Cabinet - Thursday 8 January 2026, 10:00am - Buckinghamshire Council Webcasting

Cabinet
Thursday, 8th January 2026 at 10:00am 

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  1. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Thomas Broom
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Thomas Broom
  4. Cllr Peter Strachan
  5. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  6. Cllr Steve Bowles
  7. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  8. Cllr Peter Brazier
  9. Cllr Robert Carington
  10. Cllr Isobel Darby
  11. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  12. Cllr Carl Jackson
  13. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  14. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  15. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  16. Cllr Mark Winn
  17. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  18. Cllr Mark Winn
  19. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Stuart Wilson
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Robert Carington
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  5. Cllr Robin Stuchbury
  6. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  7. Cllr Robin Stuchbury
  8. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  9. Cllr Maru Mormina
  10. Cllr Robert Carington
  11. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Robert Carington
  2. David Skinner - Director of Finance and S151 Officer
  3. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  4. Cllr Thomas Broom
  5. Cllr Robert Carington
  6. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. David Skinner - Director of Finance and S151 Officer
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Thomas Broom
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  5. Cllr Carl Jackson
  6. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  7. Cllr Isobel Darby
  8. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  9. Cllr Mark Winn
  10. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  11. Cllr Robert Carington
  12. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  13. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  14. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  15. Cllr Steve Bowles
  16. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Carl Jackson
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Isobel Darby
  4. Errol Albert - Interim Corporate Director for Children's Services
  5. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  6. Errol Albert - Interim Corporate Director for Children's Services
  7. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  8. Cllr Carl Jackson
  9. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  10. Cllr Robert Carington
  11. Cllr Carl Jackson
  12. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Carl Jackson
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Alison Munt - Service Director for Children's Social Care
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  5. Cllr Carl Jackson
  6. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  7. Cllr Mark Winn
  8. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  9. Cllr Carl Jackson
  10. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Robert Carington
  2. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  3. Cllr Robert Carington
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  5. Cllr Peter Strachan
  6. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Webcast Finished

Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:00:00
Thank you very much.
Good morning everybody and a happy new year.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:00:11
Welcome to this, the first cabinet meeting of 2026, today on Thursday the 8th of January.
I say happy new year and I hope residents in Buckinghamshire had an enjoyable time over
the Christmas and new year break.
It of course is good to be back.
But we did also have significant good news in His Majesty King Charles III's New Year's
Honours with a total of 17 Buckinghamshire residents being recognised in those particular
honours and some of them are actually quite closely linked to the council.
So Stephanie Boyce who's one of the independent persons who works with the council and one
of our colleagues, Councillor Martin Tett, former leader of the Council, both of whom
received CBEs, and we send our congratulations to those. And also Judge Paresca, who, whilst
not a Buckinghamshire resident, does serve as the Family Court Judge in Buckinghamshire,
who also received a CBE. So congratulations to those and all the people who were recognised
in the New Year's Honours for their commitment across a variety of fields
and I'm pleased to note that for them. Before we go any further can I remind
members and the public present that the meeting today is being webcast. Please
make sure you do turn your microphone on when speaking and speak clearly and in
the direction of it so you can be heard both here in the room and online and of
course turn the microphone off when you finish speaking. The seating area to the
of the room will not be filmed, so members of the public would rather not be potentially
captured on the cameras, they can move into that area.

1 Apologies

With that being said, we move to the first item of the agenda, which is apologies for
absence.
I do not, I believe we've received any apologies for absence.
And just while we're on attendees, I am pleased that we have some of our deputy camera members
in attendance today.
They are of course allowed to participate in the debate on items, but in line with our
constitution, they're not able to vote.

2 Minutes

Item two on today's agenda is the minutes of the last meeting.
So the last meeting was held here on the 16th of December 2025, and you can find these on
pages five to 20 of the All -in -One Agenda Pack.
Can I ask cabinet members if they're content for me to approve the minutes as a correct
record?
Thank you very much.
Then we will do so and move on to item three,

3 Declarations of interest

declarations of interest.
Declarations are made for all cabinet members and published
on the website, but does anyone have any new
or specific declarations to make for today's meeting?
No? Okay, thank you.
In which case we will move on.

4 Hot Topics

Item four is hot topics.
So hot topics is the opportunity for cabinet members
to alert people who are in attendance and watching to anything significant that is happening
in their portfolio area that is something we need to communicate to people.
There's no requirement to have a hot topic.
I will ask cabinet members though as I go around the room in a moment to introduce yourself
first so people know who you are and what portfolio you hold.
Two items from me.
First of all, you will have seen perhaps in the build up to Christmas,
the construction of a large crane and that crane was to make use of the rail closure on the next phase of the Seeler Road.
Despite some challenging windy conditions, I'm pleased to report that work as planned was completed on schedule,
which puts us in a great position for the future delivery of the road.
And indeed by doing this Christmas closure, it shows just that was earlier than the next valuable opportunity that would have been Easter.
So it's good to see that progress coming.
I know that we will make sure we share some time -lapse photography and you'll be able to see the impact of that.
I'm going to go and see the site for myself soon.
But just to note and in many ways express thanks to those people who have done that.
Also later today, or certainly before the end of the week, I should be able to publish
the corporate peer review.
This is the report of that corporate peer challenge that we had done as part of best
practise towards the end of last year.
And whilst that is not at this meeting, we will roll the item into the next cabinet meeting.
But people will be able to view that before the end of the week via our website.
And lastly, I'd just like to put on record, because we have had the Christmas and New Year period,
our thanks to all the people who kept services running for the council and indeed a lot of our partners in health and our blue light services,
our housing services and so on for the efforts they've done over the Christmas period.
So with that being said, I'll just go around the room on hot topic.
So Thomas.
Thank you, leader.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:05:36
Thomas Broome, deputy leader and cabinet member for transport.
Two things I want to briefly mention this morning.
The first is that obviously members of the public will have noticed the sunroofs, especially
wintry conditions that we've had over the last few days.
The team has been out consistently for more than a week on gritting runs.
I know this time of year when the temperature goes below zero, there is always particular interest.
We are keeping a very close eye on temperatures and making sure that we're going out usually multiple times a day,
and indeed in the middle of the night, to ensure that as much of the network is clear as we possibly can.
Just a couple of caveats for people.
A couple of days ago, we were getting a number of reports
where people were saying that there was still ice
on the road.
Now, unfortunately, the road surface temperature
is often much colder than the air temperature.
And the night before we got those reports,
it was actually down to minus nine,
which is so cold that ice can still form
even on gritted roads.
So while we will continue to get our teams out there as much as possible,
just a note to residents, it is important that everybody dries carefully in the icy weather.
Ice is often not obvious
and as I say can occur on gritted routes if temperatures get low enough. This is
particularly salient in that we are expecting the arrival of storm Goretti.
which will have potentially a significant impact
on Bucks roads.
Our teams will be out throughout the day and night
to ameliorate this as much as we possibly can.
The second point I just want to bring up
is on the Chesham underpass.
And we've, because we've had some reporting,
I think on the local BBC News website
on progress on this.
I'm very happy to say that we are expecting the fix to be in place very early this year.
And I just want to say a thank you to everybody really who's been involved in this for about
the last four or five years.
This really has been a long -term, ongoing team effort.
I'd particularly like to thank a couple of our former members, Jane McBean, Rachel Matthews
and Joe Baum, all of whom have actually been consistently in contact with me about this,
even after the election. And it's really, really good to see this asset being restored.
It's really important for local residents. And just a huge thank you to everyone who's got us
this far. It really is quite a complex structure, given that it's supporting one of the main roads
as well. But I'm really, really pleased to see that we're getting to a point where we're going
and be able to get it back open
and in use for residents again.
Thank you, Tom.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:08:44
And just to clarify on the comments about,
if it's good news about the underpass, clearly,
I look forward to you updating further on that
in due course.
Just on gritting routes,
you can go on the website, can't you,
and see what roads are gritted.
And I know we do proportionately
quite high amount of our roads.
And so if people do wish to know
what is at least gritted,
please do that via the website.
So thank you for that.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:09:09
And can I also just say that's absolutely correct, but on the parts of the network that
aren't gridded, it is possible to get a salt bin installed by the council which will restock.
That option is also available on the website, so please do go to the BUCKS website and just
search for gridding and you'll find all those options.
Fantastic, thank you Tom.
Peter Strachan please.
Cllr Peter Strachan - 0:09:33
Thank you leader Peter Strachan cabinet member for planning and also depth leader
of the council. If I may leader I would like to update cabinet on one hot topic
and that is the government's consultation on the NPPF which is the
National Planning Policy Framework and those not familiar with that that is the
key central government document which affects all development and its policies.
The NPPF was published on the 16th of December,
or the consultation, and will run until the 10th of March.
Some of the headlines to make people aware of,
is it contains a proposed expanded presumption in favour
of sustainable development.
The proposal is now that development should be
automatically approved unless the benefits of doing
so would be substantially outweighed
by any adverse effects.
The draught also established a rules -based approach to make development on suitable urban land acceptable by default,
including supporting growth around railway stations, even within the Greenbelt.
The proposals also give substantial weight to business growth and support specific sectors like logistics and AI growth zones,
and seeks views on removing the town centre sequential test.
There are no clear references to protecting valued landscapes
in the draught NPPF.
And it also introduces proposed changes to biodiversity net gain,
proposing that some sites should be exempt and promises a future consult
on additional exemptions for residential developments on Brownfield.
Unlike previous updates to the NPPF, this is not a refresh, but a much more significant radical change, both in terms of structure, but also in terms of content that we've seen as previous iterations.
The Council will of course be responding to this consultation, and I will ensure we publish and share our response to support parish councils and local groups in also responding. Thank you, leader.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:11:49
Yeah, clearly of great interest to all our residents, so they will be pleased to recognise that and with the future work to come we need to keep alerting people to those changes and the consultation responses will put in. Thank you. Steve Bowles, please.
Cllr Steve Bowles - 0:12:03
Thanks, Leader. I'm Steve Bowles, Cabinet Member for Communities. I have no hot topics at this moment.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:12:08
Thank you. Peter Brazier.
Cllr Peter Brazier - 0:12:10
Good morning, Peter Brazier. I'm Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure and I have no hot topics.
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:12:16
Thank you. I'm a Councillor Rowan -Carrington, cabinet member for resources and no hot topics
Cllr Isobel Darby - 0:12:24
from my side as well. Councillor Isabelle Darby, cabinet member for health and well -being.
So I've put a make up for these guys and had some hot topics, haven't I? Mainly public
health but very, very important. Firstly, just before the Christmas holidays, I went
to Elmhurst Primary School in Aylesbury to award prizes for the smoke -free Schoolgates
poster competition.
This is all part of the Healthy School Neighbourhoods project,
and it was an absolute pleasure.
But what was even more exciting was
as part of this Healthy School Neighbourhoods project,
they're actually going to be revamping the playing
fields next to the school at Alfish Rose Park.
And the team had got some mock -ups of different designs.
and they were shown to the children in assembly and I needed earplugs.
These kids were so blown away by somebody doing stuff for them and they were just so
excited and I didn't stay for break time but apparently they were going out at break time
to vote for which one they liked best but it was a real good end to their term and it's
just so exciting what you can do and what we can do and this is an opportunity box area
and we are really trying to make a difference and I have seen it in action.
The next one, this month we've got an important change to the national childhood vaccination
schedule with the chickenpox vaccine now added to the existing measles, mumps and rubella
vaccine.
I mean that's fantastic news.
It's going to be offered to all children in Bucks when they're 12 months old with a second
dose at 18 months and it protects, this vaccine is going to protect against four really serious
diseases and it's been safely used for over a decade and it's already part of the routine
childhood vaccinations in other countries in the world, Canada, Australia and Germany.
So it's not anything untested.
And I'm just pleased it's happening now.
We should have been doing it earlier, but as a nation, the decision wasn't taken.
So we're urging all parents to take this vaccine offer up as the best way to protect our local
children from these illnesses.
They will automatically get contacted by this GP surgery to book in for vaccination appointment
in the same way as we offer all infant vaccines locally.
and understand there's actually going to be a catch -up process
for those children that are a little bit older.
I mean, chicken pox is a misery.
As a grandparent, I've seen it.
It's horrible.
I remember it when I had it.
So if we can say, that's over, that's a real step,
positive step.
And the final one, Lida, is Adult Social Care Prevention
Service.
We've completed a recommissioning process.
We've now awarded the contract for Adult Social Care
Prevention Service to H .U .K. Buckinghamshire,
who are going to deliver the service for the next three
years with an option for us to extend it further.
This means this will tackle the underlying causes
of poor health and well -being early,
working with local Buckinghamshire services
to reduce future demand on social care and health care
services, focusing on building social connectedness as part
of a holistic prevention approach.
We're targeting at people over 65,
addressing physical, mental, emotional, social needs.
So, it's a real good thing happening.
So, I'll leave it there.
Thank you.
Thank you for those three, Isabel.
Much appreciated.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:15:40
And obviously, you've got to alert that the GP surgeries
will be contacting about childhood immunizations.
That's a good step forward.
Thank you.
Karl.
Thank you, Lita.
Happy New Year to everyone.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:15:52
Karl Jackson, cabinet member for education and children's
services.
One hot topic.
I just wanted to mention the Buckinghamshire multi -agency
safeguarding hub.
This is a set up where there are staff from Buckinghamshire Council, the police and the
NHS in one location who are there to respond to reports of safeguarding concerns about
children in the county.
While we were off enjoying our turkey, it was still a busy time for the hubs.
They had 90 contacts on Christmas Eve, 207 on the 29th of December, 118 on the 30th and
51 on New Year's Eve.
I think it's just worth pointing out that this service is still there in the holidays.
The importance of maintaining the service with our partners in the holidays.
And I just want to pay tribute to the Buckinghamshire Council staff in particular who were there
present to protect some of our most vulnerable children and young people at a time where
we were enjoying ourselves and hopefully relaxing a little.
Absolutely right.
Thank you, Carl.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:16:52
Much appreciated.
Ali.
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 0:16:55
Thank you, leader.
Councillor Adel Sjöbergren,
Company Member for Environment,
Climate Change and Waste.
I have no hot topic.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:17:02
Thank you. Mark.
Cllr Mark Winn - 0:17:04
Good morning, leader,
and happy New Year to yourself and to everyone.
Just one hot topic.
It's about collaboration with the NHS
and our own adult social care.
Anyone that's unfortunate enough to have visited
A &E over the Christmas period will see that,
well, over this whole winter period,
will see the pressure they're under.
This has been heightened, obviously,
by the elevated levels of seasonal flu.
So there's an increased need
for timely hospital discharges affected onward support
for patients once they're medically fit to leave hospital.
And the council has been working in close collaboration
with the NHS and our adult social care
to support hospital discharge pathways.
And joint work has focused
on identifying housing related barriers to discharge
and developing practical solutions
that both support the individuals
and the wider healthcare system.
As part of this work,
step down temporary accommodation options
have been developed for people
who are medically ready for discharge,
but who require hospital or assessment and support.
These arrangements have allowed individuals
to leave hospitals promptly
and have their housing needs assessed
in a more appropriate non -hospital environment.
And this approach both supports
improved hospital patient experience
by providing them with great dignity, stability,
and a calming setting in which things can be discussed.
NHS funding has been utilised to support this development
in these step -down arrangements,
and this has enabled housing assessments to take place
away from the hospital wards.
It demonstrates the role of housing as a preventative
and enabling function with the wider health
and social care system.
Thank you, Mike.
Yeah, I mean, it's an important initiative,
how we work with partners and continue strength
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:18:51
and the work we do in our own areas of responsibility
because there's a closely linked.
Thank you for your hot topic.
Today we've talked a little bit about,
you know, the cold wintry weather and the storm coming.
And maybe it's an opportune moment just to also remember
that our sweat, our severe weather emergency protocol
remains in place, which is provision for anyone
who's at risk of sleeping rough to have temporary accommodation.
And I do know that the team, and you've joined them before,
continue to make now daily contact with those people who are sleeping rough
to ensure they have the opportunity to come in, as it's called, on a daily basis.
But SWEP is an opportunity for the public to also express concerns
over anyone they see or come across the county.
So obviously with temperatures as they are,
that's a vital route for people should they need help.
Most definitely, I agree with that leader.
Cllr Mark Winn - 0:19:56
The team are working hard to transport
those particular people in this cold weather.
And there are systems set up to bring them in from the outside.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:20:09
So that brings us to the end of hot topics.

