Cabinet - Tuesday 12 May 2026, 10:00am - Buckinghamshire Council Webcasting

Cabinet
Tuesday, 12th May 2026 at 10:00am 

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  1. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Mark Winn
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Thomas Broom
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Peter Strachan
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  5. Cllr Steve Bowles
  6. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  7. Cllr Peter Brazier
  8. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  9. Cllr Robert Carington
  10. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  11. Cllr Isobel Darby
  12. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  13. Cllr Isobel Darby
  14. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  15. Cllr Carl Jackson
  16. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  17. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  18. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  19. Cllr Mark Winn
  20. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Questions
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Carl Jackson
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Isobel Darby
  4. Cllr Carl Jackson
  5. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  6. Cllr Peter Strachan
  7. Cllr Carl Jackson
  8. Cllr Thomas Broom
  9. Cllr Carl Jackson
  10. Cllr Thomas Broom
  11. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  12. Cllr Carl Jackson
  13. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  14. Cllr Robert Carington
  15. Cllr Carl Jackson
  16. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  17. Cllr Carol Heap
  18. Cllr Carl Jackson
  19. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  20. Cllr Carl Jackson
  21. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  22. Errol Albert - Corporate Director for Children's Services
  23. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  24. Errol Albert - Corporate Director for Children's Services
  25. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Robert Carington
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Robert Carington
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  5. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  6. Cllr Robert Carington
  7. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  8. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  9. Glenn Watson - Principal Governance Officer
  10. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Webcast Finished

Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:00:00
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:00:05
Thank you very much and good morning everybody and welcome to the cabinet meeting of Buckinghamish
Council today, Tuesday the 12th of May 2026. Can
I before we get started just remind members to make use of the microphone when you're speaking
so you can be heard both in the room and on the webcast and of course turn it off when
you're not speaking. That
would be most helpful and for members of the public who are in the room and do not
wish to be filmed, there is indeed an area to the side that you can sit in
should you not want to be on camera. So that being said, I'd like to move to item

1 Apologies

one which is apologies for absence. Any apologies received? No apologies received.
So we have a full cabinet here today and indeed we also have some deputy cabinet
members. I can see before me Councillor Carol Heap, Councillor Catherine Oliver
and of course deputy cabinet members are able to be part of the meeting and the discussion,
but as in line with our constitution are unable to vote when we come to voting on the business

2 Minutes

of the agenda. We both are welcome. Item two is minutes of the last meeting. So cabinet
members, you will have seen these in advance. These are on pages three to 18 of the pack
from the minutes, they are the minutes of the meeting held on the 21st of April.
Anyone got any comments or questions about the minutes? No and therefore you
content for for us to accept those as a correct record? Thank you that is

3 Declarations of interest

agreed and we will sign those. Item three on the agenda is declarations or
interest does anyone have any declarations to make? Yes Councillor
Good morning leader. Yeah on item 8 I'm a member of Valsbury Valley State's board
Cllr Mark Winn - 0:01:56
but it's felt as it's not a decision -making thing that we're looking
at this morning it's merely a note report that I don't really need to declare an interest
really interested transparency I should declare that I'm on the board.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:02:11
Yes thank you I know you've taken advice from Democratic Services on that which is the
right thing to do and for all councillors you will see a register of
interest for theirs is declared on the Council website.
But Mark, you're right to flag just for the purposes
of today that you do sit on Aylesbury Road estate.
So thank you for that.
That is noted.
I don't have any more declarations of interest to take.
So we'll move to item four, which is hot topics.

