Cabinet - Wednesday 1 July 2026, 10:00am - Buckinghamshire Council Webcasting

Cabinet
Wednesday, 1st July 2026 at 10:00am 

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  1. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Peter Strachan
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Thomas Broom
  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 Carol Heap
  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
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  1. Question Time
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  5. Elly Cook - Senior Committee Services Officer
  6. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  7. Cllr Carl Jackson
  8. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Carl Jackson
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Errol Albert - Corporate Director for Children's Services
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  5. Cllr Robert Carington
  6. Cllr Carl Jackson
  7. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  8. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  9. Cllr Carl Jackson
  10. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  11. Cllr Thomas Broom
  12. Cllr Carl Jackson
  13. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  14. Cllr Mark Winn
  15. Cllr Carl Jackson
  16. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Thomas Broom
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Thomas Broom
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  5. Cllr Carl Jackson
  6. Cllr Thomas Broom
  7. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Peter Strachan
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Peter Brazier
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  5. Cllr Thomas Broom
  6. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  7. Cllr Robert Carington
  8. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  9. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  10. Cllr Carl Jackson
  11. Cllr Adekunle Osibogun
  12. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Robert Carington
  2. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  3. Cllr Steve Bowles
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  1. Webcast Finished

Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:00:00
Thank you and good morning everybody.
Welcome to the cabinet meeting of Buckingham's Council today, Wednesday, 1st of July, 2026.
We're at the Gateway in Aylesbury.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:00:13
Just before we start, I'd like to remind members and those members of the public who are present,
this meeting is being webcast.
Members, please use your microphone when you are speaking and remember to turn it off when you're not.
And of course any members of the public who do not wish to have their images captured, please speak to the committee clerk who will advise where to sit so you're not picked up by that camera.

1 Apologies

So with that being said, item one on today's agenda is apologies for absence. I have an apology from Councillor Isabel Darby, but I'm pleased to note that her portfolio deputy Councillor Carol Heap is here, morning Carol.
And of course, Deputy Cabinet members, our welcomes contribute to the debate and discussion
during the meeting, but in accordance with the Constitution, they are not able to vote.
We're also joined in the chamber today by Councillors Peter Martin and Catherine Oliver,
who are portfolio deputies around Cabinet.
It's good to see them as well.
You're most welcome.

2 Minutes

Item two, if there's no further apologies, which there are not, item two on the agenda
is the minutes of the last meeting.
This was the minutes of the meeting held on the 9th of June 2026 and on pages 3 to 26 of the supplementary pack for the item.
I'll look round to cabinet members to seek approval to approve those minutes unless anyone has anything to add.
OK, so you are agreeing to consenting signing off those minutes. Agreed? No further issues. Thank you.

3 Declarations of interest

Item three, declarations of interest. Are there any declarations of interest? Recognising members'
interests are on the Council website, but does anyone have further declarations for today's meeting?
Nope, okay, thank you. Then we have discharged that. When we come to item four, hot topics. Hot topics