5 Question Time

So now we turn to item five, which is called question time.
This is the opportunity for non -executive members
to ask questions of cabinet members.
We today have three written questions
and each of those councillors,
Councillors Wilson, Stotchbury and Mormino
will come forward and ask their questions
and then receive a response from the cabinet member.
First is Councillor Stuart Wilson,
happy new year to you and welcome.
Please ask your question,
which I believe is to Rob a character.
Thank you, Lida.
And as you say, Stuart Wilson.
Cllr Stuart Wilson - 0:20:46
I'm one of the councillors for Flacke -Orhees and the Wibbons,
and a happy new year to everybody in the room,
and also to those on the webcast.
So I'd like to come back to a topic
I asked a question at previously.
Cabinet approved a minimum six -week consultation,
plus three days for Christmas and New Year public holidays,
on December the 16th for the proposed council tax reduction
scheme, which will increase council tax for $3 .5
5 ,000 households in Buckinghamshire and save the council £1 .2 million per annum.
Cabinet are considering the council tax base and budget at this meeting on January 8th.
It is my understanding that the council tax reduction proposal and savings are already
included in the budget assumptions being presented to cabinet and budget scrutiny,
and that all other possible council tax options have been exhausted in preparing the budget as
alternatives or additions to this council tax reduction proposal. Can the
cabinet member please confirm that my understanding of the council tax
included in the budget is correct and in doing so confirm the number of responses
to the consultation received after three weeks particularly from those households
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:21:59
most adversely impacted by these changes. Thank you very much today we do have
Really long questions and and maybe some fairly long answers, but if we can keep them so things possible. I will try but I
Slightly apologise in advance. Oh, this is quite a lengthy
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:22:14
Response, but I will endeavour to go through it in good place
So cabinet's proposal for the introduction of a banded council tax reductions scheme
CTR and as already mentioned in this chamber last year
but just as a reminder, 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 also bolster CTR levels
for the lowest income households, reducing the risk
of them falling into council tax arrears.
It will reduce volatility and support offered
to individual households
and substantially simplify calculation of awards,
supporting residents to better understand their CTR award
and anticipate changes to support household budgeting.
It will also secure additional receipts from council tax, which can contribute towards
meeting the growing costs of our critical five, such as children's and adult social
care.
It is also very important to note, because I know it's a very complex consultation, but
it's very important to note that the changes to the CTR scheme will not result in an increase
or decrease in council tax for the households on the screen, but rather it is an amendment
to a locally funded subsidy.
It is important to bear that in mind.
Regarding council tax being considered in this MTFP, the tax base for 26 -27 anticipates
0.1 % improvement in collection rate, equivalent to 0 .4 million pounds.
Should the proposal for the CTR scheme be approved in February, increased CTR for the
lowest income households would contribute towards meeting this increased collection
rate.
The tax base being considered by cabinet does not preempt any decision on the final design
of the CTR scheme for 26 -27.
In recent years, the Council has considered and debated options
around Council tax policy with no new feasible options
available to explore in the current budget cycle.
During the first three weeks of consultation,
we have had 417 responses, putting us on track
for consistent, if not higher levels of engagement
than many authorities who are also consulting on CTR schemes.
For example, Harrow Council received a total of 236 responses following a 12 -week consultation
on their CTR scheme, while Solihull Council received 315 responses on their transition
to a Bander scheme for 25 -26.
Proposed changes to the CTR scheme will not impact upon pension age households or other
discounts, such as the 25 % single person discount,
and will see CTR maintained or increased
for 75 % of eligible households.
Transitional protection and an expanded hardship fund
are in place to ensure that households who do experience
reduced awards are supported, ensuring that we are not
taking a blanket approach when it comes to our lowest income
households.
I will finally say we encourage residents
to have their say on the proposed changes.
Whether you are someone who is supported by the scheme or not all Buckinghamshire residents are invited to express their views
So please feedback to us before the consultation closes in early February
Thank you very much. Thank you for the question
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:25:28
next
Councillor to ask question, please is Councillor Robin Stotchbury. Thank you for swapping their nametags over Stuart
Robin, please come forward. Happy New Year to you as well
And your question is to Ade Osibogan.
Cllr Robin Stuchbury - 0:25:45
Yeah, happy new year to everyone.
I just follow on from your comments
on the New Year's honours list.
Buckingham, we had a good friend, Anna Selby,
who worked in adult and social care.
She got recognised and everyone in Buckingham who knows her
and knows what a wonderful person she is was absolutely made
up that she actually got recognised.
And when you know someone since your teens and they get honoured,
it seems, it seems marvellous.
So I just thought we mentioned that.
Thank you for allowing that.
And before moving into the question to the cabinet member,
I know that he has written and is in correspondence
with the landowner of the question relates to.
As the local lead flood authority,
what regular actions are being taken by the cabinet member
and officers to ensure that the environment age
alongside engaging with Emma Reynolds, the MP, Secretary of State for Defra, are considering
re -instating of the Tynchuit Mill and reducing Buckham's heightened flood risk and restore the
environmental benefits such as a natural floodplain, catchment and fish passage and the biodiversity.
And this is somewhere I know immensely well as I grew up there as a boy. I hope the cabinet member
can assist me in taking this a step forward. Thank you.
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 0:27:09
Thank you very much, Councillor Thottirme, for your question. Buckinghamshire Council
maintains a strong working relationship with the EA and we collaborate closely on efforts
to manage flood risk across Buckinghamshire via regular partnership meetings and calls.
Specific to Buckingham, the Council has set up the monthly Buckingham Flood Risk Coordination
Network which meets and it's attended by the EEA and other risk management
authorities and local stakeholders and I know you also attend those meetings and
this updates on the flood risk matters relating to Buckingham. With regards to
the specific question relating to the works at Tingsrick Mill as part of the
ongoing close working relationship between Buckinghamshire Council and the EEA
officers of the council have confirmation from the EEA that they have
been in discussion with the landowner of Tindrick Mill regarding this matter and
the EA has undertaken site visits providing advice and information to the
landowner. The EA has also made the council aware that the landowner has
recently submitted a flood risk activity permit to the EA in its role as the lead
RMA for managing flood risk from the River Great Ouse. In order for such
permits to be progressed the application must provide evidence to the EA to
satisfy a number of legal requirements.
This includes demonstration that the works
will not cause environmental harm,
including to habitats and protected species,
and evidence in the flood risk is not increased
to any third parties, either upstream or downstream.
Muckenhamshire Council has also received confirmation
from the EA that they will evaluate the Tindrick proposal
in accordance with the usual permits in process
once all such necessary evidence is provided
by the applicant.
As part of the council's office's ongoing collaboration with the EA,
they have also advised that they will be preparing a proofing note
in relation to these third -party tinder mill proposals
and this will be shared with the council and local stakeholders as soon as it's finalised.
Thank you.
Thank you cabinet members for your response.
I think you and I will probably have a conversation again afterwards.
Cllr Robin Stuchbury - 0:29:14
Thank you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:29:15
I think you outlined the ongoing conversation,
which I'm sure you'll want to be part of in the appropriate forum.
Thank you.
Now if I can ask Councillor Mormine has come forward, please have a new year to you, too
And thank you Robin for moving those around the name plates
Cllr Maru Mormina - 0:29:37
Good morning, you have a question really for Robert County
Happy new year to you to those
on the webcast
Yes, my question is for the cabinet member for resources. We're making you work hard today
I recently wrote to you regarding the absence of a four -weekly council tax payment option
in Buckinghamshire.
So this is just a follow -up on my earlier correspondence.
Assured aware many pensioners and low -income residents receive their income on a four -weekly
basis, yet in box the council tax, which is often the largest fixed household cost, is
collected monthly.
This misalignment creates avoidable budgeting pressures for residents who are already living
very close to the edge. In your reply, you stated that there is no provision for a full
weekly payment cycle for council tax because payment schedules are governed by national
legislation. Now, while it is correct that council tax is governed by statute, national
legislation, as I understand it, does not prescribe a single mandatory payment frequency.
The Council tax and the Administration and Enforcement Regulation 1992 establish a framework
for instalments that allow local discretion within that framework.
And indeed, many billing authorities already exercise that discretion.
So given that the barrier does not appear to be legislative, can you clarify what specifically
prevents the Council from offering a four -weekly Council tax payment option, whether as a single
the standard choice or available on request and to include an indication of your willingness
to consider this low -cost administrative change which could benefit some of our most vulnerable
residents.
Thank you.
Thank you, Laura.
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:31:33
The standard payment options for council tax are over 10 or 12 months, with Buckinghamshire
offering a significant level of flexibility on direct debit payment dates with six options
across the month.
The council tax team have not previously received sufficient interest from residents in four weekly payments to support offering this as a standard option
Hence noting the core offer of 10 and 12 monthly payments in line with
Regulations in my earlier written response to you we engaged positively with any household struggling to pay council tax whether
Be that agreeing an appropriate payment option or sign posting direct support where available
This can take the form of the council tax reduction scheme as already mentioned
which can see bills reduced by up to 100 % for our lowest income pensioner households or on
On an ongoing basis or the helping hand scheme and discretionary housing payments
We provide more immediate support in any cases where households are struggling to make council tax payments
I encourage you to directly approach our council tax team in the first instance
You'll be able to support in the most appropriate way for that household
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:32:37
Thank you very much. Thank you for the question and the answer that brings us
to the end of hot topics for this meeting. So we move to item six. This is