4 Hot Topics

Hot topics is of course, not a requirement
of cabinet members, but if there's anything
of particular importance, the cabinet members
wish to share with the watching public and put on the record,
as opposed to this being a list of all the places you visited
since our last meeting, then please, please do that.
Do remember to introduce yourself, please,
when I first come to you so that people
know what portfolio you have.
So having not done that, I am Councillor Stephen Broadbent,
the elected leader of Buckinghamshire Council,
in case anyone didn't know.
But I'll pass straight on to Thomas.
Thank you, Leader, Thomas Broome, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member of Transport.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:03:20
Just a quick update on roads and some supplementary bits as well.
So we have now managed to get to the point where we are repairing over 2 ,000 defects
a month, which is a tremendous effort from the service.
I'm very pleased to say that we are expecting to be effectively caught up on the backlog
caused by the bad weather by the end of the month.
I hope residents will have noticed that the state of the roads has considerably improved
And we will continue to make sure that we protect those surfaces in the long term as we move into the summer
Where we is that is the peak of our capital resurfacing programme
You will remember leader that we have now invested a record hundred twenty million pounds in
in Buckinghamshire's roads which will allow us to move from delivering 220 capital projects
last year to 270 this year which marks a really big increase because we know it's a priority
of residents and we hope that they will see that improvement going on over the summer.
As we head into those summer months we're also starting some other seasonal work so
I hope some residents will have seen our teams out picking litter and then cutting grass
and that is a programme that will progress its way across the county.
I'd just say to residents if they do have any areas where that grass is getting particularly high
and causing an issue with sight lines before the cyclical programme has got there,
if they can let us know, fix my street, we'll try and get some reactive teams out
and get that cut back as quickly as we can.
Excellent, thank you Thomas.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:04:58
You certainly can see more repairs underway and like you say,
that capital programme on the roads means the larger schemes that, you know,
really will help improve the condition of the network as we continue.
Your work on that and 270 projects this year will be closely watched by us all and the
members of the public.
So let's make sure the weather is good, we're cracking on.
So thank you for that.
Peter Strachan.
Cllr Peter Strachan - 0:05:25
Thanks, Leader Peter Strachan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning.
One brief hot topic, Leader, if I may.
There are emerging from central government some significant changes to planning policy.
The first of which is that it's proposed that any applications for more than 150 houses
be automatically referred to the Secretary of State.
There's also a proposal to limit the size of planning committees.
And also the third thing is that it's proposed that applications below a certain size of
number are decided by delegated powers rather than by committee.
All of these things are obviously to make it easier to build for developers to build
houses.
Thank you for that.
An area of flux.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:06:18
So we'll keep an eye on that and keep people abreast of that as you go on.
Okay.
Thank you.
Steve Bowles.
Thank you, leader.
Steve Bowles, cabinet member for communities.
Cllr Steve Bowles - 0:06:27
I have a couple of hot topics.
One is our outsourcing of parking enforcement,
just to give people an update.
Staff consultation, as it's gone very well with full engagement
with unions and the staff.
All current enforcement staff will transfer to ACPOWA
under TUPE, protecting their employment and pension rights.
so there's no redundancies whatsoever there.
ACPERA have met with staff regularly with team
and one -to -one sessions have been arranged.
ACPERA have recruited 14 additional agencies,
civil enforcement officers, who start on the 5th of May
with a further eight agency staff in training
to ensure that we have full deployment from the go -live day
on the 1st of June.
New uniforms and handouts have been procured.
Integration with the existing systems is all on track.
ACPOA's UK Managing Director is leading the mobilisation with the Senior Director for
Highways with weekly meetings showing their level of commitment to the new contract.
ACPOA have met with myself and the Leader to update on progress and launch the new ANPR
enforcement vehicle and an all member briefing took place on the 5th of May
launching the new service with positive engagement from those members who
attended. Now I'd also like to pass my thanks on to the corporate director
Richard Barker and also the senior director for highways Kevin Goad for all
their work in successfully managing this process
to get this contract in place.
My other hot topic is regarding financial insecurity.
On Wednesday the 5th of May, Bucks Council,
in partnership with Heart of Bucks,
launched the Financial Well -Being Community Fund,
utilising funding from the Crisis and Resilience Fund.
800 ,000 has been allocated to support voluntary and community organisations that contribute
towards improving the financial well -being of residents and families in Buckinghamshire.
The two objectives of this fund are to improve individuals' financial resilience, help
residents to better manage financial shocks and prevent the reoccurrence and escalation
of crises to boost local level support via a joined up,
visible local support network.
This includes strengthening resilience networks
within local communities
that in turn improves the financial resilience
of individuals within those communities.
Further information can be found on our website and it's applied
for the financial wellbeing community fund
at Buckinghamshire Council.
Thanks Steve, a couple of really important points there.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:09:30
So the Resilience Fund money, I'm glad you gave your reference that it's on the website,
is because it's right we acknowledge the important role that the voluntary and charitable sector
play out there in our communities.
So there's an opportunity there for some funding to help deepen, expand and better target the
work that they're doing.
So thank you for that.
And on the parking enforcement,
yeah, it's often a thing that's in my mailbag, my inbox,
to say, parking and poor parking or infringement
creates a negative impact for everybody else.
So by having a full suite of enforcement officers
and some new technology,
the intent here is to improve compliance
with parking regulations and reduce the incidents
of poor parking that causes problems.
So I do hope people will see when this goes live in June,
enhanced enforcement.
And I know you'll be sharing with members some of the data
that shows there's a data -led approach
to really make sure we're targeting
that resource in the right place.
So it should be a big benefit for residents
to realise that antisocial parking and infringements
of parking conditions should reduce over time.
So you'll need to update people on that again, but thank you for that.
Peter Brazier, please.
Thank you.
Good morning.
Cllr Peter Brazier - 0:10:56
Peter Brazier, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure.
I have one update on FLEX.
We made some improvements.
You'll recall I was here a couple of meetings ago announcing
that we were extending the opening hours from 8 a .m. to 8 p .m.
Peter, this is libraries.
We're talking about library FLEX.
Library FLEX, sorry.
So people know what we're discussing.
Yeah. So this is our seven libraries that operate LibraryFlex.
And this is, we've extended the hours from 8 a .m. to 8 p .m.
So, but during that period, you weren't able to book a meeting room.
So not many people are aware that many of our libraries have meeting rooms
that you can book, private meeting rooms.
Our team's been working on the booking systems and they ran a trial in April at Chesham to
make it possible for people to book meeting rooms outside the staffed hours, so during
the unstaffed hours. And so we can offer private meeting room hire during the unstaffed hours
at our flex libraries of Aylesbury, Beaconsfield, Buckingham, Chesham and Princes -Risborough.
This is obviously good for people that they'll book meeting rooms and use them.
It's a popular service.
It also generates a little bit of extra income for us.
Eagle Eye would have noticed Marlowe was not on that list.
Marlowe library is a flex library, but the meeting rooms there were reconfigured when it's temporarily used as a banking hub.
So we haven't got to reconfiguring them back to a meeting room.
So, Marlowe will come on the list as soon as possible.
That's a positive improvement to our Live Reflect service.
Excellent. So if you need a meeting room out of hours, use Live Reflect.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:12:46
Excellent. Thank you.
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:12:52
I apologise in advance.
Carry on. Your microphone went slightly strange.
So I apologise in advance because I'm going to break your rule regarding visits, but I
think this is a particularly important one to stress that Councillor Brazier and I on
the 1st of May we visited Denmark Street in High Wycombe, which for those hopefully everyone
is aware is the site of the new council office in High Wycombe.
So our visit was to assess the progress of the contract, which is with Wilmot Dixon,
which as a reminder is also for the relocation of the county archives from Aylesbury to High Wycombe.
And I'm very happy to say that its progress is very evident and it's going on very well.
I mean the windows are in which has made a real difference, it's flooded with light.
And internal partitions are now in and it really is starting to take shape.
And the key thing is, I mean, obviously,
this is a building contract, so I will not say this lightly,
but it is still on track within, obviously, timeframes.
And this is still on track to be done for spring 2027.
But I just wanted to highlight that the work is going well,
and it is looking very good at the moment.
I'll accept a progress report of that nature.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:14:23
Thank you, Robert.
Right, Isabelle, please.
Cllr Isobel Darby - 0:14:27
Thank you very much, leader.
Good morning.
My name is Isabelle Darby.
I'm cabinet member for health and well -being.
And members will be aware
that the tobacco and vape spill received royal assent
at the end of last month.
Smoking in bucks is at an all -time low already.
Both, we have two very important numbers that we look at.
One is the number of women smoking during pregnancy.
As we know that smoking can harm the unborn child.
That is 3%, down to 3%.
And in the general population is 8%.
