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Cabinet
Tuesday, 15th September 2026 at 10:00am

 
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  1. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  1. Cllr Peter Strachan
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  3. Cllr Steve Bowles
  4. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  5. Cllr Peter Brazier
  6. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  7. Cllr Robert Carington
  8. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  9. Cllr Isobel Darby
  10. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  11. Cllr Mark Winn
  12. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  13. Cllr Jaspal Chhokar
  14. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  15. Cllr Jilly Jordan
  16. Cllr Steven Broadbent
  17. Cllr Thomas Broom
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  1. Questions
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  11. Cllr Peter Brazier
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  1. Cllr Thomas Broom
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  1. Cllr Peter Brazier
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  4. Richard Barker - Corporate Director for Communities
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  1. Webcast Finished

Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:00:00
Thank you.
Webcast has started.
Welcome everybody to the Cabinet meeting of Buckinghamshire Council today, Tuesday the
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:00:12
15th of September 2026.
I do hope everyone has enjoyed a good summer and here we are back with the first of the
Cabinet meetings after the summer period.
Can I remind members to and indeed from anyone speaking and anyone present that today's meeting is being webcast
And if you are speaking, please do press the microphone
So that people on that webcast can hear you as well as people in the room
And then of course turn it off again when you finished speaking
For members of the public in the room who may wish not to have their image captured
please do speak to the committee clerk who will advise on where to sit to ensure that happens.
So that being said, let's go into today's agenda. Item one on the agenda are

1 Apologies

apologies and apologies have been received from
Councillor Adekunle Osiboggan, who's the cabinet member for
Environment, Climate Change and Waste and also Councillor Carl Jackson, who's the cabinet member for Education and Children's Services. I'm pleased to say
that the Deputy Cabinet Member, Councillor Jaspal Chokhar, is here and he's the Deputy
Cabinet Member in the Environment, Climate Change and Waste Portfolio.
And Councillor Gillie Jordan is here as the Deputy Cabinet Member for Children and Education
Services in place of Councillor Jackson.
Deputy Cabinet Members are of course most welcome and do contribute to the debate, but
in line with our constitution, they are not able to vote when we get to voting matters.
I don't think we have any further apologies for absence.
I do know Thomas Broom is scheduled to be here, but I think is stuck in traffic.

2 Minutes

Item 2, though, is minutes of the last meeting.
So the last meeting was held, two of them, on the 22nd of July and the 28th of July earlier this year.
and these are on pages 5 to 52 of the agenda pack.
You have seen these in advance.
Does anyone have any specific comments or queries
on the minutes?
No?
OK, so are you content for me to approve these minutes
as the correct record, please?
Thank you.
That's agreed for both those meetings.

3 Declarations of interest

Item 3 on today's agenda is declarations of interest.
Obviously, you have made declarations and keep those updated online, but does anyone
have any further declarations of interest to make today?
No?
Okay.
No further declarations.
Thank you.
So swiftly we get to hot topics.