6 Forward Plan (28 Day Notice)

the forward plan on the 28 day notice pages 23 to 38 of the agenda pack. Just
for those watching the forward plan is the items that are a business that are
to come for decision in various ways and it's only ever a snapshot in time so
this is updated regularly but of course at this meeting we recognise at this
point that's what the forward plan looks like but of course please do cheque back
on the website. Does anyone have any questions or comments regarding the
forward plan? I have none so we'll adopt the forward plan as written. So item

7 Select Committee Work Programme

7 is the Select Committee Work Programme on pages 39 to 48.
That similarly is a forward look at the work
of our important select committees at the council.
Anyone have any comments or questions regarding those?
No?
Okay, thank you.
Then we'll accept that as published.

8 Council Tax 2026/27 - Base Setting and Estimated Surplus

And so we come to first substantive item,
which is back to Robert Carrington.
This is the Council Tax 2026 -27 Base Setting and Estimated Surplers, pages 49 to 60 of
the pack.
And of course, Robert, we have David Skinner here, who is our Service Director for Finance
and the Council's Section 151 Officer, should there be any technical questions.
Over to you, Robert.
Thank you very much, Lida.
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:34:22
So just a sort of quick introduction on why we are
discussing this item for members of the public watching.
So the local authorities calculation of council tax
base in the regulations 2012 prescribe rules for the
calculation of the council tax base.
On an annual basis, all local authorities are
required to calculate a council tax base which is
used to set the levels of council tax.
The process is governed by the local authorities calculation tax base regulations 1992.
Apologies, there are a lot of regulations they try to give up.
Then informs its preceptors and parishes by the 31st of January 2026.
And this also, this paper is to advise on the estimated council tax surplus as at the
31st of March 2026 for distributing to relevant precepting bodies.
So there are three recommendations and I will just run you through
The three recommendations and sort of a bit of the background behind them
so the first one is to approve the council tax base for the year 26 to 27 as
250
235 ,000 361 point eight four
so just to note this is not point nine percent higher than 25 26 and
rather than
So I'm sending everyone to sleep by going through the full methodology.
I would recommend you read section three, which can be found on page 50, which will
give you the full basis of the methodology.
So the second recommendation is to approve the council's collection rate for the year
at 26, 27 at 98 .5%.
So as I mentioned in my answer to Councillor Wilson,
this is 0 .1 % expected improvement in collection rate
from last year.
This relates to proposed changes
for the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, CTR,
which are subject to consultation and approval
by full council in February, 2026.
And then the final recommendation
is to approve the estimated surplus
as at 31st of March, 2026
in relation to council tax of 6 ,518 ,663 pounds and shared between the council, Thames Valley Police and Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.
So council tax is fixed prior to the start of a financial year.
Any variations from this are realised through the collection fund in year are distributed in the following two financial years,
based on estimates in the following year and actuals in the subsequent year.
So this is why we are now in a surplus, and this has been generated mainly due to improved collection rates
compared to the estimated collection rates since 22 -23.
The collection rate has been increased from 98 .2 % in 22 -23 to the projected 98 .4 % in 25 -26.
I will now go to Dave.
If there's anything more you want to add to this paper.
David Skinner.
Thank you.
David Skinner - Director of Finance and S151 Officer - 0:37:38
Just to add, I think that the summation by Robert is very good.
Just to say that the collection rate, in effect, is driven by the strong debt recovery reaction
that we take, which is kind of both robust in terms of securing council tax, but proportionate
in terms of obviously dealing with vulnerabilities in terms of those people going through, so
it takes account of hardship and so on in terms of going forward.
But that really strong action that we've taken over a number of years, previously been examined
by this Cabinet and by Finance and Resources Select Committee going forward and endorsed
in terms of that approach, has enabled that surplus to come forward.
Probably just worth also noting that obviously the major preceptors share the surplus and
share the risk in terms of going forward, in terms of therefore why we have to take
a prudent approach to this.
so the police authority and the fire authority as well.
Towns and parishes don't share the risk
in terms of going forward,
and therefore then we have to take a very firm line
in terms of kind of the approach,
in terms of cutoff of information,
in terms of requirements.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:38:44
Thank you for that, David, and absolutely right.
It's the collection rate and all the work you're doing
on both sides of that equation.
It doesn't happen by accident, and it takes a lot
of dedicated, focused work.
And I know Buckinghamshire's performance is
above the national average, which is good to note.
Thank you.
Any comments or questions to Robert on this item?
We need to be sure we're content with this item,
because it leads into the draught budget proposals, of course.
Thomas.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:39:23
Just sort of a bit of a forward look really.
I like what I'm seeing in here and I particularly respect the work that's being done in terms
of that balance being maintained on collection of deaths.
But just to make sure that we're comfortable that while we've got a good robust procedure
in place at the moment, we've got plans to continue and to make sure that we're going
to maintain that level as best we possibly can.
And obviously, there are going to be some factors outside of our control.
But it seems that we've got a very good system in place that's had some really good results.
And just to make sure that that is going to be robust going into the future.
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:40:03
I mean, the simple answer to that is yes.
But I mean, obviously, I don't have a crystal ball.
But I mean, they are as procedures are as robust as they can.
And as shown in this paper, they historically work.
Thank you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:40:16
So given this, the report is laid out in a way
that's fairly self -explanatory whilst technical.
There are three recommendations,
and that is to approve the council tax base at 235 ,361 .84,
approve the council's collection rate, 98 .5%,
and approve the estimated surplus at the end of March
in relation to council tax of just over 6 1 1 2 million pounds
as outlined in the papers, recognising that there's a shared element of that with our partners,
Thames Valley Police and the Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, all set out in section 4 of
your report. I'm planning to take those recommendations on block. Are we in agreement?
Agreed.
Agreed. Thank you very much. Then that item is passed. Thank you, Robert.