So our figures are low, and the act will be implemented locally
per the statutory requirements and help us keep driving
down tobacco -related harm in the county.
And it's really sad, but despite all these wonderful figures
and low figures, smoking -related illnesses remain the leading
modifiable cause for premature mortality
and morbidity in our county.
And that's a real eye -opener.
Nationally, 80 ,000 people die every year as a result of smoking.
This new act is going to give us a smoke -free generation,
and it's also going to protect vulnerable people who are already able to access tobacco products.
And hopefully, that is going to mean that we have a healthier population.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:15:52
Thank you very much and anyone trying to quit smoking even though the numbers are low, they
can reach into you, your team, the council to be signposted or again through the GP.
Cllr Isobel Darby - 0:16:07
It may be healthy bucks and there is a wonderful team there ready to help people with all sorts
of things.
You know if the time is right for you, be it a Monday or a Friday or whenever, if the
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:16:21
help. Excellent, thank you very much for that Isabel. Karl please. Thank you leader
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:16:27
Karl Jackson, cabinet member for education and children's services. One hot topic
we're in foster care fortnight began yesterday which is obviously our annual
opportunity to pay tribute to the work our foster carer community does in
Buckinghamshire. They do fantastic work providing stable supportive homes for
children and young people in care helping given that stability they might
not have had before and obviously also helping them to stay in Buckinghamshire
rather than being further away from their communities.
Buckinghamshire Council hosted a foster carers conference last Friday and I
said a few words there and was there for much of it. My deputy, Julie Jordan,
was there too. Our new chief executive and our interim corporate director of
Children's Services were there so we showed I think that senior support on
the political and the officer side for our foster carers. It was a really good
event very well attended. I think the foster carer community enjoys the
opportunities to come together and share experiences and be with other people who
are doing the same thing. So I just wanted to put on record my thanks and
the thanks of the whole cabinet I'm sure to our foster carers and all those in
the council who support them. Absolutely right. The foster carers
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:17:38
team and the foster carers do fantastic work so I'm glad the conference went
well and that was recognised and again if people are interested in fostering
and there was you know a package of benefits for doing so as well as
well as the ultimate part of helping a young person in their life then please
do contact the council because there's a constant need for a good foster families
so as you heard from Carl they there's a real community of foster carers out
as well. So thank you for that, Karl. Ade. Yes, thank you, leader. Councillor Ade,
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 0:18:20
O 'Shebogan, cabinet member for environment, climate change and waste. Three hot topics.
On our box tree mission, we invited expression of interest from those with land in large gardens
available for tree planting to help realise the ambition of box tree mission. Having already
achieved 257 ,000 trees predominantly planted in new woodlands created in
council -owned lands. We're hoping that we can have residents, business, businesses,
farmers, town and parish councils and anyone with land potentially suitable
for planting to take a short survey to help identify what support will be
needed to unlock more tree planting opportunities across the county. There
also be the opportunity for participants to sign up to receive further information about
future funding opportunities and tree giveaways. I'd also like to announce fantastic news on our
biodiversity net gain projects. We continue to lead nationally in the development of the on -off -site
BNG market, having launched our pioneering habitat bank regulation service in December 2023.
Since the launch we have reached a fantastic milestone with the sign of our seventh
section 106 agreement which covers more than 101 hectare of land and approximately 2 .4 kilometres
of hedgerows for habitat creation or enhancement. This also includes approximately 83 hectares of
land, seven hectares of floodplain wetland, approximately five hectares of woodlands and
approximately five hectares of mixed scrub habitat. Each of these agreements represent the start of a
long -term partnership to monitor and support successful habitat delivery over a 30 -year period.
The development of the BNG within Buckinghamshire is helping to ensure that biodiversity units required by local planning applicants can be sourced locally within a county rather than from neighbouring areas.
This also helps investments in our nature recovery locally and also the delivery of our local nature recovery strategy.
I'd also like to update quickly on the Simpler Recycling programme.
We currently have achieved over 99 % delivery of domestic households across the county,
with only a small number of properties, which are approximately 2 ,900, requiring further
works.
This is to establish the suitability of the arrangements for the foot collections.
The rollout to standard communal flats has now been completed, supported by a positive delivery partnership with AP bins.
As part of the Simpler Recycling Programme, more than 17 ,600 kitchen caddies, rolls of liners and information leaflets have been distributed to our residents alongside the delivery of 1 ,540 litre communal food waste bin.
collectors. I would also like to say, leader, that early monitoring data is
encouraging with collection crews reporting an average of nearly one tonne
of food waste collected per round every day and residents and landlords
feedbacks communication have also remained minimal throughout the roll
outs which in my opinion indicates there's a smooth implementation of the
process. Thank you. Thank you. It's quite an undertaking on simply recycling to
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:22:14
get the caddies into flats and the communal areas.
So it's good to hear that's going well
and the tonnage is looking strong.
I think the biodiversity net gain elements
and the partnership work that you've had to do
with the team to make sure that happens
with landowners and others is important.
And I think over time, as you report on this,
if you could see how we compare,
compared to other areas, given we were one of the earliest
to formally adopt their local nature recovery strategy.
And of course, echo your call for the Bucks Tree Mission.
As you know, we've planted about a quarter million trees
out of the 547 ,000 that we're planting across the county.
So landowners can really help, you know, a square of land
at the top of the field where we can put some trees in
or on hedgerows would be welcome.
and I know the teams are working up planting packs.
So please do get in touch because you can help us
on that mission.
So thank you for that.
Mark.
Good morning, leader, and good morning,
anyone watching at home.
Cllr Mark Winn - 0:23:22
Mark Wynn, cabinet member for Housing and Regulatory Services.
I've got one hot topic this morning,
which is some pretty good news.
I'm really pleased to report that on the 30th of April,
Berkshire Council's Crematoria and Cemetery Service
was awarded the APSI, which stands for the Association for Public Sector Excellence Innovation Award,
and this is recognising outstanding achievement across the UK.
This national recognition is a clear endorsement of the Council's commitment to delivering efficient,
high -quality services whilst continuing to innovate in the face of ongoing financial pressure on local government.
Following shortlisting alongside four other local authorities,
Buckhamton Council presented its submission at the APSE Crematorium Cemetery Seminar and
was announced as the winner.
This success really demonstrates how Buckhamton should have taken a leading role in modernising
local services.
The way in which we drive innovation ensures strong stewardship of public resources.
The ward recognises the services performance monitoring dashboard which was introduced
in 2023, which I've seen and I can say it really strengthens oversight, accountability and transparency.
It does this by improving how performance data is captured and used and the dashboard has supported
more informed decision making and helped embed a culture of continuous improvement across the
service. This is an approach that obviously aligns with the council's wider ambition to
to deliver better outcomes for our residents.
In 2025, working in partnership
with this council's business intelligence team,
the dashboard was further enhanced
for its development in the powered B1 software package.
This investment in digital capability
reflects the council's broader commitment
to harnessing technology to improve services,
providing clearer real -time insights
for both officers and members,
and it's enabled more responsive,
evidence -based leadership.
Importantly, the innovation is not just about better data, it's about delivering tangible benefits for residents.
So the dashboard enables closer monitoring of key cost drivers, things such as crematorium gas usage,
and allows the service to identify efficiencies and act quickly.
So therefore, targeted interventions can be made, whether these are operational changes or staff training.
and we can deliver incremental savings which when scoured across the service become significant.
This focus on efficiency and value for money is particularly important at a time when councils must balance rising demand with the constrained resources.
And by driving down the unnecessary costs while maintaining high standards,
as a service helping to keep fees that they charge
as affordable as possible for residents
of what is always a sensitive
and difficult time in their lives.
And at the same time, it supports a generation
of a sustainable surplus that could be reinvested
into other essential frontline services.
The world -winning approach for me is a strong example
of how innovation and robust performance management
can deliver better services, protect residents,
and ensure that every pound of public money is used wisely for the benefit of Buckinghamshire.
Thank you, Mark. Well, congratulations to that team.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:26:48
Obviously, to be recognised like that for a service,
there's one of the hundreds and hundreds of services that the Council offer to residents all the time.
And as you say, when you need the crematoria services, it's a difficult time.
So to have a very high performing team there is great news.
So please pass on our thanks to the team and our congratulations.
Okay, that brings us to the end of hot topics.
And that means we move to item five, which is question time.

