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Cabinet
Tuesday, 10th November 2026 at 10:00am

 
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  1. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Peter Strachan
  2. Cllr Thomas Broom
  3. Cllr Steve Bowles
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  5. Cllr Robert Carington
  6. Cllr Isobel Darby
  7. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  8. Cllr Carl Jackson
  9. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  10. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  11. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  12. Cllr Mark Winn
  13. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Robin Stuchbury
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Phil Gomm
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  6. Cllr Peter Strachan
  7. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Shade Adoh
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  5. Cllr Mark Winn
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  7. Cllr Mark Winn
  8. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  9. Cllr Shade Adoh
  10. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  11. Cllr Isobel Darby
  12. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  13. Cllr Thomas Broom
  14. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Peter Strachan
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Michael Bracken
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  5. Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning, Growth & Sustainability
  6. Charlotte Morris - Planning Policy Manager
  7. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  8. Charlotte Morris - Planning Policy Manager
  9. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  10. Cllr Thomas Broom
  11. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  12. Charlotte Morris - Planning Policy Manager
  13. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  14. Charlotte Morris - Planning Policy Manager
  15. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  16. Charlotte Morris - Planning Policy Manager
  17. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  18. Charlotte Morris - Planning Policy Manager
  19. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  20. Cllr Steve Bowles
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  22. Cllr Peter Strachan
  23. Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning, Growth & Sustainability
  24. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  25. Cllr Carl Jackson
  26. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  27. Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning, Growth & Sustainability
  28. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  29. Charlotte Morris - Planning Policy Manager
  30. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  31. Cllr Isobel Darby
  32. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  33. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  34. Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning, Growth & Sustainability
  35. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  36. Charlotte Morris - Planning Policy Manager
  37. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  38. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  39. Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning, Growth & Sustainability
  40. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  41. Cllr Mark Winn
  42. Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning, Growth & Sustainability
  43. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  44. Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning, Growth & Sustainability
  45. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  46. Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning, Growth & Sustainability
  47. Charlotte Morris - Planning Policy Manager
  48. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  49. Cllr Peter Strachan
  50. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Peter Strachan
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Fiona Jump - Deputy Chief Finance Officer
  2. Cllr Robert Carington
  3. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  4. Cllr Carl Jackson
  5. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  6. Cllr Thomas Broom
  7. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  6. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  7. Cllr Peter Strachan
  8. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  3. Sarah Murphy-Brookman - Corporate Director for Resources
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  5. Cllr Thomas Broom
  6. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  7. Cllr Carl Jackson
  8. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  10. Sarah Murphy-Brookman - Corporate Director for Resources
  11. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Webcast Finished

Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:00:00
Thank you very much and good morning everybody.
Welcome to the cabinet meeting of Buckinghamshire Council today, Tuesday the 10th of November
2026.
We are here in the Oculus at the Gateway.
But Akarnai, please remind members and the public who are present that today's meeting
is being webcast.
So members make sure you please use your microphone when speaking so you can be heard both in
room and for those watching and obviously remember to turn off the microphone when you've
finished speaking.
Members of the public in the room who if you are here and you do not wish to have your
image captured please do speak to the committee clerk who can advise you where to sit.
So that being said we have a very busy agenda today.
We'll move straight into apologies for absence.

1 Apologies

I have one apology for absence that was received from Councillor Peter Brazier, who's the cabinet
member for Culture and Leisure.
And I do know Councillor Isabel Darby will arrive late, and that's due to some of the
traffic issues.
And also, our Chief Finance Officer and Director for Transformation and Section 151 Officer
David Skinner has sent his apologies and in his place we have Fiona Jump who's
the Deputy Chief Financial Officer and obviously she will contribute to the
meeting later. Also in the room we have a number of Deputy Cabinet Members I can
see councillors Carol Heap, Peter Martin and Michael Bracken who all very welcome
to participate in the meeting but under the rules of our Constitution do not
have a vote when we vote on the items on the agenda that they can contribute is
good to see you all here. What I haven't said is my name is Stephen Broadbent

2 Minutes

the Letimida of Buckinghamshire Council and so we'll now go into item two if
there's no further apologies. Okay item two are the minutes of the last meeting
you can see that these were the meeting held on the 14th of October and are on
pages five to 28 of the agenda pack.
So, cabinet members, you have seen these in advance.
Are there any comments or questions on the minutes?
And so, are you content for me to approve these minutes
as a correct record?
Okay, thank you, that is agreed.

3 Declarations of interest

And then we come to item three,
which is declarations of interest.
Members of the council do put their register of interest
on the publicly available website,
but are there any additional interests for today?
Okay, none declared, thank you.

4 Hot Topics

So that brings us to item four,
which is called hot topics.
Hot topics, for those watching,
is an opportunity for cabinet members
to alert people to something or anything
in their portfolio of a pressing nature
or of significant public interest.
There is no requirement to have a hot topic, but I will go around the table and if members you could please introduce yourself when you speak
And we'll go on from there. So Peter Strachan, please
Cllr Peter Strachan - 0:03:25
Thank You leader councillor Peter Strachan deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for planning
I have no hot topics today leader. Thank you. Thank you Thomas
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:03:33
Thomas Broom deputy leader and cabinet member for transport and just to say leader that as we get further into the
autumn and the weather starts to close in.
We'd very much encourage people to report any issues they find on the highway
network through Fix My Streets.
We will now be getting into potentially some drains that need some reactive
maintenance.
A couple of weekends ago, we had two named storms within 48 hours.
And I don't think I've ever seen a longer list of emergency call -outs over that
weekend and help sort out trees and things like that coming down over the
road so please don't hesitate to get in touch if there's an issue on the network
let us know and fix my street. Thank you very much and a good plug to fix my
Cllr Steve Bowles - 0:04:22
street Steve polls. I'm Councillor Steve polls cabinet member for communities I
have one one hot topic I've previously highlighted the launch of the council's
new parking enforcement arrangements and the new contract that we've got with
in the UK, which commenced on the 1st of June this year.
I'm pleased to report that the new contract has started
extremely well and performances well above expectations.
The deployment of civil enforcement officers
has been consistently at 100%, and enforcement officers
are being deployed to target areas of noncompliance
via an integrated analytics dashboard.
Further improvements are also planned including an extended roll out of moving traffic enforcement cameras,
a more robust and better coordinated approach to managing reported abandoned cars,
and the piloting of a new AMPL spotter cameras in our car parks.
Recent independent parking surveys demonstrate that parking compliance levels are already at 85%, which is well ahead of target.
This is good news for residents as a significant improvements in parking compliance will help to improve road safety,
increase the availability of local parking provision and provide better value for money.
So, yeah, I'm really, really pleased to report the success that ACPOA and us are having with parking.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:05:55
Thank you, that's often a real part of the inbox and an important topic for residents
to know that parking and traffic infringements are being looked after and enforced.
So thanks Steve, keep up the good work.
Robert please.
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:06:10
Thank you very much leader, Councillor Robert Carrington, cabinet member for resources and
no hot topics from me today.
Cllr Isobel Darby - 0:06:17
Thank you and Councillor Darby you have made it, welcome.
Do you have any hot topics please?
Thank you leader, yes I do.
I'm cancer is spelled out the cabinet member of health and well -being got a couple of things coming up on Monday
We've got our second Buckinghamshire carers partnership conference. We did it last year. It was a huge success. We've got an estimated
55 ,000
Unpaid carers in Buckinghamshire. I'll put my hand up on one of them and we continue to deliver our partnership ambitions to support unpaid carers
It's something that we have to do because not only do we have to care for those people who need care
we have to also look after the unpaid carers who are,
to put it bluntly, saving us an awful lot of money
because if they weren't there, those people would possibly have to have residential care
or they'd need more domiciliary care.
So, I'm looking forward to attending the next conference on Monday.
We will bring together unpaid carers, partners from health, social care, education,
wider council services, the voluntary sector,
for a morning of connexion, shared learning and practical action.
And this year, the theme of the conference is building carer -friendly communities, reinforcing
our strategic ambition to ensure that unpaid carers are recognised, valued, and supported
across our communities.
So I'm really looking forward to attending the event next week, and there's still a couple
of spaces available.
So if anybody wants to book, please do, because it's something that we, it's important for
all of us to know as much as we can about it.
And then we also have Safeguarding Adults Week from the 16th to the 22nd of November.
And that's a national annual focus that allows organisations to come together to raise awareness
of important safeguarding issues.
And safeguarding is just one of the most important things that we are responsible for, but it
isn't just us.
Everybody has a responsibility in safeguarding.
If you see something that doesn't look right, you need to talk to somebody because the chances
are it isn't right.
And so this year's theme is Every Voice, Every Choice.
And by prioritising choice, safeguarding can become more preventative, build trust and empower people.
And the Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Adults Board and Adult Social Care Partners will be hosting public information stalls throughout the week.
Great opportunities to learn more, ask questions and show your support.
So we've got on Tuesday the 17th, Buckingham Library between 10 and 2.
Wednesday the 18th, High Wycombe Library between 11 and 2.
Thursday the 19th, Fry's Square, Aylesbury between 10 and 2, and Friday the 20th, Burnham Library between 10 and 1.
So if anybody's available, please just pop into your local one. Show some support and you never know, you might learn something as well.
So you can search, if you want to know more about the National Campaign, you can search the Anne Craft Trust, that's Anne without an E, Craft Trust online.
To find out more about adult safeguarding in Buckinghamshire, visit our Care Advice
Buckinghamshire website or just look up Bucks Safeguarding Adults Board.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:09:17
Thank you very much, Isabel.
Carl, please.
Thank you, Lida.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:09:21
Carl Jackson, Cabinet Member for Education and Children's Services.
I have one hot topic, which is the consultation, a public consultation on the Education Places
Efficiency Strategy for the next five years, 27 to 32.
This is about making sure we have school places, childcare places,
STEM provision in the right places around the county to meet need.
This is always a moving picture.
There's a real mixed picture around the county.
Earlier this year, I went to the Topping Out ceremony at Kingsbrook Secondary
School in Aylesbury to mark the buildings which will allow that to go from a six
form entry to an eight form entry.
It has capacity to go for a ten form entry when needed.
Last month I opened the Orchard Butte Primary Academy in Aylesbury as well.
This is to meet the need of coming from all the new housing in that area,
a lot of new housing, obviously a lot of families moving in.
They need school places and the council is providing them.
In other areas, Academy Trust are closing schools
because they don't have enough numbers to be sustainable.
So we need to reflect that.
We're going to be talking about the local plan later.
And obviously, one of the most common questions all of us have got
from our residents is where's the supporting infrastructure for that?
Where are the hospitals?
Where are the, you know, where are the GP surgeries?
Where are the schools?
Where are the roads?
And so obviously, this sufficiency strategy starts to think
about how the local plan might see new development around the county
and how we meet the demand for school places, childcare places,
and STEM provision that will come with that.
The main priorities of the strategy are expanding mainstream school capacity where it's needed,
more support for children with SEND where it's needed, dealing with those areas where
they are starting to become surplus school places where the birth rate's falling, expanding
that preschool provision and wraparound provision of afterschool, before and afterschool care.
The deadline for comments is the 13th of December.
I would encourage members and members of the public
to respond if they want to submit a view
on how we should plan for the future
of school places in the county.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:11:27
Yes, very important topic for that forward planning.
Thank you, Carl.
Ade please.
Thank you, leader.
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 0:11:35
I'm Councillor Adeosha Brogan,
cabinet member for environment, climate change and waste.
I have two hot topics.
The first is our bio waste project of high work
High Heavens has now been completed.
With the project completion, we've increased our capacity
and ability to handle food, wood, and green waste
more efficiently.
We also have a new paint reuse scheme
at our household recycling centres.
Residents can drop off their used paints
and others can pick it up there for free.
We encourage our residents to please participate
in this scheme.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:12:12
Excellent, thank you very much. And Mark, please.
Cllr Mark Winn - 0:12:15
Good morning, leader. Mark Wind, cabinet member for housing and regulatory services. I've
got a couple of hot topics in my can, please. I took part in the annual Rough Sleep account
on the 23rd of October. This is a nationally mandated event that must take place once a
year. It takes place at City o 'clock in the morning. It's centred around our two largest
towns, Ellesbury and High Wycombe, but includes the whole county. I have for
several years taken part in this event alternating between Ellesbury and High Wycombe
and this year I was in High Wycombe. As cabinet member I believe it provides me
with a key insight into rough sleeping in the county and allows me to meet
housing staff and our partner agencies, outreach services and the voluntary
sector and to recognise the excellent work undertaken by them during this
during this year's Rough Sleeper Camp
and throughout the year to support Rough Sleepers.
Whilst the camp provides us with valuable insight
into Rough Sleeping across Bathamshire,
what was particularly encouraging was the proactive
and collaborative approach taken by everyone involved.
This was not simply identifying those sleeping rough,
but engaging with the individuals,
offering support and practical assistance
and helping them to access the services they need.
It's an excellent example of multi -agency work in its best, with teams working across
the county to support some of the most vulnerable residents in the county.
I would like to thank everyone involved for their commitment and professionalism.
Across the county, using both the work undertaken during the night and intelligence, 26 people
were found to be sleeping rough.
Council officers and our partners will do all we can to support these individuals into
accommodation and off our streets. And the next one, housing qualification. With
the new regulations like AWAB's law and the Renter's Right Act, housing is
becoming an increasingly regulated and complex profession. So there's a growing
expectation across the sector that key housing services are delivered by
professionally qualified staff of the appropriate technical knowledge,
skills and experience. So it's important not only for compliance with
legislation and regulate requirements, but also ensure that those residents,
that our residents receive a safe, effective and highly quality,
high quality service.
So I'm pleased to advise that we're committed to this and several members of the
housing service have undertaken and successfully completed the Chartered Institute
of Housing Postgraduate Certificate in Housing.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:14:47
Finished. Thank you. I was waiting for the microphone to go off. Thank you, Mark.
key topics there. So that's hot topics. I have a couple of items I wish to discuss. First of all,
I wish to put on record my thanks to all those who took part in and helped facilitate the Remembrance
Day services that were held over on Sunday, obviously, all across the county. It just shows
what a special place Buckinghamshire is. People from small villages through to, you know, the large
event that was held here in Aylesbury that I attended were out and it's fantastic to
see multiple generations paying their respect and honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice
for our freedoms today and obviously tomorrow is the armistice and there will be further
services held then. So thank you to everyone for that. And then I just mentioned what a
special place Buckinghamshire is so I think it's right for me just to take this opportunity
in very small order to set out clear where Buckinghamshire stands on devolution.
There's been some commentary recently suggesting we are laggards on this, we are not.
We have already got our level two devolution deal.
We have gone further and faster.
And I have been working very hard to repeatedly seek to meet with ministers.
Two meetings happened in March where I want to make sure devolution in this county is
deepened and not widened to the point of making sure
we boost our economy, look after our residents,
and deliver something more meaningful
that doesn't just mean a new layer of government,
more tax raising powers than done by people
not sitting within the county.
That will continue.
On several occasions, I've sought ministerial meetings.
I'm currently seeking another one with the current minister
given they all change with the change of government.
We must not repeat the mistakes that LGR has done nationally.
I'll continue to do that because we will need to make the right choices for
Buckinghamshire and that means allowing Buckinghamshire's
devolution to be of benefit to people here and not just complete jigsaw
puzzles on a map. And when the time is right I'll come
forward with anything further. So that being said that's the end of