9 Draft Medium Term Financial Plan 2026/27 to 2028/29 and Capital Programme 2026/27 to 2029/30

When we come to item nine, this is the budget, the draught revenue budget and capital programme.
This comes under my name and this is obviously a significant item of business, not only for
the cabinet but for the council as a whole and of course for our residents, businesses
and people who are visiting.
It's quite a challenge to be able to try and expand upon and explain what is quite
a complicated picture at the Cabinet meeting, but I will do so and of course, as I referenced
earlier, our Finance Officer in Section 151, Officer David Skinner, is here to help.
I would make the point this is a large report, pages 61 to 350 of the pack.
I will not be going through this page by page.
However, for people watching, what would happen after today, assuming Cabinet approved this
budget proposal, is next week publicly available is a series of budget scrutiny sessions where
the select committee of this Council, who I've gone through this back in great detail,
we'll be asking questions of cabinet members and officers.
So today is really, if you like, the precursor to that,
but in the long form,
following the outcome of budget scrutiny,
we have a legal requirement to make sure
we pass a balanced budget.
And that is what is done
at the February full council meeting.
So clearly bringing this pack forward today is not the start of the process of setting a budget,
but is the start of the process of the public elements of setting that budget.
And these papers were published a week ago, well actually more than a week ago in this case,
because it was done before the turn of the year.
This year is a significant change to the budget situation for all councils.
Insofar as government have instigated a change biggest in about 20 years to the
way that funding formulas and funding is allocated for councils. In simple terms
the council receives money via council tax, a series of grants and money from
central government, an element of retention of business rates and fees and
charges in the county.
So this might be, car parking charge might be the most
obvious one, and some other minor streams.
But in simple terms, that is how the council
achieves its funding.
The change that has happened nationally
from central government is they have embarked
upon something called the Fair Funding Review.
And the Fair Funding Review, although I disagree with that,
I do not think it's fair, it has a stated aim of equalising council tax collection potential
with the cost of the service of service delivery. They have baked into their formulas the absolute
expectation and therefore the hierarchy of those funding elements that come through first,
that all councils will maximise the council tax rate that they're permitted to charge
and do so in each year of what is a three -year settlement.
Their formula then will equalise away any money they believe is in excess in a county like Buckinghamshire
and send that money to other parts of the country through this fair funding formula.
The way they will do that is suggest you must maximise your council tax
and then we will rebalance the grants and central government money
and the retention of business rates elements so you receive differing amounts of that
to equalise away what they believe is an excess collection rate.
The challenge is, of course, what goes into the formula dictates everything.
And at the very last moment even, the supposed aim to reflect the additional costs of the
rurality of providing services in a county like Buckinghamshire was removed from all
areas with the exception of adult social care.
So that was because across the country, £600 million was taken out of rural areas and put back into metropolitan areas.
These are all choices being made by national government.
So we're in a situation as we embarked on setting our budget to say we have to increase council tax,
otherwise the funding gap we have would increase to the tune of about an additional £30 million.
already without, say, if we were not to increase council tax, we'd have a shortfall
by the final of the three years of £109 million.
If you don't do that, the government formula doesn't change, and that's where you get that additional gap.
They will still say, that's your fault.
Now, I want to say before we get into some more detail on this,
This council, since it was incepted in 2020 -21 financial year, has made savings and efficiencies
to the tune of £187 million.
By the end of this budget period, we'll have done so to the tune of £296 million.
So while spend keeps increasing, the choices we're having to make will have taken out 66%,
two thirds of the costs of all the councils as they came together in net budgets in 2020.
So when we talk, as we do as a cabinet, and explain to residents, we have an absolute
focus on value for money.
So whilst this is being done to us in the quantum, by where we have to go to on council
tax by government, we are cherishing every pound that we've got.
This is done in the context of increasing demand.
increasing demand for our services, and in some cases exponential growth in the demand services.
The paper outlines some of that and there's some graphs to show in there about how that demand curve is increasing.
The big four areas of demand, and they are all represented in the top ten key demand growth areas,
as we look forward into the next three years.
There are four key areas, adult social care, children's services, home school transport,
and temporary accommodation that by the end of this budget period will account for over
76 % of all the money the council has.
So that means other service delivery areas have to be delivered, and that's everything
from libraries and roads and bin collections, all of that has to be funded out of the, what
will by that point be 24 % of available funding.
And you will know, members of Cabinet, our approach to setting this budget was saying,
our residents are out there paying their council tax.
We have to do absolutely everything we can to deliver those statutory services for the
best value and then deliver on those priorities.
And that's why in this budget pack,
there is also the news that we have protected
your weekly bin collections.
Whereas other councils across the country
are looking at pushing out to three week bin collections.
We are investing into our household and waste services
where other areas such as Derby
are closing some of their centres.
So we are spending an increasing amount of money in transport and our roads.
So this budget shows the day -to -day cost through the revenue budget, but also the capital aspects on the big projects.
So 220 million in transport overall, of which about 120 million is into our roads.
So for the people watching, the approach should be clear.
So we have to work within the constraints we have.
We have to prioritise the things that we know residents value.
And then legally, we have to balance our books.
And we do all that in a time where the other elements of funding, such as the grant funding,
have been changed by government as well.
And so some of the programmes and previous grants have been rolled in together.
So now we have a situation.
it was referenced earlier, our Helping Hands programme that really helps the most vulnerable
in our county. The funding for that has been reduced last year by the government, has been
reduced this year down to a lower level that will continue into the years ahead. So this is not
a pretty picture and not something where there are easy choices to make. We will bear down,
as we've said, on everything, to make sure our spend is targeted and is efficient and
represents value for money.
But the reality is, despite tax rates increasing in the county, the amount of available funding
from fair funding will give us a shortfall, or a loss rather, in the fair funding of £44 .5
million.
That's £44 .5 million that will go out of Buckinghamshire that would have otherwise
have been here and be redistributed to other parts of the country.
Government will talk about something called our core spending power, which is, well, how
much money do you have available at the end?
And if I just indicate our change on that with a 5 % per year council tax increase over
the three -year period before inflation would only be 8 .1%.
The national average increase in their measure, of course, spending power, is 15 .1%.
That, at the very least, and I'm giving lots of numbers, shows the challenge for Buckinghamshire.
And once you factor in inflation, of course, and if inflation were to continue at its current
rate, that would be a below inflation change.
So I haven't yet referenced the paper, but I think that context is really, really important.
If you look at the paper and you look at each portfolio change,
and this will come out budget scrutiny as well,
we have, there is no magic silver bullet and a magic wand to wave here.
It's by going line by line through every part of our portfolios
and making sure we're as efficient as possible.
You'll see reference to our expanding use of AI, for example.
You'll see further reference to expanding our fostering services, our building of more children's homes.
Our work that Isabel often talks about on creating more independence in the home,
to delay people having to go into residential care and adult social care, and the same for children's placements.
All that great work means it's not only better for the individual to be in a place they can call home,
but it has a financial impact as well.
And that is brought out in the pack.
Our capital programme, and I mentioned that earlier,
is significant, hundreds of millions of pounds.
And not only will it be spent on things like our bridges
and our roads and building the children's homes,
it is also spent on some of the really big ticket items
we'll see, like I referenced to you earlier,
and some of the other roads in and around Aylesbury.
And some of the decisions we've made,
such as recently the increased funding
into the SEND programme, the impact that will have
on bringing down the EHCP waiting times,
despite the fact that puts a real pressure
into the homeschool transport costs,
are the right things to do,
and elements that we've been able,
through this budget process to make sure can be balanced.
So both on revenue and capital side, there's a balanced budget
that is affordable.
And I will ask our 151 officer to give at least whatever level
of validation he wishes to to that final sentence statement
in a moment.
But it's a balanced budget that makes sure we deliver
for residents, we deliver the services
that we know are important to them, we meet our duties and we do the best for all the
people in the county, including the most vulnerable in our society.
It does mean though, that with precious little headroom at the bottom, the balanced budget
doesn't leave us with much room for manoeuvre on a budget our size.
it does mean that work we do continuously to make sure we deliver on
the programmes we have, make sure that budgets are adhered to, is absolutely vital.
We do have reserves in the budget and the reserves, many of which are ring
fenced for certain events, but we do have reserves should risks materialise and
and we've had to use some of those during this year
because this is a full cost, it's not a defined reality.
And we have to make sure that we can handle that risk.
But I have to say the risks are not always totally cited
at the examples of the work that happened
in the council area.
So for example, the government of the recent budget
made changes to fuel duty after the first six months.
That is a risk that will play out
not only for councils, but also through our supply chains.
That's on top of whatever the normal inflationary risk
and the rising demand for service risk is.
So we have to be prepared to meet those head on.
The national insurance contribution increase from last year similarly has an impact.
So we have to look across, assess what the risks are, model for the future.
We've done that in this budget pack.
But today is about saying this is a proposed budget that's balanced, it recognises risk,
it clearly understands where we should target our spend to get most efficiencies, but most
importantly meets our legal obligations and continues to deliver on those core services
that we know residents value.
And therefore, because I said I will not go through this line by line, I'm not going to
throw a load of numbers at you.
But I will open up for questions after I've just
confirmed any clarification, comments Dave Skinner wishes
to give.
Thank you, Lida.
I would just add the point.
So it is a balanced budget over the three year period
in terms of from a revenue perspective,
from a four year period in terms of from a capital perspective.
David Skinner - Director of Finance and S151 Officer - 0:57:14
And that capital perspective is slightly longer
because those projects are longer in their nature.
and are more akin to kind of buying a car or a fridge
or a house, longer term assets rather than the day to day
expenditure in terms of kind of running the council.
I think the risks that you've elaborated on
and that there are very many are,
reflect the reality that we are facing
and the sector is facing and the challenges that we face
are reflective of the general nature that we're seeing
across the country on councils.
I think our reserve position which is set out
in the document, things very telling.
And the key element of that is the DSG deficit.
So kind of the element that's covered
by the statutory override currently.
So the government has set out that they will be taking
on the costs of the DSG from the end of the statutory override.
What they haven't set out is exactly what that means
and how they will do that.
And they definitely haven't set
out how the cumulative deficit up to that point will be covered.
And that is a fundamental financial risk
that we are looking at and that we can cover up until that point, but we do need clarity
and we will then need to take appropriate action going forward.
So you can see there the level of reserves that we hold being reduced in large part because
of that DSG deficit growing, and that is we're awaiting clarification on that and also any
reforms that may come that has been delayed in varying announcements.
I would just say that we have a strong track record in terms of delivery of savings, so
Much of the savings plan is very stark in terms of the the quantum that needs to be delivered in that
296 million pound figure is very significant
Then we do have a strong track record of delivery of savings and that's reported
Obviously to cabinet on a quarterly basis and is subject to review by
Finance and Resources Select Committee as well on a quarterly basis. We have strong and robust and control measures in place