5 Question Time

This is where elected backbench members of the council can come along and ask questions off cabinet.
We ask them to submit that question in advance so that a full response can be given.
And today I'm pleased to welcome Councillor Robin Stutchbury, who has come forward to read his question.
So and your question, I believe, goes to Pete Strachan and Ade Elsie Bogan.
And I think it's probably Ade to give you the response.
But over to you, Robin. Welcome.
Questions - 0:27:58
Firstly, can I thank you for coming on Friday night to the Buckingham concert to do with David Attenborough.
It was good to see you at Buckingham. I think it was a great evening and it gave me a chance to touch base on this very topic.
And thank you for your time. It was much appreciated.
Well, it was a pleasure to be there for the Buckingham Festival and my thanks to the organisers for that.
Lovely evening. Thank you.
Yeah, I mean, it was nice to be in a pleasant environment and touch base on stuff.
but thank you for that.
Leading on to the question leader,
which is probably one of the most important projects
likely to happen in the near future.
In developing and implementing
the Buckinghamshire Development Plan,
and in the taking into account the implications
of the city water supply,
and the canal related proposals
affecting North Buckinghamshire,
including those outlined in the recent presentation
of the Grand Union canal transfer associated
water transfer options.
What role, if any, will the council play
in supporting such proposals,
which they are implications for the water supply,
sewage capacity, flooding and management
within the MK 18 postcode, which is a very large area,
including central Milton Keynes.
Thank you.
Thank you, Robin.
I'll add over to you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:29:19
Yes, thank you very much, Councillor Stotchwick, for your question.
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 0:29:21
This question required responses from both Councillor Peter Strachan,
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning, and myself
as Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Waste.
I'll be reading our joint response and acknowledge all aspects
relevant to planning, especially the first few paragraphs to Councillor Strachan.
Firstly, I understand and Councillor Strachan can confirm
There won't be any direct water supply implication for MK18 customers in Buckingham because the
project is to boost water supplies to a different water region. It is to water resource southeast
and affinity water customers. Therefore the project is relevant to other areas of Buckinghamshire
for the South Van Buckingham and the MK18 postcode.
The site for the transfer from the existing Grand Union
Canal to Gallulet Lane near Stoughhammond
will then be connected by an underground pipeline
to Affinity customers in Luton and Hertfordshire
and North London.
The Grand Union Canal transfer scheme
will transfer water between Water Resource West
and water resource southeast of setting the need for Anglen Water's existing transfer to Affinity Water.
The water released from this reverse trade between Anglen and Affinity would instead be transferred to Cambridge Water
to help meet their deficit in the period before the Finns Reservoir comes into supply.
The Grand Union Canal Transfer Project will not directly affect water supplies for customers in the Anglian Water Area, including MK18.
And responsibility for the long -term sustainable supply of water resource will be in Water Resource East Plan and with Anglian Water for Supplies.
The council is working closely with Anglin water amongst all the key stakeholders in the water cycle strategy to ensure that local plan for booking shower facilitates infrastructure upgrades and sustainable water supplies to existing and new customers up to 2045.
This strategy will be completed and published in June,
or sorry, in July, 2026,
and is informing the regulation 19 local plan
to be published by the 23rd of July, 2026.
Now with specific regard to the Buckingham Camell society's
ideas to improve water conveyance storage
and aquifer recharge through restoration of the Buckingham Arm of the canal,
linear reservoirs and wetlands in the river valley, and improvements of pinch
points, the council agrees that these are interesting and creative water
management concepts. However, it's not possible to understand or quantify any
flood risk implications without feasibility and design work supported by
a flood risk assessment of the proposal.
That said, you will be aware
that the environment agency has begun an initial appraisal
into the viability of a range of possible
flood risk management options for Buckingham.
The EA have confirmed that they will work
with the flood action group for Buckingham
to consider ideas put forward by the community
for flood mitigation in the appraisal.
Both the appraisal work and the canal -related proposals
have been discussed also at the Council -led
Buckingham Flood Risk Coordination Network meetings,
which are attended by the EA, Anglin Water,
the Buckingham Canal Society,
and also by the Flood Action Group.
And this provides further opportunities for discussions
on these matters moving forward. Additionally, if you think it would be
helpful, a member of the planning policy team will be able to have a meeting to
discuss any queries on applications of the above in the context of the emerging
local plan, but not until after the 23rd of July. There are currently no resources
available before that date. The 23rd of July is when the government requires
our local plan to begin its Regulation 19 final stage of engagement before it's submitted
for examination by December 2026.
Thank you, Ade.
Quite a long response there.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:34:27
Obviously, it's a topic that will continue given the scale of the involvement.
So more to come, Robin, but thank you for asking the question.
I will be back because, quite frankly, the detailed response didn't recognise the reality
but I will be back.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
That's the end of question time for today,
just the one question.
So we move to the forward plan.

6 Forward Plan (28 Day Notice)

This is on pages 21 to 32 of the Agenda Pack.
Forward plan is the at a moment in time
taken look at the future business that's
coming before cabinet on what's called the 28 -day notice.
I do authorise members of the public
to look at that more frequently, because it
will update as the business of the council continues.
But as these report packs were put together,
you'll see them on those pages.
Does anyone have any questions or comments
on the forward plan?
Ade, you do, yes?
Yes, leader.
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 0:35:32
On page 23,
the litter enforcement strategy review,
we're still working on that document.
And therefore, I'll apply that it be pulled back a bit.
We'll be able to bring it on the first of July.
Just to put that in the record.
Okay, thank you.
So that's an early notification.
As I said, things will change.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:35:58
So that one is likely to be at a meeting
later in the year than July.
Okay, thank you very much for that clarification.
Let's move now to, oh, sorry.
Having done that, people are having to accept
the forward plan as drafted.
Great, thank you.
Item seven, this is the Best Start programme.

