The Local Government Act 2000 and recent Rural and Urban White papers have enabled the Parish Plans Grant Scheme to provide rural communities with funding to conduct a full appraisal in the form of a parish plan. A parish plan, after extensive consultation, should identify the community‟s needs. It enables a Parish Council and the rural community to have a local say in how their services are managed and it provides an action plan that prioritises issues raised and helps to set out how best to deal with them. It should reflect the views of all sections of the community and identify which features and local characteristics people value. All should have the opportunity to participate in its preparation and it should spell out how residents want their community to develop in the future.

It is government policy to increase individual participation in public life and to give more power to Parish Councils to decide what is best for their communities. The plan should increase the chances of getting support to enhance the parish's economic, social and environmental well-being. It should give the Parish Council the evidence to help inform policy-making and to develop and maintain effective working relationships with all outside bodies which provide services to the community now and in the future. The parish plan will provide parishioners with a sense of community and an awareness of how they can contribute as individuals.

Getting Started and Consultation process

In April 2007 the Parish Council invited Buckinghamshire Action Group (BAC) to the Church Hall to give a presentation about Parish Plans. A steering group was formed and plans laid for an Open Day in September 2007 when all villagers could give their views on what they considered to be the best features of the village and those which they felt needed improving. Village organisations and clubs were asked to put on displays and a vast array of photographs gave a colourful history of village life over many decades. 

From these initial responses and other concerns expressed directly to Parish Councillors, a questionnaire was compiled covering the main areas highlighted. With help from the team who circulate the village newsletter, the steering group delivered questionnaires to every household and all villagers, both young and old, were encouraged to complete one. A very satisfying 260 completed questionnaires were collected.

The steering group then analysed the replies, producing an "Analysis of Parish Plan Questionnaire" in May 2008 which was once again distributed to every household.