4 Hot Topics

Hot topics is the item on the agenda where cabinet members may wish to highlight something
to members of the public who are watching, to the rest of cabinet, and indeed possibly
and to the media who may be watching.
You are not required to have a hot topic,
but I will invite you to inform us if you do have,
and when you do so, please do state your name
and portfolio for people who are watching.
So what I will do is move around to my left first.
So first hot topic, over to you, Peter Strachan.
Thank you, Leda.
Good morning, everyone.
Cllr Peter Strachan - 0:03:29
Peter Strachan, cabinet member for planning
and deputy leader of the council.
Leader, if I may, I have one hot topic and that is that the consultation and Reg 19 of
the new local plan is complete.
We have had over 8 ,500 responses and I can give an assurance that each one will be responded
to.
Our job now is to collect and catalogue those responses and consider adjustments to the
the inspector in due course. I should also like to point out, leader, for me, there were
two or three highly technical areas within the plan that we thought were not quite as
prominent as they should have been for the consultation. So for just those areas and
those areas alone, the consultation has been extended. Thank you, leader.
Thank you for that update and thank you to everyone who commented and contributed to
that process that's ongoing.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:04:29
Okay, Steve Bowles, please.
Steve Bowles, cabinet member for communities.
Cllr Steve Bowles - 0:04:39
Last week I had the first quarterly meeting with ACPOWA,
who we recently outsourced our parking enforcement to.
We've seen a substantial increase in tickets issued,
and this is mainly due to a full complement
of civil enforcement officers.
They're actually hitting their key performance indicators, which is good.
Analytics are being worked on, which will enable me to see, and I can send that to interested
members, the number of tickets issued and exactly where the civil enforcement officers
have been.
We're developing a programme with them to roll out more technology, such as moving traffic
enforcement cameras in key areas such as schools which I know from emails from
residents is a is a real concern. So all in all I'm really pleased with how this
programme is is progressing. Thank you Stephen I'm sure members and members of
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:05:43
the public will be really interested on on the enforcement and what what that
means for compliance on the roads to make our roads safer and make sure
people are parking well.
I'm convinced you will end up at some point
in front of one of our scrutiny select committees
where you'll be able to give more detail.
But that's a good update for where we are now.
Thank you.
Peter Brazier, please.
Thank you, Leda.
Good morning, everybody.
Cllr Peter Brazier - 0:06:09
Peter Brazier, cabinet member for Culture and Leisure.
Got a couple of hot topics, if I may.
On the 10th of August, I was woken by my phone
going crazy with the local WhatsApp groups.
The local post office in Ivanhoe had been ram raided.
They couldn't get in, so they set fire to the vehicle.
The building is the town hall.
It's owned by Bucks Council, but it also hosts the library
as well as function rooms.
Thanks, it was 3 a .m.,
but the emergency services attended incredibly quickly
and probably saved the building.
There was still a lot of damage.
And also thanks to our property services who came out really quickly.
They were there mid -morning, secured the building.
And most importantly, worked on getting the post office reopened,
because village post offices are an incredibly valued resource,
and they rarely reappear if they disappear.
So they were able to get the post office reopened so he could continue trading.
But the storey here is, from my perspective anyway,
is how we kept the library open.
So by mid -morning, the local vicar had gone on to us, James,
and offered the local church as a temporary library space.
And so our library team and our fantastic volunteers
who run the Beacon Villages Community Library,
It's a community library, 100 % volunteer run.
And within two weeks, they'd established a library
in the church fully running with all the IT
and all the other services.
I was there when it opened.
And within minutes, people were in.
And it was as if the business was normal.
So really, really good credit to everyone involved
in keeping that library open.
A couple of other items I'd like to mention about We
We're gonna celebrate Wickham.
Obviously the school holidays have gone
and the programmes are changing.
There's a couple of things I'd like to highlight.
One is a community arts exhibition
in conjunction with the Wickham Arts Centre.
They're organising multi -venue,