7 Best Start Programme

This can be found in your agenda pack
on pages 33 to 44 inclusive.
I'm going to ask Carl Jackson as the cabinet member
for education and children's services
to introduce this item.
And we have Evel Albert,
who's the corporate interim corporate director
for children's services and Sarah Ashmead,
directive for transformation and change here should there be any technical questions.
So over to you, Carl.
Thank you, Lida. I'm delighted to present this paper to the Cabinet this morning.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:36:53
It's not a long paper, but it's a very positive one. With Cabinet's agreement,
we have an opportunity here to provide more comprehensive and accessible support and advice
to families in Buckinghamshire where they need it and when they need it. And in particular,
as this paper proposes to make significant new investments in Wickham and in Burnham
for the benefit of hundreds of local families. Last year authorities to deliver a best start
in life programme in their local area. So to deliver that on the ground, Buckinghamshire
Council has produced a clear plan to strengthen early years and family services to support
children's development and that's as measured through the good level of development assessment
at the end of the reception year.
Buckinghamshire has been set an ambitious target of 80 %
of children achieving a good level of development,
GLD, by 2027 -28.
That's about a 9 % increase on the current level,
just for context, and also seeks a significant improvement
for children eligible for free school meals.
To hit that target, which we're determined to do,
we will require targeted early preventative support
for those families who need it.
This is not a sort of universal offer intended to intervene
in how every family parents, their children,
it's targeted at those families who need it.
Many families won't need the additional support,
but a key principle of the Best Start
in Life programme is that earlier intervention with the families
who do need it can prevent children falling behind
in their development at such an early stage in their life.
We're one place to deliver on this.
At the heart of the strategy are Best Start family hubs.
So the idea is these are sort of one -stop shops
for local families that will bring together health,
education, childcare, and family support,
including parenting programmes, perinatal mental health support,
infant feeding support, and early send help.
And of course, signposting families to support elsewhere
where we don't provide it ourselves.
Because we've invested so consistently
in our 16 family centres over the years,
we already have a number of, of the bases
on which we can build.
And the plan is to develop some of those family centres
into Best Start family hubs.
They're already well known.
They're accessible to local families.
And they already provide some
of the services you would expect the Best Start family hub
to provide.
It's also important to note
that the Best Start family hubs will be accompanied
by proactive outreach work in cooperation
with health, earlier settings in the voluntary sector to engage with those families who would
benefit from earlier and more intensive support. That's particularly important if you're looking,
say, at Wickham, where we're going to hopefully designate with cabinet's agreement one new Best
Start Family Hub. Obviously, Wickham is a fairly large area. It wouldn't be near everyone in
Wickham the first hub, so that outreach work proactively helping families is important too.
Last month, this council formally designated Elhurst Family Centre as our first Best Start
family hub that was done on time and on budget. Today I'm proposing we build on
that strong start by agreeing a further two locations for Best Start family hubs.
One in High Wickham, one in Burnham. If we take Wickham first, the good level of
development outcomes across the Wickham area demonstrate a clear case for Best
Start family hub in the town. So the recommendation in this paper is to be
open one of our next two Best Start family hubs in Wickham with the aim of
having it up and running by January 2027.
If I turn now to Burnham,
the data shows that Burnham is ranked lowest
in terms of the good level of development performance
of children in that area entitled to free school meals.
So my recommendation is that Burnham
should be a priority area for investment
in a new Best Start family hub.
There is a really strong sort of data led case for that.
As I've mentioned, in most cases,
I would expect the new Best Start family hubs to be on the sites of existing family centres
That's the case with the new Elmhurst hub in Aylesbury. It is likely to be the case with the new hub in Wickham as well
In Burnham, that's not going to work
There is an existing family centre, but it's relatively small
It doesn't have the space to provide all the services that a Best Start family hub is expected to provide
So that basically leaves us with three options
We could not proceed with the Best Start Family Hub in Burnham, but frankly the data suggests we really ought to, and we could have a very positive impact there.
Another option would be for the Council to identify and buy another site in Burnham for a new Best Start Family Hub.
Finding the site, buying it, probably having to adapt it as well, would take time and potentially cost a lot of money.
We're obviously looking here to achieve this for local families at good value for
council taxpayers' money, and I want it open sooner rather than later, early 2027,
from January.
So, going down the route of sort of identifying and buying a new site would come with its
risks, both on the value for money and the timing side.
The third option, which I think is by far the best and which I recommend we approve
today is to repurpose the Burnham Day Opportunity Centre as a best start family hub.
Cabinet will recall that last September we agreed not to continue the operation
of the Day Opportunity Centre on that site and we were
expecting to put the site up for sale at the end of last year. But following
publication of new guidance, government guidance on where local authorities
should locate these new hubs and based on the latest good level of development
data from Burnham. It's become very clear in my view that the Day Opportunity Centre
site offers the best opportunity for a new Best Start family hub in the area. That site
is already in the Council's possession, it's already known to the local community, it's
accessible and unlike the existing family centre across the road, it also has plenty
of parking and is big enough to accommodate all the services you would expect in the Best
Family Hub. So leader in cabinet today I'm asking you to endorse the Best Start
in Life programme, agree a further two locations for Best Start Family Hubs, one
in Wickham, one in Burnham, delegate to the cabinet member for Education and
Children's Services, that's me, the decision on the site location of the
Wickham Hub, agree to keep the former day opportunities centre site in Burnham
rather than selling it and open the new Best Start family hub on the site from January 2027
or as soon after as we can get it open. And finally to fund $678 ,000 capital budget to deliver the
Best Start family hubs which will be funded for a Best Start grant and corporate capital funding
from the capital programme and contingency. I'm happy to take questions obviously.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:43:47
Thank you, Carl. That's very helpful. I think, as you said, we've already opened or designated
ELMHA, so it's encouraging that there's a further roll out programme you're proposing
into Wickham and Bournham. I'm sure there will be questions. Isabel Darby first, please.
Cllr Isobel Darby - 0:44:09
Yes, thank you very much, leader, and thank you, Carl, for your going through the paper.
I mean, absolutely welcome anything that we can do to give our young people the best start.
It saves a lot of heartache.
It absolutely prepares young people from birth and pre -birth to actually live the best lives
that they're able to.
And at the end of the day, it saves the state in its various forms a lot of money in the
future.
And we owe it to all our children to give them that best start, not in two years' time,
even January is a long way away for some.
We need to do it now.
So this gives us the opportunity to do that.
So I absolutely support it.
But one question to you is that there is obviously a building
which is currently used for the children's,
the existing hub in Burnham.
What are your plans for that, please?
Yes, thank you, Isabel.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:45:06
So you're correct, obviously, as we move services
out of the existing family centre onto the new site if cabinet agrees we will
then have an empty building and obviously nothing's been agreed for the
use of that yet because I think we need to we need to be clear on our decision
here today about making that move and but I know officers have already had
some preliminary conversations with St. Peter's School because the family centre
is in the school building and they say nothing's nothing signed on signed on the