5 Question Time

hot topics. We now move into question time and there is actually a question on that last
comments that I made around evolution. And the first to ask that is a councillor Robin
Stutchbury, if he comes forward, please. So question time is an opportunity for members
of the council, non -executive members to ask a question of the executive. And today we
have two, the first being Robin Stutchbury and the second being councillor Phil Gaughan.
So Robin Stutchbury, your question, which is to me, please. Welcome.
Cllr Robin Stuchbury - 0:17:46
Thank you.
Thank you.
As I concur with the leader's point, it was marvellous to see so many people taking part
in the remembrance over the weekend in every community.
But the question, Steve, is to you, sir, is in light of the government's devolution proposals
and the potential establishment of a Thames Valley mayoral strategic authority, will the
The leader explained the Council's current position of Buckinghamshire's participation
in these arrangements, including whether the economic case supporting that position will
be considered publicly by the Cabinet and the Council before any final decision is taken,
which is appropriate, I believe.
Thank you.
Thank you, Robin.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:18:41
So Buckinghamshire Council supports meaningful devolution and has been successful in securing
more powers and investment for Buckinghamshire as a result.
We continue engagement with government over the options to deepen that success, but our
priority is to get the right deal for residents and businesses.
I await a positive response, hopefully, to my request to meet with the relevant government
minister and then we'll consider the appropriate next steps following that discussion or discussions.
Thank you very much.
Now we'll invite Councillor Phil Grom.
Thank you for your time, Robin.
Phil.
Cllr Phil Gomm - 0:19:19
Good morning Phil, I think your question is to Pete Stratton.
So you're welcome, good to see you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:19:29
Would you mind just swapping the name plate over please so that we see it's you?
Thank you Phil.
Cllr Phil Gomm - 0:19:37
Right, please ask you a question.
Thank you leader.
I did wonder where my neighbour disappeared to, but it's always there somewhere.
First, I'd like to thank the leader, cabinet and officers for allowing me to address you today on a topic to do with a local plan and residents of Weedon Hill on my area as Councillor.
And they're fully supported by Weedon Parish Council too.
They delivered a lot of correspondence for the neighbourhood plan to the cabinet member and to officers.
But following on from that, just to finish off,
given the Council's proposed modification,
it acknowledges the need to maintain separation between Elsbury and Weeden Hill.
Will the Cabinet Member explain the policy reasons why the Council considers
MAI 1006 sufficient to achieve that objective
without identifying a permanent mapped strategic green gap,
including what weight was given to the landscape evidence
and boundary proposals submitted by Weedon Hill Residence Group when reaching that position.
Given the Council's proposed modification, it acknowledges the need to maintain separation between.
Thank you Phil, Peter.
Cllr Peter Strachan - 0:20:57
Thank you, Councillor Gough, nice to see you, welcome.
The council considers that proposed modification MA1006
provides an appropriate and effective policy mechanism
to prevent coalescence between Alesbury NESS
proposed allocation and Weedon Hill.
Without the need to identify a separately mapped
strategic green map.
The approach is consistent with the wider strategy
of the local plan which relies on a coherent framework of strategic policies rather than
introducing site specific designations for strategic green gaps.
In reaching this position the council has had regard to all relevant evidence including
landscape evidence and the submissions made by Wheaton Hill residents group.
The purpose of the local plan is to establish the strategic planning framework for the area
Detailed matters relating to the precise extent of separation between settlements, the assessment of coalescence, landscape impacts, and the maintenance of openness are more appropriately considered through the planning application process,
where the specific circumstances and impacts of individual development proposals can be assessed in detail.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:22:27
Thank you Peter, thank you Councillor Grom for the question.
That brings us to the end of question time.

6 Forward Plan (28 Day Notice)

And moves us swiftly on to item 6 which is the forward plan.
So the forward plan is the upcoming work of the cabinet, the items coming forward.
These are taking at a moment in time, the live version is on the website.
But does any, sorry, these are on pages 29 to 40 off the pack.
Do members have any comments or questions on them?
So you have, thank you, you're happy to note, are you please, the forward plan?
Thank you, that is agreed.

7 Select Committee Work Programme

And that then brings us to item seven, which is the forward look at the select committee work programme.
This is on pages 41 to 50.
Again, any comments or questions?
No? I'm content to note those, please.
Thank you.
That is agreed.

8 Health & Adult Social Care Select Committee Review – Evaluating the changing landscape in patient access to emergency care across Buckinghamshire

And so that now brings us to the first substantive item of the day.
And I look across the table to Councillor Sade O 'Dowd
because this item is the Health
and Adult Social Care Select Committee Review.
And Sade is the chairman of that committee.
And this is entitled evaluating the changing landscape in patient access to emergency care across Buckinghamshire.
This report can be found on pages 51 to 84.
And the way we will handle this is in the first part of the item.
I'll ask Sade in her role as chairman to introduce the report to us.
And then we'll have questions to Sade about the report
before asking Councillor Darby to convey the cabinet response
to that report.
So Sade, as I've said, is the Chairman of HASC,
the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee.
You're welcome.
Thank you for doing the work.
The work of our select committees is really important,
and doing deep dives into areas of concern and interest
to them and at the same time as obviously
adding a challenge to the operations of the council
and to Cabinet.
So thank you for the bit of work,
but over to you to introduce it please.
Thank you very much Chair.
Cllr Shade Adoh - 0:24:45
Thank you Cabinet members for having me.
I am very pleased to attend Cabinet this morning
and present to you the findings of the health
and adult social care's rapid review into emergency healthcare provision across Buckinghamshire.
First and foremost, I want to thank everyone who contributed to the review,
particularly our NHS and care partners who engage openly and constructively throughout the process.
And our residents who shared their experiences with us. I also, of course, want to thank my
fellow review group members for their commitment and diligence
in examining this highly complex area,
and to the present scrutiny officer for her support
throughout the process.
This review originated from a motion at full council
in November 2025, requesting a focused,
evidence -based examination of emergency care provision,
access, travel times, and system pressures across the county.
In undertaking this work, the review group was keen not only to examine emergency care
itself, but also the wider range of services and pathways that residents use when seeking
urgent health care.
As we quickly discovered, emergency care cannot be viewed in isolation from primary care,
community services, mental health provisions, social care, and preventative services.
Over an intensive programme of work, the review group had evidence from NHS organisations,
primary care leaders, NHS trust, public health professionals, social care colleagues,
the voluntary and community sector, and most importantly, local residents and patients themselves.
We visited both Stock Mandeville Hospital and the Origin Treatment Centre at Wickham
Hospital to gain first -hand insight into how services operate and the challenges faced.
One message came through consistently throughout our review.
Residents want to receive the right care at the right time, from the right professional,
and in the right place.
While that sounds simple, the reality is that today's health
and care system is increasingly complex.
The evidence showed that residents are often navigating
multiple services, pathways and organisations,
sometimes without sufficient clarity about which service best meets their needs.
Our focus has been on ensuring that Buckinghamshire residents benefit from those changes through
better integration, better communication, better use of technology, and stronger community -based
services.
The review group was also mindful that this review took place against the backdrop of
NHS 10 -year health plan and its three major shifts, which are from hospital to community,
from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention.
We therefore use those three things as a framework for our recommendations.
The 11 recommendations before cabinet seek to strengthen primary care in areas of greatest
need, improve integration between healthcare providers, support the development of neighbourhood
health services, accelerate progress on digital transformation and shared records, strengthen
preventative approaches, and improve how the health and care system communicates with residents.
That is vital.
These recommendations are practical, evidence -based, and intended to support our health partners
in delivering lasting improvements for Buckinghamshire residents.
I hope Cabinet viewed this report as a constructive contribution to shaping the future of health
and social care in Buckinghamshire.
Through strong partnership working, a clear shared vision and a continued focus on residents'
needs, we can help that, we can ensure that Buckinghamshire remains a place where people
can access high quality care when and where they need it.
I am therefore pleased to commend the report and its recommendations to cabinet for consideration.
Thank you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:29:39
Sade, thank you very much for outlining that.
So and I reiterate my thanks to you and indeed the entire membership of the committee, which
is cross -party because anyone who
wishes to look at what is under the methodology
board part of your report can see the sessions held
and the long list of people from across various parts of what
is very complex landscape in health social care
here to make sure you heard from a wide range of people
in order to distil this down to a set of recommendations.
Can I just ask, is there anyone you and the committee would have liked to have spoken
to and for whatever reason you were unable to, or do you think you have the full sweep
of representation you needed?
Cllr Shade Adoh - 0:30:32
I believe that we had wider representation.
I think the providers in anti -charity groups as well in Buckinghamshire are very active
and proactively engaging.
And so we mustn't forget that the adult social care as well,
there's an interrelationship.
So I wouldn't say really there was any other group,
but maybe more patient focus as in community, not just, you know,
looking at the acute setting.
But we had good engagement.
Okay. Thank you very much.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:31:08
Okay, members, any questions for Sade in this part?
Yes, Mark.
Cllr Mark Winn - 0:31:12
Just one thing that springs to mind that we're looking at emergency care.
One thing that's hot in the news and I know has occurred at Stoke Mandeville Hospital
is corridor care in A &E.
I've experienced it myself.
I've taken my mother in and sat there for 12, 14 hours on the trolley outside in the
corridor.
It's very unpleasant.
But at the moment, they're giving themselves a clean bill of health on that, which I don't
It's true.
Was we able to look at that at all?
Thank you very much, Councillor Wayne.
Cllr Shade Adoh - 0:31:47
We did look at corridor care.
And what we found from having the emergency group
and the consultants turn up is the fact
that they are working on this to make sure it is reduced.
Yes, it was very high.
But it is that is reducing currently.
And what they're doing is moving people from the corridor
into the other spaces.
And when we visited, the issue we found is when you go into Stoke, there is a corridor
where people are.
It is a transition and a swift transition from that space into the base.
And so it's about educating and informing people on arrival where to go and how swiftly
to move them on.
And it's an area that we said we need to, it back comes.
We need to communicate with people coming into this space and getting the staff to actually
explain to people who are turning up so that they are very well aware and people to encourage
and get them to be rest assured in this setting.
Cllr Mark Winn - 0:32:51
Just to clarify, these were people coming in from the ambulance corridor, so they were
sitting in the corridor from the ambulance and waiting there for hours on end.
That's what I found, but hopefully they are improving the situation because they really
no public care for people that were there. There was no privacy. People were having their
information discussed openly in front of publications. I could hear everything that was going on
and it was not right that that should be happening. It's not right that we should see that within
this county and within the nation. We know it's happening everywhere.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:33:32
Thank you Mark. Anything to add on that? I mean that would possibly meet your requirement
for some more patient voices or experiences.
But anything further to add?
Cllr Shade Adoh - 0:33:43
I think what I'll add to that is, yes, I agree with you,
but if possible to find out when you actually
had that experience so that we can get a feedback
from the partners on where they were at the time you attended
and where they are at the time of the review
and where they are currently so that we can have that continuity
and be able to share and give people that confidence
that is required.
Thank you, Sade.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:34:08
Anyone with further questions for Sade on this part?
So, Sade, what I'll do is I'll go to Isabel in a moment because, you know, clearly the
work you've done and some of the statistics in here are quite, you know, startling in
terms of, you know, increased demand in a way we see across our whole range of public
services.
So, I think you've done well as a group to be able to distil that down to the themes
you talked about, you know, going into the community and so on.
Cllr Isobel Darby - 0:34:42
But Isabel, your thoughts please, given it may be your portfolio.
Yes, thank you very much and before I sort of go into what I was planning to say, I'd
just like to say in response to what Councillor Wynne said, yesterday I attended a meeting
at our local hospital in Chalfont St Peter and we had to speak there, Natalie Judson
from our integrated neighbourhood team which serves the very south of the
county. It's nearly 80 ,000 residents and it was really exciting to hear about the
work that they have been doing in the area of frailty and what they're doing
is they're actually targeting a number of people. They've identified these
people, not people who've come into hospital, but identified these people who
they consider due to their age and their conditions
are likely to end up in hospital as an emergency admission
and potentially have an experience similar to Councillor
Wynne's mother.
And the whole point of this work is to identify them
and to intervene and prevent them
having to have an ambulance and going into hospital.
So I think one of the things we know
there is so much demand for A &E at the moment,
we have to manage that, or health
have to manage that demand.
And that is one area where the integrated neighbourhood team,
which includes people from this council, are working on a pilot
to see if they can reduce this.
And, you know, I think that's really exciting work.
And that's all to do with neighbourhood health.
Anyway, what I was planning to say was
that I really welcome the report.
It's a really important topic.
It's gotten to the breadth of issues and services to consider
when reviewing urgent and emergency care.
And I'd really like to echo your thanks,
to the review team, to Councillor Addo,
and to the whole team who did the work on this,
as well as the range of health partners who provided evidence
and engaged so positively with the inquiry.
And I note that of the 11 recommendations made,
10 have been fully agreed and one partially agreed
by our health partners, which is a really good indication
of the positive engagement in the system on this,
and that the HASS team have put their focus on important areas
for improvement.
The responses to the recommendations sit
with health partners to take forward.
So this is a bit of an odd one in that it's coming to us.
However, we are very much involved as an important part
of the wider health system.
And we have the health and well -being board, which I chair.
And we will play our part in partnership with others
to address these recommendations.
I'm not going to read out the full response
to all 11 recommendations, which is going to be published online
after this meeting, but I want to draw people's attention
to responses to four key recommendations.
Recommendation three, fed bucks,
who run the WIC Emergent Treatment Centre,
will be trialling an extension of opening hours up until 10 o 'clock
at night instead of 8 o 'clock.
This is going to be a pilot over the winter
and will then be reviewed by them and the commissioner
to determine optimal future operating hours.
Recommendation five, the Health and Well -Being Board will ensure
that Health Watch, Bux and the voluntary community sector are increasingly central partners to
the neighbourhood health programme in Bux and the development of neighbourhood health
plans. I'd just like to say at this juncture we're really pleased to hear that Health Watch
is going to continue because that was up in the air. Government have now decided, oh it's
perhaps a good idea to continue it and I personally and the team am absolutely delighted because
I think they do a jolly good job.
Recommendation eight, that we ensure
the use of the Joy platform that enables residents
to be connected to the local voluntary and community sector,
see their service offerings by primary care staff
and social prescribers, and make sure it's promoted fully
to utilise the benefits that it provides.
Recommendation nine, that the Health and Wellbeing Board
ensures we fully grasp the opportunity
that the Neighbourhood Health Programme offers
in terms of the prevention of ill health,
which I alluded to just before, and intervening earlier
to avoid deterioration later.
I know that the HASS committee will receive updates
on the implementation of all 11 recommendations
in the coming 6 to 12 months.
And I look forward to seeing progress on this important topic.
So if we just move to the recommendations, we are asked
to note the report and consider the findings
of the review group as set out.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:39:14
Thank you, Isabelle.
So with that recommendation, is there, do you have a comment first, Thomas?
Yeah, it probably would be.
Let's do that then, we'll pause the recommendation.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:39:23
Yeah.
Comment on the response.
Just very briefly, I have to say that I think it's fantastic that we've seen this report
coming through from the Select Committee, as we had a very useful report, I think, at
our last session as well.
and looking forward to one of our later items,
we've had excellent engagement from G .I .H.
on the local plan, and I just wanted to say
how important it is, even when we're broadly in agreement
that we have this kind of robust scrutiny
that really digs in and provides, you know,
draws out some insight and analysis
that we might not have seen otherwise,
and that it's really good, actually,
to see so much engagement from select committees
coming through to cabinets, it seems to me
that there has been a very significant increase
in that engagement this year,
and it is very much appreciated
because it means that everybody across the organisation
can make better, more informed decisions.
Thank you very much, Thomas.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:40:23
I think it certainly goes to show,
as I alluded to earlier with a complex landscape,
that all partners in the health endeavour
have certain responsibilities and roles to play,
but it shows the value of the council
needing to use the power of convening
and the abilities that we have to make sure that happens.
And I think that comes through in the report.
So yeah, certainly support the inference
what you're saying there, Thomas,
as well as the explicit comments too.
So Isabel, you put the recommendations, as you say,
the recommendations of us to note the report
and consider the findings and the response
as you've outlined.
As you've said, some of this,
rather strangely with their complexity,
means that it's a much wider system
who are agreeing or part agreeing,
just one of the recommendations and agreeing the others.
Are members content with those recommendations?
I'll take them both on block.
We in agreement?
Agreed.
Thank you, they're agreed.
So Sade, thank you.
As Councillor Darby said earlier,
the cabinet response will be published
at some point after today's meeting.
hopefully later today, but give us 24 hours maybe, if not.
And obviously we'll make sure we share that with you
so you can share that with members of the committee
along with our thanks.
And thank you for coming in today to present that report.
Good to see you.
Thank you.
So members, thank you very much.