town -wide community exhibitions this autumn.
They're inviting local artists and creatives
to each submit just one piece of artwork
so that we can celebrate the diverse creativity in Wickham.
The venues exhibiting so far will include Wickham Museum,
Wickham Arts Centre, We -Mate Wickham Hub, the library,
and Heward and Manor.
And the exhibition will run throughout October and November.
And finally, a new public artwork
for High Wickham Bus Station.
The project is being led by We -Mate Wickham,
and it will see six striking mural -sized panels installed
at the High Wickham Bus Station, each one telling a real storey
from the local community.
And this project's been supported
by the High Wycombe Community Board,
the High Wycombe Town Committee,
Eden Centre and Carousel Busses.
So installation is planned for the autumn,
winter of this year with the artwork expected
to remain in place for up to five years.
Thank you.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:09:23
Thank you Peter, really good news on how the community
have come together with the church,
volunteers to get that library open.
Thank you to all of them.
Robert Carrington.
Thank you very much, Lisa.
Hello, I'm Brock Carrington, Cabinet Member for Resources.
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:09:35
I have one hot topic, which is a good news storey.
This is regarding Ellsbury Shop Mobility.
If you can remember last time, I announced they had moved to a new location in France
Square.
I am very happy to announce that they were named Shop Mobility UK's Centre of the Month
for this month, reflecting this move and the fact that the new venue gives full disabled
access, better bus and train links from the centre of Aylesbury and more parking reflecting
the wider support it's able to give the community.
So it's great news to see this has been noticed and has been broadened.
All my thanks to the team for making this so.
Excellent.
Well done to everyone concerned.
Thank you.
Isabelle, please.
Isabelle Darby.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:10:21
Thank you.
Good morning, everybody.
Cllr Isobel Darby - 0:10:23
Councillor Isabelle Darby, cabinet member for health and wellbeing.
A couple of topics this morning.
Last week was Know Your Numbers Week,
which is all about knowing your blood pressure
and blood pressure cheques and management.
High blood pressure rarely shows up.
You can feel perfectly normal,
and you can have dangerously high blood pressure,
which could cause heart attack, strokes, and kidney disease.
And it is just so preventable.
So the public health team run a pressure partners programme
that partners with local community organisations
to provide free and easily available opportunities
for blood pressure cheques all across our county
in a wide range of community settings.
I'm really pleased that we've had some cross -portfolio working
with Councillor Brazier, my colleague.
We can now confirm that both Circoléger and everyone active
on our trained pressure partners,
which means that everybody can go to any
of our leisure centres in Aylesbury, Stoke Mandeville,
Buckingham, Iver, Beckonsfield, Amersham, Chalfont and Chesham,
and they can go and ask to cheque their blood pressure.
And the staff have been trained, and they will man stands
and events, and they are also sending all their letter
centre members a know your numbers promotion information
so that they're really trying to raise the profile there.
So I'm really pleased that we've been able to do that.
And another piece of Cross Portfolio
working with my friend Peter Brazier again
is part of the Healthy Libraries.
So we obviously had the Chris Whitty visit in July and showed him all the things that we were doing
in our libraries covering the whole life course from bounce and rhyme through to making every contact count
and promoting social connectivity for older residents
But the public health team have now agreed to jointly fund a healthy library project officer post within the library service
Which actually means that we can we were putting more resource into that to promote these things
And I think it's a really, I'm really proud of that piece of joint working, Chairman.
Excellent. Thank you all. Thank you, Isabelle, for that.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:12:28
And obviously the Know Your Numbers, the blood pressure cheques that people can have.
There's still Health on the High Street options in Aylesbury and High Wycombe.
So High Wycombe Library and Aylesbury in the, in Friar Square.
And so, you know, making sure there's more access points is really important because we hear from the NHS every week.
referrals are made of people who have blood pressure
or that needs further investigation
and then they go off into the health system,
which is the point of it to make sure
things are identified early.
So thank you for highlighting that