dotted line, but we've had some very positive conversations.
They are they have some ideas already about how they might
want to use the building.
We are always looking for new opportunities for send places.
Maybe send unit would be a good option.
Like I say nothing nothing signed off, but we will
definitely be able to find a use for that site which benefits
the community.
Hopefully the school as well as local families.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:46:00
I have Peter Stracken next.
Cllr Peter Strachan - 0:46:03
Thank you very much for a very comprehensive report, which I thoroughly endorse in every way.
But a related question really, are there any opportunities to use the Burnham site
on the assumption that it gets adopted for any purposes in addition to being a Best Start family hub?
Thank you, Councillor Strapp.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:46:27
And yeah, I think to make good use of the Burnham site, we need to do that.
I think we're in a position at the moment where the current family project is too small to be a best start family hub.
It can't offer all the services.
But the site we're moving to, the former day opportunities site, actually could cater for a lot more than just a best start family hub.
We'd almost be possibly slightly underusing it long term if we only had a best start family hub there.
So, issues, possible uses we're looking at would be perhaps developing more of a youth hub on the site.
and the school in Burnham Secretary School closed a few years back and so a lot of the
children from Burnham are going to out of Burnham to other schools they come back in the evening
it would be good to maybe have some youth provision there. We could look at adult learning we've
obviously had the good news about devolution of powers and funding for adult learning recently
to the council. Maybe we can kick on with that by having some adult learning courses, skills,
employability, English as a second language courses.
So I think we've got an opportunity to go beyond making this a best start family hub
and actually make it a broader community hub and an even bigger investment in Burnham.
I would stress though at this point that today's decisions about the best start family hub,
I think we want to get that up running open and established and then we will work
with the community to sort of, to consider how best we might make use of the site beyond that.
Thank you very much. Thomas Broom, please.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:47:56
Thank you, Lida. And just to say, first of all, I'm really, really pleased to see this come forward.
I know that you've been looking very hard at this site, Carl, but we've also had the local MP, Joy Morrissey,
our local members, Paul Kelly and Kirsten Ashburn, who've been campaigning quite hard to make sure that this site is retained for the service of the residents of Burnham.
And I think this is a fantastic way of doing it.
Just in terms of the scope of it, though, are we talking
about a site that's going to support 10, 15, 20 local
residents, or are we talking about something more
significant that maybe reaches out a little further into the
local area in South Bucks?
Thank you.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:48:41
There's actually huge demand for these services in
I saw some figures for, it was actually a 13 month period,
I think it was first of March, 2025 to 31st of March, 2026.
So it's pretty up to date figures.
And these were for use of the existing
family centre in Vernon.
There were about 1800 families used at that time,
including actually over 2000 children.
That made it the second most used
family centre in the county.
And it was only Maple Dean on the Cretax Road
in High Wycombe, which was actually more used.
And even then, there wasn't much in it.
So there is huge demand there.
I mean, given the size of the current family centre,
it makes that sort of in huge demand to the point
where we really do need this extra space.
It's not just a nice opportunity, I would argue.
It's actually necessary if we're going to meet demand.
And as you mentioned, I'm very grateful, obviously,
to have the support of joint Morris EMP and Councillors
Ashman and Kelly for this.
it is important to have that local political backing as well.
Can I just say I think it's really important to actually to draw that point
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:49:51
out about the scale of this because we're talking about a single site that's
potentially impacting the lives of thousands of families in that part of the county.
And it really is fantastic that we can use this site for such a good purpose.
And that it's reached into those surrounding towns and villages, but
particularly the residents of Burnham, is going to be on such a scale.
Yes, thank you Tom.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:50:22
I mean, you mentioned earlier, Carl, about having a network.
So there are thousands of families who utilise these services across the county.
And if you read the back about the four different family centres across Highwick,
that's similar here in Aylesbury, and where we've just done our own work.
So these are important services.
I suppose if I just jump in with a question,
I was talking where do we go after these three?
Is there a longer term programme and sort of align to that,
even if one site is chosen where there was a multiplicity
like in WIC and where there were four,
the work in the other ones is expected to continue, is it?
Yes, that's right.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:51:11
So in terms of the deadlines we've been set by the government, actually,
the only sort of firm deadline we were set was get one open by April.
And then there's not been a sort of hard date set on anything,
but obviously we see the benefit of enhancing the sort
of the services available to families.
So we want to kick on quickly with these next two.
Based on the good level of development data, Wickham
and Burnham are I think the obvious strongest cases for these new sites.
It's not three and done, though.
We will keep looking at adding sort of more family support
through Best Start Family Hubs.
The existing family centres are likely to be the base
for future Best Start Family Hubs.
We will look to keep going, obviously, as resources allow
to keep expanding that service available to family.
But, yeah, it's certainly, this is not the end of it,
but it's the important next stage, and I think the data
and the demand figures we have suggest that this,
Wickham and Burnham are the sensible next locations
for this at the moment.
Okay, thank you, that's really helpful.
Robert Canson.
Thank you very much, Lita.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:52:12
And I mean to echo all the comments
which have been said today,
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:52:15
I also think this is a very good paper
and the suggestions in it.
I mean the proposals being put forward are very sensible.
I mean my query relates to paragraph 7 .9 on page 42,
particularly in regards to Burnham
where there is mention of the potential receipt
when we last considered this in September.
and how that will also be foregone to go with this.
But I just wanted to sort of double cheque.
So obviously the opportunities enter is a large site,
which as has been mentioned is currently underused.
In light of that paragraph and the lost receipt,
how confident are you in this proposal that the site is going
to be used enough to justify not getting this capital receipt?
Yes, thank you, Councillor Carri.
I mean, it's a reasonable question.
I think, as obviously we had made the decision previously
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:53:06
that we look to sell the site
and take the capital receipt for it.
I am very confident now that we have found a use for the site
that is going to make it very well used,
because we have a duty, obviously,
to make efficient use of our assets.
These are ultimately, you know, they're public assets.
We can't have buildings standing three -quarters,
empty three -quarters of the time.
It's not responsible.
So I've looked very closely at this.
I think that the use, the data on the use
of the current family centre in Burnham tells its own storey.
This is a family centre that's currently used by more people
than the Elmhurst Centre and the Berryfield Centre, you know,
big centres in Aylesbury.
Only Maple Dean in Wickham has higher level of use.
So the demand is clearly there.
With a bigger space and more services, we might find
that use rather increases beyond that 2 ,000,
and as Councillor Broome was saying, of course,
there's the surrounding communities as well as Burnham.
And then we can go beyond the Best Start Family Hub
once it's up and running and look to add further uses,
look at that youth hub offer,
look at the adult learning possibility.
I am as confident as you can be
that this site is going to end up being very well used
and we can look at this council and site and say,
we're making good use of that asset, it's really well used
and we're bringing a lot of benefits to the community through it.
So I'm very confident about that point.
