Cabinet - Tuesday 16 December 2025, 10:00am - Buckinghamshire Council Webcasting

Cabinet
Tuesday, 16th December 2025 at 10:00am 

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  1. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Peter Strachan
  2. Cllr Steve Bowles
  3. Cllr Peter Brazier
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  5. Cllr Robert Carington
  6. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  7. Cllr Isobel Darby
  8. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  9. Cllr Carl Jackson
  10. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  11. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  12. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  13. Cllr Mark Winn
  14. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  15. Cllr Thomas Broom
  16. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Questions
  2. Cllr Stuart Wilson
  3. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  4. Cllr Robert Carington
  5. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  6. Cllr Robin Stuchbury
  7. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  8. Cllr Peter Strachan
  9. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Robert Carington
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Carl Jackson
  4. Cllr Robert Carington
  5. Iain Watters - Assistant Chief Financial Officer R,A&P
  6. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  7. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  8. Cllr Robert Carington
  9. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  10. Cllr Robert Carington
  11. Iain Watters - Assistant Chief Financial Officer R,A&P
  12. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  13. Cllr Isobel Darby
  14. Cllr Robert Carington
  15. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  16. Cllr Thomas Broom
  17. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Thomas Broom
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Isobel Darby
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  5. Sarah Murphy-Brookman - Corporate Director for Resources
  6. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  7. Cllr Carl Jackson
  8. Sarah Murphy-Brookman - Corporate Director for Resources
  9. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  10. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  11. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  12. Sarah Murphy-Brookman - Corporate Director for Resources
  13. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Peter Brazier
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Peter Brazier
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  5. Richard Barker - Corporate Director for Communities
  6. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  7. Cllr Isobel Darby
  8. Richard Barker - Corporate Director for Communities
  9. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  10. Cllr Mark Winn
  11. Richard Barker - Corporate Director for Communities
  12. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  13. Martin Dickman - Service Director for Communities
  14. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning,Growth & Sustainability
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  5. Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning,Growth & Sustainability
  6. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  7. Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning,Growth & Sustainability
  8. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  9. Cllr Carl Jackson
  10. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  11. Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning,Growth & Sustainability
  12. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  13. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  14. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  15. Cllr Robert Carington
  16. Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning,Growth & Sustainability
  17. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  18. Cllr Thomas Broom
  19. 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 and good morning to everybody.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:00:13
Whether you're in the room or watching on the webcast, my name is Stephen Broadbent.
I'm the elected leader of Buckinghamshire Council and I welcome you to this cabinet
meeting of Buckinghamshire Council today, Tuesday, 16th of December, 2025.
As usual, can I just remind members and the public present that we are webcasting the
meeting. So members, please do use your microphone when speaking and of course turn it off when
you are not. And the seating area at the side of the room will not be filmed. So members
of the public are invited to move to that area if they do not wish to be on camera.

1 Apologies

Item 1 of today's agenda is apologies for absence. I don't have apologies from members
yet. Councillor Thomas Broome may arrive late. I do, however, have apologies from the Chief
Exec, Rachel Shimmien, and we have our Interim Chief Exec, Sarah Ashmead, incoming, who is
here in her place. And also, unfortunately, our Section 151 Finance Officer, Dave Skinner,
is unwell, so grateful to Ian Waters, who's the Assistant Chief Finance Officer, to be here to
speak to financial matters. And of course, we do have in attendance some of our Deputy Cabinet
Members who are welcome to contribute to discussions and debate that in accordance

2 Minutes

with the Constitution are not able to vote. So with that being said, on apologies, we'll move
to item two, which is the minutes of the last meeting.
So actually it's for two meetings from the 11th
and the 19th of November.
And these are on pages five to 46 of the agenda pack,
the 19th of November minutes starting on page 35.
Does anyone have any comments on those minutes?
You've seen them in advance,
but any comments you wish to make?
No? Okay.
So are you content for me to accept those as a true record and sign those minutes?
Three.
Thank you very much.
I will do so.

3 Declarations of interest

Item three, is any other declarations of interest in addition to those already
published on the website?
Anyone wish to declare?
No, no additional declarations of minutes.