and encouraging that for residents to do that.
Mark Winn, please.
Morning, Mark Winn, cabinet member
Cllr Mark Winn - 0:13:12
for housing and regulatory services.
No hot topics this morning.
Thank you and?
Jaspach.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:13:18
Yes, thank you.
Cllr Jaspal Chhokar - 0:13:21
Jasper Choker, Deputy Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Waste.
I'd just like to highlight over the summer I visited Greatmoor to celebrate 10 years of it
being open along with yourself leader, the Chief Executive and Councillor Osse Bogan and it was a
real landmark achievement for a council asset that delivers financial and environmental benefits
in terms of the way we manage our waste and ensuring virtually none of it goes to landfill.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:13:54
Thank you, absolutely. Again, a fascinating visit but those two impacts you've just said,
it has a huge financial impact because it's not the cost of dealing with our waste
falls as well as being an income stream when other waste is taken in and that landfill point
is really important.
It means that we're dealing with it here.
So, you know, 10 years in and more years to come
to keep those benefits.
So thank you for highlighting that.
Jilly Jordan, please.
Yes, thank you, Lida.
And good morning, everybody.
Jilly Jordan,
Cllr Jilly Jordan - 0:14:28
Deputy Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Education.
And just one hot topic this morning.
It's an update on the Youth Justice Inspection,
which took place between the 22nd and 26th of June of this year.
And the youth service received an overall rating of good.
Inspectors highlighted the services' strong child -centred approach,
positive relationships with children and families,
and effective partnership working across education, health, social care, and policing.
The report also recognised the strength of leadership and governance arrangements,
while identifying areas for further development
to support continued improvement.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Jilly.
Yeah, I mean, that's some real good progress
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:15:15
being shown in that inspection report.
So I encourage people to read it.
And thanks to all those people working in that area
to make that come to fruition.
Thank you.
And Thomas Broome, Councillor Thomas Broome
has now joined the meeting.
So do you have a hot topic?
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:15:35
Yes, thank you very much, Leader. Thomas Broome, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport.
We are coming to the close of our summer resurfacing projects as the weather starts to turn.
This is deploying our £120 million road programme, which is the biggest investment in Bucks Road in the history of the county.
We've seen a lot of work undertaken and we really appreciate residents bearing
with us in some of the disruption that is caused when we have to close roads to
resurface them. But we're now turning our eyes to the winter and the weather
potentially starting to worsen and so you will start to see some more
communications from the team about how we're getting ready for winter and what
steps we will be taking.
Drainage is something that people across the country
are often very interested in, particularly when
and whether their drains have been cleared locally
or at specific hot spots.
We've been working on a way of trying
to get some more information out into the public domain
so people have a better idea of when
their drains on their road have last been cleared.
And I'm very pleased to say that that information is now
available through the FixMyStreet platform,
where people will be able to look at individual drains
and gullies on the highway network
and see when they have been last cleared.
We are also working on integrating our forward programme.
Hopefully, residents will be able to see
when the next planned clearance is.
And we hope that helps to make the process
a bit more transparent.
Obviously, it's always frustrating
when water is backing up.
But sometimes there is a perception that drains
that have been blocked up recently
may not have been cleared for some time,
but obviously we do clear drains and gullies
every year across the county.
Thank you, Thomas, that's very good news.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:17:34
I'm sure people watching will interrogate that.
And of course, you're right,
we do go to everyone every year.
On occasion there may be a parked car
or a stuck gully lid or whatever,
but I know, you know, then in due course,
because it's all deal with that.
So that's a good advancement, and I'm sure you'll be welcomed.
Thank you.
That brings us to the end of hot topics.
And so we now go on to item five, which is question time.

