Annual Report (2022 to 2023)

People in Buckinghamshire are living longer and healthier lives, with health outcomes better than the national average. We have strong communities and a thriving, dedicated not for profit sector.

Buckinghamshire is a healthy and inclusive place to live, work and visit but we have a number of challenges. These include:

• building more affordable homes now and for future generations
• providing extra help and support for an increasingly older population
• improving the health of people who live in the more deprived areas of Buckinghamshire

Our key delivery programme to achieve this is Opportunity Bucks – Succeeding for All, which will focus on 10 wards where residents are experiencing the most hardships, to design and deliver targeted interventions that support improvement in outcomes for our residents.

'Opportunity Bucks - Succeeding For All' launched as a local response to the national Levelling Up agenda.

Joined the Making Every Adult Matter network to work intensively with people who are facing multiple disadvantages.

71% of our care leavers in employment, education, and training compared to 57% across the South East.

A total of 29 additional units of accommodation for rough sleepers encompassing high, medium and low support needs will be delivered.

50% reduction in rough sleeper count (16 recorded in 2022 compared to 34 in 2019).

Re-housed 1,541 households into social housing tenancies via the Bucks Home Choice scheme in March 2022 to April 2023.

Completed 203 vital adaptions as part of the Disabled Facilities programme between April 2022 and March 2023.

An additional 509 affordable homes were delivered via Registered Providers 2022 to 2023.

Our 16 Community Boards have continued to bring together local communities to tackle local issues. In the year 2022 to 2023, they delivered 334 projects totalling some £1.7 million. Since their launch in 2020, 977 projects have been delivered totalling £5.7 million.

As of January 2023, each £1 of Community Board funding (community projects) has secured £1.03 in contributory funding.

More than 397 nominations received for our Proud of Bucks Awards, with 46 winners and 48 commended recognising individuals, local groups and organisations.

Launched our Town and Parish Council charter, working on 22 pilots and 80 additional opportunities to devolve assets to town and parish councils.

Successfully defended our position to decline to sell a parcel of land adjacent the old railway line at Bourne End against a Right To Contest application.

£420,000 invested in replacing and improving children's play spaces, with all new play areas including accessible play equipment.

New interactive soft play and sensory area in Chesham Leisure Centre and new outdoor play facilities at the Chilterns Lifestyle Centre in Amersham.

Over 3,526,602 visits to our leisure centres in 2022 to 2023, and lots of new activities to help people stay healthy.

Over 60 activities hosted by our libraries in partnership with local community organisations to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.

497,766 visits to main cultural venues in Buckinghamshire in 2022 to 2023.

Successful delivery of the Bucks History Festival.

Delivered a successful WhizzFizzFest arts and literary festival.

375,255 calls handled through our customer service centre, plus:

• 5,813 web chats
• 5,815,584 visits to our website
• 23,420 face-to-face visits to our Council Access Points CAPs)

Delivered 15 community housing events attended by over 750 Ukrainian guests and their sponsors.

Launched our Buckinghamshire Swan Envoys Scheme, a network of ambassadors who help to inspire and encourage others and promote Buckinghamshire.

89 consultation and engagement activities to date (excludes those run by Transport for Buckinghamshire).

Trained 20 volunteer cooking tutors to deliver targeted 5-week cookery courses to key community groups across Bucks.

Supported residents to reduce their sedentary behaviour working with over 60 partners we engaged with 4,82 residents including 1200 children through schools.

18,626 baby and young child checks by health visitors in Buckinghamshire between April 2022 and March 2023.

11,090 free NHS Health Checks have been delivered to those aged 40 to 74, which identifies early signs of stroke, kidney disease, heart disease, type 2 diabetes or dementia.

72% of adults completing the weight management programme achieving a 3% weight loss and 57% achieving 5% weight loss.