Thank you very much Carl.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:54:34
Obviously turning that one in particular into a wider community
up is a helpful aspiration.
I've got a question from Carol and I have a couple more.
Carol Heath please.
Thank you, Peter.
I'm really pleased to see this excellent proposal that's being brought
Cllr Carol Heap - 0:54:49
forward today for the repurposing of the Boenem Day Centre.
But my question really is a more general one and it's about the Best Start hubs.
And I'm just interested to know, we already have, as you said,
our 16 family centres well established across the county.
Could you say a bit more about the additional services that we could expect
to see in the Best Start hubs?
And will these services actually be co -located as well?
Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor Heater.
I'm grateful for your support for the proposal.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:55:24
Best of family hubs aren't a complete revolution
from family centres.
It's a sort of enhancement and improvement
on what family centres will provide.
So I think there's a bigger focus on things like
early send help and intervention,
bigger emphasis on maybe things like
sort of perinatal mental health support, infant feeding support.
Co -location is crucial.
And this is going to be a big part of determining
which family centres become Best Start family hubs.
Because you just physically need a certain amount of space
to get all these services in together, bringing in health,
bringing in education.
You know, you want your stay in play classes.
You want your parenting classes.
You want financial support, housing advice.
You know, if you really sort of bring all these services
together to try and create that one -stop shop,
You need a lot of space, a lot of services.
It's a reason why Elmhurst was chosen first,
because it is a big site with room to co -locate.
So the co -location point is really important.
Getting as many relevant services
in there together is important.
But I will also stress again this outreach model.
As we're starting to build up the network
of Best Start family hubs, we are, it's particularly important
that I think we look to identify families who need support
and reach out to them proactively rather than waiting
for them to walk through the door, perhaps a year later,
and they might have needed that support.
So that is part of it, too.
But, yeah, so the fundamental answer
to your question is it's an enhancement
on what family centres offer is more than a complete revolution.
And that's why we're choosing the sites very carefully based
on the facilities we have and on where the data says
that we'll have the most benefit.
Thank you very much.
Bit of a wider question, and it might be Errol
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:57:07
and Sarah can help a little bit with this as well.
Obviously, it's not new.
The paper makes the point we invest 1 .6 million currently
into our family hubs or family centres already.
And you've made reference to some of the outcomes,
particularly the GLD outcomes from that.
I just think it's worth us explaining that our target
of 80 % is not shared across the country
where the target is lower.
And so this is to, if you like, stretch the target for Buckinghamshire to build on the strong foundation that we already have.
Can you just explain how that works? Because if we hit 79%, ultimately, that would still be very good performance compared to other benchmarking, would it not?
But of course, we're doing everything we can to reach that stretch target. So anything you want to say, Carl? And then maybe I'll ask Errol to comment.
Yeah, I mean, you're absolutely right, leader.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:58:10
The national target is 75 percent, which is a good level of development.
And the Bukash Council has been given a target of 80 percent.
Now, I would be more than delighted to beat the national target, so that's fine by me.
In terms of how the targets have been reached, as far as I can tell, basically, I think every
local authority has basically been told to hit 9 percent higher.
Roughly speaking that seems to be what's been applied across the country.
So we're at 71 .4 % I think on the latest figure and we've been asked to go up to 80.
But yeah, so we've been asked to go 5 % above the national target, but
we'll do our best to hit it.
And then we can celebrate even more when we do.
Absolutely right, I mean obviously we're incredibly ambitious for
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:58:52
everyone in the county and get the right outcomes.
But maybe some commentary on why is it 80 and not anything else.
and then effectively the difficult question of
how confident are you that we have things in place
to be able to achieve that?
Thank you, Lita.
So, Councillor Jackson is not far on.
Errol Albert - Corporate Director for Children's Services - 0:59:14
The methodology was set generally across
all local authorities for that 9 % uplift.
So we were, as rightly stated, at 71 .4,
and therefore our target was reached at 80%.
I can't give you the ins and outs as to how
that methodology was reached, unfortunately,
but ultimately was very much a generic target set by all.
And again, from R71 .4, it gives us that target.
In terms of confidence, just to reemphasize,
this is a whole system approach,
involves our partners equally.
And I just wanted to pick up the point
on Councillor Carrington's point made earlier as well.
We cannot underestimate the power of prevention
and early intervention, and the more we do with the sites,
will effectively ensure that we have a better chance
of preventing children and young people and families
coming to the attention of higher tier services.
And that's something that we shouldn't underestimate
in a sense.
But it does involve a whole system.
It involves our health partners.
As mentioned, it does involve those opportunities as well
to look at co -location and how we can expand
on a wider programme, what other services we can enter into this.
So in terms of confidence, I think given what we've got in place already around our family
centre network and our family hub network, I think we're in a good position to reach
that 80 % target.
Thank you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:00:40
And given this is aimed at early intervention to improve outcomes for the individual, but
also frankly, it will drop greater, more complex demand later on in life on council services.
And I know we've done the best start strategy.
Can you just talk a little bit about how we make sure these services are known, because
some of this is when people are in pregnancy, so how do we reach those women, and then,
and so on, because it's all I have in the centre, we've got to make sure we're getting
the right people there at the right time if they're in need of support.
Indeed, and it is very much around that important signposting leader.
Errol Albert - Corporate Director for Children's Services - 1:01:24
The basic principles around Best Start is very much around the
neighbourhood, stronger neighbourhood footprint in relation to this offer as
well. So it's very much centred within that community. So lots of engagement
with our stakeholders, particularly around health. So health visitors,
midwives, will all be aware of the Best Start programme and indeed GP surgeries. So
for instance if somebody was to go to their GP they can receive advice as to
their nearest best start up in order to receive those important advice and
guidance around what they can do around parenting, parenting programmes and classes
that will be offered in relation to managing children's things like their
behaviour but also giving them those opportunities to be ready for school
when they start in their first few formative years. So very much around sign
posting, advertising, awareness raising that will happen across our partnership
and that's already begun and will continue.
Fantastic, because as I said, we want everyone
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:02:25
to have the best start.
And this gives us, as it says in the name,
an opportunity to do that.
And I encourage Karl by your thoughts
that it's not three and done, but obviously we
build up that provision.
But we do have a network of family centres
already that will still provide and continue
to provide those services, as shown by the good level outcome
we have compared to the rest of the country and how we get that even better.
I don't have any more questions, so I think what I'm intending to do, Carl,
you sort of went through the recommendations earlier,
is unless someone indicates to me they have an objection to this,
we will take the recommendations on block to endorse the programme,
follow the designations as outlined in the paper, and
the delegations to Carla and others in the paper and of course to change the decision
on the disposal of the Burnham Centre and apply the capital as outlined in Recommendation
E. So with that in place, are cabinet members agreeable to the recommendations on block
please?
Okay, I agree by me.
Thank you very much.
That is agreed and carried. Thank you, Carl, and to the officers for that.

