Way Ahead for Wendover!

Wendover Parish Council has taken a brave step forward from its recent difficulties by bringing in an independent facilitator to assist with the Way Ahead for Wendover Project which will refresh and modernise the council's procedures and practices. This will enable a more rewarding and productive approach to council affairs based on best practice and teamwork, thus allowing the parish council to best represent the community of Wendover.

At a briefing on 17^th July, Councillors and senior staff supported a set of recommendations for early remedial actions, to be ratified by Council on 4^th August. These include urgent training and the nomination of two Councillor Champions to lead the two-pronged approach which will explore and address needs and gaps in internal processes and communications, which will in turn inform a medium to long-term action plan.

Colleagues at Aylesbury Vale District Council, the Buckinghamshire Association of Local Councils and the Society of Local Council Clerks are pleased to hear that things are moving forward for Wendover and have given their support to the project.

Pat Edwards of Local Council Services, who is assisting the council, took a shine to Wendover on her recent visit, enjoying the village facilities and its surrounds which clearly illustrate that the parish council has been at the forefront of many local initiatives despite the recent problems. Pat knows that the raft of rules and regulations governing parish councils can be rather daunting for new clerks and councillors, the latter being volunteers after all. In addition, inherited practices can take a year or two to bring fully up to date. The good news, in addition to the delights of Wendover, is that the audit of the council's books for 2007-8 has proceeded without hitch; the council has an able administrator, the Clerk, leading the team of very dedicated staff from the Clock Tower; and Councillors are fully committed to the Way Ahead project.

Please note there will be no further comment on the project until the Council meeting on 4^th August. We're all too busy on the Way Ahead!

Cllr Sue Toft-Hunt
Cllr Alan Myers

Way Ahead Champions Elect