9 Approval for submission of the Local Plan for Buckinghamshire for Examination

We're now moving on to item nine.
Item nine today is the approval for the submission
of the local plan for Buckinghamshire IV examination.
This report can be found on pages 85 to 100
of the agenda pack.
The appendices can be found on pages three to 672
of the supplementary pack.
In addition, appendix two and a supplement to annex A
into appendix one are contained
in a further supplementary pack for the item.
I will naturally ask Peter Strachan,
and deputy leader and cabinet member for planning to introduce the report with any additional
commentary from Councillor Michael Bracken as the portfolio deputy cabinet member.
And we also have Steve Bambrick in the room who is the corporate director for planning,
growth and sustainability and Charlotte Morris who is the planning policy manager who, and
they're both here to help answer any technical questions.
There are also some representations that you will, I believe,
refer to in your comments, Peter.
And I just want to put on record, we have said over a number of months that this
is one of the most challenging and largest requirements that have been placed upon us.
Particularly when the government put up the housing numbers by
north of 40 % to be 91 ,000.
This is this plan is not a plan that we would have brought forward based on evidence need at lower numbers
of 60 ,000 and I've made commentary before that yeah
I realise the scale and size of this plan
We believe it to be the largest of the near 80
Local authorities who are having to work on their local plans at this time
We believe it to be the largest it will obviously have an impact on
on the look, feel, and nature of the county,
and this plan is intended to meet
the legal requirements we have,
whilst trying to accommodate that.
But it is not, I do not want residents thinking
that we do not recognise the impact
at such a scale of such a large plan,
that the numbers by which have been imposed upon us
by the government.
That being said, Peter, this is part of a process.
So the ultimately the decision before cabinet today
Will be and you'll cover this in the recommendations
But on its journey ultimately to full council later this month if we agree that here today
Cllr Peter Strachan - 0:44:32
So Peter over to you to introduce this. Thank you for those helpful
Comments leader. So today marks another significant milestone in the preparation of the Buckinghamshire local plan
The Council has now completed Regulation 19 consultation of the proposed submission version of the plan, which took place during the summer.
We received over 12 ,600 comments from residents, businesses, developers, infrastructure providers and other stakeholders.
This local plan is about ensuring that development happens in a planned, coordinated and sustainable way.
It provides a long -term vision for Buckinghamshire to 2045 and establishes how we will respond to the government's imposed housing requirements to accommodate just over 91 ,000 new homes,
which is supported by economic growth and secure the infrastructure needed to serve existing and future communities.
Importantly, this is not simply a housing plan.
It is a strategy for creating sustainable places.
The plan seeks to ensure that new development is accompanied by investment in transport,
education, healthcare, utilities, green infrastructure and community facilities, helping to create
thriving communities where people can live, work, and access services.
The spatial strategy has been carefully developed to balance growth with the protection of Buckingham
Shire's valued environment.
It prioritises development in town centres and on brownfield land wherever possible,
promotes the efficient use of land through higher densities in appropriate locations,
seeks strategic urban expansions
of our most sustainable settlements
and the provision of new towns,
directing larger scale growth
to the least constrained parts of the county.
As a result, much of the proposed growth
is focused in areas of the county
where there is greater capacity
to accommodate strategic scale development
with the much needed infrastructure
provided to support this development.
It also continues to fulfil the council's commitment
of protecting the green belt.
The plan also supports the regeneration of our towns
and urban areas, helping to strengthen local centres,
support businesses, improve access to services,
and make the most of existing transport connexions.
At the same time, it provides opportunities
for economic growth and investment,
ensuring that homes, jobs, and infrastructure
are planned together rather than in isolation.
Members should be reassured that the plan has been developed
on the basis of extensive evidence,
including site assessments, infrastructure planning,
environmental studies, and ongoing engagement
with key stakeholders.
It is supported by a comprehensive suite
of development management policies covering housing,
employment, infrastructure, transport, design,
and environmental protection.
While a significant number of representations
raised concerns about specific policies,
sites, or matters of detail,
it's also important to recognise that many respondents
expressed support for the plan's overall direction.
Positive feedback was received regarding the plan -led approach to development,
including protection of the green belt. Infrastructure was one of the most
frequently identified issues during consultation. It is clear that residents
want confidence that growth will be matched by investment in roads, schools,
health care and other services. The plan seeks to secure that investment wherever
possible through the planning system. However, it's also important to
recognise that new development alone cannot resolve existing infrastructure
deficits that have built up over many years. Supporting this recommendation is
critical if we are to maintain momentum towards submission of the local plan for
independent examination. An up -to -date local plan gives the council greater
to shape where development goes, how it is delivered,
and what infrastructure accompanies it.
Without one, we remain increasingly vulnerable
to speculative development proposals
and provided to support this development,
it also continues to fulfil the council's commitment
of protecting the green belt.
The plan also supports the regeneration of our towns
and urban areas, helping to strengthen local centres, support businesses and improve access
to services and to make the most of existing transport connexions. At the same time, it
provides opportunities for economic growth and investment, ensuring that homes, jobs
and infrastructure are planned together rather than in isolation. Members should be reassured
that the plan has been developed on the basis of extensive evidence, including site assessment.
Ultimately, members should be clear that there's also a significant risk associated with failing
to progress the plan.
The Government has directed Buckinghamshire Council to submit a local plan by 31 December 2026.
Failure to do so could result in intervention by the Secretary of State and the loss of local control over plan making.
Three comments on the Cabinet report have been received from a local resident in Burnham,
from the Cheddington Action Group and from Weedenhill Parish Council.
Cabinet has been made aware of the contents of these representations.
Any questions relating to the representations will be responded to separately outside of the meeting.
It has also been aware of comments made by the members of High Wycombe Town Committee.
I would also like to draw your attention to two documents that were published yesterday.
Appendix 2, the strategic liaison compliance statement sets
out the strategic engagement undertaking
with neighbouring authorities
and prescribed bodies throughout the preparation
of the local plan.
Also, a supplement to Annex A to Appendix 1, Reg 22 Statement
of Consultation, suggested mod schedule was published.
This update includes four additional suggested minor
modifications and two additional suggested main modifications to those
which have already been published. The suggested main modifications comprise a
revision to the stepped housing trajectory to reflect the latest housing
monitoring data and an amendment to policy NE2 which is watercourses and
associated corridors specifically to part 5 and the list of chalk streams to
ensure the policy provides accurate protection for chalk streams. This report
therefore seeks approval to recommend to full council that the Beckenhamshire
local plan be submitted to the planning inspector for independent
examination representing the next crucial step towards securing an
up -to -date planning framework for the county and giving our communities the
best opportunity to influence how future growth is planned and delivered.
Also just to reinforce two points made by the leader that whilst this is called the
Buckinghamshire Plan, the requirements of the plan are imposed upon us by government
and it is not possible to introduce this quantum of development to the county without upsetting
some communities.
The alternative though is unacceptable because it would result in speculative development throughout the county.
And I commend the plan to colleagues.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:53:31
Thank you Peter. I'm sure there will be a number of hands.
I'll ask Michael if he's got any comments to make now and then I'll ask the officers and then we'll come to questions. So Michael.
Thank you, Lita.
I wanted to encourage cabinet to reflect on the sort
Cllr Michael Bracken - 0:53:48
of the broader consultation that the council is engaged with.
So as my colleague, Councillor Strachan just said,
we have 12 ,600 representations on the Reg 19,
but that actually builds on earlier consultations.
So we had almost three and a half thousand
at the Reg 18 stage, we had a sites engagement
with almost 8 ,000, and we had large numbers
of other elements with good participation from the public.
And I would like to encourage the cabinet to thank everybody
who has participated in the consultations
through this process.
And I want to speak directly to residents to say we have sought
to understand and reflect your comments
in what is now in the plan.
And I also want to assure residents
that if this plan does proceed to submission,
then all of those comments will also be visible
to the planning inspector under the process.
But as my colleague has said,
all of that comes off a back of a 91 ,000 housing target,
which is imposed on us,
and that's over 40 % of the number of homes
currently in the county,
so the population could increase by up to 50 %
under this local plan.
And in my own discussions with residents across the county,
the consistent theme has been the astonishment
At the scale of housing target imposed on us by the Labour government
I think people understand that we can't put
40 to 50 percent new homes on every single street in the county so it is inevitable there will be some large new
Developments and I think we should recognise with the heavy heart that the scale of the development that this plan involves will change the county
It is a very difficult plan to have to promote for our County
but I would encourage cabinet to embrace it as my colleague has outlined as the best way that we can adopt and shape the
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:55:40
Adapt and shape the future of our County. Thank you. Thank you Michael
Charlotte and Steve
Just want to cheque with you. If you've got anything to say now and actually I'm going to jump in slightly because Peter
Talked about the minor and the main modification. So maybe as part of that for those watching you can just explain
minor main major and what that means and
maybe give some reassurance that those amendments are part of the process. Over to you.
Thank you leader Steve Hambrick, corporate director planning growth and
Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning, Growth & Sustainability - 0:56:14
sustainability and I'll ask my colleague Charlotte to just address that question
in a moment but if I may just on a more general perspective just on those late
So, Councillor Strachan referred to two papers, one which is the supplementary modifications.
Again, they to a large extent speak for themselves.
There's also the statement of compliance.
And again, as Councillor Strachan outlined, it's an important document.
That's a living document that will continue to change as we progress through the examination.
But that sets out at this stage the level of engagement and cooperation, if you like,
with a number of other authorities, including neighbouring authorities, and in time will
contain a series of statements of common ground which will capture, as the name says on the
10, the areas of common ground between the council and those neighbouring authorities.
So as I say, that's a live document.
The only other thing I also wanted to say is the in relation to the additional representations that have been received
Late and have been circulated to cabinet members again referred to by Council Strachan
Whilst of course those are received outside of the regulation 19 consultation. We have as officers
considered those
And again my advice to you as cabinet is that there is nothing contained within those
additional representations that would lead us
to change our recommendations to you today.
So again, just to give you some reassurance
that they have been looked at, have been considered,
but we don't consider them at all appropriate
for any changes to the recommendations.
But perhaps if I can ask Charlotte just to address
the point about main, major, and minor modifications.
Thank you.
Charlotte Morris - Planning Policy Manager - 0:58:04
So at this stage of the local plan process,
we have been reviewing all of those comments received and identifying whether a series of suggested
modifications for the planning inspector
Is relevant so we have identified minor modifications and what's known as main modifications
So as you might expect minor is minor in its nature
So often this is referring to a typo or a grammatical error within the plan
Whereas a main modification is one that materially affects the local plan policy
and so
For that we are still saying that the policy is sound but it could be improved by making this main
Modification and so just to re -emphasise that we are not saying there are any major
Modifications if there was a major modification
To change that policy we would have to re -consult for a further six weeks at the regulation 19 stage
And so we are not in that position.
We are simply suggesting to the inspector that through assessing all of the comments received we are suggesting that these minor and main
modifications are considered, but ultimately it is up to the planning inspector to decide whether or not those changes are made.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:59:22
Thank you, and that's an expected part of the process is it by the inspectors to see that?
Charlotte Morris - Planning Policy Manager - 0:59:29
Correct, this is standard practise that the planning authority would set out what its view is in terms of the proposed modifications.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:59:34
Excellent, thank you. Right, I've got some hands. I've got Thomas first, then Steve.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:59:40
Thank you, leader. As I think everybody's spoken so far has said, this is not the starting point that we want it to go into this process.
91 ,000 houses is a genuinely absurd number for a county this size.
And what makes it worse is that the imposition of that number is entirely, seemingly, arbitrary.
There is no rhyme or reason behind it, except perhaps that we've seen housing numbers in other areas
where other local leaders have failed to deliver on housing,
such as London, have had their numbers reduced
and they do appear to have been dumped into Buckinghamshire.
I think before the last election,
there were some warnings about
concreting over the green belt.
Well, little did we realise quite the scale of the war
on the wider countryside that this government has declared,
Whether you are a farmer, whether you are a rural business owner, or whether you just
live somewhere that isn't a big city, you have found the government intruding into your
lives in the most unpleasant and often insidious ways.
And I think this is just another example of that.
Now, within that context, I think we have tried as much as is possible to find a way
of accommodating that level of development in the least disruptive way that we can.
But it is absolutely true to say that there is no way that you can increase the population
of a county by 50 % and accomplish that goal.
I completely concur with colleagues who have said that, you know, in a very difficult circumstance,
this is the best way to proceed.
But I think what you're hearing if you're listening to this as a member of the public
from all of us is that we all acknowledge that there are, that this is not the ideal
outcome.
The ideal outcome would be the needs -based assessment that we had under the previous
government, which would have allowed 30 ,000 or more of what
has had to be allocated in this plan to disappear from the map.
And that would largely account for the new large development
sites.
And I think it's important that people understand
that distinction and what could have been
and what has been imposed on us instead of that.
I just wanted to make a couple of points about some of the things that have been put out
there, which I think have been somewhat misleading.
We have heard from certain courses about the timing of the plan, and I think it's important
to emphasise to people that obviously when this new target was imposed on us in 2024,
that that completely reset the clock on any work
that would have taken place before that.
And actually I just want to say a thank you
to cabinet colleagues but also to the officer team
for bringing forward this monumental piece of work
in a time scale that has meant that we haven't been bumped
onto the other track for local plans,
which would very likely see us facing even higher numbers.
So I think that's important to say.
You know, work that has been going on has been impressive,
it's been detailed.
We've heard about the scale of comments from the public
and how they've been integrated into the plan.
But I do also want to say that there has been
a bit of volt -fast from certain people
within the county on this.
until about six months ago when we started to see
where these sites might potentially go,