8 Buckinghamshire Shareholder & Trust Committee Annual Report 2025/26

We will now move on to item 8, Buckinghamshire Shareholder and Trust Committee Annual Report
to be presented by Robert Carrington. This is on pages 45 to 62 of the agenda back.
We have Glenn Watson, Senior Governance Manager and Deputy Monitoring Officer here,
and Lesley Ashton as the Committee Secretariat Manager to answer any technical questions on
Cllr Robert Carington - 1:04:15
report. Thank you very much leader. So I'm delighted to bring forward this
report which is actually the second one I brought but I'm happy to say this is
obviously being my inaugural year this is the first one with my face on it so
you may deem that an improvement or not I won't be offended I promise. As a
reminder the shareholder and Trust Committee is a subcommittee of cabinet
which ensures that the Council's companies limited liability partnerships and trusts act in the interest of the council as
shareholder and in the case of the trust of trustee and that best practise is being adhered to and
We are delivering our statutory arrangements ensuring these companies deliver
Value for money for the council and for residents of Buckinghamshire and as a reminder
I mean, it's always important to stress this members of the committee are not directors and do not have any direct involvement
in any of the subsidiary bodies or trusts.
I mean, that's why it's very important for Councillor Wynne
earlier to make his declaration of interest.
So really, it's been a very busy year.
And the most obvious change which has happened,
or piece of work, has been the eagle -eyed amongst you
will have noticed the title has changed.
We used to be the shareholder committee.
We are now the shareholder and trust committee.
So after a bit of work in January,
and I use that word lightly,
it was a significant amount of work,
the terms of reference were amended
to incorporate governance oversight of trust,
of which the council is the sole trustee.
And hence, there was a renaming of the committee.
So for people who may not be aware,
the two principal trusts where the council is the sole trustee
are the Farnham Park Sports Field Charitable Trust
and the Higginson Park Trust.
We met to sort of show how busy we were.
We met seven times during the period last year.
And apart from the trust work, we
were also recommending to cabinet
the winding up of one of the companies,
Conciliar Property Limited.
And there was a decision on this last year.
and more recently, recommending the progression
of the contract exchange between Buckinghamshire Advantage,
another company, the council, and the developer
on the Woodlands project, alongside our normal work
of reviewing business plans, KPIs, and the financial
positions of each of the companies,
and obviously reviewing our best practise
and training arrangements for members of the committee
and all of our directors.
So, moving sort of to what we're planning
for this upcoming year.
So the programme, we're already underway
in capturing the oversight of trusts.
We've already reviewed Hings and Parr Trust
and we will be looking at Farnam Trust
early on in the new year, in June time.
We will also be producing a specific conflict of interest guide for council loan trusts,
much in the same way we have done this for other council -owned entities.
And I really just want to finish with a note of thanks to my fellow cabinet colleagues
who sit on the committee and to all officers who have supported us,
particularly those who also sit as directors on the companies.
And I look forward to another busy and successful year.
Thank you very much, Robert.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:08:06
I appreciate you presenting that report.
And obviously there's a lot of work done in year.
This committee, as it says in the report to be fair,
on page 56 of the PAC and 8 of the report,
it talks about the best practise review and action plan
from that was set by government a few years ago and this this committee came into being to strengthen
the councils um if you like oversight of the activities of those bodies given
they do have public funds involved with them so thank you for the effort you you've gone to to
do that can you just talk to me and it's referenced in the pack just reassure anyone watching whilst
our members are not directors, they do go through substantial training in order to
understand fully the responsibilities they have and the role they have to play here.
Anything to add on that?
Cllr Robert Carington - 1:09:11
Yes, no, I mean it's absolutely the priority of the committee and we're very clear that all directors and members of the committee
must possess the skills relevant to the companies and the trusts overall sort of aims and purpose,
and there should obviously be no obvious direct conflicts with their role in the Council.
And to enable this, we have a very extensive training programme done by an external party,
which this took place in November, and it basically covered the roles and duties of
directors, legislative change, managing conflicts of interest,
role of the board in leading the company,
and the roles and responsibilities
of the committee, and with added emphasis on risk management
and oversight.
And obviously, this will be reviewed.
This is reviewed on an annual basis.
And the next tranche of training will obviously
reflect, as I've mentioned, our added responsibility
with trust and the additional work and understanding which
is required on that side.
Excellent, that's incredibly useful, thank you.
Any other questions?
Ade, yes please.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:10:21
Yes, thank you very much, Lidan.
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 1:10:28
Thank you, Chancellor Carrington, for your report.
Can you tell us, now that the committee
will be responsible for seeing the trust,
the way it acts as the sole trustee,
what areas of work are planned for the coming year in relation to these trusts?
And could you also provide more detail on the key areas of work
and mean priorities planned for the year ahead overall?
Thank you very much for those two questions.
Cllr Robert Carington - 1:11:00
And starting with the trust one, as I sort of mentioned in my report, so the initial work,
which is already underway, is reviewing the two major trusts,
which we are the sole trustee of,
Farnham Park Sports Field and the Higginson Park Trust.
We've already reviewed the business plan and aims
for the Higginson Park Trust.
This was done earlier this year.
As mentioned in June, we're going to be looking
at the Farnham Charitable Trust.
And other bits of work which we'll be looking at is,
it was one which was flagged by the audit committee,
is there are also a number of dormant trust funds,
and that is what we will be looking at as well.
As mentioned, we'll be producing this conflict of interest
guide, similar to what we've done for companies.
And as mentioned, we will be going
through the overall sort of work as we've
done with companies on business plans and the accounts.
So basically going to business as usual effectively
and bringing this oversight.
On the overall work, when we have the spare time
after all of that, there will be the usual work
of just continuously reviewing the business plans and KPIs
for the existing companies and now the trusts
and our normal oversight functions along with continuing,
as I mentioned in my introductory speech,
the winding up of Consilio following the cabinet decision
on that and then also continuing monitoring
that Buck's advantage carries on with the delivery
of the Woodlands project with the developer.
And then also we have Alesbury Vale Estates
and we, as people will be aware,
this is a joint venture with Ackerman Asset Management
and that will be due to come to an end in 2029
and there will be work on that, reviewing that
and coming for an upcoming strategic decision.
And then as mentioned in answer to the leader,
there's all the work with the training
and being certain we're up to date.
So I assure you we will, there's a lot to keep us busy.
Excellent, thank you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:13:07
Glenn, is there anything,
I just want to give the opportunity,
given the nature of the business done by the committee,
is there anything in here you think we need to be aware of
from your perspective?
And also maybe you could just say something about
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:13:28
how we make sure that in year we see any changes
to these kind of arrangements such as the government best practise and how you incorporate
that into the work plan.
Thank you, leader.
Yeah, exactly that.
I don't think there's anything specifically additional around the report to draw out that
Councillor Carrington hasn't already done in that respect, except for some of the points
you just alluded to there about the work stream of the committee behind the scenes.
It does annually review its director appointments and the skills audits that it has as a board
as a matrix for determining how director appointments
should be made.
It looks at the annual best practise checklist
to see if the council's practises are still in accordance
with that national best practise,
which came in about four years ago.
So there's an annual review of that also,
Glenn Watson - Principal Governance Officer - 1:14:18
annual review of the conflicts of interest policy.
So as well as living out the cheques and challenges
on the trusts and the companies,
the committee also spends time checking challenge itself
to make sure it is up to speed on its own governance.
It does do an annual report, as you see here.
The Audit and Governance Committee also receives an
annual update on company governance and, indeed,
trust governance going forward to ensure that there's
that double cheque, that it's not just the shareholder
committee doing its work and marking its own homework,
but there is that separate governance strand as well.
So I think that's worthy of mention, just to round out
the work of the committee and how that fits into an
overall governance picture.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:15:01
Excellent. Thank you very much, Glenn. Unless we're showing right, Robert. So today we're
here to note the report, which obviously you chair the committee is a subset cabinet. So
our members content to note this report, please. Great. Thank you very much. That will now
bring us to item nine. Now item nine will be to exclude the members of the public so

9 Exclusion of the public (if required)

we can consider the confidential minutes.
Given you have seen them in advance,
and to make things efficient,
because we would then come back to formally approve them.
Does anyone want, have any questions or comments
that would require us to go into confidential session
on those confidential minutes?
I'm seeing no.
Therefore then, we will not proceed with the exclusion part.
We will just ask you item 10,
Are you content to approve the confidential minutes
for the meeting held on the 21st of April,
which are on pages 63 and 64 of your confidential pack
as a correct record of that April meeting?
Thank you, that is then agreed.
And therefore we can move now
to the date of the next meeting.

11 Date of next meeting

The date of the next meeting is scheduled
to be the 9th of June at 10 a .m.
So the 9th of June, 2026,
listed as a provisional date and time, but please work on that.
So with that business now done, I'll bring this meeting to an end
and close today's cabinet meeting.
Thank you for your attendance, members, members of the public and officers.
And meeting closed.