4 Hot Topics

is not a requirement on cabinet members, but it is an opportunity for cabinet members to highlight
particular things of importance or interest that would be of use for members of the public,
the media and other people watching to hear about. So I will go around the table and ask
cabinet members please to introduce yourself before speaking and confirm if you have a hot
topic or not and please try and make those as succinct as possible. So first to my left
Councillor Peter Strachan please. Thanks leader Peter Strachan cabinet member for planning.
Cllr Peter Strachan - 0:02:46
One very brief hot topic and that is simply to assure colleagues that we're making very good progress on the local plan and we expect to hit the required timelines leader.
There will be more information over the next weeks about this and it will go also into the public domain in due course but just to assure colleagues that we're on time.
That's very helpful, thank you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:03:14
Yes, we're in the month of local plan next step on the regulation 19.
And in fact, our next cabinet meeting in particular, we'll deal with that later in this month on the 22nd of July.
So good to hear everything's on track. Thank you, Peter. Tom Broome, please.
Tom Broome, deputy leader and cabinet member for transport.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:03:32
Just to say, leader, that we are now well into our summer operations.
The capital programme is rolling out across the county and we do ask residents to bear
with us as obviously more resurfacing work on the roads will mean a little more disruption.
This is part of our £120 million road programme which is the biggest investment in Buckinghamshire
roads in the history of the county. This
is alongside other summer activities such as wheat spraying and grass cutting.
We are always aware at this time of year that with weather being not necessarily entirely predictable,
we appreciate the help of residents across the county when we have particular areas of grass,
particularly on vision splays, that need an additional reactive cut.
If they can report that on FixMyStreet, that is always very much appreciated.
Excellent, thank you Tom. I'm sure people are very
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:04:33
sure to know those schemes are happening. Good. Steve Bowles please.
Cllr Steve Bowles - 0:04:39
Thanks leader, Steve Bowles, cabinet member for communities. I have two hot topics. The
first one is a joint project between East Chilterns Community Board and
Opportunity Bucks which is championing a youth voice priority. We launched that on
the 2nd of June. Switch Lanes project has been designed and delivered in
partnership with Switch Lanes, the community board,
and Opportunity Bucks.
It provides a safe and welcoming space for young people.
It offers structured mentoring alongside informal well -being
support for those who need it most.
It runs weekly throughout the academic year
and focuses on supporting seldom heard young people.
The second one is North Bucks community board,
community transport priority.
Collaborative work has been undertaken by the community board with partners on the integrated
neighbourhood team, including health services, patient reps, and Buckingham Town Council.
They've been reviewing how residents are accessing medical appointments, how they can help with
ensuring local support services are meeting residents' needs.
In partnership with the Community Impact Bucks Transport Hub and the Volunteer Driver Service,
A new guide to the transport options are available for GP
and hospital appointments has been developed for inclusion
in the next edition of the 3W Health newsletter for patients
of Winslow surgery with other North Bucks areas to follow.
Great, thank you.
Now I see people can find access to that
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:06:11
through the community board web pages.
Great, thanks Steve.
Peter please.
Thank you.
Good morning everybody.
Peter Brazier, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure.
Cllr Peter Brazier - 0:06:19
I have a couple of hot topics, one of which is very hot.
About four hours ago, we welcomed a new operator
into the Wickham Rye Lido.
We're pleased to be able to announce
that GLL have taken over the lease as is.
Greenwich Leisure Limited are a new partner
to Bucks Council, but a well -established operator.
They operate under the band Better.
They run just under 400 leisure facilities currently,
including libraries and cultural venues.
And we very much look forward to working with them.
I'm pleased to be able to report that the Lido remained open
and operational throughout the administrative period.
I really want to thank our Parks and Leisure team
for seeing this over the line.
I'm also pleased to report that the transfer
of the lease has happened without cost
to the Buckinghamshire taxpayer, council taxpayer.
This has not been without effort
and while I wouldn't normally single out an officer,
Sue Drumman managed this throughout, and she said to me on Friday,
it's been like sailing half a walnut shell through choppy waters,
but we are now in a safe port.
I also couldn't be there this morning to see the first opening,
but I'd probably just be in the way anyway.
But what I did do is I went along Friday with Sue and Catherine and got a tour
and met the team that have stayed with the Lido throughout the administration period,
keeping it running in what must have been a very worrying time.
So pleased to see the Lido was absolutely packed on Friday, it was hot on Friday.
And there was over 100 people in the pool.
So, very good to see, very good news, and we look forward to the continued future of the Lido.
And talking of the hot weather, I just wanted to quickly thank the library team,
especially the volunteers who make up 90 % of our library team,
for reacting positively and proactively
during, through the hot weather.
It would have been so easy just to say,
sorry, it's too hot, we're gonna close the libraries.
We actually only had one library closed.
The rest, even the non -air conditioned ones,
remained open and they pivoted into a model
where they were providing a cool space
for people to get out of the heat.
They were providing water
and help people get through that hot period.
So thank you to them.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:08:42
Yeah, thank you. Alec, on my comments on that, as you know, we use libraries and some of
our other properties as warm spaces. Equally important in this case to, as you say, respite
for people to be able to have a cool space and water and so on. So yes, thank you to
all those. And on the, again, thanks to everyone involved in the Wiccan Rye Lido, because these
are cherished facilities that we have. And yeah, I know you and your team have stepped
to make sure that we're able to try and find this new operator.
So to keep things going, have it up and running,
just as it was before, was really helpful.
And I'm sure more people will end up in that pool over the summer.
Thank you.
And the other facilities there. So thank you.
Robert.
Thank you very much, Liza.
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:09:26
I'm Councillor Robert Carrington, Cabinet Member for Resources.
I have two very quick hot topics.
Firstly, following the launch of our AI Virtual Assistant
on our website in March, which has now supported
around 29 ,000 interactions, with 92 % of those queries
handled without needing a customer service agent,
and 95 % of customers surveyed rating the experience
as great or good.
I'm happy to announce we have now introduced
a voice AI assistant last week on Thursday, the 25th of June
with our main customer service phone lines,
initially for the waistline and general inquiries.
This will enhance the experience by providing instant answers to
common queries without waiting in a queue,
sending helpful links via SMS to customers who can then quickly
access services online, and transferring to an advisor at
any point, ensuring support is always available for those
who want it.
Just to reiterate, as with the website virtual assistant,
this isn't about replacing human contact,
but making it easier for customers to get what they want
and make their experience of contacting the council as smooth as possible.
And to remind you, there is always a human involved and this has been extensively tested
and we will continue to improve throughout the overall launch.
And my second one is regarding the High Street Rental Auction Pilot
where we launched our consultation on Monday.
This is for a six -week consultation, which is looking
at our proposals to designate pilot areas in Ellsbury,
Chesham, and High Wycombe,
where high street rental auction powers could potentially
be used.
This consultation seeks views from residents, businesses,
landlords, and other stakeholders
on the proposed designated areas.
The areas designated are those
where we have live regeneration plans.
And so please do respond if you're able to, particularly
if you live in one of those areas.
And as a reminder, the consultation closes
on the 9th of August.
Excellent.
Thank you, Robert.
Carol.
Thank you.
Carol Heap, Deputy Cabinet Member
Cllr Carol Heap - 0:11:39
for Health and Well -Being.
I've got one update, and that's launching today.
We have a new supervised tooth brushing programme delivering
supervised tooth brushing in early year settings for three
to five -year -olds, and this is predominantly in high needs areas and includes our SEND
settings as well.
This will be delivered by trained and supported staff.
The reason this is important is because tooth decay is one of the most common yet preventable
conditions affecting young children, and it disproportionately affects children in deprived
communities and those with special needs and disabilities.
It can lead to pain, disrupted sleep, poor nutrition,
and reduced school readiness, as well as having wider impacts
on health and well -being.
So it's an important programme, and it will help
to embed good tooth brushing habits from an early stage
and improve oral health for all children.
Thank you very much, Carol.
Carl, please.
Thank you, Lita.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:12:45
Carl Jackson, Cabinet Member for Education and Children's Services.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:12:47
One hot topic, which to continue the theme, also happening today.
In the gateway, we have today the first in -person family hub network conference.
So this is bringing together representatives from council services like the SEND service,
also health services, local charities, and other groups who work with young people across
the county.
The focus of today will include support for children with SEND, supporting young people's
school attendance.
though I'd add that school attendance in Buckinghamshire is above the national average as it is, but
we can always drive it higher.
And also there'll be a lot of discussion about the new Best Start in Life strategy.
This is obviously a big focus for me and in my portfolio.
Buckinghamshire Council has already designated one Best Start Family Hub, the former Elmhurst
Family Hub in Aylesbury.
And as members will recall, Cabinet has signed off a strategy to see new Best Start Family
hubs in Wickham and in Burnham as well.
So the focus today will be on, on supporting children and young people
with SEND and their families, sort of in those crucial early years.
Thanks, Carl.
It's really good to see that happening.
I know it's very buzzy outside as we came in.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:14:00
So I hope that first event goes well.
Thank you.
Ade.
Thank you, leader, Councillor Ade O 'Shebrough, cabinet member for
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 0:14:09
environment, climate change and waste.
I have two hot topics.
The first is Project Groundwater gained national recognition at the 2026 Flood and Coast Excellence
Awards earlier this month and was announced the winner in the category Committee Action
for innovation grant funded projects.
I would like to use this opportunity to thank the teams that have been working on the project,
particularly our committee champions that have made this success possible.
I would also like to draw the cabinet's attention to the Box Street Mission Tree Pack
giveaway which is now open and will be closing on 30th of September.
We plan to distribute the trees in November, December and to ensure that we abide by a right -tree -right -place approach.
We will be scrutinising to find out where the applicants will be planting the trees before we hand them over.
Thank you, Lita.
Thank you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:15:04
So the box planting mission is part of the over half a million trees we want to plant.
land owners, town and parish councils and others can come forward and bid for up
to two packs I think it is and there's a hedgerow pack which is the larger one
and then a smaller one with fewer saplings in so they go on the website
put their bid in and say where they want to plant it it will get assessed and
then as you say those who are successful will receive those packs later in the
autumn. Great thank you Mark. Good morning leader Mark Wynn cabinet member for
housing and regulatory services.
Cllr Mark Winn - 0:15:34
And quick announcement just on behalf of the cremation,
our cremation service.
Around 20 people sadly die as a result of suicide.
The emotional pain for those loved ones that left behind
can be really unbearable.
There's a great organisation, Survivors of Bereavement
from Suicide, who have a branch in across Buckinghamshire
or branches across Buckinghamshire
who are there to help those suffering from bereavement.
They've set up a scheme of their legend on the bench, which are wooden benches, and this
provides details of organisations who can help those who are in danger of taking their
own life and to support those who are suffering from the result of a suicide of a loved one.
I was really privileged on Monday afternoon to help open the first one at the Council's
Chiltern Crematorium at Amersham, and other benches will follow at Bearton Crematorium
next state pages Memorial Gardens.
Thank you, Mark.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:16:32
I think that, you know, that just goes to show
the importance of the work that our crematorial team do
and the places.
So good to know those benches are coming in
and giving people, you know, that referencing
and a place to reflect.
Thank you for that.
That brings us to the end of hot topics.
Apart from mine, you will know that we very early on
in this council term, launched the economic growth plan.
You'll also know since then, we've managed to lean
very heavily into the Silverstone Vision board
and secured money and focus from government
for inward investment.
Well, again, today, sees the start
of an international investor visit
with us having asked government to help us
put more focus onto this middle section
of the Oxford to Cambridge growth corridor.
So they will be coming to see Silverstone and our Enterprise Zone and Westcott amongst other places
Hopefully to get more inward investment into this county to boost our economy and boost jobs and opportunities for local people
So later on this afternoon, I'll be going up to play a part in that visit
And we hope that by showing off some of those economic jewels we have we obtain further investment
So it's really encouraging to have that have the local
driving of that agenda supported by efforts of national government to get those investors here.
So we'll feed back in due course. Thank you all for hot topics. Let's move swiftly on then to item 5,