To deliver that as well as monitor all kinds of expenditure. I think I would just conclude
by saying that the prudent way that we have approached
budgeting in the past as well, in terms of building in
an anticipation of some of the fair funding impact
has enabled a more orderly transition through this process,
albeit has been, there were a number of changes
for a last minute with a last minute settlement
that came through just before Christmas,
but it is still very stark, I think,
in terms of that 44 and a half million almost,
in terms of reduction in funding,
and only receiving, broadly speaking, half the core spending power increase that other
councils are receiving.
Thank you, David.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:59:54
As ever, some key points there, particularly the CSG element.
And you are right, because of how we have always taken a prudent and sensible approach
to financial management.
We knew a fair funding review was coming, made anticipation for that in some of the
savings.
But again, to show you the scale of the challenge, that was only about,
well, less than half of the 44 and a half million that ultimately we have
been landed with from the changes to fair funding.
I mean, just as you were talking, it reminded me, I mean,
there are so many risks and small tweaks, all of which add up.
So for example, earlier on we were talking about how
Buckinghamshire has a very good record on council tax collection rate.
are beating their national average, I believe there's not a single council in the country
with a clear 100 % collection rate, and yet the government's formula in this funding review
assumes all councils will achieve 100%.
So to us, that leaves us over a million pounds shorter than you would otherwise have been.
that is an addition to the deliberate choice
to take funding away from here.
The same is true in some of the grant monies
where the conditions on that are being much tighter
to the point where that is not money we can choose
to do what's right for Buckinghamshire
in our local context for the outcome.
We are now seeing an increasing amount
of conditional grants.
There's about 40 % of all the grant money we get
is now heavily conditioned to say,
what and how we can spend it.
So this is a challenging picture,
but I wanna give reassurance to residents out there.
That's why we put your priorities first.
We will do all of that stuff.
This is not easy.
It certainly is not ever going to be wisely popular
to have to make some of these changes that we have to do,
but we have a legal duty to do the balanced budget
and you've just heard that we have achieved that
whilst being as efficient as we possibly can.
So I'm going to open up comments and questions now, please
And I'm hoping just before do that I did I sorry Thomas
One of the recommendations we get to is about fees and charges and I didn't come back to those fees and charges
There's a schedule in this pack that shows the increase to those the average increase is around
today on average around 5 %
or there's a variation between
between that also forms part of this balanced budget.
Thomas.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 1:02:35
Thank you, Lida, and I think it's so important
to acknowledge the context you've just talked about.
We need to be really, really clear with residents
about what's happening.
We repeatedly hear the government talking about
giving additional money to local governments
when in fact the vast majority of that funding
is in fact an assumption of increase in council tax.
You know, this is effectively an imposed rise in council tax.
There is not a choice in this because if you don't increase council tax, you end up with
a shortfall in funding the services that the government requires us to deliver.
I think while doing that, also then taking 44 and a half million pounds away from Buckingham
Shear residents and frankly sending it to political mates and allies in other parts
of the country is an appalling and dishonest practise from government.
It is the reality of what we have to face.
It is a huge challenge.
And within that, it does come down to making some choices.
And throughout this process, I think we have been very robust in making sure that what
we are delivering is value for money for taxpayers in Buckinghamshire, that we're making sure
that we're delivering good services that are as efficient as possible so that we can cope
with both the increase in volume, in terms of volume pressure for services like homeschool
transport within my own portfolio, but also this massive pressure on the budget from money
being stripped away by central government,
and choosing to prioritise the things that we know residents
care about.
And obviously, my portfolio is transport.
And so in this area, it is investment in our roads.
It is the 120 million pound road programme
that we put forward to residents as our pitch
at the beginning of this year at the elections,
and that we are continuing to deliver
despite the huge pressures that are on the budget
and indeed the budget of all councils.
And not just trying to do things well,
not just trying to do things efficiently,
but actually strategically as well.
So we are moving the balance of our programme
more towards capital resurfacing,
because we know that in the long term,
the way that you stop the potholes
is to make sure that you've got good long -term surfaces
on roads across the county.
And actually I'm very much hoping that as we go
into the 2026 year that we actually start to see a decline
in the number of potholes we're repairing
because there hopefully will be fewer potholes to repair.
So the context is very important.
I think we, you know, we need to be absolutely honest
with residents and members of the public that, you know,
given the situation that we're in, choices have to be made.
And we do need to highlight the choices that we are making.
There will be pressure from colleagues and other groups on the council to push for spending
in other areas.
We heard earlier on today, one of our colleagues describing a taxpayer funded subsidy to people
who have 16 grand in cash laying around.
I don't know about anyone else around this table.
I'm not sure I've got 16 grand in cash lying around.
We're choosing not to prioritise continuing to subsidise that.
And we are looking to get that funding into other places
where it really matters for our residents.
So it's a tough process coming up
with a budget in any circumstances
for an organisation as complex as this.
It's been particularly difficult in the circumstances
we find ourselves in.
But I think we have made the choices we need to make in order to protect the things that our residents care about,
to make sure that we are delivering for them.
And, you know, it's been a long effort and, you know, I'd like to say thank you to a lot of the officer team who have helped us put this together.
You know, we can only make these choices because we have such excellent support in making sure that all the options are laid out for us.
So I think very difficult circumstances, absolutely necessary that we make things more efficient,
as we have been doing over the last few years, and very important that we are straight with
the public about the choices we are making, and in our case, that's very much to prioritise
the things that we know they want us to deliver.
Thank you, Tom.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:07:26
I mean, that gives rise to, absolutely right.
We around this cabinet table said, okay, here's the context as I mentioned earlier,
we must ensure we protect the key services.
This council provides around 1300 different services.
So when you mentioned complexity, it's right and
many of those obviously are legal requirements.
And we therefore we have to deliver across all the range of things.
But the ones that we know residents care about the most is where given the reduction in funding,
that is where we will focus our money on that and the efficiency points that say a spend
here will create a savings somewhere else.
So thank you for that and your comments.
Karl.
Thank you, leader.
I think Thomas made a particularly important point on the core spending power, which is
Cllr Carl Jackson - 1:08:22
always phrased to sound like the government is giving us more money.
We're getting another 14%.
Actually it's an instruction for us to take as much council tax as we can and then the
government to say they've given us more money.
It's a little bit of interesting language I think.
I see comments online which I probably shouldn't read when we talk about tough decisions in
the budget saying, well, make some efficiency savings.
Save some money.
And I think it's always important to make a point that the low -hanging fruit, such as
there was some, has been picked many years ago.
There's no 10 million pound spare sitting around doing nothing, which can be cut with
no impact on anyone anymore.
We are in the realms of tough choices.
It is a credit to how this council has been run by members and officers that some of those
choices we're making at the moment aren't tougher than they are despite the
fact that obviously our finances are now being squeezed by the government.
You know there are councils which are saying well maybe it's been every three
weeks now and choices that will be very very controversial would have a real
frontline impact on residents that we are not having to do. I think it's
important that we're stressed that we are maintaining the key services the
the fact that our road budgets is not just maintained
because we're not in this period.
20 % recognising resident's priorities
despite all the pressures.
I think that's a key point to make.
And again, it's credit to how the council is being run.
In my own portfolio in education and children's services,
I mean, we're actually finding more money
to deliver the really key services as well.
We've got the 3 million pound EHCP,
Education, Health and Care Plan recovery
to get that back locked down and to get EHCPs out quickly
because we know demand is increasing.
We are looking to expand specialist school places,
which where we know demand is increasing as well.
And of course, a point to mention there is that away
from the formula, the funding formula the government has given
us, which is seen as losing out by $44 .5 million,
there is also a cut there in our investment separately to all
of this, to money we were going to get for a new special school.
So there are cuts beyond what is seen in these figures.
I think it's important to stress the work in my portfolio as well of investment that is going in for longer term savings.
So we're putting in the money now to build our own in -house residential children's homes.
Now that's obviously an upfront cost. These things aren't open for free.
But the long -term savings this is going to produce for the council through not having to use external providers
to look after our children in care
It is going to be significant and will pay dividends in the medium to long term and we have to think in the medium to long
term as well
So I think it is it is important to stress that while things are tight
It's not all it's not all doom and gloom. We're managing our finance as well. We are still investing in priorities and we are still
And on my portfolio in education and children's services,
not only are these changes in investment
in our own children's homes and recruiting more
of our own staff and relying less on agency staff,
not only are these financially beneficial,
they're also rather happily better outcomes for the children
and young people we're looking after.
So I think it's worth saying that if we are clever about this
and we are being, it is possible to run things financially
on a tighter ship and very cleverly,
while also delivering better outcomes for some of our most vulnerable residents,
as well as maintaining services for residents as a whole.
Thank you, Carl.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:12:08
I mean, really helpful for you to go through some of the key things happening
given the portfolio that you have.
I think your early points about the officials is really important, and
I direct people to, I'm gonna go to the pack a bit, page 82.
So it outlines that up to nearly 300 million would have been taken out in nine years or
that, just think of an organisation of our size complexity where in that period of time
because they take out 66 % and still meet rising demand for legally required services.
That was our challenge and when we get to talking about this, obviously it would be
for me to recommend, but this budget allows us to continue to do that.
And having done any low hanging fruit, you know, go digging for every piece of fruit
that's out there or hanging.
Who's next, Isabelle, I think?
Yes, thanks very much, leader.
Cllr Isobel Darby - 1:13:04
And leading on from that, I think my observation would be that the word and the doing, the
making of efficiencies is in the DNA of Buckinghamshire Council and absolutely agreeing with what
Carla said in terms of efficiencies and better outcomes going hand in hand and looking at
my portfolio talking about actually sort of bringing through the better life strategy,
prevention, early intervention, meaning there are better outcomes for residents meaning
that the, and it is, I think we have to acknowledge a very, very small cohort of our residents
who require assistance from adult social care.
It's just over 5 ,000 people in the whole of Buckinghamshire who we are providing that
care for.
But we need to keep that number low.
However, there are always going to be people who need our care.
but where we can, allowing people
to keep their independence, to help them be independent.
And that is how we are actually making efficiencies
in terms of costs, but also helping people
to live a far more fulfilling life than, say, 20 years ago
they would have done.
And I think we're doing absolutely the right thing.
And in reflecting on the budget as a whole,
leader, I'd just like to say how I don't think we've really
talked about how much work has gone in to this budget in terms of member and
officers working together questioning looking at how we can make it better how
we can as members we are looking at what's right for our residents that we
represent and I know that the officer teams are absolutely in tune with that
and I think the fact that we've managed to come to this budget is testament to
the work, the partnership work that's gone on between members and officers to get to
this position and allow Thomas to have more money for the roads at the same time as providing
really, really good quality care for those that really need it.
Thank you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:15:15
Thank you Isabelle and of course I echo the comments about the hard work going to pull
