We are all suspects now.

Last week saw the Parliamentary launch of the Home Heat Helpline  (0800 33 66 99). It is a free, not-for-profit advice service to help people who are struggling to pay their energy bills and stay warm this Christmas. In October 2006, the Helpline was initially launched by the Energy Retail Association (ERA) which is the trade association of the major UK energy companies.

The latest Helpline report shows that 3.5 million, or one in ten, households are eligible for some form of assistance, which works out as an average of £250 for each household. The Helpline have kindly provided data for the Wycombe area that shows 4,600 households are eligible which works out as 11% of the total. The help offered is not reserved for the elderly as many assume. It is available for families with young children, people with disabilities and long term health conditions.

At a time when energy prices are rapidly increasing and Parliament has recently debated on this topical issue, this service could be a welcome addition for families across the UK.

The latest figures for apprenticeships show an above average increase across Buckinghamshire. The average South East increase of 44% was also bettered by our neighbours in Beaconsfield (50%) and Chesham and Amersham (53%).

Wycombe’s own increase of 51% should also be seen against the total number of places. We saw an increase from 420 to 640 places: over 200 more places than our neighbouring constituencies. This shows that youth employment prospects in the South East are increasing through business investing in local talents.

Futhermore, I was delighted to attend the Wycombe Business Expo 2011 that showcased the many diverse companies based in the Wycombe area. It was encouraging to see local business coming together, sharing ideas and best practise. The welcome news of local apprenticeship growth will add to this practical effort to create jobs and boost growth based on real value.

MP Steve Baker tonight called on the community to claim control of Wycombe Hospital if further changes brought in by the NHS “don’t work”.

Chairing a meeting at Great Marlow School, he said he is “inclined to trust” health chiefs over their plans for the hospital, but urged people to take action if necessary.

via MP Steve Baker calls for community to run hospital if NHS plans ‘don’t work’ (From Bucks Free Press).

We had a good meeting in which it became ever more clear that we cannot go on with public services which are organised in a way that is not sufficiently accountable to the public. That’s why, if the NHS providers make a mess of the present changes,  I will be calling for local, mutual ownership of our hospital.

For more on the Government’s plans for public services, please see the Open Public Services whitepaper.

Micklefield and Wycombe Marsh in High Wycombe will be among the first 50 small areas to benefit from at least £1 million of funding awarded by BIG Lottery Fund via BIG Local Trust programme. The funding will be awarded from Autumn 2011.

Wycombe District Council and the Wycombe Partnership cooperated on submission of an application with BIG Lottery Fund to identify communities in the Wycombe district that would most benefit from this funding. The Micklefield and Marsh community was recommended because it is can sometimes face a number of social obstacles and difficulties in obtaining resources.

Cllr Lesley Clarke, former Leader of Wycombe District Council and Chairman of the Wycombe Partnership, said:

The aim of the funding programme is to help people to meet their own needs and make their communities better places to live in, now and in the future. With that in mind, we are absolutely thrilled that the people of Micklefield and Marsh will be receiving this funding and will be able to determine how it should be used so that it has the maximum, positive impact for their community in the years to come.

As I set out in an article for the Bucks Free Press in February, I am determined to create the right environment for a flourishing local democracy and a radical decentralisation of power.  Today, via The Bucks Free Press, we see local democracy in action:

HUNDREDS of protesters marched through High Wycombe today with a clear message for council bosses – “say no to the stadium”.

Campaigners turned out in their droves to make their voices heard ahead of Monday’s key decision on the scheme by Wycombe District Council chiefs.

As I have said to councillors, protesters and advocates of the proposals, I believe entrepreneurial projects should be brought forward by entrepreneurs, not government at any level, and judged democratically under the planning system. With the Coalition’s plans for a decentralisation of power and the intended public service reforms in progress, it is absolutely vital that we have high levels of participation in local democracy: there will be greater freedom, greater transparency and greater local power.

Local communities will be able to use that power in a variety of ways. Some may wish to stop development; others may wish to deliver particular projects. In any event, MPs will have no authority to overturn local, democratic decisions. I was therefore delighted that, as Conservative activist Dr Marcus Wood put it on Twitter, “it was certainly the Big Society out in force!”

Good – now could not be a better time for Wycombe people to take a close interest in the deployment of local power. Wycombe District Council will hold a full Cabinet debate in public on Monday night, leading to a decision on the proposed sports village.