel and other representatives from surrounding towns and villages.  They enjoyed RAF hospitality which included a flypast by the Red Arrows and a Sunset Ceremony.

Recruit Training Squadron continue to support the church by providing RAF Recruits to recover and renovate areas of the church yard.  The teams of recruits have had a huge impact on the churchyard, making it more attractive and a safer place and by supplying the ‘muscle’ to the regular churchyard volunteers.

The RAF are the backbone of our Remembrance Day Service, which was held in the churchyard on Sunday 12 November 24.  Not only do they help organise the service, but Recruits attend smartly dressed in their uniforms, an RAF Band is also in attendance and an RAF wreath is laid.

Closure of RAF Halton

With the RAF Halton SPD complete. The DIO has put forward the rest of the Halton site (which is outside of the SPD allocation), for development in the new Buckinghamshire Local Plan.  We are currently following progress, and this will remain our focus and main effort for some years to come.

Halton Parish Council

14 May 2025