4 Hot Topics

Thank you very much.
And then we come to item four, which is hot topics.
Cabinet members are not required to have a hot topic, but it is an opportunity to make
comment or draw the attention of the public to specific items that may be occurring.
I think at this stage of the proceedings, as I will go around the table, I would just
like to put on record confirmation of the statement that I've put out on behalf of the
Obviously, we are here in the run -up to Christmas.
We are in the middle, well not in the middle, recently started Hanukkah period for the Festival
of Lights.
And to have seen that atrocity in Australia, I'm sure will have brought us all to some
painful thoughts.
We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.
I have made contact with local Rabbi and I know both the Council and the Multi -Faith
Forum and the rabbi have all commented.
And the work of the Multi -Faith Forum
is really important in showing multi -faith support
to any community, and at this instance,
particularly the Jewish community,
when such atrocities happen.
But with that being said, I do hope
that the community realises the strength we give them
and are and still, as the rabbi said,
will recognise and celebrate Hanukkah at this time.
I have no further hot topic.
I'll go straight around the table.
Peter Strachan, please.
Cllr Peter Strachan - 0:04:14
Councillor Peter Strachan,
Cabinet Member for Planning.
Good morning, everyone.
Today, I have no hot topics, Leader.
Thank you.
Cllr Steve Bowles - 0:04:22
Thank you.
Councillor Bowles.
Steve Bowles,
Cabinet Member for Communities.
Cllr Peter Brazier - 0:04:30
I don't have any hot topics this morning, Leader.
Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor Brazier.
Peter Brazier, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure. I've got one very brief hot topic.
As we're entering the Christmas the New Year season I just wanted to remind
everyone of our Simply Walks programme. Simply Walks does exactly what it says.
They organise walks over the whole of the county almost every day. This feeds
into the council's healthy ageing strategy but I also want to mention the
social benefits of getting like -minded people together.
This was highlighted when Fiona, our Simply Walks coordinator, spoke with some of the
walkers who are over 90 in an article she did.
And I'd just like to read a quote from one of the walkers.
So I really enjoy the social side, keeping up with friends I've known Simply Walks for
more than 20 years.
Although the reason for setting up Simply Walks was for physical health, I've come to
realise that the mental health is just as important.
There are a lot of lonely people out there.
And it just, I just want to mention,
the walks are free and they cater for all of that
abilities and ages.
And you can find a walk if you look on the Simply Walks
website on the Buckinghamshire website.
And it just highlights that people can feel alone
at Christmas and there is help out there
and the Simply Walks programme is very easy to accessible.
And I wonder if you could link in your resident's newsletter,
your next resident's newsletter, this article for us, please.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:06:08
Thank you, Peter.
I know Simply Walks do some great work
and really, really is helpful to a lot of people
across the county.
And of course, it provides a bit of companionship, health,
and exercise.
So I'm more than happy to draw attention to that,
as you have done now in your newsletter.
So thank you to the team for that.
Robert Carrington.
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:06:28
Thank you very much, Lida.
I'm Councillor Robert Carrington, Cabinet member for Resources.
I have one hot topic.
I'd like to draw attention to the work of the Council's Business Development Team, who
recently held their annual schools forum in late November, which all schools are invited
to attend and which showcased the support the Council provides to schools as part of
our traded services.
The Business Development team did a fantastic job and it was wonderful to see colleagues
across the Council coming together to share their expertise on stage and the exhibits.
The positive responses we received from visitors were a testament to the professionalism and
passion everyone brought to the event.
Forty -six schools attended and the vast majority attended all the summits and roundtable discussions,
providing valuable insights that will help shape the Council's future work.
There were sort of three main focuses, number one being the IT summit, so strengthening
digital resilience, and then education, exploring the strategic education issues, and then finally
human resources aspect, focusing on people -focused school success.
And there are a number of conversations on things like cybersecurity and teaching them
about energy, invoicing efficiency in solar panels.
So it's a very varied thing and feedback has been fantastic.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:07:52
I'm very pleased to hear that.
I know it's rapidly become a real fixture in the calendar
to do that schools forum event.
So pleased to hear it.
Thank you.
Cllr Isobel Darby - 0:08:02
Isabel.
Councillor Isabel Darby, cabinet member for health and well -being.
A couple of weeks ago we had the Council's Proud of You awards
and I was absolutely, well it was an amazing event.
It was great to celebrate excellence across the piece,
but I was honoured to be able to award the Team of the Year
award to a team in my portfolio, which
was a team that dealt with all the interim arrangements when
we had the crisis of NRS going into liquidation earlier
in the year.
And they really showed what Bucks Council is all about,
is when the going gets tough, the tough really get going,
and they are very resilient and they sorted the issue out,
it would have been an awful lot worse.
I know there was a few hiccups,
but it would have been an awful lot worse
if people hadn't gone, our people hadn't gone
the extra mile.
So I'm pleased to report that after that long
and challenging period of working with the interim arrangements,
we've got the replacement services now in place
with our new provider, Millbrook,
delivering the full equipment catalogue
and telecare services,
and S &T providing the continence product service.
So the crisis is now over, and there may be future hiccups,
but please get in touch.
And I know that our staff will be on hand to sort it out.
And then on the public health side,
we will be announcing later this week the successful bidder
for the new Buckinghamshire Adult Social Care Prevention
Service, which will formally launch in March of next year,
and will provide support and signposting
to help keep people living independently at home
for longer by tackling issues such as social isolation,
and we just heard from Peter about that with people going
for walks and things.
Also, the risk of falls and so forth, and the staff working
in this service will be embedded
in the new BUCKS integrated neighbourhood teams to ensure
that we join up properly with the NHS services.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:10:02
So that's it from me.
Great. Thank you very much.
And as you said, people do get in touch on those,
on the new supply arrangements,
but good to know they're embedded and you've done a hot topic to Karl on that new work,
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:10:16
which I'm sure you'll reference again in the future. Thank you, Karl.
Thank you, Lida. Karl Jackson, Cabinet Member for Education and Children's Services.
One hot topic, a significant development, but I'm afraid not a particularly welcome one.
Like most areas across the country, Buckinghamshire is experiencing significant increase in demand for
special school places, more children, young people presenting with more complex needs.
We've also been working very hard as a council to expand our existing special
school places to try and meet that growing demand.
But last year we got a very welcome announcement from the Department for
Education that we were going to get funding for a brand new special school.
152 places.
This was going to provide.
We found a site which is council owned and ready to go and we were planning to open in
2028.
Last Friday, we had the unwelcome news that the government is proposing to cancel that
special school and not provide the funding promised.
This to be frank is hugely disappointing.
It leaves a thing stand a significant gap in our plans to meet the demand for special school places
The government has said instead of giving us the investment for the special school
It will be providing eight million pounds over three years to expand existing special schools. There are two problems with that
first is that