our labour MPs in the county were very much telling us
that the delivery of 1 .5 million homes
was the most important thing the government was doing
and that people who objected to development
should basically shut up and get out of the way.
They had been repeatedly told
that you could not accommodate this level of house building
in Buckinghamshire without effectively damaging the county.
These were warnings they ignored.
The moment they started to see the reality
of what they'd been warned about crystallising,
we suddenly started to hear lots of local champion
going around various action groups,
saying how much they'd be doing
to help protect those areas.
Where were they six months ago?
Where have they been for the last two years?
Well, we well they had an opportunity to stop this
When they could have gone to colleagues in some cases cabinet colleagues in government and said look
This is just not a realistic ambition for an area like Buckinghamshire
So I think it's really important that that's clear and on the record. I think the plan itself in incredibly difficult circumstances
Does as much as we possibly can to protect what so many people?
fondly refer to us as leafy bucks. It protects green spaces wherever we can,
it accommodates development where we are forced to do so and it is undoubtedly in
my mind the only way that we can proceed. Otherwise we will leave ourselves open
to what we saw at previous stages of consultation because of course we don't
get to just decide where house building goes. We do not have an American -style
zoning system, we have to choose from what is put forward
to us by developers.
We have seen the scale of the danger of speculative
development in the sites that were submitted to us.
And it runs into the hundreds and hundreds and hundreds
of thousands, and that is what we must protect against.
In terms of a question for the team,
I think the only thing that I would ask is just about
the timescale for this, obviously it goes to full council on the 25th.
And we are, as I think the leader has said, one of the biggest local plans,
if not the biggest local plan in the country.
Do we have any indication on what the timescale would be
before we potentially hear back from the Inspector?
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:06:39
Thank you. Thank you for the commentary and then, importantly, the question as well.
Charlotte Morris - Planning Policy Manager - 1:06:41
I was just going to pick up the question on the programme.
So after full council, which is on the 25th of November,
we are required to submit the plan
for examination no later than the 31st of December.
We will aim to submit the plan in early December and subject
to full council's approval.
And so we are on track to do that well
within the government's deadline of the 31st of December.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:07:10
But then thereafter, what happens then, because at this stage we don't even know who the appointed Inspector is, so what happens after that please?
Charlotte Morris - Planning Policy Manager - 1:07:22
So once the plan has been submitted to the Planning Inspector, we will be appointed at least one Planning Inspector, probably two.
We are hopeful that this will be at the start of the year.
We are then expecting within the first three to four months of receiving
that appointed planning inspector or inspectors
to receive what's called initial questions.
So this will set out issues and matters for the examination.
We then hope during the summer period that a series of hearing sessions will be held.
So this is where the inspector leads a series of questions and invites the council plus
those representatives who commented on the plan where he sees fit to answer questions
about the plan.
We then expect by the end of the year to receive an inspector's report concluding on the examination.
However, I do have to caveat all of that because ultimately it is down to the availability
of the planning inspector.
We are aware that there are a large number of local plans
all at the same stage who are all expecting to submit
by the end of the year,
but we are hopeful that we will be one of those
that can proceed early in the new year
through the examination stages.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:08:45
So there's a number of stages,
all of which are handled by the planning inspector.
At that point, the council then just reacts
to the timeline as defined by them and the various stages,
as opposed to it being a council endeavour.
I think that's important for people watching to understand,
once it's submitted, the timeline is no longer in our hands.
And can I just ask you a question?
You said there may be some hearings in the summer.
And I think it's interesting that also to set the expectations,
you talk through a whole year.
So the working assumption is it will take a year -ish,
plus or minus on either way to do the full examination question part one and
part two you said those who've made representations you don't mean all
twelve thousand or whatever comments do you who decides who the inspector
Charlotte Morris - Planning Policy Manager - 1:09:43
wishes to hear from so we do invigid the examination process to take around a
as a best case scenario. In terms of who gets to attend the hearing sessions, that is set
out by the planning inspector. So as part of the Regulation 19 stage held in the summer
for the consultation, at that stage if you wanted to request to be part of those hearing
sessions, you would have had to have notified us at that time. But ultimately it is down
to the inspector to identify who should attend those.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:10:18
Okay, and so when the comments go through from people,
it will also indicate if they were someone
who ticked them off to say, yes, I'm willing to appear.
Charlotte Morris - Planning Policy Manager - 1:10:27
That's correct, we will be passing all of that information
in terms of who's asked to be present at the hearings,
we will be passing that to the planning inspector.
Excellent, thank you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:10:36
Back round the table, Steve Bolton.
Cllr Steve Bowles - 1:10:38
Thanks very much.
The numbers have already been mentioned
And that is a 43 % increase above the plan
that we would have run with.
So I think it's important that the public realise that.
But furthermore, the numbers have been imposed on us.
And we're getting no money from central government
for infrastructure, despite the fact
that in the local government settlement last year,
they took 44 and 1 half million pounds away from us.
So we're getting no money towards infrastructure.
Anyway, coming to my question
to the cabinet member colleague there,
it's come to my attention that there are many people
that don't understand why there's more development
in the north under the plan than there is in the south.
Could you tell us why that's the case?
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:11:36
Cllr Peter Strachan - 1:11:38
Yeah, I think I'll add to that and I'll hand over to Steve Bamberg for the technical
reason, but essentially that is where the available land is.
I think it's fair to say that the majority of the population of Buckinghamshire is in
the south, which is where development has perhaps already taken place.
And also, the south is where Greenbelt is and it's where national landscape is.
So there are much greater restrictions in the south and the north and and the reality is of course that we put development
Where landowners and agents offer land for development the role of the council in this is simply to validate
Where the land put forward is suitable for development
So I think the reality
Councillor Bowles is that that is just where the available land is and where it's being offered
And it's not true to say there was no development
in the south.
I think the proportion is about 75 % to 25 % in the south.
But Steve, do you want to add anything technical to that?
Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning, Growth & Sustainability - 1:12:42
If I may just say that the process that we followed
in allocating sites is one that's set out nationally.
And I think it's important to say, given,
as has already been mentioned, a large proportion
of the county is covered by Greenbelt, that the expectation
is that we should not be amending Greenbelt boundaries unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Now of course if we go through a process of allocating sites across the whole of the county
and we have sites available outside of the Greenbelt area, then it's much more difficult
for us to be able to demonstrate exceptional circumstances when we've got those other sites
available and that's been an ongoing process that we followed and members will have seen
when we got to Regulation 18, we consulted on a series of sites including some of those
in Greenbelt locations. It's been through that process of allocation that we've been
able to identify all of the sites outside of the Greenbelt without therefore having
to get into an exceptional circumstances position. But Councillor Strachan is also right, there's
a significant proportion of existing development already in the south and we are still proposing
still a significant amount of development
in the south of the county,
albeit outside of the Greenbelt.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:14:03
Thank you very much.
I've got a series of other hands.
Next on my list is Karl, please.
Thank you, Lida.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 1:14:14
I think like all the members around the table,
I was horrified when I saw the updated targets
for Buckinghamshire.
I posted a couple of public meetings
about the local plan with my colleagues Simon Rouse and Martin Tett, I've attended others
and there has been on every occasion a collective gasp in the room when I have said our target's
gone up by 43%. These are targets which are about the government hitting arbitrary national
housing quotas, not about understanding and meeting Buckinghamshire's actual housing need.
And that is what is so disappointing about it. And this has already been mentioned, it
is, while a fantastic job I think has been done of trying to mitigate and manage how
that housing is, our sites are in marked across the county, it is impossible for no one to
feel something in terms of where these houses are going.
However much you might disagree with the targets, and I think we've probably established we
all do, and of course the accompanying weakening of greenbelt protections, it is important
that we approach this process professionally.
You can see what happens if you don't.
We only need to look to one of our next door neighbours,
Three Rivers District Council,
currently I think a Liberal Democrat minority administration
who managed to make a mess of the process.
They have the government come in
and take their local plan off them.
So out of the window goes your council
as having a say in where the sites go,
out of the window goes your public consultation
in any meaningful form,
and to add insult to injury,
they also got some additional sites added on.
And you might think, well, that's their problem,
but it isn't just their problem.
One of those sites is right on the border with Buckinghamshire
borders my ward at Chaney's,
and therefore my residents there will be feeling
the impact of the increased traffic that that will bring.
And this is a huge task.
It's not one we've been jumping around,
waving a flag at the opportunity to do,
but we've done it professionally, we've done it properly.
I want to thank Councillor Peter Strachan and Councillor Michael Bracken for their leadership,
all the officers who have done a huge amount of work behind the scenes to get this right.
And of course our residents who have endured a number of consultations stretching back
several years if you look to the first call for sort of brownfield sites shortly after
the Council was formed.
I obviously support submitting this draught local plan, we need to crack on and protect
ourselves there's obviously a lot of focus with local plans about where
development is being permitted local plans also of course say where you don't
want development to be permitted and it's important we establish that I think
there's three particularly important points which I think are really you know
where this local plan is strong I think first has been the relentless focus from
the beginning on the brownfield first approach there are always a range of
views on planning always a range of views on an appropriate target I've
I've never heard anyone say to me,
don't worry about the brownfield sites,
they seem a bit difficult,
just go straight to the green spaces.
And this local plan maximises our use of brownfield sites,
and crucially, those which are actually deliverable
as housing, not just any old site.
I think it's absolutely right we've looked at
increased density of housing in our town centres as well.
People ask a lot about infrastructure
when it comes to local plans.
Well, there might not be much money from the government
for new infrastructure so it's sensible to put the housing where the infrastructure already
is.
If there's going to be new housing and the people obviously coming with it, let's put
that housing near the train stations, near the decent bus routes, near the shops, near
the services.
It's a sensible approach.
And finally, the third point, of course, is the protection of the green belt.
Not so long ago, before the last local election, I was knocking on doors like many other people
around this table and shoving leaflets through letterboxes saying, I want to protect the
the Greenbelt in this area and if you elect a Conservative run council we will do what
we can to protect the Greenbelt. You look at this draught local plan and I can look my
residents in the eye and say promise made, promise kept. We have protected it, it's important,
our residents value it and we've delivered on that promise. So I will happily lead the
support and recommendation and the submission of this local plan.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:18:34
I'm not sure there was a question necessarily at the end, but maybe I'll pick up one of
the threads because I think both Steve Bowles and Carl Jackson both referenced infrastructure
and it is pulled out in the report in the table and in some of the notes about whether
the infrastructure delivery plan demonstrates reasonable prospects of delivering transport
education, health utilities and so on.
Steve, can you just, I think, you know, I know it's quite a complex sort of scheme to put together,
but can you just outline the approach to that?
And obviously this will be tested by the inspector, but, you know,
Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning, Growth & Sustainability - 1:19:19
give us your professional judgement on the scale of the infrastructure plan and its deliverability, please.
Yes, thank you.
So as members will be aware, and as we've consulted on as part of the Regulation 19,
and we have prepared the infrastructure delivery plan.
And that's in conjunction with and in consultation
with various infrastructure providers.
It's not just a plan that this council pulls together.
We've engaged with the variety of infrastructure providers
and been able to obviously share
with those infrastructure providers the proposed locations
for new growth that's contained within the plan.
And as part of those conversations, we've been able
to identify where the gaps might be, where they,
as infrastructure providers, may need
to adjust their investment plans over the next 20 years
in order for them to do the work that's
necessary to accommodate growth.
Of course, there is also an expectation,
as has been alluded to, that we will maximise contributions
through the planning process.
So where we are proposing new developments,
those developments themselves will make contributions
either by providing infrastructure directly
or by making financial contributions
to make sure that infrastructure can come forward
and align that with investment plans
from some of the infrastructure providers.
As you rightly say, Lee,
all of that will be tested by the inspector
because that will be one of the questions
and I anticipate some of those infrastructure providers
will be the people that will be invited to participate
in the hearings by the inspector,
because the inspector will be interested to understand
how those infrastructure plans can all align
to make sure that there is appropriate delivery.
I think one final thing just to say,
because all of that costs a lot of money,
either from the developments themselves
or from the infrastructure providers.
So the other piece of work that's also part
of this plan process is a viability assessment.
So we've needed to undertake a viability assessment of the site and of the plan to test whether or not
the infrastructure that's required to support those can be afforded. And in some cases you will see
that we've had to make some policy choices, for example around what other provision could be made around things like affordable housing in some
locations to ensure that the infrastructure that's necessary can be afforded. Again,
all of that will still be tested by the inspector through the examination.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:21:52
Very helpful, thank you. And Charlotte, anything you wish to add?
You don't have to add as well as I said Steve, and that's
unfair because you're effectively a team, but I don't want you to...
Charlotte Morris - Planning Policy Manager - 1:22:03
I will just add one point on viability. So the
infrastructure delivery plan sets out as a minimum each infrastructure
requirement for each of our strategic sites. And that is really
key because we have tested it through liability and it is viable.
So that piece of evidence is really important
when a planning application gets submitted by a developer
that we can say, well we have tested this, it is viable and therefore
the X, Y and Z infrastructure is required to be delivered
as part of that development. It is not just about housing requirements.
This plan is much more about good place making that people want to live
and working, not just the houses.
So we're very much aware of that,
and the evidence supports that approach.
Thank you for that.
That's really helpful.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:22:53
Where am I on the list?
Isabel, you're next, please.
Cllr Isobel Darby - 1:22:57
Yes, thank you.
My sort of infrastructure question has kind of happened,
but I would like to say a few words, if I may.
Firstly, I think I share colleagues'