5 Question Time

This is an opportunity for non -executive members
of the council to ask questions of cabinet executive members.
Today we have three questions.
And of course, they are submitted in advance
so that a response can be collated.
But one by one I will ask the relevant councillors
to please step forward and ask their questions.
The first of those today is from Councillor Robin Stutchbury
asking a question to Thomas Broome and or Ade Osibogon.
But Thomas, I think you'll be responding.
Robin, while you were taking your seat, good morning.
Welcome to the meeting.
Yeah, good morning.
We're definitely heading towards autumn now, aren't we?
We definitely are.
So we'll get your pumpkins out soon, I'm sure.
I'm pleased to welcome you as a pre -annual occurrence.
Anyway, moving swiftly on.
This is something my late employer used to do regularly.
Questions - 0:19:00
Buckingham Highways includes a mix of landowners.
In many cases, ditches are owned by the local farmers.
At times, the high rainfall there,
the increased precipitation on our public roads,
especially in rural areas,
with the impacts of gullies and drips across the county.
Campus has been hazards and dangerous on the highway.
What work has been undertaken to ensure
that ditches are being regularly maintained,
as many of these are responsibilities
to the right pairing owner, that being the landowner,
without regular maintenance,
are unable to cope with the high rainfall,
which means the roads fall to bits.
So, as I said, my late employer and I used to do this regularly,
so I don't see why nobody else can.
Thank you.
Thomas, your response.
Thank you very much, Robin.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:19:48
And I'm going to respond on behalf of myself and Ade
as there is an element of cross -portfolio working
when it comes to the interaction between the highway and flood
risk potential.
So managing surface water on and adjacent to the highway
is an important issue, particularly given
the increasing frequency of intense rainfall events
and the impact that these can have on rural roads and highway
drainage systems.
As you know, many roadside ditches are not owned by the council as the highway authority, but by adjacent landowners.
These landowners are generally known as riparian owners and are responsible for maintaining ditches,
watercourses and other drainage features on their land so that water can flow freely and does not create flooding issues for neighbouring land, property or the highway.
Obviously I know you know this, but for the benefit of those listening at home,
Buckinshire Highways undertakes a significant programme
of highway drainage maintenance each year,
including the cleansing of gullies,
jetting of drainage systems,
investigations of reported drainage issues,
and targeted maintenance of highway -owned ditches and grips.
This work is prioritised using inspection data,
reported incidents, asset condition assessment,
and known flood risk locations.
Where flooding or drainage issues are identified
and investigations establish that a privately owned ditch
is contributing to the problem, the Council works with the relevant landowner to encourage
appropriate maintenance.
This often involves providing advice and information regarding their riparian responsibilities
and the benefits of managing and maintaining effective drainage.
The Council also has powers in certain circumstances, through its role as the Highway Authority
and lead local flood authority, to address issues where lack of maintenance is contributing
to flooding or impacts on the highway.
Our preferred approach is to work collaboratively
with landowners, providing advice
and encouraging voluntary action to resolve issues.
Where significant problems persist
and informal engagement is unsuccessful,
the Council may use powers available
under the Land Drainage Act of 1991
and the Highways Act of 1980 to require works to be undertaken
or, where necessary, carry out works in default
and recover the associated costs.
The Council continues to consider how best
to improve awareness of riparian ownership responsibilities
and good drainage maintenance practises
through future communication and engagement activity.
Further information is available on our website,
including guidance on riparian ownership responsibilities.
And you can just look up maintain a river or stream
you own on the Bucks Council website.
I encourage all riparian landowners
to make sure that they are aware of their responsibilities
and the important role that routine ditch maintenance
plays in reducing flood risk and supporting the effective operation of the highway drainage
network.
Thank you for that.
I won't put my spade away quite yet then.
Questions - 0:22:41
Thank you for the question Councillor Stuttberry.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:22:44
Now I'd like to invite Councillor Anna Crabtree please to take occupation in that chair.
You have a question I believe for Robert Carrington as cabinet member for resources.
Welcome to the meeting.
Good to see you.
Thank you.
Okay.
Questions - 0:23:10
Welcome.
Good morning.
Good morning.
Please ask your question.
So I'm Councillor Anna Crabtree representing Marlow Ward.
My question is to Councillor Robert Carrington, cabinet member for resources.