According to the Department for Education's own figures providing that many extra places by expanding existing schools would cost about 18 million
Whereas they're offering eight, so there's a 10 million shortfall in the government's plans according to the government's own figures.
And second, there's a practical issue of we've done a lot of this expansion anyway.
The existing sites, we provided another 300 places already, specialist placements.
We've got 100 more ready to come on in the next year.
We've not just been sitting there waiting for the new school funding, we've been getting on with it,
trying to use our existing sites as best as possible.
So to be frank, we're running a little low on new opportunities
for expansion.
This special school would be a huge part of our efforts
to meet demand.
So what are we going to do about it?
The government's invited us to make representations
by the 27th of February.
We will be writing, I suspect you'll be writing, leader,
in no uncertain terms to the minister
to make it clear that this was a promise made
to us we expect to be kept.
We need this funding.
We don't expect the government to go back on a promise to support the most vulnerable
children in our county.
We will also be writing to all our local MPs.
I'm pleased to say over the weekend I had contact from, joined Morrissey, the MP for
Beckonsfield and Greg Smith, MP for Mid -Buckingshire, to say let us know how we can support.
We'll be writing to all MPs of all parties to say this is a moment to put your county
first and your constituents first make representations to ministers to say this was a promise made
to Buckinghamshire, a promise made to vulnerable children and young people, a promise made
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:13:32
to their families, and we frankly expect you to keep it.
Karl, thank you. Yeah, not the kind of festive cheer announcement that we would have expected.
It's absolutely appalling that Promise Made, while we've been expanding places to deliver
a school based on the need we have to give us those 152 places has been pulled despite
our site having been identified. And then to suggest minor sticking plaster elements
of funding to do further spaces that by their own admission is 10 million pounds short is
simply unacceptable. And I want everyone watching out there to realise we will make those representations
But this is wrong and this will have an adverse impact on our residents and the and the people of Buckinghamshire
You need to help it. You're right
We've been adding those places with more to come on stream to expand the SEND provision
But to lose that school after it's been promised
Is wrong and you're absolutely right to call that people need to put Buckinghamshire first in this case people by people
I mean our local MPs
because the government need to look again at this
and make sure that school is funded.
Thank you.
Ade.
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 0:14:48
Thank you, Lida.
Ade Osiboggan, cabinet member for environment,
climate change and waste.
Lida, I have three hot topics.
The first is on our biodiversity duty report,
which we're required to file in accordance
with the Environment Act.
Based on the report, I can confirm
we have made significant progress across the service areas to improve biodiversity.
This includes delivering on targeted habitats,
restorations, woodland management, tree planting and other areas.
These measures align with our recently launched local nature recovery strategy.
And this report will go live before March 2006.
I would also like to report the fulfilment of our commitments
to report on progress made against reducing emissions in our climate change and air strategy.
I can happily report that our progress report is on track. We as a council are meeting our
commitments to reduce not only our air quality emissions but also to meet our climate change
target. Progress against the climate council's carbon budget has been strong with emissions
reducing down to some 3 .6 % compared to the 1990 baseline. This is short of the 75 % target
which was meant to set for 2030. Based on the report, the 2030 target to reduce emissions
by 75 % may be more challenging going forward and this is because the council has more or
maximise most of the areas it can reduce reduce some its carbon emissions air
quality monitoring across all locations in Bakkenshire continues to improve with
recorded levels of nitrogen dioxide reductions falling and air quality
objectives and sorry the national air quality objectives and revocation of
for air quality management areas,
which are in Trink Road, Chesham, South Box and M40.
These areas have been revoked
and the air quality out there has improved.
Finally, on the waste portfolio,
I can confirm that the rollout of the simpler recycling
food waste collection is on schedule
with the delivery of the food waste containers
to residents in communal properties in North Box.
It began on the 3rd of November and has been completed
on the 26th of November.
We look to roll out in softbox in February 2006, and this is
in line with meeting with the targets which have been set
by national governments.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:17:41
Thank you.
Great. Thank you, Ade, for those updates.
I mean, particularly good
to note the air quality improvements happen,
and thanks for updating residents
of when they will see their containers done
Cllr Mark Winn - 0:17:56
in the North coming in February next year for the South of the County. Good. Thank you.
Mark Wynne, please.
Good morning, Leader. Mark Wynne, Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory Services.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:18:04
I've got no hot topics. Thank you.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:18:10
Thank you. And Councillor Thomas Broome has now arrived and I believe has a hot topic.
Thank you, Leader. Thomas Broome, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport. I feel,
I believe that I need to place a correction on the record
because unfortunately, we've seen a storey put out,
including in local press, by a number of our labour MPs
in Buckinghamshire over the last week or so regarding bus
funding and suggesting that the settlement we've received
of a little over $9 million over multiple years
is a positive news storey for residents in Buckinghamshire.
But I have to say, I find the way that this has been put forward very misleading.
This settlement represents a more than 50 % cut in capital funding for busses in Buckinghamshire.
Now this is particularly disappointing because actually we have a fantastic team working on developing the network across the county.
working very closely with our commercial providers,
and frankly, getting an awful lot done
on the fairly limited amount of funding
that we received previously.
I have absolutely no doubt that the team will continue
to do the fantastic work that they are doing
on what we have been left by the government
after this settlement,
but I do think it is important that we communicate
truthfully with residents in the county.
And when such a substantial cut in funding
is brazenly presented as a good news storey,
I find that very disappointing.
But obviously, as I say, the team in transport
will continue to do excellent work that they have been doing.
I would encourage residents to look at some of the reporting
we've made through the tech select committee here. At the last meeting we
talked about what they have achieved and it is substantial but this will now be
in the face and this is part of a wider picture of significantly constrained
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:20:28
funding from government. Thank you Thomas. So the announcement on the
level of funding over multiple years, 9 .1 million, is accurate. Just to clarify.
But the reality of the context is that's a significant part of the order of 50 % on that
capital money.
So you're right.
As the funding landscape for councils and local authorities changes, there are not just
the overall settlement, there are a number of grants that come in, transport grants being
some of them, and we are seeing the slicing away of funding in the same way that we are
in the week that in the next 48 hours
we expect to be finally given the clarity over the budget
settlement for the three -year period
from the so -called fair funding review.
And I've said before, we're looking at a magnitude adverse
reduction in our overall funding.
It's something in the order of 42 million pounds,
and we'll confirm that soon.
But additional capital funding reductions like this
just show that the financial resources of the council become much tighter.
And in that instance is a decision made at the Department of Transport.
But thank you for drawing our attention to it.
Okay, that's the end of Hot Topics.