and residents' disappointment
that the government is requiring this council to build,
or to find the places to build one new home
for every two existing homes in the county.
That is how big it is.
It's the biggest growth I think we've ever seen,
and it is quite frightening, it really is.
This is a ridiculous number.
We've got no option, which is why we have to move forward
with this plan, we'd really love to put in a plan for much, far fewer houses, but we
know that that would be thrown out by the inspectors, so we have to comply with that
number.
And I think that is my biggest disappointment that we are in this situation, but I believe
that what we've done is, or what the officers have produced along with us, is the best solution
given the constraints we're having to work under.
And as the cabinet member responsible health and wellbeing, I welcome the fact that the local plan before us recognises the link between good spatial planning, the infrastructure that residents need, and the communities that we live in improving health and wellbeing.
Because if we're going to take all these houses, we need to make Bucks a good place to live.
The health and wellbeing strategy for BUGS is that we're assigned up to that as a council
and our Director of Public Health's annual report from this year described how important
the environment that we live in is to our health and wellbeing.
So I'm really pleased to see that officers in different teams across the council from
different portfolio areas have come together to develop this plan and it's right that we
have an objective of the local plan about community health and wellbeing, that we both
strategic policies and development management policies that will support
this ambition. Over the life of this local plan we know we're going to see a
growing and ageing population in Bucks but with the right policies included in
the plan I believe we can build a healthier future Buckinghamshire that
our residents both current residents and future residents can have a lot of
people moving into the area what they need and deserve but yes it's with a
I believe this should go forward because the numbers are just wrong.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:25:27
Thank you Isabel. Absolutely the right context there that where the houses ultimately will come.
It's not just about creating a housing estate, places and how people choose to live here.
Yes, turning into homes will make them better connected is part of some of the improvements we made.
for example, in the design guide, how it looks like,
and some of the green space,
environmental protections as well.
But they're still very difficult
with the numbers as they are.
Okay, thank you for that.
Ade, please.
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 1:26:06
Thank you very much, leader,
and I will not be labelled the infrastructure point
because I think the officers have answered that.
But as a member in a ward that is bearing the brunt
of the government's arbitrary housing target,
I'm aware that a large percentage of my residents would have contributed to contribute to the consultation process
I just need some restaurants from the offices that with the minor and major minor on main
Modifications done that the council has addressed all the principal
objections raised during the consultation
And I also would like to get some restaurants around this north -south
divide that there was no allocation based on the north or south that was based on land
availability.
So I just need to get clarification on those two points.
Steve and Charlotte.
Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning, Growth & Sustainability - 1:26:56
Yeah, so just on the two points.
So first of all, as you've heard today, there's just over 12 ,600 representations.
All of those have been considered in coming to the conclusion and the recommendations
today.
So every representation that's been made has been considered as part of this process.
In terms of the provision in the kind of north of the county and the south of the county,
so there isn't a kind of an in principle position in terms of the location for developments.
But as I said earlier, the process that we followed is effectively one which is kind of set out in national policy already,
which is you ought to be considering changes
to the greenbelt only in exceptional circumstances.
So it's been through that process and the various call
for sites that we've assessed the land availability
and the deliverability of the sites in the county.
And we've been able to conclude that in bringing the sites
forward that we have, we haven't met the threshold
for exceptional circumstances which require us
to alter the greenbelt, which by definition, therefore,
gives us the balance that we've got in the plan with more outside of the green belt and
no allocations within.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:28:20
Charlotte Morris - Planning Policy Manager - 1:28:22
I'd just like to add that in terms of the comments received and officers reviewing those
comments, Appendix 1 to this paper sets out the Regulation 22, Statement of Consultation.
So for each policy within the local plan, it sets out a summary of the main issues and
then a summary of how we have responded to those issues.
And then that's supplemented by Annex A, which is a schedule of the individual minor and
main modifications.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:28:51
Thank you very much.
That's a supplementary item.
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 1:28:57
I do apologise for this, but I just want to get another bite in the cherry.
Just to confirm from the officers that based on what's been said now, so our residents are clear,
the reason why we haven't got any developments in the Greenbelt is because we had land availability sufficient to satisfy this target outside the Greenbelt.
Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning, Growth & Sustainability - 1:29:22
Yes, effectively the availability of land outside of the greenbelt meant that we were
not meeting the threshold of exceptional circumstances.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:29:32
Okay, thank you.
Mark, please.
Cllr Mark Winn - 1:29:34
Thank you, leader.
Like others, I think it would be as a northern councillor who, where we're going to bear
the brunt of the development.
I think it remisses me not to mention the fact that none of
us wanted this high target, and it was imposed on us by the
Labour government.
And I need to really highlight the hypocrisy of two of our
northern MPs who have gone round and argued for that
higher figure, and then when they get the consequences of
that higher figure, they're surprised that it's in their
constituencies.
Absolutely surprised.
total hypocrisy in that. They knew that that was going to happen and they
pretended otherwise and that's extremely wrong. But to go on to the plan, some
good things about the plan are the fact that firstly in Aylesbury we've always
wanted the link roads and really what we wanted was a ring road and with this
development around, it will come with development obviously, we will
virtually hit a ring road around the town. So I wanted to make sure that we do everything we can
to ensure that that happens, that infrastructure happens. Also I've been an advocate all the way
through of the Elsbury link of East West Rail and we really want to press that that happens,
because it's ridiculous to get this level of development in and around Elsbury and around the
north and then not get the infrastructure links. The government really needs to put their money
where their mouth is and give us some of the infrastructure.
Also on the NHS, I mentioned earlier the problems with NHS
and I won't labour on those again,
but that causes real problems
if we do not get extra NHS provision.
That's emergency care, primary care, dental care even.
They really need to look at that and we really need to press
on them as a council and I hope our MPs will join
in that in terms of that.
Another good thing as an Abicabric member obviously for the housing and especially interest in this of called
Affordable housing and of course there's a target of 25 %
affordable in the north and 40 % in the south and
Also the provision to make sure that 60 % of that housing is built is social rented at the absolute
Affordable level 50 % of market rate so we should do everything we can to ensure that happens
So I just wanted to have insurance on those points
Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning, Growth & Sustainability - 1:32:03
And again, I mean absolutely right, just on that final point around delivery of affordable housing, obviously those targets are contained within the plan.
Those targets themselves were part of the assessment of viability in terms of what was achievable, which is why we've got the variation in targets in different parts of the county
because the viability assessments demonstrate a different level of evidence required there.
But Councillor Wynne is also right that we also have a significant proportion of expectation
that social rented will form the vast majority of provision because we can see from the evidence
that supports the local plan that's what's needed. And so again that's as Charlotte has said earlier
that's it's important that we are evidence -led through the examination process and the policies
will are and we're comfortable that there is a viability assessment that backs that up.
So when we get to both the local plan provision and also then planning applications,
we're able to demonstrate very clearly what's required and what we expect to achieve from those developments.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:33:08
Thank you Steve. So last couple of questions from me. We've talked today
about sites coming forward, the fact it's a 20 -year plan,
and you mentioned earlier things like,
related to infrastructure, their capital programmes
to be able to build out required infrastructure.
Can you just explain, therefore,
in a 20 -year plan with sites
that would accommodate 91 ,000 homes,
if the plan ultimately cleared to the inspector
and was adopted by the council?
What influence or what expectation can residents have about when the timing of the build out of a plan would come forward based on infrastructure readiness and sites please?
What would happen if this ultimately is the adopted local plan within the county?
Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning, Growth & Sustainability - 1:34:02
So we at this stage, we are expected to demonstrate the inspector housing trajectory.
So we already are looking at the sites that are contained within the plan and which of
those we expect to come forward in the early parts of the plan period and which of those
will come forward at the later stages.
And some of those that will come forward later will be the ones that will have some of the
bigger infrastructure challenges and maybe that's where, for example, as I mentioned
earlier, tying the delivery of those sites into things like the investment plans for
some of the utility providers, because if actually utility providers are not planning
to deliver their investment, for example, for another 10 years, then that will hold
up the delivery of some of these sites coming forward in the early stages of the plan, some
of them will come forward in the later stages of the plan.
So again, all of that will be tested as part of the examination.
The inspector will want to be clear that there is confidence in that housing trajectory and
that we're not, for example, expecting to see all
of the developments come forward at the end of the plan period.
There will need to be a balance through the 20 years
of delivery starting from effectively year one
and moving through to year 20.
Thank you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:35:21
And my last question is if you could just convey elements
to do with the advisory visits, part of this process today is,
and the work that you and the team have done
over all these months is
to bring forward a legally compliant and sound bid,
sorry, plan to propose ultimately the cabinet
and then to full council ready for inspection
if it clears here today.
Can you just outline what the impact is or the process
of those advisory visits
and if there are any major concerns highlighted
through that?
Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning, Growth & Sustainability - 1:35:59
Yes, thank you.
So it is recommended good practise as part
the preparation of your local plan that you should engage with the planning
inspectorate who of course as you've heard today will eventually be the body
that will be examining the plan. They recommend these advisory visits which is
effectively the opportunity for us to share work that we have undertaken on
the preparation plan with the planning inspectorate. They appoint a planning
inspector to come and undertake those visits. It is not the same inspector that
will be appointed to conduct the examination,
but a different inspector.
Throughout the preparation process,
we have had four advisory visits.
And they have been incredibly helpful.
They've been able to examine where
we've got to in the various stages,
give advice on changes or updates that we need to work on,
and also what questions or expectations
the eventual examination inspector will have
to make sure that we are examination ready.
Throughout that process we have, as I say,
we've had a very positive experience
and there'd be no concerns that have been raised
by the planning inspectorate to give us any indication
that we should not be proceeding in the way that we are.
Obviously, through those visits,
we've continued to receive advice
and we are responding to that advice in order to make sure we are best prepared at the examination.
Charlotte Morris - Planning Policy Manager - 1:37:37
Just to add, so the last advisory visit was linked to what's known as the PINS pre -examination cheque.
So this is an informal submission of the plan to the planning inspector to make sure that you are
ready for that more formal examination to take place. As Steve said, that was a positive
of conversation.
We are continuing to do more work around
deliverability of those sites.
So that's ensuring that we maintain dialogue
with landowners, developers, and agents
who represent the allocated sites for the local plan.
And the other area was to progress
what's known as a statement of common ground
with our neighbouring authorities and prescribed bodies,
but also for our strategic sites.
So those statements of common grounds set out what the issues are and where there's
areas of agreement or disagreement.
And so your notes for appendix two to this paper, there's a compliance statement document
which sets out all of that engagement and it includes statements of common grounds which
have now been signed.
But as Steve also said, this is iterative, so we are working in the background on these
statements of common grounds which will continue to be developed right up until the formal
examination takes place.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:38:59
Thank you very much.
Okay, I think that brings us to the end of the questions.
We're going to come back to you Peter if you have a concluding remark and or to put the
Cllr Peter Strachan - 1:39:09
recommendations please and I think we'll read them in full.
Yeah, I'd be pleased to do that.
In terms of concluding remark, I think the debate has given the issue a good airing.
We recognise that this is a plan that we don't want to do, but we have to do,
because the consequences of not doing it for the residents of Buckinghamshire are enormous.
So we have to do this, and this is the best way that we have some control over where development
will happen in Buckinghamshire. I think there's only one other thing I'd like to mention,
perhaps for pressure and opposition groups within the county who some believe mistakenly
that no plan means no development.
And what they would believe they're doing in opposing it is stopping development.
That is simply not the case.
In fact, the opposite is true.
You then have development that you have no control over.
So this is the best thing for the residents of Buckinghamshire.
I personally support it and have been very close to it for many months now.
And I would also like to congratulate the officer team who have done a terrific job on a huge task
and just worked away and got us to the point of time where we are now.
So thank you, Charlotte and Steve, for that.
Let me just now read through.
There are three recommendations, and I'll just read them in full.
The first one is for Cabinet to recommend to full Council to submit the local plan for Buckinghamshire 2045,
schedule of suggested main modifications and minor changes set out in Annex A of Appendix 1,
which is a statement of consultation and supporting evidence to the Secretary of State for independent examination in public,
so that the planning inspector can examine the plan.
The second recommendation is to delegate authority to the corporate director for planning, growth,
and sustainability, who's with us today, Mr. Bambrick, in consultation with the cabinet
member for planning, myself, to make any minor editorial, typographical, presentational,
and factual amendments to the local plan.
The schedule of suggested modifications and associated documents prior to submission to
Secretary of State.
And the final and third recommendation is to delegate authority to the Corporate Director
for Planning, Growth and Sustainability to invite the Planning Inspector to recommend
any main modifications in accordance with Section 20, paragraph 7c of the Planning and
Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 to agree the schedule of the main modifications with the
the local plan required in the course of examination
and such main modifications will be subject
to further public consultation.
They're the three recommendations, leader.
Thank you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:42:23
I know they're a bit wordy,
but I think it's important we have them all read out.
So can I ask for show of hands, please,
on these recommendations,
which will ultimately send this to full council
if so with those delegated parts
and in recommendations two and three then.
On block?
Yeah, I'm doing them on block.
Okay, that is carried, thank you.
That will now pass to full council at the end of the month.
Thank you, I realise that was a lengthy item,
but clearly given the importance on the county
and its future, it was important to give that
the full airing.
it does mean we will need to be slightly succinct