5 Question Time

which is question time, an opportunity for members of the Council to ask questions of cabinet as the Executive.
today we have two questions the first from Councillor Penny Drayton which will
be to add a and then a question submitted by Councillor Larissa Townsend
now just as an indication of how busy councillors can be Larissa is unable to
be with us to ask the question because she's on a planning site visit so I've
asked the officer to read that question out for her but for people watching
that's the reason Larissa is not here not because she chose not to attend but
First of all, it's Penny.
So, Councillor Drayton, please come forward.
Good to see you, welcome.
Good morning.
And good to see you,
if you'd like to ask a question, please.
Thank you, good morning.
Good morning, everyone.
My question is to Councillor Osbogan
and just to, it's in reference to the report
in your, in the papers today.
and the cabinet member highlights desirable implementation
of the strategy and the tree management strategy
in conjunction bucks tree mission
to enhance the county's tree resource,
which should be it's tree resources more than just numbers.
And it's about canopy cover.
So my question is in reference to that.
Given the council's commitment to plant 543 ,000 trees,
Question Time - 0:19:43
Can the cabinet member confirm whether this strategy will deliver clearly measurable net increase in canopy cover and not just tree measures?
And how this will be monitored and reported and whether these outcomes, including replacement rates and long -term maintenance, are fully funded and deliverable,
particularly in light of the inclusion of confidential appendix later in today's meeting?
Thank you. Ade, I think you gave the response.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:20:06
Thank you very much. Thank you, Councillor Dickson, for your question.
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 0:20:09
The tree management strategy is concerned with managing existing tree stock on council land.
Tree planting is being taken forward by the box tree mission.
And the strategy itself does not aim to increase tree numbers as this has already been addressed by the box tree mission.
Canopy Copper does not practically measure newly planted trees.
And the aerial data is based on is updated too infrequently to provide a meaningful measure.
So what we are doing is the Boxree Mission is currently using tree numbers as a matrix as opposed to canopy cover.
The tree management strategy is primarily concerned with ensuring our mature trees stay healthy and are managed appropriately to comply with our legal duty.
of and newly planted trees on council land will add to our new tree stock and
policy statement TM 1 in the strategy seeks to ensure that long -term management
is considered at the outset. Inspection tree works and long -term maintenance
costs are also to be covered by the services responsible. Thank you Ade.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:21:20
Thank you for the question Penny. Second question as I mentioned was going to be
from Larissa, but Ellie Cook, I think you're going to read that question and pose it ready
for response from Carl Jackson.
Elly Cook - Senior Committee Services Officer - 0:21:36
The report on the SEND reform plan refers to a sufficiency plan to increase mainstream
capacity through inclusion bases and outline significant reform and investment. Could the
cabinet members set out what the SEND sufficiency plan will mean in practise for schools and
families in Buckinghamshire, including expected additional specialist places, implementation
timetable and measures for judging success, and confirm whether the detailed implementation
plan and performance updates will be reported to the Children's and Education Select Committee.
Thank you.
Karl, please.
Thank you, Ali.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:22:12
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:22:14
The Education Places Sufficiency Strategy will set out how Buckinghamshire Council will
deliver the required education provision in Buckinghamshire over the next five years.
It will reflect the Council's commitment to working with schools, academy trusts, early
years providers and the Department for Education to ensure provision keeps pace with changes
in population and rising demand for specialist support.
The precise number of additional ARP and specialist places required over the next five years isn't
possible to establish with certainty at this time and the Council will need to respond
to emerging and changing needs.
However, what is clear is that National Centre reforms aim to see a greater proportion of
children, having their needs met in mainstream settings with relatively lower continued growth
in specialist provision.
The sufficiency strategy will help to secure positive outcomes for children in Buckinghamshire
and value for money for taxpayers through the use of existing infrastructure and external
income sources.
It is not possible to set out a detailed delivery plan in advance owing to the sensitivities
involved in making changes to the school estate, a process which is subject to formal consultations
and legal requirements which cannot be prejudged.
However, what can be said at this stage is that the number
and type of additional places created, the impact on the cost
of home to school transport, and the longer term improvements
in academic outcomes will be key metrics against the delivery,
against which the delivery of the strategy will be judged.
Progress will be monitored by the school places efficiency
board and the children's services senior leadership team
and I would welcome the opportunity
to update the select committee on that work
at suitable intervals.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:23:46
Thank you, Carl. And of course we'll make sure that response is sent to Councillor Townsend as well.
Okay, that brings us to the end of item 5, which was question time.

6 Forward Plan (28 Day Notice)

Now to the forward plan, 28 -day notice. Members are asked to comment on and note the forward plan.
This is in pages 5 to 16 of the agenda pack.
The forward plan is taking at a certain moment in time when the pack is published.
So this does get updated more frequently on the council website
So I do urge people to keep an eye on that for the latest updates
But for the purposes of today does anyone have any comments or questions about the forward plan as is set out in the pack?
No
Okay, I referenced earlier
Items coming up to the next cabinet meeting you will note that
Today is the first of three cabinet meetings in July because there is not one scheduled for August
So a busy period and people can look ahead for that.
But with no comments and questions then,
are you content to note the forward plan?
Agreed.
Thank you.
That is then agreed and noted.
So that brings us to substantive item seven