5 Question Time

We now come to item five, which is question time.
And this is where other councillors from Buckinghamshire Council
can come and ask questions of cabinet members as the executive of the council.
So we have two for this meeting.
The first being from Councillor Stuart Wilson
and the second from Councillor Robin Stutchbury.
Stuart is the first to ask this question
to Councillor Carington.
Welcome Stuart.
Thank you very much, Leader.
And good morning to everybody.
Season's greetings.
Questions - 0:22:24
Just to say, Leader, obviously stand with your comments
with regard to events in Australia
and fully support your comments
with regard to the work of our multi -faith groups
and support for the Jewish community.
Thank you.
So I'm Stuart Wilson.
I'm a Councillor for Flakilheath and the Woburns.
And my question relates to one of the items
on the Cabinet agenda today.
So 3 ,500 households in Buckinghamshire
Cllr Stuart Wilson - 0:22:50
will see their Council tax reduction removed or reduced
under the proposals being considered by Cabinet today.
The average impact across these groups
is a material reduction of £530 per household.
How does the proposed consultation conform with the gunning principles, allowing genuine
input from stakeholders before a final decision is taken, when paragraph 7 .3 of the Cabinet
report states that the latest version of the Council's medium -term financial plan has
been developed, with reference to these proposals?
And with the minimum six -week consultation starting on December 17, when those households
affected are planning to celebrate Christmas and New Year, thus reducing the effective
consultation period by at least two weeks to only four weeks to ensure adequate time
for consideration and response in accordance with the gunning principles.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:23:43
Thank you.
Robert?
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:23:47
Thank you for your question, Councillor Wilson.
And the proposals being considered today have been developed for a number of key reasons.
Firstly, to reduce volatility in support offered to more than 13 ,000 households on the council
tax reduction CTR scheme and substantially simplify calculation of awards to help them
better anticipate changes to support household budgeting.
Secondly, to remove the requirement to cross reference CTR awards with universal credit
applications made to the Department of Work and Pensions, DWP, and this will accelerate
claim processing moving from 29 days to 10 days, meaning people will receive their CTR
awards faster.
Thirdly, to target CTR to the lowest income households more effectively than the current
scheme, reducing non -payments and significantly lowering recourse to recovery procedures.
The approach to the consultation has been developed with reference to the gunning principles,
with proposals still very much at a formative stage and input from residents over the next
six weeks supporting this process.
While the latest draught of the MTFP reflects that
these proposals remain subject to final
consultation with the financial implications of
final scheme design to be captured in future
iterations of the MTFP as appropriate.
Given that greater than usual levels of uncertainty
in funding, as we all know, stemming from the
government's fair funding review 2 .0 reforms, it is
incumbent upon the council to review its council tax
reduction scheme with proposed timelines enabling amendments to be brought into place for the
1st of April 2026.
In respect of the planned duration of the consultation, proactive engagement through
partner organisations, social networking and other communication channels throughout the
six -week window will ensure that residents are aware of the exercise and have adequate
time and sufficient information to respond.
There are examples of neighbouring authorities including the London Borough of Hillingdon having undertaken consultations on amendments
to their council tax reduction schemes over a six -week period with Central Bedfordshire Council having recently also launched a
six -week consultation which will be live over the Christmas and New Year period.
This timeline will allow cabinet to capture feedback and incorporate this into final proposals to be recommended to council on the
February enabling us to deliver an improved scheme from the statutory
budget deadline of the 1st of April 2026. This will accelerate the pace at which
we can assist households with their council tax bills and support them in
anticipating levels of assistance and reducing the risk of them falling into
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:26:30
arrears. Councillor Covington thank you for that.
Councillor Wilson thank you for your question and that season's greetings back to you.
I hope you're having a Merry Christmas.
Thank you.
I'd like to call forward Councillor Robin Stutchbury, please, to ask his question.
We're just going to Peter Strachan, Deputy Leading Cabinet Member for Planning.
Good morning, Robin.
Cllr Robin Stuchbury - 0:26:49
Caesar's greetings to you as well.
Please ask your question.
Yeah, good morning, everyone.
Caesar, greetings and all that.
I look forward to seeing you all at Stonehenge on Sunday.
I expect you'll all be turning up.
If you're there, you'll be greeted with joy and pleasure.
I hope you'll be there.
I'm intending to go.
It's a good, good event.
That said, and jollity over to Peter.
Buckingham Council has agreed to introduce community
infrastructure levy.
In the historical value area of North Buckinghamshire, under
the 2010 seal regulations, local
authorities must pass.
15 % of the seal receipts to parishes and town councils
increasing to 25 % to areas with adopted neighbourhood plan. These funds are
intended for infrastructure projects addressing developments impacts payments
will be made six months every six months. Parishes must report annual receipts and
spending caps apply for various areas without a neighbour to plan for about
hundred pounds per dwelling. Well while the area plan have no cap transfer
transparency requirements include publishing receipts, expenditure, intended
funds and parishes websites and spending reports to Buckinghamshire Council which is
in the regulations. Which leads the question what with this in mind what is
the plans to introduce infrastructure levy in North Buckinghamshire
specifically with the proposals, timelines and engagement and preparation of work with
parishes and town councils to ensure a smooth transition and effective collaboration on
strategic and infrastructure collaboration, which is very key to how we wind out in the
future with resources from developments probably being quite large in North Buckinghamshire,
probably in comparison to South Buckinghamshire.
Thank you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:28:52
Thank you, Robin.
Peter.
Cllr Peter Strachan - 0:28:56
Thanks, Lita.
Thanks, Robin.
In July 2024, Cabinet approved further work to be undertaken to develop a new still charging
schedule in the north and central planning areas.
Following this, the Council commissioned viability work on a draught charging schedule.
Consideration of this work highlighted in the variability of Section 106 requirements
for different developments across different areas,
and the need for further assessment of these issues.
It also highlighted the need to take account
of foreseeable future development costs,
notably the building safety levy,
and to ensure that a new sill does not result
in less overall income to the council
as a result of reduced Section 106 income.
Following research and consideration of these issues, further viability work has been undertaken
and has just been received.
This will be considered in detail by the Council in a formal decision by the Director for Planning
and Environment, in consultation with myself as Cabinet Member for Planning, and the Section
151 Officer is expected to approve public consultation on a draught charging schedule
by summer 2026.
Subject to consideration of consultation responses
in due course, the proposed charging schedule
will be submitted for public examination
by an independent inspector.
And subject to approval, the council will then consider
adoption of the still charging schedules
for the north and central areas,
most likely to be early in 2027.
Thanks for your question, Robin.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:30:47
Thank you, Peter.
Thank you, Robin.
We'll probably be back.
I look forward to seeing you next year, even if not soon after Monday.
But thank you.

6 Forward Plan (28 Day Notice)

That's the end of item 5, question time, so we'll now come to item 6, the forward plan.
This is the moment in time take of the forward plan of work and items that are due to come
to cabinet in our future meetings.
It is the most up -to -date version.
It's kept on the website.
So I do recommend to members of the public to go there and see the latest version.
But based on the one in today's agenda pack, pages 49 to 66 inclusive, does anyone have
any comments or questions?
No, okay, we'll accept that as noted then.
If you agree to note the report.
Agreed.
Thank you.

7 Select Committee Work Programme

And in a similar vein, item seven is the forward plan updated again, also on the website for
the select committee work programmes.
Looking ahead, this is on pages 67 to 78.
Anyone have any comments, questions on those?
Are we content to note that forward plan report then please?
Thank you, agreed.