10 High Wycombe Conservation Area Review - Adoption of revised appraisal including amended boundaries and management plan

on the other items and may overrun.
So let's go straight to item 10,
High Wickham Conservation Area Review.
This is a report that you can find on pages 101 to 108
of the Agenda Pack.
Appendices are on pages three to 172
of the Supplementary Pack.
Back to you, Peter Strachan, with support from the officers
to outline this, please.
Okay.
Cllr Peter Strachan - 1:43:44
This seems a positive change because it's better
to let the development phase of iWICN
into the single document.
We have not moved any areas from the conservation area
and we haven't moved four new areas
in the conservation area including the cemetery
which is cancelled, owned and abandoned.
The newly -managed conservation area
are pretty soon to have a management plan.
Sorry about that, my microphone is off.
The newly updated conservation area includes a management plan, which is a new feature
and provides helpful guidance for residents and businesses within the conservation area.
Public consultation on the amendments took place in the spring of 2026, including online
surveys and in -person consultation events. Following the public consultation, the document
was redrafted and is now ready for adoption. Conservation area appraisals for our key towns
form an important part of the evidence base for the emerging local plan. They help to highlight
the special character of these settlements and can help manage change and growth in an appropriate
way. This is the fifth updated conservation area to be adopted since we became a unitary
authority following Aylesbury, Buckingham, Adanham and Winslow all earlier this year.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:45:40
I'd be delighted to take any questions. Thank you very much. As you said, this is
a series of these reviews that are coming forward today's Highway Constancy Turn. Any
Any questions, please?
I think the accompanying report,
without starting to flop it, is flippant, is excellent,
and I think there's some really good photography in there
that shows you the importance of these areas
and how attractive our places are down in Wickham,
in the same way it has been for the areas
we've already done.
So I think because cabinet members know this process,
and can see, I think, the logic in, as you explained,
bringing the four areas into one larger one
and the additions you've made.
I think that's probably why there's no further questions.
So, therefore, in order to save time, then,
should we go straight to the recommendation, please?
Peter.
Cllr Peter Strachan - 1:46:38
Thank you.
Yes. There are two recommendations
that the amended conservation area boundary section five
of this report in appendix one is adopted.
And that second recommendation that the updated appraisal
and management plan, which is in appendix one
is also adopted.
Thank you, leader.
Thank you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:47:06
Our members agreed.
I'll take them both together on those recommendations.
Great. Great.
Thank you.
They are agreed.