The estate strategy proposes acquiring a long leasehold interest at Lincoln Road.
Given recent disposal decisions where cabinet relied heavily on conditional bids
and future planning outcomes, what assurances can cabinet provide
that this acquisition will not expose the council to the same viability, delivery risk,
and market dependency issues seen in previous instances?
Thank you.
Thank you for that.
Robert County.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:23:49
Thank you very much for the question.
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:23:52
And this paper and the steps recommended in it enable the Council to protect its financial
position, make the best use of an existing asset, and provide further options that come
forward in due course to Cabinet for consideration as mentioned in the paper.
The recommendations which are presented to Cabinet today are underpinned by a significant
amount of pre -contract due diligence, market intelligence, and interest.
Acquiring the long leasehold will mean the council would own the unencumbered freehold
and enable the council to progress these areas of work and as acknowledged
in the paper will result in a further paper to cabinet on the options.
The acquisition ensures that the council gains control of a key employment site in Wycombe
with a lot of future options going forward which will bring forward either significant revenue,
capital or give us operational flexibility, all of which will allow us
to help deliver on resident priorities.
Thank you very much.
Thank you for the question.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:24:47
Obviously, that relates to something later on the agenda.
So I appreciate that.
Thank you.
And then the third of councillor questions today is,
I'm pleased to welcome him, Councillor Stuart Wilson, who's
got a question for Councillor Peter Brazier.
Stuart, good morning.
Nice to see you.
Hope you're well.
Thank you, leader.
I'm well.
Questions - 0:25:08
I hope you're all well too.
Hope you all had a good summer.
My question relates to another one of the papers later on,
which is country parks and specifically
to Little Marlow Lakes Country Park.
My question is to Councillor Peter Bracey,
a cabinet member for Culture and Leisure.
The cabinet decision of October the 11th, 2022,
requires that the service directors of property and assets
and culture sport and leisure consult a consultation
with cabinet members for accessible housing and resources
and Culture and Leisure be delegated authority to agree a suitable business plan and operating
model for Little Marlow Lakes Country Park, which ensures the facility is delivered as
a cost neutral enterprise. The business plan is to be brought back to cabinet for approval.
Today's cabinet report, paragraph 2 .2, reiterates the point that in 2022, country parks operated
as a self -financing service,
largely through off -street parking income.
The Little Marlowe Lakes area under the council's control
will be designated as a suitable alternative
natural green space, a SANG.
A SANG requires free parking
as part of the conditions for designation,
as indicated in paragraph 3 .3 .4 of today's report.
And developer funding does not appear
to cover any other costs to provide paid parking, a visitor centre or cafe, whilst costs are
expected for signage and other promotional materials, maintenance and overhead costs
of the Country Parks team. Please explain the business plan and operating model that
has been developed to ensure this facility is delivered as a cost neutral enterprise,
including when that will be brought back to Cabinet for approval, and if no such business
plan is to be presented how cabinet would authorise an alternative approach.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:27:12
Thank you. Thank you Councillor Willson. Councillor Brazier. Thank you and thank
you Councillor Wilson for the question that's a very good question.
Cllr Peter Brazier - 0:27:18
So the cabinet decision report in January 2025 set out the business plan
for the little Marlowe Lakes Country Park through the delivery of the Spade
Oak suitable alternative natural green space, SANG,
as we pointed out.
Cabinet agreed in principle that the SANG should be created
and maintained in perpetuity,
that is for at least 80 years,
with the costs of implementation,
management and maintenance
funded by the Hollands Farm development
to mitigate recreational pressure on burning beaches.
The requirement for free parking is reflected
within the SANG design,
and the management plan agreed in principle Kauai cabinet
includes provision for signage, visitor information,
and long -term maintenance costs.
The restoration of the former gravel yard area
is separately funded by the council
through an existing approved capital budget.
As confirmed in the January 2025 report,
cabinet delegated the authority to agreed heads of terms
with the Holland Farms developers
covering implementation and delivery costs,
and noted that a further report
will be brought back to cabinet
to consider the outcome of those discussions.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you for the question and that response.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:28:36
Well, now that is the end of hot topic, sorry,
of question time.
So now we've gone to item six on today's agenda,