7 SEND Reform Plan

on the SEND, the SEND reform plan.
This report is on pages 17 to 22 of the agenda pack.
And I will ask Carl Jackson as the relevant cabinet member
to introduce it.
And we have Errol Albert, who's the corporate interim corporate director for children's
services here to answer any technical questions.
So Karl, over to you.
Thank you, leader.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:25:19
Members will be aware that the government has published proposals for Senate reform.
Those proposals are at an early stage.
The white paper was published in February.
The consultation only closed in the middle of May.
Despite that, Buckinghamshire Council, along with other local authorities, was given just
over three months to prepare a detailed plan to show how it would implement these reforms
locally, including how we will plan to work with education and health partners in the
county.
This is a significant piece of work, not easy given that we've been asked to explain in
detail how we'll deliver these reforms when they're still in development.
I think a good example of the challenges involved can be found in Section 3 .2, which explains
how the SEND team was asked to describe how it would address the new national inclusion
standards before those standards were actually published.
There is another important element to this work, too.
Cabinet members will be aware of the high needs stability grant.
So as for background, for many years,
central government funding for SEND services has not matched
the actual amount this council has needed to find to support
children and young people in our county with SEND.
As a result, councils across the country, this one included,
have deficits in that area.
The high needs stability grant is proposed government funding to cover 90 % of that deficit
as it stood at the 31st of March, 2026.
There's some uncertainty about what happens after that.
For this council, that grant will be worth roughly 41 million.
When the government first announced that funding, it appeared to be unconditional.
It was then made conditional on submitting an approved local send reform plan, which
is what we're talking about in this item,
and having it approved by the Department of Education.
So it is very important, to put it mildly,
to get this local centre form plan right,
and signed off by the Department of Education
at the first opportunity.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank
Aman Sekhongel and her team for the significant
amount of work they have put into preparing this plan,
and over and above plenty of work to do
with business as usual.
This was submitted on time, actually a day ahead of schedule
to the DFE and initial feedback was positive.
We now await formal feedback and confirmation
that our plan has been approved.
If our plan is approved first time,
the high -need stability grant funding will be released
from this autumn.
If a plan is not approved at the first opportunity,
a second tranche of funding will be released next spring
but obviously we want to secure that funding
on the earliest possible date.
Cabinet is asked to note the report.
There's no decision to make, but I'm happy to take questions.
Thank you very much, Carl.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:28:06
Errol, is it worth just having you outline, because I do want
to echo those thanks for the work that the team have done.
They had to work at pace.
Is there any change you or any update you can give
on the timing?
Because my understanding is this plan is supposed to start
in the autumn at the start of the school year and yet as Carl has just outlined we might
not know the funding allocations. So I suppose I'm bringing this round to a question to say
Carl has just outlined we hope to be in that first tranche of confirmations and what are
you having to do as the service to be ready to get going as soon as that's confirmed?
Errol Albert - Corporate Director for Children's Services - 0:28:51
Thank you, Lee. So we are in the process of working through the experts at hand guidance
that has only recently been received.
There are still some details that are required from that.
But we'll be working through that guidance and taking note
in relation to the plan that we submitted and consider what we
need to do in terms of the next phase,
which is around the delivery.
So it's further work with our local area partners, schools,
parent and carer forum in discussing some of that detail.
It's extensive documentation.
I've got no real update in terms of the timescales.
We are, as I say, still awaiting some of the finer details
in terms of next steps.
But as soon as we do, we'll obviously speak with our local area partnership
in terms of what the implications will be for the plan that's been submitted
and indeed the plans around delivery.
Thank you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:29:44
And that local area partnership point is a really important one
that obviously the Council doesn't operate alone in delivering services here.
And so, the pressure, the requirements, and the state of readiness plays out into other
partners, particularly in the health service and so on.
So that's really helpful.
Thank you.
I know we'll be ready as soon as we can when more detail is forthcoming from government.
Questions?
Any other questions from Cabinet members?
Robert?
Thank you very much, leader.
I've just got two quick ones.
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:30:19
So, Carl, you mentioned that the initial feedback was positive
regarding our plan and timing -wise.
But it's a difficult one, but how positive are you
that we may get into the first tranche?
And secondly, you also mentioned the experts at hand approach,
which is supposed to be different.
I just want to know, what is the difference between that
and our actual current process of delivering SEND support?
Thank you, Robert.
In terms of competence, yes, well obviously it's not our decision to make, but I think
what the team has done that's been intelligent is as it has developed this local set plan,
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:31:00
it's not just sort of being told by the government to go and write the plan, then hand it on
the day before the deadline.
There has been engagement with the Department for Education as it's gone along, so there's
seen a little bit of discussion and sort of ongoing feedback as it's gone.
So when the final draught was submitted, there shouldn't have really been anything in there
that surprised the Department of Education.
And given that the initial feedback was positive, I'm feeling pretty optimistic about that.
So obviously it's down to the department in the end.
The experts at Handpoint, this is about trying to bring in sort of specialists, speech and
with therapists, occupational therapists,
directly into schools to work, in some mainstream schools,
to work with children who need the support
without a need for a diagnosis necessarily,
or a sort of an EHCP formally to be produced.
So it's also about providing that support in schools
so you don't have children and young people
going out of school for appointments.
It's all about really focusing on earlier support,
the right support in schools,
not necessarily waiting for a formal diagnosis process or HCP.
So the focus is on early intervention
in mainstream education.
I think that's sort of the big focus.
Thank you very much.
Ady?
Thank you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:32:20
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 0:32:23
Carl, could you just tell, because I know SEND is quite
topical across the county, particularly in my ward,
will this reform in any way impact on children's
entitlements to EHCPs?
Thanks, Ady.
Okay, the EHCP is going to become a different thing really,
sort of under the Senate reforms as proposed.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:32:42
So it's going to be something which is reserved for the most,
for children and young people with the most complex needs.
So what they can move, the government wants to move
to a system of what they call individual support plans,
with the lowest level of support being called targeted.
The middle I think is targeted plus.
And then the highest level is specialist.
And children and young people who are
in the specialist cohort will get an EHCP.
So I would expect there to be fewer EHCPs issued
because the purpose of the EHCP scope
is kind of being redefined to only deal
with the most complex cases.
So that will change.
I think what the reforms will be judged on
is whether the right support is coming in
at the right time necessarily rather than what it's called.
But that's sort of the outline of the changes.
Thank you.
And lastly, Thomas Broom.
Thank you, Lida.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:33:31
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:33:32
I just think it's really important that we understand
that when we're talking about these reforms
and the government often presents this
as an action of largesse or generosity,
what we are talking about is funding
that should have come from government to deliver services
that government mandates us to deliver,
which have not been forthcoming,
and that actually part of this process
will involve the government abandoning,
providing 10 % of that funding and crystallising
that as additional cost onto all councils
across the country.
So for anybody watching, I just slightly caution
against the idea that this is sort of the government
generously stepping in.
This is actually the government taking a long -term look
at this and offloading additional cost
onto local authorities.
But the question I want to ask Carl is,
just in terms of the long -term future of this,
because my understanding, and correct me if I'm wrong,
is that what we're seeing through these reforms
will actually require new legislation, we think.
And if that comes through in a timely fashion,
this reform process won't be complete till at least 2030.
Obviously, with a transition going on at the moment
at the national level, to put it mildly,
what's our sort of confidence interval
that the new administration is going to pick this stuff up and run with it?
And is there anything we can do to maximise certainty around when these reforms will actually
be done?
Thank you Tom.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:35:10
Yes, I think of course you're absolutely right about the sort of behind you stability
grants.
It's offering to take on 90 % of the deficit that councils have racked up.
Of course that deficit is there because central government funding hasn't been.
that's enough for sufficiently to cover a sense of poor costs of the councils
for quite some time how the other 10 % of the deficit is to be treated we're not
sure and of course we only have a certainty even that's an atlant up to
31st of March 2026 what happens from then on is it's still a bit of a
mystery and we have to sort of make assumptions about it for our budget
planning for that without actually knowing exactly what's going to happen
you are absolutely right that these reforms will need new legislation I
I think completion of the reforms is supposed to be 2030.
Various parts of them are phased in over that period.
So I just look at what happened to the welfare bill
in parliament.
And I think if these reforms are perhaps seen as less reform
and more cut, then I could see there being challenges.
I think there's a degree of political risk behind these
reforms that we ought to be aware of,
and that these could be changed, watered down, amended.
And obviously we as the local authority will need to keep putting in our views to government on
These reforms as they stand how any changes might impact our ability to deliver them or funding requirements
And we'll need to be be ready to adapt as things change
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:36:41
Just sneaking under the wire even though I said Tom was the last one mark you want to ask question
Cllr Mark Winn - 0:36:48
So I apologise for that had how much more useful would it be to the council and to send school?
to send children in the affirmative,
we had the same school actually funded?
Thank you.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:36:58
Well, Mark also refers to the promise that this council was
made by the Department of Education
for a new 152 -place special free school.
We've now been told that's not happening.
If that doesn't go ahead, or it's not going ahead,
we've just been confirmed it's not going ahead,
that puts a lot of pressure on existing specialist settings
to be able to accommodate an increase in demand.
And it is a perfectly reasonable thing to ask the council
to try and increase places on existing sites.
That's not an unreasonable request.
But of course, sites have a limit.
They are really so big.
And the council has already created
a lot of extra special school places on existing sites.
And eventually you start to run out of easy options
to expand, which is why the special school
was a crucial part of our plans to meet demand and
We will have to find other ways to meet it
But it's a decision by the Department of Education that puts us
In a more difficult position in terms of meeting the needs of children and young people with the most complex needs in the county
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:38:03
Thank you very much and I think that that last comment shows the the real challenges we've got
Insufficiency provision but a challenge on a you and the team will pick up but you know
The reality is that school would have been around 20 million pounds worth of investment providing places for 152 children
Instead we have 8 million to try and do the expansion of other sites as you mentioned that will not cover places for
152 children
In any way anyway for now, this is about the Senate reform plan
and
with those
comments and questions being asked.
Our cabinet members can send to note this.
It has been submitted.
Yes.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, Carl.
Thank you, Errol.
We come to item eight then.
The local transport plan five adoption