it together.
If I could just add a little bit of clarity to that last point.
I think it's really important when we talk about savings that have come out, where extra
money is going, this budget will show an increase in expenditure on a number of areas, particularly
those big four I mentioned earlier, your portfolio and adult social care, education, for example,
temporary accommodation, and so on.
It's just we have to make that the most efficient use of the money possible.
And if we don't do that, of course, then those, that 24 % I talked about earlier,
can't happen because the money's been overspent on those legally required services.
The same is true in our capital programme.
The capital road programme means we self fund that.
We are not proposing any significant new external borrowing.
We'll borrow within the facilities that we already have.
and most of that is funded through our internal borrowing,
which means some of the choices
make on council -owned assets,
if there is a receipt,
that then funds other parts of the capital programme
that we know residents also have an interest in.
So there's detail in here on that.
But thank you for your comments.
Mark.
Thank you, Lida.
Firstly, before going into my portfolio
Cllr Mark Winn - 1:16:40
and probably temporary accommodation,
which I know is one of the critical five,
To look at the so -called fair funding, I'd like to call it the unfair funding, because as I said in this chamber, none of our residents and none of our council taxpayers voted to allow their money to go to other councils.
None of our businesses voted for their money that they provide for all their hard work to go to other councils.
And I think that's actually morally wrong what's happening there.
It really is morally wrong.
But anyway, to come to temporary accommodation as I promised, how we are trying to sort of
press down on the costs and make things more efficient, but also as Isabelle mentioned,
get a better outcome for our residents.
So we're looking to, we're reducing the cost of temporary accommodation.
So we've really pressed down on how much temporary accommodations cost us some of our contracts that we had in place
And this means that this 1 .5 million less this year would have cost if we hadn't made those changes
We're trying to reduce the length of stay that paper in temporary accommodation
So we've got move on officers and in October 80 people were moved out of temporary accommodation
As a result of that work with the move on officers
We're looking at more lower cost
options for temporary accommodations.
So we're bringing in our own temporary accommodation,
which is much less than bed and breakfast accommodation
or accommodations provided by our registered providers,
our local housing associations, which is then cheaper.
We're trying to expand the offer to the private sector
to try and get them more involved in moving people on
and giving more options to people
that are facing homelessness.
We're doing a lot more prevention work with people.
So 600 people will be rented this year from being homeless as a result of what we've done there.
Now the last six years, affordable housing has been provided, which equates to 506 more affordable homes per year.
And of course, we've got the local plan and housing has contributed to that and looked at the local housing needs assessment.
and it's assessed that 40 % of the houses that will be built within the local plan will be affordable homes.
And I've tried to... One thing that we have impressed on that is that these will be truly affordable,
so we've pressed down that most of these, we've split it down into social rented.
So that's the most affordable, that's 50 % of market rate.
And as a result of the measures that we're taking, we're in a better position from the
risk and pressures that councils across the country are facing as a result of their temporary
accommodation costs.
In the forthcoming years, an increased move on our new TA owned by us or by registered
providers would be able to reduce the risk further from temporary accommodation.
And if more affordable housing comes on, maybe we can start to look to reduce the level of
temporary accommodation that we actually need and that will really make an impact on temporary
accommodation and possibly take temporary accommodation at one of the critical five
things within this council.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:19:59
Thank you Mark and again some good work just to illustrate how service delivery has to
come with a financial consideration as well.
I'll go to Robert and then Ade, and then I think we'll draw a line there.
Robert.
Cllr Robert Carington - 1:20:17
Robert Greenhill Thank you very much, leader.
I mean, starting just quickly a bit with a high -level point, I know most of these have
already been covered, but it's important to sort of expand upon what the social and
more five -one officer said regarding robust and sound financial planning and management,
which has put us in this situation that we are facing a very difficult financial situation,
as highlighted by points of the fair funding review.
I somehow struggle to say that.
But there are also some of the perversities which come out of this government policy that
they are putting more and more pressure on councils to fund themselves through councils,
actually, business rates.
But then with the other hand are in the forms of efficiency and modernization are reforming these measures to actually
Put it in a situation where those measures will actually end up bringing less. So it's through those challenges
That is why we are in the situation because of the sound
Financial management we've already had that we are able to deliver this but I mean efficiency has has been stressed by a number of people and
And going to my own portfolio resources, not to boast, but I will boast.
I mean, the leader mentioned that there are 1300 lines of business.
More than half of those, 700, are within the portfolio.
And so we are very much the spine of the organisation.
And we know there are certain political parties, particularly last year, who are now running
councils and came in on promises of cut baby, cut baby, and have now discovered that it's
quite easy to say that, but then when you get to the reality of it, as Councillor Jackson
has already said, the low hanging fruit, if there were any, well and long gone picked.
And we're now at the stage where, to use a horrible word, cut, if you're doing that,
you start causing damage to the organisation
in delivering its statutory duties.
So the way to reduce and what we're doing in this MTFP,
as the leader has mentioned, is this big emphasis
on the use of AI and automation that over the three year
period, we're expecting over 3 million pounds in my portfolio
alone.
And I know planning will also be doing as well
and is completely cross the sphere.
But it is things like this, but it's got to be done in the correct way without causing this damage to the overall
delivery of our services and delivering value for money for the taxpayer and
Just and just going to the capital side as as has been said again by many people around this table
We are continuing to deliver on our priorities. I come to the regeneration stage
point of it
that we are delivering our ambitious regeneration portfolio,
not just in Elsby, not just in High Wycombe.
You will see Winslow, there is significant investment
into Winslow.
These are choices we are making to continue through this
and is all being funded responsibly.
So I just want to reiterate that point.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:23:39
Thank you, Robert, for those comments.
Ade.
Thank you very much, leader.
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 1:23:45
I'd just like to say that despite the pressures from the Fair Review and also the increase
in demand, we have been able to deliver this draught budget.
It's testament to the hard work of members around this table under your leadership and
also our officers who we must continue to commend for their diligence and dedication
to their service.
It's very important from my perspective,
and I'm happy you did raise the protection
of the weekly bin collection,
which I know a few other councils have been delving into.
We have been able to do that,
and we will continue to drive efficiency
within our service, particularly the waste environment
and climate change area.
Our priorities as contained in the document
we're about to adopt today, if members do agree,
is to not only ensure we maintain a consistently high level of service quality, which has been reflected.
Our collections have been 99 .97 % successful to date.
Visitors to the HRRCs have been 98 % of very fairly satisfied visitors.
and we've got our flight tip and enforcement outcomes
for 2025, high up to 92 successful cases.
All these, in my view, have been able to be delivered
and will continue to be delivered with this draught document.
We would also continue to uphold the zero tolerance policy
towards flight tipping and flood, and flooding,
which is a very big concern of a lot of residents,
has also been prioritised through this document.
I'm also happy that with what we've done,
capital projects within,
particularly my portfolio, have been protected.
We have the delivery, we have over 4 .68 million,
4 .68 million, or 4 .68 million investment in waste
and new HRCs with vehicle replacements as well.
We have over 11 .6 in the climate change and flood management and
with the cross portfolio with
Tom's we have about nine point four million in investment in principal road drainages
Which is so big concern when it comes to surface water flooded which is also priority. So I am proud of this this document
I'm privileged to work with this team and
Holding support of also adopting this going forward. Thank you
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:26:30
Thank you Ade and then with some frantic waving in the corner that I've missed
Cllr Steve Bowles - 1:26:35
Steve Bowles would like to comment we'll do that. Yes sorry I just want to make a
comment you you opened up by sort of saying that the household support fund
was going to be replaced by the crisis resilience fund well that's absolutely
true but that fund is also being consolidated with the discretionary housing payments which
actually will then mean a real reduction in previous monies that have gone to the household
support fund of you know previously have been 4 .8 million. So to me you know this we'll
endeavour to do obviously what we can for our vulnerable residents but this will affect
the vulnerable residents that this government purports to support.
And I just wanted to make that point.
That they go on about the amount of funding that they're giving to councils and it's absolutely
not true.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:27:36
So a few threads there.
You're absolutely right.
Government funding now, this is a three -year settlement, which means of course the cash
value and their flatline will be reduced by inflation.
We have to bear the inflationary risk that of course government policy will have a direct
impact on as well.
We have to bear that.
The inflationary figures in this pack are the latest official ones from the OBR, which
is 2 .5%, 2 % and 2%.
as I referenced earlier, at least in passing, of course,
if inflation remains higher for longer,
that is a cost that we will have to bear.
And that's why I was trying to be clear earlier about risks.
And that is obviously a key risk
along with those government policy changes
that I thought I highlighted.
We've referenced a number of us today,
their resident priorities, and we know this
because we're out in our communities all the time,
And of course, we receive plenty of correspondence as cabinet members.
But we should reference and say thanks to the over 1 ,100
residents who responded to the consultation survey for the budget.
And of course, the high priority areas were care and
support services for older people and vulnerable.
And we've covered that road maintenance.
And of course, things like community safety, and in here there's the initiatives from domestic
violence initiatives to joint enforcement with some of our partners, such as the police
on adult social care.
So we'll deliver on that.
And also, reassuringly, as we bring forward our corporate plan, both the current one and
the draught corporate plan, but the corporate plan draught was also consulted on.
And you'll see in the four areas, three of the areas achieving three -quarters of strong support.
And even the second one over 62%, with neither green nor disagree on 20.
So residents clearly understood the PAC because there's some metrics in there showing that over three -quarters said the PAC was easy to understand and what statutory spend is.
And then were in large part, there's a majority for agreement.
So when we say this is resident priorities, it's from the information we have ourselves and collectively,
but also from those who took time to enter into this survey and we need to make sure that we note that.
Just before we move to our recommendations, just to clarify another comment, when I talked about the borrowing,
the Council currently has the ability for Cabinet to fund up to 100 million of new capital schemes through Prudential Borrowing.
and Robert referred to responsible borrowing
or something like that.
We do need to formally have a recommendation for that,
not because we are intending to borrow 100 million pounds,
but because the capacity is there
as part of the budget process and when we ultimately
get to that full council provision
so that should it ever be needed and we need to draw down
some or all of that, then we'd be in a position to do so.
So, a lot of discussion there.
I do encourage people and hopefully the PAC remains relatively easy to read, although
with a lot of numbers in it, as you would expect.
I will move to the report's recommendations, which are to approve the draught revenue and
budget programme, to note and consider the budget consultation that was in results that were
in appendix one, recognise and agree the schedule of fees
and charges, appendix two.
Note the current risks associated
with the budget proposals,
in particular confirming the impact, the adverse impact,
that the fair funding review has on our level of funding
for business rates and grants.
Agree the proposal I just mentioned
about 100 million interprudential borrowing as a capacity.
And note that the supplementary report,
the formal counter -tax resolution,
will accompany the final budget as it goes to full council.
Notwithstanding budget scrutiny to come next week.
Are you all in agreement with those recommendations, please?
Agreed.
Thank you, agreed.
And that item is carried.
Thank you very much.

