The High Wycombe Town Committee met to discuss the Wycombe Vision, Q1 special expenses, the High Wycombe Market, improvements to Booker Park Recreation Ground, and an art-led project. The committee was also scheduled to discuss the potential disposal of a council-owned property asset in High Wycombe.

Wycombe Vision

Councillor Sarfaraz Khan Raja, Chairman of the High Wycombe Town Committee, was scheduled to give a verbal report on the Wycombe Vision, action groups and a town meeting.

In June, Councillor Sarfaraz Khan Raja presented the Wycombe Vision, which he developed after meeting individually with all councillors on the High Wycombe Town Committee. He said that it was important for committee members to continue to be positive about the town, and that the committee should aim to improve the town so that all residents would be proud of their community.

Special Expenses

Fiorella Mugari, Head of Finance – Communities and PGS Directorates, was scheduled to present a report on the special expenses for Quarter 1 of 2025/26.

The report noted that the net forecast outturn position for 2025/26 was £483k, with no variance currently reported in the forecast.

The report also included a table showing the reserve funded projects, as well as the remaining budget:

Disposal of Council-Owned Property Asset

The Vice-Chairman of the High Wycombe Town Committee was scheduled to present an urgent item of business regarding the disposal of a council-owned property asset in High Wycombe. This was item 15 on the Cabinet Agenda for 9 September 2025.

The committee was scheduled to discuss how to prepare to offer advice and feedback to the cabinet in making its final decisions, if this item was approved by the cabinet.

High Wycombe Market

Jacqueline Ford, Economic Partnerships Lead, was scheduled to provide a verbal update on the High Wycombe Market.

In March 2025, Jacqueline Ford reported that Tuesday had seen an increase from 7 to 8 traders, Friday 8 to 10 and Saturday 8 to 10 from the previous year. She also noted that Saunders was the new firm managing the market in Aylesbury and High Wycombe.

Booker Park Recreation Ground

Ruth Rose, Public Health Practitioner, was scheduled to present a proposal to add outdoor gym equipment to Booker Park Recreation Ground.

The Healthy School Neighbourhood pilot project identified a need for more affordable options for young people to be active. In September 2024, a workshop was held at Cressex Community School to discuss proposed interventions. Attendees suggested the addition of outdoor gym equipment to Booker Recreation Ground and proposed that this equipment could be used during PE lessons.

The Parks team have recently installed a new play area for children aged 2-12 years at the Booker Recreation Ground, and during the engagement for this, several resident comments suggested outdoor gym equipment for teenagers and adults.

The High Wycombe Town Committee was asked to share views on the proposal and consider if maintenance costs for the equipment could be adopted by the Committee from April 2026. Indicative annual maintenance costs were provided in the report:

Art-Led Project

Shabnam Ali, Head of Local Economic Growth, was scheduled to present a proposal to agree £90k funding for art-led public realm projects from the Reserve Special Expenses.

The report stated that there was an opportunity to deliver a transformative public art initiative that would bring new life to multiple locations across the town centre. The locations to be included were:

• Red Lion Walk (from the Swan car park to the High Street)
• Lily's Walk (alongside the flyover next to Buckinghamshire New University (BNU))
• A40 underpass (at the bottom of Queen Victoria Rd)
• Abbey Way underpass (Under the flyover into the BNU campus)

The funding schedule was highlighted in the report with a breakdown of each of the four projects. The total funding request was for £90k, covering materials, commissions, engagement, installation and a small maintenance budget.

Other Business

The committee was also scheduled to receive a verbal update from the police, and an update from Councillor Sarfaraz Khan Raja on town twinning.