8 Local Transport Plan 5 Adoption

report on pages 2330 of the pack.
Appendices are lengthy.
Up to about 705 pages worth from page three
of the appendices.
so there is that supplementary pack.
I will ask Thomas Broome as the cabinet member of transport
to introduce it and we have two corporate directors
who have an involvement here.
Steve Bambrick, corporate director for planning growth
and sustainability and Richard Barker,
corporate director for communities who will be here
to assist with any further detailed technical questions.
But over to you, Tom.
Thank you, Leda.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:39:31
Yes, colleagues will be aware that this is not
the first time they have seen LTP5 either
in this room or beyond.
But we've reached a really important step,
which is that it's now been out to consultation.
We have looked at those consultation responses.
We have taken on board the feedback
that we've been given by residents.
We've made some changes.
And we are asking for cabinet's permission
to take this forward to be adopted,
I believe, by full council.
So the response that we got to LTP5 in consultation was broadly very positive, averaged over 70 %
support across all the different themes.
I said when we brought this to Cabinet to go out to consultation, the key point that
I was driving throughout this whole process was choice.
that we understand that we have residents across the county who want to
get around the county in a number of different ways and what we must do as a
council is is not sort of pick sides and decide which way people should travel
but to try and facilitate people travelling in the way that they choose to
do and I'm very pleased that that's that's sort of the the overarching
and golden thread that goes through the whole of LTP5. We are of course
developing LTP5 alongside the local plan for Buckinghamshire. One of the
issues that we did see in some of the feedback through consultation was that
some residents were expecting the local transport plan to be effectively
planning out infrastructure to support the 90 ,000 housing targets that's been
imposed on us by central government. That is not the purpose of LTP5. The
transport plan is there to provide a suite of policies so that as those links
are developed in the local plan for Buckinghamshire, there is a framework
for that within the transport context
and that's what LTP5 provides.
In the interest of full transparency,
I said we had very good broad overall support.
We did have one area where we had the balance tipped
slightly into the disagree, which was in terms
of our proposed drone policy.
Obviously this is a new and emerging technology
and a number of residents raised the point that actually we should be leaning a bit more heavily
on the safety side rather than the innovation side.
And that's always a delicate balance to maintain.
But that is one of the areas where we've strengthened the policy in terms
of reflecting those concerns about safety.
We have added in a couple of additional items including a theme on accessibility,
which again is part of that overall golden thread of choice for residents.
And we've also added a somewhat ambitious item which we've been required to add by government,
which is about integrated ticketing for public transport.
Now, I would say to colleagues, we would all be delighted
if we could bring forward an integrated ticketing system,
ala TFL or wherever, the support for this is what we have been required to put it
into the plan, the support that we have received from government to do so is
minimal if existence at all. So while this is absolutely something we would
like to be able to do, it is one of those elements where because this is a
policy so that if the resources are made available to do such a thing we would be able to do
it.
And there are a number of such areas within the document.
So as I say we've had broad overall support, we've listened to residents where they have
asked us for some changes, we've implemented those changes and now we want to take it forward
to the next stage of the process.
but very happy to answer any questions.
Thank you, Tom.
Yes, as you said, we have discussed this before.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:44:05
I think the changes we've outlined are really helpful.
Also, that clarification between the local plan
and the local transport plan on what
the guidance around the compilation of both documents
and policies are.
I do think, though, it's important just
to reference that strategic network elements are still included do show the required big
step changes that we continue to lobby government for such as, you know, some of our major strategic
road routes but also the Aylesbury rail link that was promised previously in the Transport
and works order for East West Rail to connect Aylesbury up to the new station at Winslow.
So, you know, we have not lost sight of that. This document and this policy still supports
those strategic parts. And as you say, this is the elements in here are to give greater travel choice,
but also to help transport work better for people. So that link would be a great example of someone
on living in Aylesbury and being able to connect straight
to access the jobs I referenced earlier
around the East -West Growth Corridor.
So there are some, the big ticket stuff is in here
as the placeholders, but of course,
we can't deliver that alone.
But the choice policies are there,
and you outlined them in section 4 .5 of the report.
So thank you for that.
It also picks up a bit of freight and logistics.
I do have one query and I don't know if it's questioned to you or maybe Steve on that,
where we say it also removes reference, it being the strategy, removes reference to named
hotspot areas.
I'm not sure, there's very little context around that, so what is that, please?
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:46:03
I think that what we had in LTP4, because this was a, LTP4 was much earlier in our journey
in terms of how we were looking at implementing the freight strategy.
We had selected very particular places to sort of pilot things.
As we move into LTP5, with a bit more experience under our belt,
obviously we're looking to take the lessons that we've learned from our pilot
schemes and apply them more widely across the county.
So that's not a pulling away or
focus from any particular places that there are problems.
It's about taking the lessons we've learned there and expanding them across the whole county
Excellent. Okay, that's really helpful clarification. Thanks questions for Tom, please Carl
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:46:43
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:46:47
Thank you the integrated ticketing
Caught my eye. This idea has been rattling around for decades. I'm pretty sure it featured an episode of yes minister
Well, funnily enough. I don't think that government could deliver it either and
And you mentioned that there wasn't enough sort of,
there wasn't any sort of clear resourcing tax rate.
I wasn't quite clear on the position.
Has there been any money provided at this point?
Is it a promise of enough money but later or some money now?
Sort of what exactly, we aren't even told to plan for it,
but kind of what's the resources to back it up?
Yes, thank you.
I believe in that particular episode,
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:47:24
it all comes to a grinding halt when it turns out
that part of the infrastructure is getting
into the prime minister's fictional constituency.
No, in this case, I was being somewhat polite.
We've been told to put it in the policy.
We haven't been given any cash to do anything about it.
You know, this is a classic issue that we have seen
over a number of years where effectively you've got,
you know, a view or a perspective
that comes from a very particular area,
usually from a very urban background
where you've got very high density of population,
which opens up a lot of doors in terms of creating integrated
transport networks, but perhaps misses the reality of managing
transport options in a rural community like Buckinghamshire.
I suspect,
given the particular change of personnel we're seeing
at the top and Andy Burnham's success in Manchester
with the B network, I suspect we will get another well -meaning but ultimately misplaced
attempt to impose what works in urban areas on rural areas.
And we have no idea whether any funding will come alongside that, but as yet, no.
It is an ambition, but no funding to go with it, which is somewhat familiar, I'm afraid.
Thank you very much.
Any other questions?
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:48:54
Okay, so the recommendations are to note the consultation results and the amendments made
to LTP 5 and the freight and logistics strategy to approve these from cabinet to proceed to
council for adoption.
And that if there are any minor amendments between now and then to delegate that to Steve
Bamberg and yourself, Tom.
I'm going to take those on block. Are members content with that?
Agreed.