11 Q2 Budget Management Report 2026-27

Very good.
We'll move on now to item 11, which is the Quarter 2 Budget Management Report for 2026 -27,
pages 109 to 156 of the Agenda Pack.
This is for Councillor Robert Carrington to introduce as Cabinet Member for Resources.
And we have Elspeth O 'Neill here, who's the Assistant Chief Finance Officer, and as I
referenced earlier, also Fiona Jupp is in the room.
So Robert, over to you, please.
Fiona Jump - Deputy Chief Finance Officer - 1:47:42
Cllr Robert Carington - 1:47:46
Thank you very much leader and I know everyone was missing my dulcet tones, but don't worry
the next couple of items you have me.
So just to give a quick run through the report, the forecast out turn on this revenue budget
in quarter two continues to be balanced.
This is a good position given the financial challenges that the council continues to face
and the saving targets within the budget.
One thing which does need to be highlighted is the high needs DSG.
This position has changed from quarter one and
we are now reporting an adverse variance of 23 .35 million pounds against the budget.
The main reason for this is the growth has been higher than anticipated.
This is in line with national trends and this has impacted on the ability to step
down from high cost independent provision into mainstream and specialist capacity.
but when I'm done, I no doubt my colleague,
Councillor Jackson, will want to come in on that point.
On capital, the overall position remains positive
and well controlled.
We are forecasting delivery of 195 .7 million pounds
of capital investment this year,
which is supporting vital infrastructure
such as transport, education, housing,
and regeneration priorities across Buckinghamshire.
This remains broadly in line with the budget
following a prudent review of project delivery timescales.
The eagle -eyed amongst you will have noticed there used
to be a separate report on capital budget adjustments.
This has now been combined into this big super report
to make it easier to view and also to cut down on the number
of agenda items for me to talk on.
So I think it's a big win for everyone.
Going more into detail on the revenue side,
overall portfolio budgets are reporting an adverse variance
5 .3 million pounds.
This represents 1 % of portfolio budgets.
The adverse variance on the portfolio budgets continues to be offset by
continued favourable variance in corporate budgets.
Where the pressures are, these are particularly from increased demand and
complexity of need, particularly in children's and social care,
which is currently running at 9 million pounds.
This is an increase of 2 .3 million from quarter one.
This is, as alluded to earlier, due to higher volume
of external and secure placements and challenges
in achieving the plan savings from foster carers
in our in -house children's home.
And no doubt, Councillor Jackson will want
to expand more on this later.
Health and wellbeing is 1 .8 million pound adverse due
to increased equipment costs following the insolvency
of the previous provider and the increased cost
of clients transitioning from children's services.
There's also one million adverse
in homelessness and housing.
This is due to increased demand for temporary accommodation
leading to higher volume in cost
and likely paid accommodation.
These are offset by the favourable variances
within home school transport
and the transport portfolio of 4 .6 million pounds.
As expected, growth in passenger numbers
this has not gone through as quickly as originally expected,
and additional income in the planning portfolio.
Important to note that members, you will recall,
in quarter one, we were able to set aside
additional funding for one -off investments
and to manage risk, including 10 .1 million pounds
to address the risk of inflation
from domestic or geopolitical factors,
or for investment in member priorities.
As you will have no doubt seen, this is still
incredibly relevant with interest rates going up and
all sorts of shenanigans going over on in America
and the Middle East, which continues to have impacts
on our budgets.
So this figure has now, we are suggesting, to
increase to 13 .5 million pounds, which is as a
of the improved treasury position.
On the dedicated schools grant,
as mentioned the forecast position is an adverse variance
of 23 .18 million pounds, which is resulting
in a total forecast in year deficit of 53 .51 million pounds.
As mentioned, this is due to significant demand increases
in line with national trends resulting in pressures
on alternative provision and independent schools.
Last financial year, you will recall, we were able to set aside £3 million to invest in
the education healthcare plans, EHCP recovery project to improve waiting times.
And as you can see, this has proven to be successful and has reduced the number of children
awaiting assessment by 30%.
As my colleague, Councillor Jackson, has reported previously, our local SEND reform plan was
successfully approved in October, and following this approval, the Department for Education
have confirmed that £38 .5 million of high -needs stability grant will be paid to the Council
to meet 90 % of the DSG deficit up to the 31st of March 2026.
Obviously, that's 90%.
The remaining 10 % has to be paid for by this Council, and it is anticipated we will be
reliable for this, and we have set aside already 13 .75 million pounds at the end of 25 -26 for
this.
Based on the forecast in end -year deficit position, the report is recommending we increase
this by a further 2 .3 million pounds.
On the savings side, there is a challenging savings target for the financial year of 61 .4
million pounds.
Full delivery of the target is in the children's service,
there is a variance of 6 .3 million pounds.
As mentioned, we haven't been able to place as many children
as expected in foster care or in -house provision,
but this has been closely monitored to address the issue
and to get the savings in line.
On capital, as mentioned, there is a re -profile earlier.
We are having the two combined reports.
there has been a reprofile of 17 .5 million pounds,
which has been made into future years,
representing around 8 % of the programme.
This is a timing adjustment,
rather than a reduction in investment,
with the largest movement relating to
commercial investments in Farrar Square,
contingency budgets on CELAR and the Woodland schemes,
and further children's homes,
and externally delivered Section 106 projects.
The programme remains on track overall,
with only a small far forecast on the spend of 0 .7 million,
which is well within cabinet's delivery expectations
and within the CPI's, which will be coming
to the next agenda item.
Just before I finish up, two things to just comment on.
Debt, our unsecured debt of over 90 days remains
just below the target of 12 million pounds
and continues to be closely monitored.
We have seen short -term spikes in debt due to delays
in collecting income from public sector partners,
but these are timing issues rather than indicative
of underlying performance.
The report also contains in Appendix 4,
which can be found on pages 155, an update
on grants following the receipt of 20 .475 million pounds
of ring fence grant income with recommendations
to increase the budgets accordingly.
So I will now hand to either Elspeth or Fiona
if they want to say anything further
and then to then want to sort of preempt
but probably I think Councillor Jackson
may want to help as well.
Elspeth, anything you wish to say?
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:55:48
No, Fiona, no, okay.
I do think Robert, it is really important
between you and Carl over the next couple of minutes,
we explain, don't you see people know
what high need block is, DSG, just in simple terms,
please make sure people understand what it is,
why it's there, and then why there's been
such a big increase in the quarter, please.
Thank you, Lita, I will do my best.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 1:56:13
So I think I'll start with the Dedicated Schools Grant,
and I'll move on to the revenue pressure.
So the Dedicated Schools Grant, or DSG,
is the primary ring -fence source of revenue funding,
hopefully for schools and nurseries,
And within that there are various blocks of funding for different purposes.
The high needs block is there to fund support for children and young people
who have special educational needs, disabilities, and need that extra support.
And so as Councillor Carrington has explained many of the key points,
the in -year deficit for DSG was projected to be just over 30 million now,
projected to be just over 53.
That is obviously a significant change from quarter one to quarter two.
driven by increased demand for support
through that high needs block,
which has been met in alternative provision
and independent schools.
And all of that obviously comes with a cost.
The good news, as Councillor Carrington referred to,
is that we successfully secured 38 .5 million of funding
towards our DSG deficit,
as it stood at the 31st of March, 2026.
That was possible because we submitted
a very high quality send reform implementation plan
to the Department of Education.
It got a lot of praise from the Department of Education
and that has helped secure the funding.
It was not a foregone conclusion.
There were several councils who were told
their plans weren't good enough
and they will have to wait longer to receive those funds.
But obviously the 31st of March has come and gone.
The demand has not and the associated costs
continue to remain and to rise.
Part of our plans to make the funding sustainable in this area was a projection of less use
of independent school places.
So the idea was we increase the availability of support in mainstream schools and every
few weeks as you will see, Lida, as well, there are plans coming forward for new send
units and the alternative provision in mainstream settings to try and increase that capacity
for support in mainstream schools.
But the demand has increased at a pace that has outstripped
our ability to supply at the moment.
And as a result, we haven't been able to step down,
children from independent places into those mainstream
places we're creating.
We're effectively doing the bit we can control,
but at the moment that's been outpaced by the bit we can't,
which is the increase in demand.
To some extent, this is a result of progress we're making
in the 3 million pound EHCP recovery plan.
There's been certainly not mission accomplished.
There's work to do on that,
but there's a great progress being made.
The number of children and young people waiting
for an assessment down by 30%.
If you want the raw numbers, that's just over 1600,
down to just over 1100.
And crucially, the number of children
and young people waiting more than 20 weeks for an assessment,
which is a statutory target, falling by 43%.
And that's really, really important as well.
All in the context, of course, that backlog is still being topped up by new requests coming
in at the rate of about 150, 155 a month.
It's not a frozen backlog of requests we're dealing with here.
There's always new ones coming in.
But obviously, when the HCP is issued, that unlocks entitlements to certain support and
the costs that come with it.
So we need to keep implementing our HCP recovery plan because we owe children and young people
the right support as early as possible.
we also need to keep working to make this support financially sustainable.
Because while you are allowed through a sort of accounting trick,
albeit not a secret one, everyone knows about it,
to keep your DSG deficits off the books, it remains real money.
And so this is something we have to deal with.
On the revenue pressures, as Councillor Carrick referred to,
we're looking at pressures of about 9 million.
The main driving factor here is an increase in the number of children in care
have looked after children, not just high numbers,
but also more children with more complex needs,
which obviously comes with costs.
An increase in the number of secure placements,
above what we've seen in a long time.
You're talking about relatively small numbers
in the grand scheme of things,
but the cost of these placements is phenomenal.
And so if you have an increase above forecast of 50 %
of We Had, it has a big impact on the budget.
There are some technical reasons for that.
I can go into if people want to know the detail later.
The increase in in -house fostering that we're seeing,
the number of foster carers,
is bucking the national trend by increasing,
but is smaller than we projected.
Obviously what we're looking to do is try and move children
out of external residential placements,
which are often out of county,
into loving foster homes in county
closer to their communities.
There's progress being made,
but it's sort of below where we hoped it would be at the moment.
Similarly, if we can't bring a child or young person out of external residential care into a foster home,
another good outcome is to bring that child into our in -house residential care.
Again, that will be in -county, close to their communities, as well as be more cost effective.
We've actually opened in quite a few new of our own in -house homes.
Since January, there's been three new homes open, adding nine beds.
We've got another two homes forecast to open by the end of this financial year,
which will be another eight beds.
This is good progress.
It's faster progress than almost any other council is making.
But there are some hold -ups in the process.
Ofsted used to register these homes in about six months.
it's now kind of near a nine.
And another point I think a lot of people don't understand
is that you can't register your home,
then appoint your team to run it.
You have to appoint your team to run it
and then apply to register.
And your team is sat there waiting
for the home to be given approval.
And if you have, as sometimes happens,
a member of that team decides they're going,
they've actually changed their mind
and will take another role,
you have to go back to the beginning again,
recruit for your team and start the process again.
It is a very difficult process.
I have written to the Children and Families Minister about it.
And finally, I'll wrap up by saying
that I think there's not much we can do always
to control the level of demand.
But what we can do is make sure it's not a surprise.
And so there has been an investment signed off.
I'm grateful for by this cabinet to help improve our sort
of data and insight systems to recruit to get more information
so that while we obviously can't control external factors,
we can at least know what's coming down the line
and plan for it.
I think that's very important work.
My final point, I would say,
it is important to know, of course,
that savings are being made.
It is not a case of just,
look, we're spending lots more money,
hence the revenue pressure.
The new in -house children's homes are me
helping us make savings.
Foster carers are helping us make savings
and do a fantastic job.
The pressure comes from the fact that the demand means those savings while running into millions of pounds
Answer as many millions of pounds as we hope they might be at this point
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 2:03:36
And I hope that that clarifies a few points and obviously if there are any questions for me or happily taken. Thank you very much
I
Don't see any indication made questions anyone got any comments or questions on on the budget
Cllr Thomas Broom - 2:03:47
Thomas and just very briefly leader to say
We've had some really important stuff I think about the DSG and funding coming from government.
I do think as I have done before it's important to reiterate that while the government likes
to present this as them stepping in to sort of you know save councils with 90 % of this
funding being introduced, the fact of the matter is they should have paid 100 % of this
in the first place.
What this is in fact the government doing is dumping 10 % of their obligation onto local taxpayers
And I think it's really important that we don't forget that. I would also add from the perspective of my own portfolio
That the while the government set out a number of areas in which it wants to look at send reform
Although while providing very little detail on aids the one area that they haven't mentioned at all is home -school transport
and this is yet another aspect of this system that is
You know, it is set out and effectively required of us by central government, but they don't
provide a penny of support for it.
It's one of the major issues of financial pressure in council finances across the country.
And while we are lucky at the moment to be in a position where, you know, we are managing
down the unit cost and the volume hasn't quite increased at the rate we were
expecting which is why we're registering a little bit under budget that is not a
situation that is likely to continue and the pressure will be back on and so I
think it's really important the public understand that element of this. On a
more cheerful note we are making very good progress in our 120 million pound
Road Programme which you will pick up in the capital section of this paper. This
is the biggest investment in roads in the history of the county and the team
are working very very hard to make sure that that is delivered. We very much hope
that residents have noticed some of that work taking place over the summer. We
apologise for any disruption that is caused as that happens. When we are doing
major works to resurface, particularly arterial roads, there is unfortunately no way to do
that without some disruption, but I hope residents will accept that the trade -off of having better
roads across the county is well worth it.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 2:06:16
Thank you Tom for that, and a good reminder about the capital investment in the roads
programme.
Robert, because you have merged the reports into this, I do think the capital list is
one worth highlighting.
So starting on page 143, you can see the investment
that links so clearly with our corporate plan,
such as the investment into the Bestart family hubs
for the most vulnerable.
You can see the opportunity and aspiration for all point
because we have set the Bucks Growth Fund
using the power of this county and its economy to reinvest.
And you can see those payments going out to Bosch
in the south of the county to set up a national centre of excellence for their training through
to the national drone centre through the catapult scheme at Westcott. And those things are the
elements that will drive opportunity forward through the economy and of course the National
Film and Television School and a amount of money to them for them that to then be backed by Disney
and others as one of the best, I would say the best film and television school in the world.
People come to Beaconsfield to study there from Hollywood and it's a good investment and they'll
be able to take on more and more people, more and more students to do good work there. And of course
I've thrived into communities and places you'll see investment in the country parks. So I didn't
that new report to go unmixed and that a lot of the work this council are doing is motoring
on in terms of the delivery and just with that because this is going to be our last cabinet
meeting before Christmas, weather permitting, you know, um, sealer should be open, um, before
Christmas and I'm very, you know, the weather may knock us slightly off course but as things
currently stand that will open before Christmas and if and if the weather does
do its worst then assumed thereafter so there are definitely causes for concern
even within the report that that joyfulness though doesn't take away
this 1 % overall adverse on the revenue budget is something I know you're
bearing down on but given there's no more questions let's just take the
recommendations, Robert, there are a number of them because some of them are movements
within the accounts, as it were.
So over to you.
Thank you very much, leader.
Cllr Robert Carington - 2:08:47
So we have six recommendations in front of us, which I will read through, and if the
leader is minded, we can have them as a block vote.
So number one is note the report in the balance revenue position.
Recommendation two is note the forecast 23 .2 million pound pressure on the high needs block
of the DSG giving a forecast in year deficit
of 53 .51 million pounds.
Recommendation three, approve the proposed set aside
to reserves as set out in paragraph 1 .5 to 1 .7.
Recommendation four, note the forecast capital
out -term position of 195 .7 million pounds of investment
in the council's priorities.
Recommendation five, approve the capital budget amendments
as per appendix two.
And recommendation six, approve the budget changes
for grants in appendix four.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 2:09:34
Thank you, I'll take those on block.
Are members in agreement?
Thank you, they are agreed.