8 Consultation on Council Tax Reduction Scheme Proposals for 2026/27

So now we come to item eight.
And this is the first, if you like substantive item
of today's meeting that was referenced
in one of the questions earlier.
This is consultation
on the council tax reduction scheme proposals.
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:32:29
and I go back to you, Robert Cairns, on this please.
Thank you very much, Lita.
And yes, as already touched upon this
in my response to Councillor Wilson.
So just for the benefit of those viewing,
so the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, CTR,
is a scheme designed to assist residents on lower incomes
or in receipt of certain benefits
in reducing their council tax charge.
It's also important to note that levels of support
for pension age households are determined nationally
by the Department for Work and Pensions, DWP.
And what we are focusing on today is the CTR itself
where local authorities have a discretion since 2013
to design and implement their own local schemes
to support working age households.
So the rationale for why I'm bringing this paper to you
and the request for it to go to consultation is,
CTR currently assists 13 ,980 lower income households
by reducing their council tax charge by up to 100%,
with 19 .7 million pounds of reduced receipts
through operation of the scheme,
which is about 7 % of total council tax income.
Proposals have been developed to modernise operation
of the scheme from April 2026,
which, well, I've already mentioned some of the reasons,
but I will repeat and expand on them.
Reduce volatility and support offered to individual
households and substantially simplify calculation of awards,
which will help support residents to better understand
their CTR awards and anticipate changes to help support their
household budgeting.
It will remove the requirement to cross -reference CTR awards
with Universal Credit Applications made to the DWP,
which will accelerate claim processing,
moving from 29 days to 10 days for about 7 ,000 per annum.
This will also secure 0 .2 million pounds per annum
of administration savings for the council.
This will target CTR to the lowest income households
more effectively than the current scheme,
which will reduce non -payment by 0 .4 million pounds per annum
from 26 to 27 and will avoid costly recovery procedures
for around 700 households.
The overall proposals will increase council tax receipts
by 1 .1 million pounds as a result
of harmonising income levels above which households
can receive CTR and reduce the level of savings
a household can hold from 16 ,000 pounds to 6 ,000 pounds.
The cumulative financial impact is about 1 .7 million pounds
with a 0 .3 benefit flowing to the police and fire authorities and 1 .4 supporting the council's
MTFP.
The financial impact of this will be that
10 ,412 or 75 % of households currently in receipt of CTR will see their reward either maintained or increased.
With
3 ,500 or 25 % of households in receipt of CTR or
1 .5 percent of all households within Buckinghamshire,
seeing reduced levels of CTR.
For these 3 ,500 households, the following mechanisms
are in place to support transition to the new scheme.
There will be year one transitional
protection arrangements.
So, for households with less than 6 ,000 pounds savings,
this will limit reductions in CTR to 12 pounds 50 per week
or £650 per annum in 26 -27.
With further step changes in April 27 and April 28
for households already in receipt of CTR.
We will maintain provision for an exceptional hardship fund
recognising that there will be individual
household circumstances which will not be fully reflected
in the banding scheme assessment,
ensuring that we are not taking a blanket approach
when it comes to our lowest income households.
Of the 3 ,500 households who will see increases in bills, the average impact will be just
will be 538 pounds per annum, which is 10 pounds per week in year one with the transitional
relief I mentioned, rising to 777 pounds per annum, 15 pounds per week by year three.
The single largest adverse impact at household level is £3 ,651 per annum, which is £70 per week,
which relates to a household in a Band F property previously in receipt of CTR with savings in excess of £6 ,000.
This means about a total of 45 households in year one will see losses in excess of £40
per week, which is about £2 ,080 per annum.
The key thing I want to just finish on is the proposed scheme will accelerate the pace
at which we can assist households with their council tax bills and support them in anticipating
levels of assistance.
It will bolster CTR levels for the lowest income households,
reducing the risk of them falling into arrears,
and will secure additional receipts from council tax,
which can contribute towards meeting the growing cost
of the Critical Five.
So for next steps, if cabinet is minded
to approve this item today,
public consultation will be required ahead
of them being considered in February,
which will enable an amended CTR scheme to be adopted
from the 1st of April 2026.
So if approved, the consultation will be launched tomorrow
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:38:23
on the 17th of December.
Robert, thank you for presenting the paper.
I'll look to cabinet colleagues for any of you
who wish to ask questions or make comments.
Okay. I'll start with you, Karl, then Ade.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:38:37
Thank you, Lida.
I think the principle of this paper is very sound.
We're obviously trying to update a system
which has been partly linked to national policies
and benefits schemes which have sort of long been superseded.
We don't want unpredictable, uneven levels of support.
And I know, obviously,
I'll always welcome something that's less administratively
complex and allows us to get support quicker.
And so I think the principle is very clear.
It's all been practical terms.
What is going to be the impact of this
on the most deprived households in the county?
What's it going to mean for them in practise
so we can set it out clearly here?
Thank you very much for that.
And yes, we are in a position that we had a harmonised scheme
when we had four legacy district council schemes.
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:39:31
Every of the hereditary councils had it in place,
and it was harmonised, and it was done on a case -by -case basis
with reference to household income levels
and other characteristics, which at the time sufficed,
but as it was very administratively slow
and wasn't the most efficient.
So what we are sort of doing now, I mean,
the impact we'll see is that we are increasing this efficiency.
As mentioned, it will accelerate the claim processing time.
So people will see their awards go down from a 29 -day period
to a 10 -day period, so they will receive the awards faster.
As mentioned, it will reduce volatility in the support offered, so they will have consistency
in the calculation of this award, so they will be able to better understand what they
will be getting, and it will enable them to help anticipate changes to make the proper
budgeting decisions.
I've got Ian Watters here.
If there's anything more you think I've missed, or needs to be added to that.
Iain Watters - Assistant Chief Financial Officer R,A&P - 0:40:42
Thank you, Councillor. I think the other point I just raised, and you mentioned it in your
explanation earlier, is the scheme as we're looking to design it will ensure that those
households currently who are unable to meet the full cost of their council tax bills will
be supported in full where appropriate. So that should minimise the amount of recovery
action we're taking. So I think in terms of that direct impact on those very lowest income
households, I think we can point to that as a real positive.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:41:06
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 0:41:08
Thank you Ian and thank you for that. Ade. Thank you leader. Thank you Robert for the paper. I observed from your report that this proposal is driven by the Fair Review funding.
Can you tell me, based on the figures 1 .5 you pulled out for council tax in 2028 and
29, what's the cumulative figure and what are the income projections beyond that period?
So the 1 .5 million, is that cumulative and would that also be beyond 2028?
And can you also just advise if the consultation which will be going on would also impact on
how to reach areas?
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:41:59
People who?
Male Speaker Thank you very much for that question.
And yes, so I presume you're referring to the graph on page 84.
Is it table two you're referring to?
Yes, that is a cumulative figure.
So in year one, so 26, 27, the impact will be 0 .5,
and then it will go up to one million, 27, 28,
and then in 28, 29, it will be 1 .5.
So yes, it is a cumulative figure.
And in regard to your second question, which was.
That's how to reach areas, people, consultation,
how far are we gonna go with people who may not be able,
a lot more.
Can you put them up?
Just to find out how to reach areas,
people who how we're going to come to the consultation what measures are we
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 0:42:45
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:42:47
taking so you have the consultations of as I mentioned my response to Councillor
Wilson will be using partner organisations so I think so opportunity
bucks will be used over them going through social networking and then
Iain Watters - Assistant Chief Financial Officer R,A&P - 0:43:06
other channels so I think we'll be using the newsletter and no rubs is in is
Is there anything I've missed?
And I think we will also be able to reach out
to our own contact centre in terms of where we're dealing
with those households that are already working with the scheme
and some of the groups like Citizens Advice.
We will also reach out to through our normal kind
of channels to make sure we're getting that message out loud
and clear.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:43:24
Good. Thank you for those clarifications.
Councillor Dalby.
Cllr Isobel Darby - 0:43:30
Sorry.
Yes, thanks very much and I thank you for the report.
I mean to me any change, nobody likes change,
but clearly we've got a bit of a monster here in terms
of how we calculate it, how we process claims,
and this new scheme will mean that we actually get the help
to people that need it faster.
There will be winners and losers, but I feel satisfied
that anybody who sort of falls through the system, you know,
there's always going to be somebody who is in true hardship
and we have a system of a safety net
for picking those people up.
So yeah, we don't like change,
but I think this has got to happen and it makes sense.
So I would support this proposal.
I'm just to come back on that.
I will once again reiterate that we will maintain provision
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:44:24
for an exceptional hardship fund.
So we fully recognise there will be
individual household circumstances,
which won't be fully reflected in the boundary scheme assessment.
And there will be no changes in the administrative arrangements for applications to this fund.
And every application will be done on a case -by -case basis to the hardship fund.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:44:43
Thank you, Robert.
And I'll just reiterate the comment you made on that during your introduction of the paper,
that 75 % of recipients will receive the same or more in assistance.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:44:59
But last question, I think, to Councillor Brough.
Thank you, Lita. Yes, I mean I support this proposal because I think it's driven by fairness.
I think there's an issue of fairness when it comes to people going through the scheme and how quickly that's administered
and reducing that time so substantially from 29 to 10 days is really important.
But I do also think that there's an important principle here in terms of fairness to the taxpayer
because the system we're moving away did allow somebody with 16 ,000 pounds of
money in the bank to access the scheme and frankly I think there's a lot of
residents in Buckinghamshire who are struggling at the moment and don't have
anything like that amount of money set away and who are working incredibly hard
and wouldn't even think to try and access a scheme like this. So I think
It's good that we're making it more
accessible in terms of efficiency and speed
of delivery.
But I do also think we should emphasise
that it's important that we make sure that where we do have
schemes like this in place, we are being fair both
to recipients and to the taxpayers who, let's remember,
are funding this and may well not have access
to that level of capital.
And while that has come down to a more sensible level,
I think that creates a much better balance.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:46:22
Thank you, Thomas.
Anything to add?
No, I don't have anything to add.
Okay, I think fairness all around is an important point.
It's clear that as we go out to public consultation here,
some of the financial context element shows
how Buckinghamshire has become a bit of an outlier
compared to the national picture,
which on page 81, and this pack, by the way, is on pages 79 to 108,
makes the point that Buckinghamshire's senior growth of 7 .6 % in claimants,
whereas the national average of senior reduction of 3 .9%.
So clearly modernising this to the banding system that the country is moving to
is an opportunity, but we do encourage people,
if Cabinet in a moment takes the decision to go to consultation,
to please make sure they respond to that consultation.
So with that in mind, I don't see any more hands.
Can the recommendation here is the cabinet
approve a six -week consultation commencing
on the 17th of December with local taxpayers
and key stakeholders on these proposals
to amend the council tax reduction scheme
from April, first of April next year.
Are we in agreement with that recommendation, please?
Agreed.
Agreed.
Thank you.