6 Forward Plan (28 Day Notice)

which is the forward plan.
This is the forward plan on 28 -day notice for the cabinet.
And I'm just turning to it.
You can see it on pages 53 to 64 of the PAC.
Both this item and the next one,
the Select Committee Work Programme,
do change from time to time.
So I do recommend that people looking for the Forward Plan
use the latest version that will be published
on the Council website.
But for the purposes of today,
this is the one at the time that this PAC was published
that was available.
Do any members have any comments, questions
on the forward plan, please.
No, therefore you're content to take that as noted.
Thank you, we'll note and adopt that.
And then item seven is the select committee work programme.

7 Select Committee Work Programme

So here we have a number of select committees
who undertake scrutiny function and also deep dives
into areas of work.
You can see their forward plan of work on pages 65 to 76
of the Agenda Pack, and there's quite a lot on there.
Would anyone have any comments or questions
on that work plan, please?
No? Thank you very much.
Therefore, you're content to note the work programme
for the select committees.
Thank you.
That is agreed.
And that then brings us to the first substantive item

8 Corporate Peer Challenge Progress Review

on today's agenda, which is Agenda Item Number 8.
And I'm looking for my page references.
This can be found on pages 77 to 180 of the Agenda Pack.
I'll briefly introduce this report.
We have Lisa Marie Williams as the Assistant Chief Executive
and Jack Pierce, our Senior Policy
and External Affairs Officer here in case there are any questions.
So this item is the Corporate Peer Challenge Progress Review Report.
And just to set some context here, best practise across local government is
to undergo a corporate peer challenge which is effectively an almost week -long visit
by appointed persons who are both senior political leaders
and senior officers from other councils across the country.
Certainly there's different political persuasions
on the political side, there's different areas of expertise
by those who visit from the officer side,
including being a chief exec
and having financial background and so on.
And that work happened last year
and we received that report that recommended a series of areas
for us to look at.
But I'm pleased a report was complementary about the strength
and the running of this council.
A few months later, within that first year,
they undertake a follow -up visit.
And that is what happened in July this year, where there's
a one -day follow -up visit.
and in that we demonstrate the progress we've made across a number of areas.
And I'm pleased to report that the outcome of the review is that they further strengthened
their enthusiasm and praise and approach, or rather, recognised the progress and approach
that we have taken in making this council better and better for the benefits of our residents.
They described Buckinghamshire Council as being an impressive organisations with strong foundations,
effective leadership, strong governance, and a positive organisational culture.
That is really reassuring for us as an organisation, but for the watching public,
that I hope is reassuring that in all the significant areas where you'd want the council
to be well performing, it has been noted that we are, and indeed, the gauntlet that they
effectively throw down is to continue to do evermore on our delivery for residents and
strive for even greater excellence.
You will note in the period of time between the original visit and the follow -up visit
that we have a new chief executive.
I'm pleased to note they also made positive commentary about the impact that Zina Etheridge
has had since coming in as well, and also that we have adopted our corporate plan.
And our corporate plan, as you know, is all centred on delivery for residents, be that
through value for money, shaping great places, thriving communities, building thriving communities,
looking after the vulnerable, and of course, having great aspiration and ambition for our
people and our place.
So the timing of this was quite good.
I do recommend people read the report and of course we will take away their comments to make sure that as we continue laser -light focus on delivery of great services for residents that we take their feedback on board.
So thank you for everyone who played a part in that, both officers and members and of course thank you for the ongoing work that allows the LGA team to be able to recognise the strengths that Buckinghamshire Council has.
That said, does anyone have any comments or questions?
Thomas?
Thank you, Lita.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:34:35
Yes, I think the Works Council has a strong track record
of delivering particularly efficiency and value for money.
We've seen over the last few years since its formation
very significant efficiency savings being made
that have allowed us to put funding
into residence priorities even in the face of government cuts.
But I think that while we have a good record of demonstration, it's always important to
be looking to drive that further, to make the organisation more efficient, more effective,
and having a set of outside eyes like this with so much expertise in the sector is hugely
useful for us to not only optimise on the things that we have already identified, but
actually to find new areas in which we can try and drive that.
And I think it's incumbent on us in holding the administration of the Council to make
sure we are absolutely always focused on delivering that efficiency and value for money.
And I'm really pleased to see that coming through in this report.
And it is our ongoing mission.
Yes, absolutely right.
You know, it's our absolute stated aim
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:35:47
to be ambitious for our people and place,
and of course, the organisation.
So part of that is the continual learning and challenging
of how we do things better.
You've just indicated that with information on gullet cleaning
through to some of the larger things
that we'll be talking about later on this agenda
through property.
So there's a lot to recognise there.
Thank you for that.
Steve Bowles?
Cllr Steve Bowles - 0:36:13
Yeah, I was just going to say that for the watching public, it wasn't an easy ride for
us as some people might think.
We were really grilled on our portfolios and what have you.
And I think it's a great compliment to the leadership, the cabinet and the officers of
the council that we've come out with a great report.
But like you say, we won't rest on our laurels.
We'll use it as a launch pad to be even better.
Thank you very much.
You know, there's always lots of talk
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:36:51
about making sure elements of transparency is in there
and putting yourself forward.
Knowing this is ultimately we are required to put the reports
into the public domain.
And doing this and reflecting the confidence that we have
to have and undergoing the rigour
of the visit is really important and that's why I say, you know,
our residents here, the watching public,
should have absolute assurance and be reassured about,
A, the process and the outcomes.
So, again, thank you for that.
Isabel, please.
Yes, thank you, Leda.
And, you know, as David said, there's no time
Cllr Isobel Darby - 0:37:27
to rest on our laurels.
It is a snapshot in time.
I think this new council has done really well.
It has come to a level of maturity
and it has shown that right across the portfolios people are not afraid to try things, be brave
and some things will work, some things won't but it's really important that we look at
innovation all the time to serve our residents the best we can to give them a good service
and to make sure that we are spending their money wisely.
So no time to sit on our laurels, back to work and looking at the next challenge.
Yeah, absolutely right.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:38:09
And of course they've reflected everything from our approach to financial management
and prudence through to recognising the importance of programmes like Opportunity Bucks, which
is in our most disadvantaged wards and it shows the full breadth of what the council
undertake, as well as recognising the progress we're making on areas such as pulling together
a full narrative of town centre regeneration.
So there is still work to be done,
and there is no final terminal point on this,
but we'll continue to do that.
So I wanted to bring this back, make sure it's noted.
Again, this is all in the public domain, but for now,
can I just, there are three recommendations
that we note the review, we note the progress made
in delivering the corporate peer challenge action plan,
and three, that we note the action plan has been delivered.
And that, again, just as we were talking about,
remaining activity will continue through business planning,
governance transformation,
and performance management arrangements.
Are members content to those recommendations
and note those aspects, please?
Agreed.
Thank you very much.
They are noted and agreed.
So that brings us now to item nine.
This is the country parts designation.