9 Adoption of Amended Conservation Area for Aylesbury

Okay, agreed. Thank you. That then goes through. We're on to item 9 then, which is the adoption
of the amended conservation area for Aylesbury. This can be found on pages 31 to 36 of the
agenda pack. Again, some considerable appendices here in the supplementary pack, but this is
under you Peter Strachan and again Steve Bamberg as the relevant corporate director is here.
So Peter.
Cllr Peter Strachan - 0:49:55
Thanks leader for your words just to give this item some context.
The conservation area for Aylesbury has been updated as part of the evidence base for the local plan
and is being brought to cabinet for formal adoption.
It was last reviewed 22 years ago.
This is the fourth adoption since we became a unitary authority.
Buckingham, Winslow and Haddonham were adopted in April.
The boundaries of the conservation area have been amended
with nine new areas added and two others taken out.
Notable areas for inclusion are Waterside Theatre,
the Canal Basin and the Blue Leany.
The conservation area appraisal also now has
a management plan to help manage change within the area.
A six -week public consultation took place in the autumn of 2025, including online surveys
and in -person consultation events.
Following the public consultations, the documents were redrafted and are now ready for adoption.
Local members and the town council were informed and involved in the consultation process.
The public consultation led to some changes to the proposed boundary.
Chadbone Close, which had been proposed to be removed, was retained within the conservation area.
There were numerous requests for Walton Street officers to be included in the conservation area,
including strong representation on this matter from Aylesbury Town Council.
Having considered the site's context and the wider objectives for the area, the
Council has reviewed the potential inclusion of Walton Street offices and
the new county offices within the conservation area and on balance it has
been decided not to extend the conservation area boundary to include
this site in order to retain flexibility to support appropriate regeneration and
and renewal in this part of the town centre,
which is a council priority.
The authorities under a duty to determine
which parts of its area are areas of special architectural
or historic interest, the character or appearance
of which is desirable to preserve or enhance
and shall designate those areas as conservation areas.
There are no financial implications resulting
from the adoption of this document.
Some council property is included within the amended boundary.
Chesham and High Wycombe conservation areas are also being updated and will be brought forward later this year.
I hope that's helpful, Lita.
Yep, very helpful. Thank you, Peter.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:52:39
As you've referenced there, this is, you know, we're updating these from across the county
and I know we have 179 designated conservation areas in total.
So here's the Alesbury one today.
Anyone have particular comments or questions about this one?
I think you outlined well the changes made after the public consultation.
And as we know that the conservation areas create that category.
Does that allow some development and so on?
But it seems like a sensible set of amendments to it.
So if there are no questions,
we'll go straight to the recommendations then,
which are that the amended conservation area boundary
is adopted and that's in section five of the report
and that the appraisal and management plan is also adopted.
Are members content and in agreement, please?
We agree to those.
Thank you, we agree those.
And that brings us swiftly on then to the tree management strategy.