9 Buckinghamshire Skills Bootcamps

Therefore, with that done, we move to item nine, which is Buckinghamshire Skills Bootcamps
report to be found on page 109 to 118.
We have Sarah Murphy -Brockman here, who's the corporate director for resources.
We can help answer any technical questions.
This is a report in my name, but clearly crosses crossover into Karl Jackson's portfolio as well
with his deputy cabinet member, Gillie Jordan, who has a good focus on skills.
Skills boot camps are part of the whole multiplicity of options and opportunities
that we have for the people of Buckinghamshire to access new skills or develop further skills
in various ways across the county.
Very prescient that this is coming today
when we hear government's announcements this morning
that unemployment has increased to 5 .1%.
And you will know through economic strategy
and economic plan and the great work we're trying to do
on skills, it's key that we give those opportunities
and let people of this county feel like they have a stake
in getting skilled, getting a good job and benefiting from that both individually and
as a family, but also we all benefit as the county.
So boot camps are an opportunity for up to 16 weeks of free flexible training in high
demand sectors, be it digital, creative industries, green skills, elements of leadership, and
even the construction industry.
And in fact, only in the last couple of weeks,
Councillor Broome and I went to one of the skills camps
for construction down in Iver, a real jewel in this county
where people come along and they learn how
to operate construction vehicles
such as dumper trucks and others.
That amount of work where we reach out to people
who are furthest away from employment is condensed
into approximately two weeks worth of training.
And we have an incredibly high throughput of people who go on that skills boot camp
and some are not working at all and some are transferring from other roles.
And once they're qualified, given the amount of construction happening out there, there
are job opportunities that can be taken up.
And some people have gone from not being at work to having the ability to earn 20 to 25
pounds an hour with a job within a number of short weeks.
I say that because there's some real opportunities here
and I ask people who are watching to make anyone they know
who is in a situation where they need some skills
to try and apply and register for skills boot camps.
The reason this report is here is because we have to review
the work that has been done and in our most recent wave,
Boot Camp 5, which is on page 111, you will see the three stages.
The first stage is how many people do we get enrolled on these courses.
The second is how many complete the work and then those who have a good job outcome.
So you will see that in enrollment we fill the boot camp spaces pretty much at 98 % compared
to a Department for Education benchmark of trying to do 75%.
We outperform again on those who complete the courses,
which shows they're relevant, well delivered.
Again, exceeding the KPI benchmark
of the Department for Education,
we set at 86 % versus benchmark of 70%, 75%.
And then we are slap bang in the middle of the KPI range
on job outcomes.
So having recruited people complete the training,
and 72 % are now going on into a further job.
That is a fantastic performance.
And you can see that we have another 405 participants on this.
So this is not one or two people.
These are hundreds of people in Buckinghamshire who are learners and then they go on to either
be in further training or to have a job, which is fantastic.
So the council do promote this.
It's very complementary with the other works such as our horizons programme and our other
skilling aspect, and in fact we'll soon be bringing forward the Buckinghamshire Works
programme which gives a real horizon analysis of what we're doing.
And I would just draw people's attention to the quote given in section 3 .2 by one learner
who said, the course has given me the tools and motivation to pursue a new career path.
I feel much more confident now.
I mean, that is what this is about.
This can be for everyone, so please do apply to boot camps when you can.
So the report is fairly light.
It gives you the update on where we are, shows you the importance of this work,
because this is hugely meaningful to the individuals who go on it,
and there are some case study examples at the back of the report.
I'll stop introducing that there.
Sarah Murphy -Brockman, is there anything you wish to say before I take questions?
No, that's a fantastic introduction. Thank you, Leda.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:53:22
Thank you. Questions? Okay. I'll go this way around, Thomas and Isabel.
Thank you, Leda. Yes, well, first of all, just to absolutely echo what you said about the IVA skills hub,
and I'm not just saying that because they let me have a go on the simulator for the digger,
although that was excellent fun. Genuinely, I think this is an incredibly important piece of work that we do.
I am sometimes despairing at the sort of culture
that government seems to be trying to create
of dependency on the state and hopelessness.
And as you say, we've seen these figures
going up and up and up constantly
since the election on unemployment.
I think schemes like this give people the opportunity
to develop independence, resilience,
and to really reach out into some communities
that we really want to help.
One of the things I was most impressed by in IVA was the work that they're doing with
veterans, taking people who've come back from servicing the armed forces and providing with
the training that they need to get into excellent quality jobs that, as you say, pay really
well and to be able to support themselves.
So I think there's a really important point of principle here, which is giving people
the tools to be able to support themselves.
And I think that the fact we're doing that against the backdrop of a reversal of that
at the national level is incredibly important.
But as you say, the specific providers
in BUCKS are exemplary.
The partners we're working with are doing a fantastic job.
I thoroughly encourage anyone who's feeling a little bit
hopeless and they don't quite know what to do with themselves
to look into this programme
because it will genuinely give you a start back
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:55:06
into the workplace and opportunities for years to come.
Thank you for that supportive commentary.
It's quite a question, but I appreciate that.
And you're right, both.
There are opportunities here specifically for veterans
and care leavers and other groups as well.
Cllr Isobel Darby - 0:55:22
We need to promote those.
Councillor Darwin.
Yes, thank you.
I mean, this is, I think this is really exciting.
It's something to be incredibly proud of.
And it is doing exactly what we need to do,
enabling people to look after themselves,
giving them those skills so that they have the ability
to gain a job or further training.
So my question is on the employment.
So in the background, 1 .1, it says
that they include a guaranteed interview with an employer,
which is fantastic.
Might not be the right employer, but I just
wondered if I could explore a little bit more
about the work we do with prospective employers,
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:56:10
letting them know about, you know, we've got these people who have got some skills and how to take that forward.
Yeah, I mean that's a great question. So obviously these courses are designed with overall syllabuses,
but with input from employers about skills required.
And then during the course of people's time doing the bootcamp,
obviously the assessors are also helping shape where some of those interviews might go.
Sarah Murphy-Brookman - Corporate Director for Resources - 0:56:34
But Sarah, do you want to give us any more detail about that?
Yes, thank you.
Thank you for that question, Councillor Derby.
I think actually in the appendix,
it gives a really nice illustration
of a couple of organisations that we're working with
and the way that they link up with the sectors
that they are supplying those courses to really support
people to get those skills within.
So clearly there are sort of the two routes in for this.
So there are, as you suggest, there are suppliers who will be training people
and then need connexions into those employers.
And we're able to do that through our ELSIP data,
so that's the local skills improvement plan data.
So we have a really good understanding of what employers need
and the skills shortages, which is what these boot camps are built upon.
So we have that linkage to be able to connect the organisations providing the training with the employers.
But likewise, also employers themselves are able to provide this training.
So we had a fantastic example up in the north of Buckinghamshire, where one of our larger employers had a celebration event of 650 learners they've had now through their boot camps since they started on this with us in June 2023.
So it comes in through two routes.
It comes in through employers themselves providing these boot camp opportunities and it also
comes through the training providers and having that really great linkage with employers within
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:58:07
Buckinghamshire.
Thank you.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:58:10
Karl?
Thank you.
I think there's a lot of good news in here.
The enrollment rates, the completion rates, the employment rates after the course are
very positive.
I think it's worth just drawing out the link
with our broader economic vision as well.
It won't have escaped anyone reading the paper
that there is a strong overlap
between the courses being offered
and the growth industries in this county.
These courses aren't chosen at random to give someone something
to do for three weeks.
They are about giving people skills in the areas
which have the biggest opportunities in this county.
And of course, to look at it from another perspective,
given employers in those growth industries a bigger pool
of talent from which to draw to help them keep growing.
I had a couple of questions which is,
one is slightly cheeky because I know I'm getting ahead
of myself.
Wave 6 only started in July.
I don't know, Sarah, if we have any kind of interim figures
on how that's going, whether we're ahead of sort
of previous performance, whether we've got that data yet.
And I know Wave 7 funding is a little way off being confirmed.
But one thing I didn't see mentioned
in the paper was how people might sign up for future bootcamps if they're interested.
Sarah Murphy-Brookman - Corporate Director for Resources - 0:59:24
Yeah.
So in terms of wave, the wave six, where we are at the moment, so the funding will enable
us to provide learning starts for 886 learners.
We've contracted suppliers for 99 % of that now.
So we've got all of that provision in place.
In terms of the numbers of learners,
we've got 383 have already been through milestone one,
168 through milestone two, and 52 through milestone three.
So we're getting through that.
There will be, and it's always the way,
there will be a big uptake in January.
It's a bit like, I think, after Christmas joining the gym,
likewise thinking about actually,
I want to be able to get new skills
to be able to accelerate my career.
So we've got a lot of marketing material ready to go
with all of the providers.
And in fact, we're really pleased to say in Wave 6,
we've got providers actually sitting within
Jobcentre Plus as well.
So to be able to join up people coming in,
looking for help and support with the boot camps themselves.
So that's a really, really fantastic innovation.
If people want information, clearly go to Jobcentre Plus,
but also have a look on the website.
So you can go and just put in boot camps into our website
and you'll find all of the information there.
So please, you know,
if you're thinking about enhancing your career,
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:00:55
maybe a new career, it's all there for you.
Thank you Sarah.
And I know the team are pushing hard
on trying to market in different places.
So when you're out shopping in local shopping centres,
maybe if you're gonna go and watch the Chair Boys,
maybe if you're listening to Spotify even,
you might come across Skills Boot Council for Buckinghamshire.
So, and that's a big part of this, that all members of the council and
the endeavours of the council is, spaces are still available, as you've just said.
We hope and we're optimistic that funding will continue into future years, but
there's a real genuine opportunity there.
So that's, in many ways,
the challenge always is to let people think this is available to them.
I think the only restriction on requirement in base terms is you have to
be 19, yes?
And then adults above the age of 19.
Ade.
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 1:01:47
I'm thinking, I can attest to the benefits of this game.
I was invited to the celebration
at the EKFB operator skills hub in Westbury.
They were celebrating their 650th learner,
which was great to see.
I also had a turn on the dump truck,
not the digger this time.
It was quite fun, but it's good to see
how it was good to receive firsthand the positive impact
this has been having on beneficiaries of this scheme.
I met a veteran who used the skills hub as a pathway
to his civilian working, which was good to learn.
I also met some other participants
who used it as a medium to change for the career change,
which I thought was very, very helpful.
I think my question will be around care leavers,
because I know that's an area that we're all very,
very interested in.
And how often and how many of our caregivers get to use this
as a pathway to get some skills training?
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:02:48
Thank you.
I'll let Sarah answer, but I mean, again,
not overplaying the visit Tom and I did to the IVA centre,
there had been a specific care leaver event.
And whilst relatively low in numbers, every single one signed
up is 100%, but you've probably got more
of a programme oversight, Sarah.
Sarah Murphy-Brookman - Corporate Director for Resources - 1:03:05
So I don't have the details to hand
on terms of the numbers on this, but this is something
that is well promoted across all of the council
internally and externally.
So we'll be able to come back to you
with the actual detail on that.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:03:22
Great.
Thank you very much.
So the recommendation on this report is to note the report.
And obviously, please take action
to promote skills boot camps in everything that we do.
Are we happy to note the report?
Great.
Thank you very much.