12 Q2 Corporate Performance Report

Robert, you did tease us to say there were two items,
so we'll go to number 12, two items under your name.
That is the quarter two corporate performance report.
Over to you.
Cllr Robert Carington - 2:09:54
Thank you very much, leader.
And so this one is the quarter two corporate performance
report, which actually is quarter one and quarter two,
because following where there's a lot of change today and change is good.
This is following the approval of the corporate plan.
This report has been updated to reflect as you would have noticed there are a number of changes,
particularly how it is all reported, the report card so to speak.
So we have two main changes which is firstly shown in appendix one,
an overview of the council's corporate performance
for Quarters 1 and 2 of 26 -27.
This brings together the Tier 1 corporate plan
and Tier 2 cabinet priority performance indicators
against the five main, the five corporate plan themes.
And then in Appendix 2, the second change is the corporate
performance by cabinet portfolios report.
This provides an overview of council's corporate
performances for Quarters 1 and 2.
and it presents key performance indicators against the relevant
cabinet portfolios.
There are 80 indicators reported, 55 are exceeding
or meeting targets, these are greens, 11 are close to target,
these are ambers, 12 are off target, which is red,
and two are monitor indicators, so it's all labelled as grey.
So overall performance is positive,
the services performing particularly well are
in safeguarding, school attendance, customer contact,
and delivery of the highways programme.
So that is the very high level introduction.
I'll now sort of hand back to you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 2:11:34
Thank you very much.
I do hope residents can see this, the new style of report
to try and make the measurements of the council in terms
of service delivery and impact much more accessible
for people to see.
Because obviously I want residents to be able
to easily recognise what the council is doing,
how it relates to our corporate plan,
what that means for people,
and then obviously tracking some progress.
So it does look different.
And as you've said, there are the individual
key performance indicators within a portfolio,
so the day -to -day parts,
and then the corporate plan indicators
are those which are more strategic
and maybe more trend -based and may take longer to shift.
And that report, part of the report will come every six months so we can just begin to see
what does this all mean over the longer term.
And that is the impact of the two.
We are both pushed full time, so somewhat unusually, I'm just going to ensure that we
only talk about the pertinent things in a portfolio.
So for example, in my own portfolio,
the skills boot camp wave three,
results are less than they were in wave two,
not because people aren't being skilled up,
it's I think a greater reflection on the economy,
the changes made and the expense of hiring people
seems to have an impact on vacancies
and getting people into work.
So hopefully that's a temporary endeavour
because people are now skilled up through the boot camps.
And hopefully they will get a more positive job outcome later.
So if we just flick through this, I'm going to skim over,
not because it's not worthy of note,
but portfolio in communities are on track.
Culture and leisure have none off track.
Likewise, so I will move through those.
People can read this online.
Carl, I think you've spoken particularly to some of the off -track bits relating to child
placements and EHCPs, but despite that still being off target, talking about long -term
trends, the extra investment we're getting to EHCPs, as you mentioned earlier in the
discussion, has really started to have a big impact on bringing down that backlog.
So thank you for that.
Ade, you have one off target, which was the warm homes completion installations.
Is that anything you wish to highlight?
I mean, it's relatively small numbers off by four.
Yes, thank you, leader.
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 2:14:22
It's just we are four off target and this is due to the backlog in the paperwork.
We are currently progressing the 17 homes approved for funding and we'll continue to
to the conversion of approvals, which is where we found the life period.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 2:14:38
Okay, thank you.
And then, Adil, so health and wellbeing portfolio is, doesn't have any fully off target.
So well done.
Mark, over to you in housing and regulatory services.
You've got two.
Cllr Mark Winn - 2:14:52
Thank you.
Yep, starting first with substantive temporary accommodation.
Really there's been sustained demand across the county for housing.
And this comes from particularly from family households unfortunately and those presenting June to domestic abuse
Which is one of the most common reasons households seek the housing assistance and go into temporary accommodation
And what we're trying to do is prioritise move some nightly paid accommodation
Which is the most expensive into our substantive accommodation. That's basically what is would be considered bed -and -breakfast accommodation
So we're doing regular reviews of temporary accommodation placements and trying to really
press down on homelessness prevention.
And there's a real increased focus on move on opportunities for households that find
themselves unfortunately in temporary accommodation.
So we look to improve the performance during the second half of the year.
And on the second one, the housing register, Butts Hand Choice, the current register remains
above the forecast.
One of the reasons is the subsequent re -registration process that took place when we changed the
housing allocation policy.
But more recent data suggests that that is stabilising and numbers are beginning to reduce.
So for example, in July we stood at 5 ,478.
In October it's 5 ,274, which is a reduction of 204 households since July.
So it reflects that.
So we're trying to really sort of see what we can do to try and prevent people going on that register
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 2:16:33
Good I'm glad you yeah, there are plans in place for that. I'm gonna move us on. Thank you
Into planning there's two off targets which you do to do with time scales of determination of applications Peter
Cllr Peter Strachan - 2:16:44
Yeah, just briefly leader. We are very aware of this and this is an area that gets our constant attention. The position has improved
significantly and it will continue to so do.
So I'm fairly confident that the position will continue until we get to be
within the target area, but it, it attracts our attention all the time.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 2:17:06
So progress being made. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Uh, Robert, back to you.
You have a couple off target, um, which
Cllr Robert Carington - 2:17:18
do you want to say any more? Oh no, thank you. I, I, um,
Both of these reds we have actually discussed
in great detail in the previous item.
So just highlight.
But on the ambers, I know we're not focusing on those.
But I mean, those are just because where we are
in the cycle and particularly the business rates,
whereas I know certain members of this government prefer
to call it nonworking people rates.
But we, that is, there have been a number of changes
and we are focusing those in.
But as this council, we believe they are working people
and they contribute a lot to society.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 2:17:52
Despite the government saying that.
Thank you, thank you Robert.
Full of concur.
And Thomas, you're the last one.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 2:17:59
There's a slight dip off target on the gully cleansing.
Yeah, so the first thing to say is it's important to know
that this is against the programme.
So what appears as a 50 % target is in fact 100 % target,
because we know that this is incredibly important.
But obviously because we are Q2,
100 % of what we've done so far is 50 % of the programme.
The 3 % variation that we have is what we would normally
expect to see, which is that when we come to clear drains
and gullies, sometimes we have stuck lids.
Sometimes we have vehicles that are parked over those drains
and gullies.
We do have a programme whereby all of those are re -attended
either when the vehicle has moved out of the way
or when one of our specialist crews goes to unstick the lid
and clear the gully.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 2:18:44
Excellent. Thank you.
I recognise that was a quick counter through, but back to the recommendation on that one
is to note the review of how the Council is performing and take the actions in the report
and some of which we have heard verbally around the table.
Cabinet members in agreement with those?
Agreed.
Agreed.
Thank you very much.
Right.

13 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Programme Business Case & Options Appraisal

I think we're back to you, Robert, to continue with, are we?
Yes.
Item 13, the Enterprise Resource Planning Programme Business Case and Options Appraisal, known as ERP.
This item is in two parts, because there are confidential appendices.
The public reports on pages 197 to 228, and the confidential on pages 229 to 320 of the Confidential Agenda Pack.
Robert, it's over to you.
Sarah Murphy -Brookman is here as corporate director
for resources for additional technical questions.
So please present the public pack
and then we'll take questions on the public pack.
Cllr Robert Carington - 2:19:49
And if required, then go into the confidential session.
Robert.
Thank you very much, Lida.
So the report in front of you today
recommends that Cabernet approve a procurement approach
for software licences and support for a full suite
single vendor enterprise resource planning ERP system.
It is important to note this is not simply an IT upgrade.
It is investment in the vital systems that underpin every
part of this organisation, including finance, human
resources, payroll, procurement,
and financial control.
The current platform we have is over 20 years old and is
going to be out of support before the end of the decade,
creating increased risks around resilience,
security, and compliance.
A full suite single vendor cloud -based ERP solution will
enable the council to modernise its business processes,
rationalise its systems landscape,
and substantially improve the capacity and capability
of the organisation to make well -informed,
data -led decisions in a more efficient and effective manner.
This, the ERP programme will transform our ways of working
and enable officers to focus substantially more time
on value -added activities.
Doing nothing is not a realistic option in this case.
The current system, as mentioned,
has been heavily customised over two decades,
making it increasingly complex and costly to maintain.
More importantly, it constrains the council's ability
to modernise services, improve efficiency,
and provide a better experience for staff and managers.
The programme provides an opportunity
to simplify these processes, strengthen controls,
and create a sustainable platform for the future.
This programme presents an opportunity
not only to replace the current system,
but to transform the way the council delivers
services, back office services by adopting a modern cloud -based ERP solution.
To highlight the amount of work which has been done, before look, I'll just quickly
go into what has been done.
Before looking at the technology solutions, internal work has been done to define what
is required.
Five strategic principles, over 30 programme design principles, and 79 detailed domain
principles have been established during this work.
Using these, more than 3 ,400 requirements were gathered
and validated and assessed into 81 potential products.
That rigorous process demonstrated
that the council's needs can be met
through a standard best practise ERP solution.
So following an extensive options appraisal,
single vendor full suite approach has been recommended
as the option that best supports application, rationalisation,
standardised process, improved reporting
and reduced implementation risk.
Just to quickly cover on the financial position,
which is in the public report.
So subject to final procurement costs and programme delivery,
implementation is expected to be delivered
within the approved budget and funding
in the resources, systems, and application reserve.
In complex system implementation projects,
standard approach would require an appropriate contingency
to be made for risk and optimization bias.
Informed by evidence from comparable projects and adjusted for the specific risks of this proposal,
to enable this to be achieved, it is recommended that cabinet earmark a contingency budget within the mitigating future financial resilient risk reserves
and any releases subject to leader proposal. This is recommendation four.
Ongoing subscription support costs of this new ERP
are expected to be higher than cost of licencing
and support for the existing ERP.
However, this new programme offers strategic opportunity
for step change in the delivery model,
and this will deliver an overall balanced
outgoing budget position and unlock the opportunity
for future process efficiency.
These increased subscription support costs
are expected to be offset by operational efficiencies,
such as reduce direct staffing to support the system,
reduce spend on hosting
and more efficient back office processes.
So this means, as per our financial modelling,
that the total current revenue budget
for the current ERP is sufficient
to fund the new ongoing total cost ownership for a new ERP.
What will, the only change will be the split
between spend on systems and staffing will be rebalanced.
So very briefly on next steps,
If the recommendations are approved today,
the programme will proceed immediately to procurement
for the ERP software licences and support,
implementation partner and technical specialist support,
and critical friend.
The contracts are expected to be awarded by February next year.
And then from April 2027,
the plan is to move into the mobilisation phase of the programme
if approved today.
So, in summary, this programme secures the foundations
of how Buckinghamshire Council operates,
It replaces an ageing and unsupported platform,
reduces operational risk, supports future transformation,
and provides a modern, resilient foundation
for the organisation.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 2:24:55
Robert, thank you very much.
A good overview with some detail in it
over what the proposition is here.
Sarah, anything you wish to add?
I mean, my sort of question, and Robert's indicated it,
is the current system, not only is it having support
removed but is effectively end of life because I think you've layered it and
layered it and layered it but is that right you know this is the time. That's
absolutely correct leader so this is as Robert has explained we are now at the
Sarah Murphy-Brookman - Corporate Director for Resources - 2:25:29
end of the both the useful life and the supported life of the system and the
fact that it will be moving out of support is really important because that
will then mean that we have significant vulnerabilities so we are now as Robert
has explained at a point where actually we now have no choice.
We need to move off this system and onto a new modern platform,
which allows us to really use the capability that
has emerged within this type of system
over the intervening years.
And also move on to something where
we use standard processes as well,
which lowers the overall total cost of ownership.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 2:26:07
Excellent, thank you.
Any questions on the public report, please?
Thomas?
Cllr Thomas Broom - 2:26:12
Just very quickly to say for members of the public watching,
this is sort of like when you have to replace your boiler.
It's a significant cost.
You know it's going to come along.
We have prepared for it financially,
and it is an important investment,
but it is also a critical part of how we make sure
we ensure that the council is resilient
and that we are protected,
particularly on the sort of cybersecurity front.
and I think that this is a really important issue.
We've seen a number of councils in recent years
who have suffered from intrusions or breaches,
and this is a really important part of securing us
and the data of all the residents,
obviously that we hold and interact with as part of that.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 2:26:55
Yes, thank you.
Wise words, Karl.
Thank you, Lida.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 2:27:01
The paper's very clear and comprehensive.
I think it's quite clear that the consequences
of this going wrong could potentially be quite significant
in terms of the council's internal systems.
Presumably we're not the only council in the position
of having to make this transition at this point
or using the same system.
To what extent are we able to or have we already
contacted other councils who are also using the same system,
going through the same process to learn from any mistakes
they might have made so we don't have to make the same ones?
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 2:27:32
I can take this one, Sarah, if you want.
Cllr Robert Carington - 2:27:36
So as I alluded in my opening remarks, we have been in discussion with a number of councils
who have been going through this, and they have been feeding into this.
Particularly the greatest risk we hold at this moment is the risk of a failed system
delivery.
So we have taken all the pickable mitigations and the advice on this from those who have
done it, those whose journey has been smooth,
and those whose journey hasn't quite been as smooth.
So we have covered all the aspects on that.
And also, as one of the recommendations mentioned,
we are also requesting a critical friend,
who will be able to assist us through this
and give advice on the sort of questions we should be asking
and where we should be looking.
Sorry to jump in, Sarah, but I don't
know if there's anything further you want to add on that.
Sarah Murphy-Brookman - Corporate Director for Resources - 2:28:30
Thank you, that's really helpful Robert. I think probably just a couple of other things to say, Councillor Jackson is.
We've thought very carefully and looked into the lessons learned that we've had ourselves as a Council.
So we've done substantial systems migrations both on revenue and benefits and within the planning system.
To look at where we've had difficulties, why that was the case and how we make sure that that isn't repeated within this.
So we've done a really comprehensive lessons learned there.
We have spoken to professional advisors externally as well who have supported councils to understand the risks that councils face and how we can mitigate those.
And finally we have a really experienced IT director who has done this twice within the private sector so we have in -house expertise as well.
But that isn't to say that we mustn't pull on all of the resource that is available to us to make this a successful system implementation.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 2:29:27
Thank you very much Robert and Sarah for that.
Okay, so I don't see any more questions for the public pack.
There is quite comprehensive confidential part due to commercial sensitivity
that will require me to read the public statement
and we will end up having to pause the webcast.

14 Exclusion of the public (if required)

I do think we need to go into that session.
So, I will now read the statement regarding the exclusion of the public.
And that is to resolve under the local authorities executive arrangements meeting and
access to information England regulations of 2012 regulation 42B.
The public be excluded from the meeting for
the following items of business on the grounds they involve the likely disclosure
of exempt information as defined within schedule 12A of the local government act
1972 and that is to do with this ERP programme.

14 Exclusion of the public (if required)

Cllr Steven Broadbent - 2:30:32
We agree, are we in agreement with that? Thank you. Officers, please could you pause the webcast?
I have a decision to make, sorry,
tomorrow the recommendations are back to you.
My microphone off the whole time.
Ah, sorry, my microphone's off.
So I will repeat that.
We have just returned,
welcome back to the cabinet meeting.
We have just returned from the confidential session
and discussed some matters within that.
We're now ready to make a determination on the ERP.
And I was looking at you, Robert,
just to set out those four,
as you did earlier, recommendations.
So I'll tell you what we'll do.
I'll take it on block.
The four recommendations that were read out earlier
on page 197, which are to accept the business case
effectively and follow the recommended procurement approach
and make changes around the decisions for any contract award and contingency budgets.
Are we agreed?
Agreed.
Thank you. I think everybody is in agreement. Thank you for that.

16 Date of next meeting

So that now brings us to the end of the agenda items and only to say now date of next meeting.
Today's, the next Cabinet meeting is due to be held on the 15th of December 2026.
I thought earlier it might be the last one, but it's not.
We will be back here again as we move through the budget.
So we will be here at 10am on the 15th of December.
Thank you all for your attendance and your participation.
See you then.
Webcast Finished - 2:32:28
Meeting over.
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