10 Tree Management Strategy

This is item 10. It's in two parts. There is a confidential appendix.
So when we get to comments and questions, please be mindful of that.
And we may have to go into confidential session.
But the public report is on pages 37 to 92 of the pack.
and this is for Councillor Ade Osibogan to introduce his cabinet member for Environment,
Climate Change and Waste and again Steve Bamberg is here as the most relevant corporate director.
Ade over to you. Thank you very much leader. To ensure the council is fulfilling its statutory
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 0:54:27
duty in relation to tree management we're recommending that cabinet adopt the attached
tree management strategy. Tree management across the council has up until now reflected different
approaches of individual services and legacy councils. This strategy has been developed to
provide a harmonised approach and deliver significant environmental, social and economic
benefits, setting out our legal obligations, policy statements and clarity of roles and
The strategy will be supported by an action plan which outlines how the strategy will
be implemented and the cost involved.
Overall, the Council is currently spending approximately 1 .26 million per annum on true
management.
Expenditure varies across services and will be reviewed as part of the implementation
strategy.
In paragraph 3 .1 on page 38, cabinet will find the various services responsible for trees and involved in the management of trees.
In 2024, an external report was produced which identified extensive roles and responsibilities related to tree management
and also made several recommendations, including the development of overarching tree management practises,
establishing the tree arch team, and reviewing council -wide tree processes.
This was done with an emphasis on clear roles and responsibilities, consistent risk tolerance,
and a consistent approach to complying with legislation.
The strategy seeks to address the need for clearer responsibilities and detailed processes for tree management activities,
including vendor process for contractors, identification of and escalation of risk, and how tree records are kept.
The strategy promotes a proportionate, evidence -based approach to tree management by applying the National Tree Safety Group guidance.
in a consistent way that would prioritise public safety while also recognising ecological, cultural and community values of trees.
A summary of the tree management strategies can also be found on page 39 of the report.
The strategy prioritises public safety, accountability and compliance with our legal duties.
A structured programme of inspection and proportionate remedial works will also ensure that tree -related risks are effectively managed to industry standards.
To deliver this, Box Council will identify all trees under its ownership or responsibility, and implement a cyclical inspection programme,
which would include a comprehensive tree record which will be maintained using a dedicated management software to support informed and timely intervention.
Staff and contractors will receive appropriate training and a retain or relocate approach for Council on land and Council -led projects on a value for money basis will also be adopted.
On the financial implication, one majority of ongoing tree management costs are already
contained within existing service budgets across highways, country parks and the parks
and green spaces.
There will be several one -off implementation costs associated with establishing a consistent
and defensible inspection regime, improving our data systems and also resourcing the services
to ensure they can continue to manage their true responsibilities.
Given the legal context, any additional ongoing costs will have to be met from either existing
budgets or savings.
Later, the adoption of the Tremor Admin strategy is expected to materially reduce the likelihood
and cost of future insurance claims and the proposed approach should support more efficient,
cost effective long term management of the trees.
The recommendation and reasons for this are captured on page 37.
Thank you Ade for outlining that.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:59:05
I think this is another example of despite forming as a unitary in 2020,
clearly previous councils had different responsibilities
and those responsibilities have been discharged by the services
that you outlined and highlighted to us in section 3 .1.
that responsibility doesn't go away from those services.
It just means we have the consistent approach that will help manage both
the good healthy lives of trees, the beneficial impact they have for
people and places in Buckinghamshire, but also the risks associated with it.
So we can be consistent and confident in how that's being managed.
I think, you know, that's a helpful switch forward.
And you referenced right at the end up to and including the impact that may or
may not have on insurance claims and other risks as they materialise.
So thank you for that.
Do we have any questions for Ade on the tree management plan?
I'm conscious it touches other portfolios.
So if I may stretch a metaphor, you're not surprised to see a bit of a forest of
I'll go Peter Brazier, please.
Thank you, thank you for that.
It's not a question, more of a statement.
Cllr Peter Brazier - 1:00:19
I'm gonna guess my portfolio has got the most trees.
Possibly Backpark alone has 450 ,000 trees.
So I was quite concerned when I first saw this.
But I've spoken to all of the senior officers
within the portfolio, and they're really comfortable
with this so they do this anyway so we're really comfortable with it I just
wanted to make that point thank you thank you I'm sure I day will value the
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:00:49
Cllr Thomas Broom - 1:00:53
support Tom and Thank You leader yes I think this is a good opportunity to
highlight you know one of one of the advantages of sort of bringing together
the various different parts of the council emphasising that sort of cross
portfolio working that we do, which not only allows us to make sure that we're
delivering really good value for money for the Buck's Council taxpayer, which is
always at the top of the list, but also just to take good practises from
different parts of the organisation and make sure that we sort of spread that
across multiple departments. As has been said, I know that obviously Peter's
Peter's portfolio has a lot of trees to manage, we've got a lot of highways trees
to manage and an adage sort of making sure that we are pulling together all of
our collective knowledge and expertise and of course and robbers of course as
well I should say manages a lot of trees and and ensuring that everywhere in
Bucks benefits from the best practises from all of the different services that
we operate as a council so I'm really pleased to see this coming through it's
been a relatively complex exercise
because we've got a lot of trees to manage
and in a lot of different contexts.
But I'm really glad that we got to this point
where we see one unified policy to make sure
that we can deliver best practise and value for money
for the taxpayer.
Excellent.
Thank you, Thomas.
Robert.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:02:20
Thank you very much, Lida.
And I'm to echo the comments.
Cllr Robert Carington - 1:02:23
Also, this touches upon my portfolio and also
sort of within my decorations of interest in my personal life.
I know a little bit about trees.
And this is absolutely vital, I mean, to have this.
I mean, particularly in the weather we're having
with the very hot dry weather, with lack of water
for the trees, particularly the older diseased trees is vital.
We keep on top of this.
And so I'm very glad to see we are doing this.
And I know you mentioned and there's been lots of mention
of best practise and evidence and I think to reassure residents I think it would be
quite good to, if possible, give a little bit more information on this evidence and
best practise just to reassure them we have sort of looked at every single angle and we
are taking this very seriously.
Yes, thank you very much for that question, Councillor Carleton.
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 1:03:19
We identified certain gaps in the tree management within the council sometime 2024 when we had
and internal audit.
We had an excellent advisor come in who then
made certain recommendations.
We put together a working group to address how we can better
tend to those recommendations.
And one of the guiding principles we used
was the National Tree Safety Group guidance.
That is what was adopted and runs through the strategy.
And what we believe is with the strategy, we will be able to go a long way in improving efficiency, reducing risk, and also delivering on our environmental, social, and economic benefits across the county.
Thank you very much. And Karl.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:04:13
Thank you, Lida.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 1:04:17
The tree planting target is one of the sort of first, I think, promises made right at
the outset of Buckinghamshire Council coming into being.
I think it's one of the most eye -catching, popular promises.
We had a question about it earlier.
How does this strategy kind of align with it?
Does it make it easy to achieve, harder to achieve?
How does it fit in with that target?
Yes, and thank you very much, Councillor Jackson.
Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - 1:04:43
So what the strategy does is to see how we can better maintain our trees and keep better records of our trees.
So every tree that's planted on Council land through the box tree mission will eventually feed into this.
Because this strategy will ensure that those trees are better maintained, better managed and have a better record of them.
And also in line with our right tree right approach, right tree right place approach,
This will also ensure that whatever tree we plant going forward,
and we know where they are, and we can better maintain them.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:05:18
Thank you very much. I do just want to draw people's attention in the strategy to tree inspections.
And that every, you know, trees will be assessed.
There's details about zones and things, but at least on every, on a three -year cycle,
which is no easy undertaking given the amount of trees we have that we're pleased to have in Buckinghamshire.
I just think it's worth noting that for the vast majority of the trees we have,
certainly those on the highway and in car parks and so on,
if members of the public are concerned about a tree, they can put that on FixMyStreet
so that inspectors can pick that up as well.
So this is a very comprehensive approach to trees, and I encourage people to read it.
And in fact, I think it should give that reassurance that was just been talked about as well.
There is an element in here that refers to privately owned trees and the risk provided
for those.
So if people are concerned about the trees they have on private land, then obviously
they have responsibility for that.
But there's some crossover and they can always,
if people are concerned, speak to the agriculturalists here.
Right.
I don't have any more questions.
So the recommendation on item 10 was
to adopt this tree management strategy
to ensure we fulfil our statutory duty
in managing trees.
Are people in agreement to adopt this tree management strategy,
please?
That's agreed.
Thank you very much. That is adopted. Thank you Ade. And item 11 then is Abi