10 Consolidation of Grounds Maintenance Provision

That concludes item nine.
We go to item 10, consolidation of grounds maintenance provision pages 119 to 128 of
the agenda pack.
Councillor Brazier as the relevant cabinet member will start with this with other people
may be contributing and Richard Barker is here as corporate director for
Cllr Peter Brazier - 1:04:04
communities. So Peter over to you please. Thank you leader. This report is to seek
cabinet approval to consolidate all grounds maintenance activities into a
single county -wide outsourced contract for Buckinghamshire Council. Unitry's
inherited services which were delivered separately by the former districts
resulting in the current arrangement of an in -house service in the AVDC area
with two different contractors in the south serving what was Wickham and
Chiltern South Bucks. This is consistent approach must now be changed as the
contracts have reached end of life. This report sets out the route
to achieve a single county -wide outsourced ground maintenance contract
that we believe will provide the council with, amongst other benefits, greater
value for money, but also a consistent specification.
To achieve this outcome, we need to undertake a procurement exercise via the competitive
flex procedure with preliminary market engagement.
This particular procedure and the dialogue it allows will also enable us to take on the
wider issues of devolution the Council is considering.
I .E .G., we can add and remove sites easily and without penalty.
It also allows us to engage with the bidders during the process,
how to, so we can discuss how we deliver services efficiently,
how do we make best use of the depots, for example,
and how can we innovate.
So the procurement approach is
that using this competitive flexible procedure
with preliminary market engagement,
it's an output -based specification for flexibility.
So if we get a warm summer and we just don't need to cut
as many times, that will happen without penalty.
The contract term is proposed to be for five years with two optional 24 -month extensions.
It will include the mechanisms for the site devolution, as I've mentioned, and the addition
of new sites.
So the next steps are basically the cabinet approval of this procurement approach.
We've got Martin Dickman here as well, service director, to answer any questions.
But before we get into questions, we have, we had a letter from a member of one of the members of the team in the North in -house grounds contract, but it arrived too late to be a formal questions cabinet.
So, but we have prepared a response.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:06:32
So if it's okay with you, leader, can we just give the outline of the representation?
Yeah.
In context, which was concerns over.
Cllr Peter Brazier - 1:06:45
So it was concerns over the 2P process and the terms and conditions that they're currently experiencing.
So just if the cabinet agree to the recommendation today, the small number of our staff that work in the in -house North team will move to the new contractor no earlier than the 1st of January, 2027.
The transfer process will be regulated by the Transfer of Undertakings
Protection of Employment Regulations 2006, commonly known as TUPE, which means
that the Council has obligations towards our permanent staff working in this team.
Under TUPE, our permanent staff members contractual terms and conditions of
employment such as pay, hours of work, annual leave or entitlement will remain
the same. However, some non -contractual terms may need to be reviewed if the
incoming service provider is able to maintain them.
Once the contract is confirmed, a full process will begin, including the sharing of all relevant
information about our existing terms and conditions of employment for employees impacted in this
change with the new service provider.
Any proposed changes will be discussed as part of a formal consultation period.
Please be assured that the wellbeing of our staff is a top priority.
We will communicate any future changes clearly and provide appropriate support and guidance throughout the process.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:08:01
Thank you.
Thank you Peter. I think it's important we give that clarity on that representation that I know we've all seen.
Fully being in the GP process and Martin if you feel the need to add any more but I think that's a clear reassurance to staff.
So, thank you for introducing the report.
Anything further to add from either side of the table?
Richard?
Richard Barker - Corporate Director for Communities - 1:08:28
Thank you, leader.
Now it's a really comprehensive summary of the report,
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:08:31
but more than happy to answer any questions.
Excellent.
Thank you.
Cllr Isobel Darby - 1:08:34
Isabel Darby, please.
Thank you very much, and thank you for the report.
My question is, you know, currently we've got this service
provided in three different ways.
Buckinghamshire is a large county.
It's a long way from top to bottom.
How confident are you that we are going to get sufficient
interest from people who will be able to provide the quality
of service right across the county?
I see that you've sort of discounted the having a north
and a south, and I accept that, but I just want to know what
level of confidence.
And if you don't get that interest or that price,
whether consideration would be given to doing it in a different way.
Richard Barker - Corporate Director for Communities - 1:09:17
Thanks for the question, Councillor Darby.
So the informal market engagement is really positive.
It's a very buoyant market in terms of the outsourced arrangements for these kinds of services
and we feel really confident that we'll have a good level of interest from the market
subject to your approval to progress with the procurement.
I think the depot strategy is quite key in terms of the likely response for the market.
I think it would be highly unlikely to have one depot covering the whole county area given the issues that you've alluded to,
but that is subject to a conversation we'd get into with prospective bidders in terms of their thoughts for delivering the service really efficiently and sustainably.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:10:09
But as I said, the initial view from officers is that the market is really buoyant and there'd be a high level of interest for this contract in Buckinghamshire.
Cllr Mark Winn - 1:10:13
Thank you for that both. Mark Wynne.
Thank you. Thank you leader. I think this is a really good plan. I do have roads within my ward where
contracts overlap and I've seen situations where the grass has been cut in one bit and the
sort of hedges have been cut back in one bit and then the other bit of the other side of the road hasn't been and
that just looks absolutely ridiculous.
So it's a really good efficient way of actually dealing with those overlaps.
But there are sometimes some overlaps in particular areas where we've got registered providers
that do the grounds maintenance on those bits.
Is there any way we can coordinate with them in some way to try and stop that, again, that
overlap situation?
Richard Barker - Corporate Director for Communities - 1:10:55
Thanks, Councillor Wynne.
So the current proposal as set out in the report is obviously around council assets
and council lands.
So that wouldn't include housing land for registered providers.
We do work really closely with registered providers because understandably members residents visitors
won't distinguish in terms of open space whether it be the responsibility of the register provider or the council so
That that process of engagement would continue there would be the opportunity potentially to include
Additional land through our piece subject to an appropriate conversation and suitable business case
but that isn't currently envisaged as part
of this immediate process, but there would be flexibility
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:11:42
to consider that in the future.
Thank you very much.
Any other questions from, a comment and a question
from me, Richard.
First of all, I would draw people's attention to some
of the commentary made in the report about the future proofing
of the provision, be that to change the plots
and due to devolution agreements locally,
or even the addition of SANG suitable alternative,
natural green space and so on.
It's really important we bring that out.
My question though, is obviously a county wide approach.
You talk about the market being buoyant.
What reassurance can you give, if any, that within the procurement exercise, locally based
firms have a chance to play in rather than an assumption that because it's countywide
approach, it would only be incredibly large firms that could put a bid together?
Yes, so that's a really good question.
Martin Dickman - Service Director for Communities - 1:12:56
One of the key things we'll do through the competitive flexible approach will be to talk
with all of the bidders about how they can bring in local small SMEs and it's
critical for social value that we can try and get the wider bucks business
involved in that. So for example, grape diggers. Generally some smaller companies
will employ their own grape diggers, others will have subcontractors. So
that's what we'll be able to explore through a flexible approach. If we did
just open procurement, there's no dialogue and they'll submit what they want to, not
necessarily what we want. So that's the critical bit in the procurement process.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:13:37
Martin, thank you. I'm really sure reassured by that approach because obviously our local
supply chain and our own businesses is important as well as getting best value for the council.
Thank you for that. I don't have any other hands. So with that, I think we'll go to the
recommendations, they're on page 119.
So first of all, to consolidate the grounds maintenance
into a single contract, and then dedicate authority
to all the people listed that I won't read out
to move forward with the competitive tender process
and award in due course, based on the criteria set.
Are we in agreement for that?
Agreed.
Thank you very much.
That deals with item 10.