10 Placement & Homes Strategy for Children and Young People 2026-2030

We go on to item 9, sorry, 10 now.
The placement and home strategy for children and young people
for the years 2026 to 2030.
Report pack on pages 351 to 394.
This is Councillor Carol Jackson and Elle Albert,
who's our Interim Corporate Director of Children's Services
is here to answer any questions as well.
Over to you, Carl.
Thank you, Lida.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 1:32:35
Yesterday, I'm asking the cabinet to approve
the placement and home strategy for children
and young people for the next four years,
and the strategy and accompanying plan,
which you have all read,
providing clear analysis of our current and expected needs for children and young people
in care in Buckinghamshire and how we plan to meet them, with the guiding principle providing
the right home at the right time with the right support.
Behind all this lies fundamentally a push to rebalance where children in our care are
placed.
It's away from out of county placements, more children in county closer to their networks,
closer to their friends, closer to their school.
It's about ideally having more children in care, not in external placements with private
companies, but in our new in -house residential care, children's homes that we're building.
That is not only better, obviously, for the children in our care to be near their networks
and in county, but also avoids the phenomenal costs of using external providers for these
services, and that's if you can find a placement at all.
I mean, we talk a lot about the cost of these placements for our
children and young people who need residential care.
The reason the costs are so high is because there's a shortage of
these placements.
So it's not, sometimes for the more complex cases, quite
frankly, the external providers don't even, don't really want
them.
So building our own in -house children's home is extremely
important.
And of course, where possible, recruiting, placing children and
young people with foster carers so they're not in residential
care at all, if that's the appropriate solution.
So that's the kind of rebalancing behind all this.
The strategy comes against a tricky backdrop, rising numbers
of children and young people in care.
It was fairly steady for most of the last five years,
and it has risen a little.
The rise has been driven partly by sort of teenagers with more
complex needs coming into Campbell, I think,
as their families perhaps struggle to cope.
And also other challenges like finding suitable accommodation
for those young people who are looking to move to adulthood
and become more independent.
To keep making progress, we're gonna keep opening
the new in -house children's homes,
keep recruiting more foster carers
who've got ambitious targets on that,
but targets based on things we've delivered before,
so I think they're realistic.
Improving supported accommodation options,
and of course, where it's safe and appropriate
for the child or young person,
working with families to keep them together
so that if it's possible for that child or young person
not to end up in care in the first place,
then that can be achieved if it's better for everyone.
I think I'll wrap up my remarks there,
and I'm obviously happy to take any questions
on the strategy at this point.
Thank you very much.
We've got one from Isabel.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:35:38
Yes, thank you very much.
And I think it's something akin with adult social care as well,
Cllr Isobel Darby - 1:35:45
in that by working well for everybody,
giving them the best outcomes, like keeping with adult social
care as many people at home, as many children
with their families as possible, the ones that
require residential care tend to be the ones with more
complex needs.
And I just wonder, I mean, these children's homes are quite small, but the challenge of
getting the mix of clients of young people in each children's home must be absolutely
critical and very, very tricky.
And I'm actually not going to ask my colleague, I'm going to ask Errol because he's nodding.
And I just wanted to sort of have a few words from you about how tricky it is and how you
overcome those challenges because you've got you let's say you've got three or four children's homes, and you've got X number of spaces in
them how do you
Secure those placements because once you've secured them you've then got to if you're adding somebody else
That's got to be the right mix, and I just wondered if I could have a few observations on that, please
Errol Albert - Interim Corporate Director for Children's Services - 1:36:53
Thank you, hi all please. Thank you, Lina. Thank you council Darby and good to see I'm joined as well by the
Director for Social Care who may want to add some words.
But you're absolutely right to raise that point.
I think there are more complexities behind this
than you can imagine.
Post -COVID 2020, we've seen some significant complexities
in relation to some of the issues that are impacting
on young people, particularly around neurodiversity,
mental health, suicide ideation, self -harm, et cetera.
And many young people as well who are subject
to criminal sexual exploitation, et cetera.
And you're absolutely right.
It's not as simple as saying, so we have so many homes,
we can throw so many children within those homes.
We give the terminology, but I think
you know what I mean there.
Ultimately, it is about a very careful matching process,
along with Alison's staff, social workers, placement team,
and indeed family, and all those involved with those children
in supporting those children with those very complex needs.
They have to be, some of them, on two -to -one care,
three -to -one care, really significant issues in terms
of their behaviours, in some cases violence.
So yes, we have to very carefully match children
in those placements, and the process that we have
in place is very robust to ensure
that we make the right decisions that are
in the best interest of those children.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:38:19
I've got a couple of comments.
First of all, I think it's really worth highlighting that a document like this and the initiatives
within it and the elements within it have been heavily informed.
And it's in your report in 8 .1 about consultation with foster carers, residential staff, the
lived experience feedback we get from care leavers and others.
And you might want to say something about that.
I ultimately got the voice of service users in this.
But it references, as my second point, that fostering is the backbone of the strategy.
So I don't want to miss this opportunity, given it's by diversifying the fostering offer, for you to make that pitch.
Because if anyone out there is watching, fostering is a great way to help out and will have an impact in the strategy.
Indeed. Thank you, Lida.
Errol Albert - Interim Corporate Director for Children's Services - 1:39:12
On the first point in relation to lived experience,
we cannot develop this strategy
without the voice of children and young people,
because they are the most critical people
that are in relation to this strategy.
So absolutely, we do council and the various forums
that we have in place that meet with children
and young people to seek their views.
It's fundamental to how we design
and deliver these services moving forward.
And that's something that we continue to do
via our participation teams and indeed our social workers
who seek the views of children and young people,
particularly those, our care leavers,
care experienced young people who have been through
such an episode to hear from them in terms of
what can we do better and where can we make
certain adjustments or improvements in relation to
how we deliver these services.
And also, adults who have experienced in the past
experiencing care as well.
So we do have engagement with a lived experience advisory panel
who will be continuing to assist with us in terms
of future service design and how we deliver services.
On the second point, leader, absolutely, hopefully,
it's those who are watching, have seen the adverts
around Buckinghamshire for recruitment
of our foster carers.
Hugely critical role, very rewarding role.
We are always on the search for that.
We'll continue in earnest with our recruitment campaign
as we move forward because they perform a absolutely critical function for our children
and young people.
A better alternative to them living further away from the county and having that closer
support in county.
So anybody who's watching, by all means, there's a lot of information on our website around
how to become a foster carer and obviously there are contact numbers so that somebody
would be happy to speak to them about the recruitment process.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:41:06
Great, thank you very much for that, Errol.
Karl, do you want to come back on that?
If I could just come in on the fostering point as well.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 1:41:12
It's a better outcome where it's the right set up for our children and young people to be in foster rather than residential care.
And we're obviously not just making the point, as Errol said, about what an amazing thing to do it is to foster.
But also, we're trying to make it more attractive to do as well.
We've got the sort of 100 % council tax refund,
Got3Gym memberships, the Platinum,
I think it's Platinum Merlin pass for attractions,
holiday allowances, help with car rental,
practical things like bigger bins.
Not a glamorous perk, but something that helps
sort of make it easier to do,
and make it something that might make a family
who's not sure they can be a foster carer,
think, you know what, actually,
I'm gonna get so much support here.
I'm gonna be connected with other foster carers.
I'm gonna get a lot of help from the council to do this.
And think, you know what, actually,
I do want to inquire about this.
I do want to take it on.
And that package has helped us recruit
a significant number of extra foster carers
in recent years.
It's gonna help us as well deliver,
well recruit more foster carers in future years.
And not only is this gonna be good outcome
for children and young people, it's also tied very closely
to the previous item we just talked about,
about the budget and the savings we're looking to make.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:42:41
Thank you very much, and good to outline some of those benefits.
So rather unusual to do at Kavanagh,
but I think as we're talking about it,
and we have a great number of foster carers already,
and more would be helpful.
So thank you for that.
Robert.
Thank you very much, Lida.
Cllr Robert Carington - 1:42:56
Just quick two questions which really are in
relate to paragraph 2 .2, page 352 of the overall
PAC, where it mentions obviously the important
thing of how the strategy is underpinned by 11 .7
million pound capital investment programme.
So just obviously bearing in mind what we've just
been speaking about in the most recent agenda item,
I just wanted to sort of cheque where we are on the
timetable to deliver these homes and are we still on track?
And obviously the obvious question,
what are the big risks which we face on to the timetable
and the associated savings?
Thank you.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 1:43:40
Yes, the plan is 10 new homes with the 10th opening,
but in the 27, 28 financial years,
it's a fairly tight timetable.
We want to make a lot of progress.
One risk to it is at the moment,
getting the homes registered with Ofstep.
So there is, as a general, we'll be working to about six months
from applying to have a home registered to actually getting
that registration.
I'm told that's now sort of slipping nearer to nine months,
and which obviously is a delay in getting homes open.
But also the point that sort of I think a lot
of people might not know is we have to have the team in place
at that home from the moment we apply for registration.
So for what used to be six months, now working nearer
in nine months, we've got to have a register manager
on the books, we've got to have a team ready to start.
So you have to be ready to go from the day you apply
for registration, not just from the day you're actually
going to open, which obviously has a financial impact
and any further delay in registration from the OSDAT
point of view is going to have an impact too.
I minded to write to the relevant minister on this
to say, you know, what is the action going to be
to keep registration times down, because this is obviously
It's delaying our ability to take positive action
for our children and young people.
It's delaying our programme of opening
our own new children's homes.
And there'll be a financial impact, too,
if this keeps getting worse.
Thank you for that.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:45:05
That is illuminating information for people
who won't be watching or saying, do it quicker.
But the money is there, and the will is there,
and the recruitment is there to make happen, or plan.
The recruitment plan is there to make happen.
Did you say you had two points, or was it the money
and the time scale?
I don't think I have any other hands.
So we'll move to the recommendation, which
is to approve the placements and home strategy
for children and young people 2026 -30,
including the appendices.
Are we in agreement, please?
Agreed.
Thank you.
Agreed.