11 Abbey Barn North Land Sale Agreement for disposal of reserve site

Bar North land sale agreement for disposal of reserve site. So this item is
again in two parts and yeah I should just cheque. There was no one indicated a
need to go into confidential session on that last item but please do indicate if
if you wish to go in for this one,
which may be more likely.
The public reports can be found on pages 93 to 148
of the Agenda Pack.
And again, then there's the confidential appendices.
Robert Carrington is here as cabinet member
to resources to introduce with Senator Murphy -Brockman
and David Skinner as the relevant corporate directors
and indeed Richard Wilson.
Welcome Richard, who's the strategic advisor
for investment in development.
if there are technical questions.
But Robert, over to you, please.
Thank you very much, Lida.
Cllr Robert Carington - 1:07:57
The report in front of us all today refers specifically
to council -owned land parcel of just under four acres,
or if you dwell in hectares, that's about 1 .5 hectares,
on Abbey Barn Lane in High Wycombe.
This is currently scrub land and is allocated
in the Wycombe District Local Plan
for Residential Development.
The report recommends that we enter
into a collaboration agreement with the adjacent landowner,
which will enable the development
of this site alongside their own.
Without this cooperative approach,
which means just simplified, means bringing forward both
sites together for planning and disposal,
rather than just our four -acre site.
The reason why we're doing this is highly unlikely
that either site can be developed independently due
to a number of reasons, particularly previous
feasibility work done by the council in 2022, which clarify that to deliver the required
infrastructure to make the council site by itself work just wasn't deliverable within
the available budget and would not deliver value for money.
So by combining it, it addresses those concerns.
Under the agreement, the adjacent landowner will lead and manage the planning application
process and must obtain consent within a defined timeframe.
This agreement passes on the key risks of cost and planning onto the adjacent landowner
and enables both sites' increased ability to be delivered.
So following planning approval, if successful, the land will be marketed for sale by the adjacent landowner,
who is required, as per all our rules, to achieve best value as set out in Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972,
and the resulting capital receipt will contribute to the medium -term financial plan capital
budget.
If no viable bids are received, the adjacent landowner will have the option to purchase
the land at market value.
Once the conditions of the collaboration agreement are met, the Council's land will be sold.
There will be an 80 -20 split with the owner due to them holding a much larger parcel of
land to reflect that and to reflect the work they will be doing.
If cabinet gives approval today,
further report will be brought before cabinet following the
conclusion of the marketing exercise,
setting out the preferred bid
and final disposal value achieved as per the norm.
So to sum up, the land is currently scrubland,
contributing nothing, and could be put to much better use,
particularly with it already being
in the Wickham district local plan
for residential development.
So the most likely way for delivery to succeed is to enter
into this collaboration agreement, which passes
on the key risks and increases its feasibility.
So getting this delivered is part
of the council's wider important regeneration work
in High Wycombe will help enhance local infrastructure,
the economy, and community spaces.
I welcome any questions.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:11:05
Thank you, Robert.
Any questions for Robert in the public paper, please, Steve?
Cllr Steve Bowles - 1:11:19
Yes. Yeah, thanks, thanks Robert. Yeah, really, really good, good report. The design
brief and sort of site analysis are just excellent, I think, and to me it just
makes so much sense to go forward with it as a combined development,
realising the best cost for the council. So yeah, I'd be fully supportive. Thank
Thank you for that.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:11:43
This is a site I do know, and you referenced the fact this has come forward before, the
site does have challenges given it's regarded as a sloped site.
It is reasonably constrained and therefore the ability to try and unlock this by going
into collaboration agreement here is an important step forward for us to consider doing something
different. I might ask Richard if there's anything you want to say about the nature
of such an agreement based on the public paper, please, because the land ownership that Robert
outlined and the ability to bring this forward what do you think is a likelihood
that a successful application planning application will be made obviously no
determination as to what the outcome of that would be as a result of this versus
not doing it? Yes sir thank you chair I mean essentially the nature of the two
bits of land the larger section of land can't be really delivered without the
Council section of land and vice versa due to the access requirements of the
site the sloping nature of Abbey Bar North in terms of I think it's a 20 %
incline in parts so quite a substantial hill the excuse me the highways solution
to access both sites is is tricky so that will be a key planning
consideration I am sure. So I think in summary this collaboration agreement is
the best way for the council to move forward, enable the unlocking of
essentially both sites, but with a very mindful view that the council site is
essentially unlocking the rear site for housing and that is why the
collaboration agreement is vital to enable the council to dispose of the
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:13:49
land at best value. Okay I think that's helpful clarification. Sarah or David is
anything you want to add beyond what's in the report? Okay. I don't have any more
questions. Does anyone want to go into the confidential appendix for this
particular item? I know you will have all read that. No? Okay. In which case we
don't necessarily need to go in so I think we could we can move directly to
the recommendations then which are to authorise the corporate director for
resources in consultation with the cabinet member for resources to conclude
negotiations to enter into this collaboration agreement with the
landowner and I just pause halfway through that to interject as you said
Robert anything to actually move forward would come back to cabinet at the right
time. Number two to appoint an agent to report on the best consideration
reasonably attainable under local government act that you referenced that
would support a decision to dispose if we were to get there and produce a further
report item three recommendation three to cabinet on the conclusion of planning
setting out the recommended bidder and final option. I can't stress that
as you would have noticed.
Are people in agreement at this stage to proceed
in with those recommendations?
I'm taking them on block.
Agreed, okay, thank you.
That is agreed then.
So that means we come to item 13,
which is the confidential minutes.
Item 12 is if we go into confidential session.
You have seen the confidential minutes.
Does anyone wish to raise comments or questions on those minutes?
In which case we'll go into confidential session.
No, okay, in that case then we'll remain in public session.
And I'll just ask for you to now give your consent to the accuracy and
signing of those confidential minutes.
Is that so agreed?
Thank you very much, that's agreed.
So therefore, we skip all the way to item 16, date of next meeting that we referenced earlier in this meeting,

16 Date of next meeting

which is Wednesday the 22nd of July, commencing at 2pm.
All noted.
So with that, we bring today's cabinet meeting to a close.
Thank you all for your attendance, both members and officers, members of the public and other members.
And I bring the meeting to a close.
Please end the webcast.
Good day to you all.