11 Conservation Covenants - their use in relation to Biodiversity Net Gain

We then come to item 11, Conservation Covenant.
This is a report that can be found on pages 129 to 134 of the pack.
Ade Osugbogan, as the relevant cabinet member, will introduce this and Steve Bambrick, Corporate
Director for Planning, Growth and Sustainability is here for any questions.
Ade, over to you please.
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 1:14:47
Thank you very much, Lida. This paper seeks cabinet approval for the use of conservation
confidence in relation to option 3, which is securing off -site biodiversity net gain
habitat banks on sites that geographically cross our boundary with a neighbouring authority,
noting that the use of options 2 is already authorised on the delegated part. Conservation
Conservation Convenants are voluntary agreements between the Council as a designated responsible
body and landowners to deliver lasting conservation benefits on land whether or not the land is
within the Council's administrative area.
Each Conservation Covenant is a bespoke, legally binding agreement tailored to suit specific
circumstances and describes what the landowner will do to help conserve the land for public
good.
While conservation covenants can be entered both within and beyond our administrative boundaries,
it does not seek to exercise statutory role of other authorities.
Therefore, no authority or agreement is needed from another council because a conservation covenant is a private voluntary agreement with a landowner
and a better alternative to section 106, which can't be used outside our administrative boundaries.
Conservation confidence can be used for a variety of reasons and provides flexibility
of approach that will be important as we move into the delivery phase of our local nature
recovery strategy.
It presents a council with opportunities such as the delivery of projects that support emerging
markets of biodiversity and also nature's markets such as carbon, water quality and
flood protection.
It facilitates our BNG offsite market.
It gets onto the National Biodiversity Gain site register
and therefore we can sell BNG units to developers
and offsite BNG sites must either have a secured
standalone Section 106 agreement or a conservation covenant.
In this case, if it's cross boundaries,
then we can always use a conservation covenant
if this is approved.
This paper seeks to enable us to utilise our position as a responsible body for a green conservation
covenant to adopt a simpler tool in supporting our BNG in Belkinham Shire.
We're recommending option three to enable us to take advantage of the emerging habitat bank sites across our county
and adopt a simple tool to secure such sites rather than using separate section 106 agreements.
Administratively, it will save costs by reducing rather than using two agreements.
We'll have just one.
And it will also be an easier way to deliver large scale projects.
It's simpler and more streamlined approach.
And the only risk is the managing and enforcing an agreement that partly lies outside local
boundary.
But being a privately run agreement, this is a risk that I think can be easily mitigated.
In addition, any revenue cost will be covered by the set of fee and maintenance fee that
we will charge.
There will therefore be no budget pressures or capital implications as a result of this
approval.
I will therefore seek cabinet approval for the use of conservation confidence relations
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:18:16
to option three in the paper.
Thank you, leader.
And Steve is there to answer questions as well.
Steve, anything to add?
Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning,Growth & Sustainability - 1:18:25
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:18:28
No, I think as you say, I think the report's very comprehensive, very happy to take any
questions.
Thanks.
I'll start with one.
So we're talking about cross -border areas, and there's a good example given in the paper
between the Bucks and Oxfordshire boundary with an emerging Habitat bank.
In practical terms, Steve, how would that work between the two authorities?
Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning,Growth & Sustainability - 1:18:48
Yeah, thank you.
So in the absence of a conservation covenants,
what would be necessary is as planning authority
and booking which are the booking of parts of that site
would be governed by a section 106 agreement with us.
And then the planning authority
and the Oxfordshire part of the site
would need to have a separate agreement
with the same landowner to manage their part of the site.
We wouldn't have the ability to enter into that 106 agreement
as it's outside of our area.
The ability that conservation covenants provide us
is that we would have one agreement with that landowner.
We would be acting as the responsible body
under the Environment Act, and therefore not acting
as the local planning authority.
And the Environment Act gives us the ability
to enter into the covenants.
The practical effect of the covenant is that it provides us
with the same ability as the 106 agreement does,
but we have one agreement as the responsible body
rather than two separate agreements
with local planning authorities.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:19:47
And could this work both ways and if so how would again how is that agreement reached over who leads?
There in this case box or Oxfordshire
Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning,Growth & Sustainability - 1:19:58
So yes, so other responsible bodies would have the ability to enter into conservation covenants
my
Anticipation is that where we've got sites that cross over?
it would generally be the site where the majority of the site is in, for example,
Buckinghamshire, we would take the lead on that.
Whereas if there's a site where the majority is in another area and
that other area is looking to implement a conservation covenant,
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:20:31
then the majority site would ordinarily take the lead.
And that covenant, we would always seek to meet the standards we're setting at
Yes.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 1:20:42
Karl?
Thanks very much.
We're obviously, we're getting these huge top -down housing targets from central government.
The developments are going to come with requirements to provide biodiversity net gain.
In a lot of cases, our developments will meet the BNG requirements on site, but sometimes
they'll need to buy off site.
And I think obviously what we want is a situation where if we're getting the development pain,
then we want to get the benefit of the biodiversity net gain in this county as much as possible.
We don't want a situation where we're getting the development and then the biodiversity
units will be brought in Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, whatever.
So completely understand the reality is that there'll be some very plausible sites which
are not entirely neatly within Buckinghamshire's boundaries, will be partly elsewhere.
I think just something I want to cheque is we're not talking here about a situation where we would enter an agreement with a site that is mostly or entirely outside Buckinghamshire.
These are sites which are mostly with maybe a little bit out.
It doesn't quite fit neatly but it's overall very beneficial to Buckinghamshire because most of it's within our boundaries.
I think maybe that's a question for Steve.
for ADI, we've got a local plan emerging,
we've got a biodiversity action plan,
various environmental strategies.
So how does this tie in if at all with those?
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:22:08
Thank you.
Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning,Growth & Sustainability - 1:22:10
Should we go in that order?
Question to you first, Steve.
Yes, thank you.
So yes, to be very clear, the recommendation in the report is
that we only look to implement this in sites
which are cross -boundary sites.
So there is a proportion of the site always
within Buckinghamshire.
And again, also to be clear, there's nothing in here
that is proposing a change to the approach
that we already are adopting and that we've consulted
on in the draught local plan that we would want to continue
to adopt, which is our preference is always
that biodiversity net gain is provided on site
where that is possible.
And the kind of second preference is
that if it's not capable of being provided on site,
that within the county of Buckinghamshire,
and only as a last resort would we consider
these types of sites where we're looking effectively
outside of the county.
So these are always gonna be last resort sites,
but nevertheless, they are legally possible,
and in terms of them being possible,
what we're seeking through this report
is authority to enter into those agreements
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:23:19
where it's necessary to do so.
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 1:23:21
Okay, thank you.
Ade, the second part for you.
Yes, on the second part of the question, well,
with regards to the local plan, the conservative content
for confidence will help as a tool to strengthen our ability
as a council to deliver
on our strategic environmental objectives as captured
in the local plan.
It will also be a long -term legal mechanism to protect
and enhance biodiversity.
It will secure environmental measures that extend beyond the life of an individual plan
permission and I would also say it will help safeguard priorities, our priority habitats,
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:24:01
which can also be contained in conservation components.
Thank you very much.
I don't have any further, oh I do now have, sorry, no actually I forget.
Councillor Kounsley, you need to go and then I'll come to you.
Cllr Robert Carington - 1:24:15
Thank you very much. Thank you for reminding. I think any measure I know I
talk from experience any measure which cuts through the bureaucracy and the red
tape particularly in this area is absolutely welcomed with open arms by
the farming community. We see it too much that government seems to want farmers
spend more time in their office on their computer filling in forms rather than
actually out there, you know, growing food or helping on
environmental measures.
So something like this is absolutely welcome.
I mean, my query is in regard to the monitoring aspect of it.
So obviously, as you said, so the council, we've become,
the proposal has become a responsible body.
And part of that, the responsibility is the
monitoring, that work is done.
And I see in paragraph 5 .7 there's mention of a
biodiversity monitoring fee.
So I just really want to understand how that will work in the cross -border aspect.
Because obviously we can do it on the Buckinghamshire side, but how is it going to work on the cross -border side?
Steve?
Steve Bambrick - Corporate Director for Planning,Growth & Sustainability - 1:25:23
So it would work in exactly the same way.
I mean, we would, as these are sites that are in our neighbouring authorities,
we will monitor those sites in the same way as we would with sites in Buckinghamshire,
which would be effectively from periodical site visits effectively using the team that we would have available.
And again, to be clear, we are already a responsible body under the Environment Act.
So we're not seeking authority through this process to become one.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:25:59
We are already one. But as a responsible body, we have the ability to use conservation covenants.
Thank you very much. And then Thomas.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 1:26:05
Yeah, just briefly say that I think it's important to recognise that BUCKS has been a bit of
a leader in this area.
A couple of years ago when I held the portfolio, I was absolutely fascinated with some of the
B &G offset that we were starting to provide within the county.
As Councillor Carrington has pointed out, teaming up with some of our fantastic BUCKS
farmers to provide that and actually introducing this kind of flexibility so that we can get
over some of those issues where the boundaries of the farm
do not comply to the boundaries of the county,
seems very sensible to me.
And all the more important in the environment
wherein where we've had this 95 ,000 target imposed on us
by central government, as we struggle to reconcile that
and to bring together the local plan,
it's going to be incredibly important
that we have this BNG offset so that we're preserving green spaces as much as we possibly can.
And I think, you know, getting our house in order in terms of smoothing out this kind of
difficulty before it happens shows that Council's getting itself well prepared
for that difficult task. So,
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:27:25
thanks to the team for making sure that we stay ahead of the curve on this one.
Thank you
for those comments.
I would draw, anyone watching would draw their attention
to section 9 .1.
I mean, if you want a real, the second part
of that paragraph makes the point that at the present,
there are no river biodiversity units available
from existing local habitat banks in the county.
But doing this will facilitate potentially
such habitat bank, if I can get my words out.
So for that reason, that reason alone,
given the importance of our rivers and streams,
then it's an important advancement
and works well with the local nature recovery strategy
that we adopted recently.
That said, do cabinet wish to confirm
Otherwise, their approval to the recommendation, which is the use of conservation covenants
in relation to option three of the paper.
In other words, those sites that can cross the geographical boundaries of the county,
noting the designation we already have under delegated powers and authorizations.
So then we will adopt conservation covenants for that.
Are you in agreement?
Great.
Thank you very much.
That is agreed.

12 Exclusion of the public (if required)

We now come to the part of the agenda
where the following items are confidential items.
We will return after going into confidential session,
but the only remaining item is the date of the next meeting,
which I'm not giving too much of a glimpse to say
is the 8th of January.
So for people who may not wait just to hear us say
the next meeting is the 8th of January,
I wish everyone a happy festive season, Merry Christmas to those celebrating, and of course
a peaceful and prosperous New Year to come.
So we will go into exempt session, but having given those salutations.
So I must now move to propose the exclusion of the public to resolve under the local authorities
executive arrangements, meetings and access information,
England regulations of 2012, regulation 4 to be the public
to be excluded from the meeting for the following items
of business on the grounds they involve the likely disclosure
of exact information as defined within schedule 12A
of the Local Government Act 1972.
Are we agreed to do so?
Thank you very much.

12 Exclusion of the public (if required)

Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:30:11
Therefore, I ask for the webcast to be paused
and seek confirmation.
Thank you very much and welcome back
to the cabinet meeting of Buckinghamshire Council.
We have just been in confidential session and return
and for completeness, I will confirm that item 13,
the confidential minutes from the meeting
of the 11th of November were approved.
Can you just reconfirm that in public session, please, everybody?
Approved.
Thank you.
And that we also have then had our discussion and approved the Court's two strategic risk
register.
Please confirm your approval of that.
Approved.

15 Date of next meeting

Thank you.
And therefore, it just leaves for me to reconfirm the date of the next meeting as we are concluding
today's meeting.
So the next one will be next year on January the 8th 2026
With some items on there including the budget which we made reference to earlier having received the
The settlement hopefully this week that meeting on the 8th of January will commence at 10 o 'clock in the morning
Again, I wish everyone a happy new year and see you next time meeting concluded. Thank you everyone for your
contributions.