11 Corporate Parenting Strategy 2025 - 2030

Item 11 continues with Karl Jackson's papers today.
This is the corporate parenting strategy for the years 2025
to 2030 this time.
So, Carl, over to you.
This is on pages 395 to 452 of the pack.
I know as well as Errol will join by Allison Muntz,
Service Director for Children's Social Care.
Hi, Allison.
Carl.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 1:46:05
Thank you, Levi.
Yes, just briefly.
So, we've just talked about where our children
and young people in care live, with foster carers
or in care homes.
Now we're talking about how we care for and support those children and young people.
As everyone around this table will know, we as Councillors are our corporate parents to
children in care in our county.
It's our job to make sure they get these children and young people in our care the same kind
of support that they would get from good parents, keeping them safe, listening to their views,
being ambitious for them, celebrating their achievements,
supporting them as you would expect parents to.
I think the strategy is pretty clear, but I'm going to just
sort of spell out the six priorities.
And again, I stress the point that you made on the last item
leader, this has been put together with significant input
from our children and young people.
And so the six priorities are supporting stable relationships.
So this is limited moves from location to location
for our children and young people,
staying with siblings if possible,
near and their communities.
Again, that links in with the development
of our own children's homes.
And of course, recruiting more permanent staff.
Stable relationships would include not having a different
member of agency staff interacting
with our children every week
by having some stability there.
Promoting happy and healthy lives is the second priority.
That's not just about health needs and saying don't smoke or do drugs.
It's also about encouraging interests, hobbies, directions.
And ensuring access to education, training, and employment, obviously hugely important.
Helping children understand their history and identity, where they've come from.
And providing stable, loving homes.
A lot of that is about efforts to recruit more foster carers and have more children
in foster care, and in preparing for adulthood
and building independence.
Obviously, there are children in our care,
young people in our care, move towards 16, 17, 18.
We have to start thinking about their future,
their housing, what they're going to do.
So these are all the, these are the six key priorities.
There's an action plan associated.
Performance and progress will obviously be very
closely monitored, and I'd just like to thank
Alison Muntz, who's here, for putting together
this very clear strategy, which I think sets out every priority, how it will be delivered,
and how we'll measure progress.
But I'm very happy to take questions.
Thank you for that, Carl.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:48:41
I think I would have just want to ask a little bit around that measurement and tracking of
progress point.
I know the report says, you know, indicates various ways that we know this is happening
because, yes, it's a document, but as you've outlined very well, it has an impact on people's
lives.
and this partnership working here with other bodies.
So maybe, Alison, can you give a bit of life
to how that all works to make sure that we know
this isn't just a document for the sake,
this is something that we know makes a difference?
Yeah, thank you, Lida.
Alison Munt - Service Director for Children's Social Care - 1:49:18
So the strategy will be monitored through our corporate parenting panel,
of which there are a number of members that attend that panel,
but also our partner agencies as well,
and input from our children and young people.
So the measures are really focused on within that panel meeting.
As part of that panel, we also have subgroups
that then do the work behind it, if that makes sense.
So those subgroups will focus on different,
on each of those priority areas.
And we make sure that we are measuring the success by there.
In addition to that, we're also developing a corporate parenting dashboard
so that we're then able to see at a glance exactly how we're performing
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:50:01
against these measures. Excellent thank you and Karl's part of that is? Yeah if I
Cllr Carl Jackson - 1:50:04
can just supplement that so yeah I think the corporate parenting panel
is something I chair and it looks like it's going to offer very valuable
oversight of how we're delivering on this I mean because it brings together
people with a lot of different perspectives. It's not it's not just me
as other counsellors, senior officers, representatives
of health and social care, community and voluntary groups.
And the one meeting of this I have shared so far,
I have to say was extremely valuable
in giving that overall perspective.
And we had three young people on the call
as well giving their views.
And it was extremely interesting and important to hear from them.
I think one of them I think was probably quite an act of courage
to go on the call to share their experiences.
There's another I think quietly very thoughtful would speak
when asked a question and one of the young people
was so confident I was tempted to actually
let him chair the meeting instead of me.
So it was a real mix of personalities
but clearly really excellent relationships
with every essence relationship
with people caring for them.
And it was very valuable that they came
to share their experience.
So they continue to play a very important role
in letting us know how this strategy is going.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:51:15
Cllr Mark Winn - 1:51:18
Excellent, thank you. Mark? Thanks Steve. Just to sort of put some skin on the
bones of some of the things that are happening from the sort of housing
perspective and how we're working jointly across the council. So priority
six which is building independence. Obviously going out the home, going
traps at home into a tenancy is going to be pretty scary for people. So I know
Work has been taking place with the housing team, which is included in this money management,
cooking, and understanding how a tenancy works in practise.
So when they go to a home, their tenancy doesn't then break down, because I know that they're
at risk of becoming homeless as a result.
And some of our people that are homeless are people that were previous care -leavers.
So we're trying to stop that at the front door, but really working with the young people
to try and develop how those things work.
Which I think is really commendable that that's taken place.
Thank you, Andy.
It's alright, Carl.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:52:13
Cllr Carl Jackson - 1:52:16
I need to say that that work is obviously ongoing.
I mean, we're going to be getting 95 ,000 new houses in the county.
I don't think it's too big enough to find some for our care leaders and our young people.
I know we're looking at work on improving supported accommodation as well because it's
hard enough when you've had a good start in this county sometimes to get on the property
ladder so we certainly need to help our young people in care to make that first step.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:52:45
So with those comments and the paper being put, the recommendation is the Cabinet to
agree the five -year corporate parenting strategy and the accompanying action plan.
And we know that you'll be keeping a close eye on reporting back on that, Carl, at the
appropriate times.
Are people around Cabinet please in agreement with that recommendation?
Agreed.
Thank you.
And we come to the last item in the public session,

12 Buckinghamshire Shareholder Committee - Terms of Reference update

which is the Buckinghamshire Shareholder Committee
terms of reference update.
This can be found on pages 453 to 466.
This is in the name to be presented
by Councillor Robert Carrington.
And we have Glenn Watson, Senior Governance Manager,
here to answer technical questions.
Robert.
Thank you very much, Leader.
Cllr Robert Carington - 1:53:32
So the reason for this paper is to ask cabinet for approval to incorporate
incorporate
oversight of the council own trusts
Into the shareholder committee which will ensure those proper governance and member oversight of operational and day -to -day financial management
Including adequate risk overview of those trusts just to sort of go into a little bit of context
And so the council is a corporate trustee for several charities
many of which are transferred from legacy authorities
when the unitary authority was created.
So trustees are, as most people know, watching, no,
but I would just reiterate, are responsible for compliance
with all the legal responsibilities of a charity,
including running the charity and managing its assets.
In August 24, the charity commission launched a campaign
to bring awareness of trustee duties to local authorities
and highlighted some failings at other local authorities.
So in light of this and just to enhance our governance arrangements, the recommendation
is that the Buckinghamshire shareholder committee, which I have the privilege of chairing, their
terms of reference be reviewed to include operational and governance oversight of the
council -owned trusts.
So by bringing in these trusts into the remit of the committee will strengthen existing
arrangements as the committee has got experience of this with council loan
subsidiaries and will ensure the good governance arrangements which exist will
be moved over into incorporating the charities and will have an improved
oversight of risks day -to -day finances and performance. So the shareholder
Committee has the capacity to do this.
Following a cabinet in October last year, there was a decision regarding Concilio, so
the shareholder committee has a capacity on that one.
Just so people are aware of the trusts, sorry, of the charities and trusts which are being
discussed.
So the Council is sole trustee of Farnam Park Sports Field Charitable Trust and the Higginson
Park Trust.
So, the focus is the committee will be mainly on these two, but there will also be governance
oversight of a number of smaller charities and trusts, which are mainly educational,
where the council is also the top trustee.
So, and as you'll see, there are three recommendations, and the third one being, if you are so minded
to approve this that the shareholder committee change its name to shareholder and trust committee
rather than shareholder and trust charity committee because that's becoming a bit too
much of a mouthful.
So STC rather than STCC.
So I will now open if Glenn if there's anything further you want to add.
Leader, cabinet member, no nothing to add that was an exact overview of the item.
Thank you very much. Robert Addy.
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 1:56:49
Yes, thank you very much, Leader. Looking at the appendix in terms of reference, there are new trustees duties inserted in there.
Will the committee members be getting any additional training in this area? And will the Audit Committee also be playing any role in its oversight?
Thank you very much for the two questions.
Cllr Robert Carington - 1:57:09
And I mean, on the training point that if cabinet is
minded to approve this, that obviously there will be
mandatory training will be required for all key members
of staff and all members of the shareholder and trust
committee.
And on the second question with the audit committee,
so yes, as a previous member of audit committee, I know
that they review the accounts for the two trusts which I mentioned.
They will continue looking at the statement of accounts and
will continue to approve and view the accounts.
But as part of the operational oversight, the renamed
shareholder committee will have the flexibility to look at the finances as
well, but the approval of the accounts is important to note, will remain the remit of
the Audit and Governance Committee. But this will all be subject to review in a year's
time, so we can see how the practises are working.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:58:18
Thank you very much. I think, just on that last point, clearly given the Council is the
sole trustee in these cases, and that the Shareholder Committee, as currently entitled,
is a subset of cabinet. I was pleased to note that in the changes it means any
proposal to wind up will make a significant operational change you would
bring back to cabinet given that nature of it so a view as of the committee being
a subset section of cabinet. I just think it's important to note for people to be
assured. That is correct. Great, thank you very much. Any other comments on this paper?
Cllr Peter Strachan - 1:59:08
Peter? Yeah, just briefly, as a member of the shareholder committee, I thoroughly support
the thrust of this paper. It's an iteration of the way things have been developing over
several cycles. So just to say as a member of the committee, I fully support it. Thank
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:59:22
Thank you very much.
There was nothing to add from Glenn.
So with that in mind, we can take the, again, the recommendations on block.
Number one is to incorporate the governance oversight for council -owned trusts into the
shareholder committee.
And you see that in the terms of reference, which are in appendix one and therefore forms
recommendation two to adopt those with immediate effect.
and as Robert indicated, to change the title of the committee to the shareholder and trust
committee.
I will remind everyone, you also report back on an annual basis formally to this committee,
so that will now include both parts, shareholder and trust.
But from the recommendations, are we in agreement, please?
Agreed.
Okay, good.
Thank you.
Agreed.

13 Exclusion of the public (if required)

And now we come to the element where we would exclude the public.
Today we only have the confidential minutes from the last meeting.
Those confidential minutes have obviously been circulated to you in advance.
I'll take a steer here.
Is there anyone who wishes to discuss anything on the confidential minutes?
If there isn't, we won't feel the need to go into confidential session.
Would anyone like to go into that session to discuss anything on those minutes?

15 Date of next meeting

I'm seeing no. So in which case let's move to item 14 then. Are you therefore content for me
to approve the confidential minutes from the meeting of the 16th of December 2025 as a correct
record? Thank you very much. So agreed then. So that means we are the date of the next meeting
because we've concluded today's business.
The next cabinet meeting is scheduled to be held
on the 10th of February, 2026, starting at 10 a .m.
Thank you all for your contributions today
and for those watching.
We'll now end the meeting and therefore,
please end the webcast.