9 Country Parks Designation

pages 109 to 124 of the pack.
I'll be asking Peter Brazier as the cabinet member for Culture
and Leisure to introduce the report, and Richard Parker,
who's the corporate director for communities, is also here,
should there be any technical questions.
So, Peter, over to you, please.
Thank you, Leda.
Cllr Peter Brazier - 0:39:47
So the council currently has four country parks,
and we have plans to open a further two.
So we will have six in total.
At present, only two of those parks are formally designated
as country parks under the Countryside Act.
That is Black Park and Langley Park.
This proposal will ensure a consistent approach across all
of our country parks so that all country parks are
formally designated.
We're adding Denham, Thorny, a new park at Slope Poggies,
which is currently under construction,
and Little Marlow Lakes.
It will help reiterate the council's formal and ongoing commitment to the country parks.
Designation as a country park helps to protect and enhance the natural habitats, wildlife and landscapes,
ensuring long -term conservation of biodiversity.
The designation also supports managed public access, allowing people to enjoy, learn from and connect with nature
while safeguarding the area for future generations.
Our country parks are run on a self -financing model,
as we've discussed already this morning,
with income from parking, filming, and other charges
reinvested into maintaining and enhancing the parks.
There is a minor financial upside as formerly designated
country parks don't attract VAT for car parking.
And lastly, the formal country park designation
is also expected to be helpful when it comes to applying
for external funding opportunities.
And obviously we're happy to take questions.
Thank you very much.
I'll just look at Richard Barker
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:41:30
in case there's anything substantial he wants to say.
Not this stage?
Okay. Thank you.
Well, thank you, Peter.
I'll look around the table for questions.
Is there a reason why we currently have four
but only two are formally designated?
Cllr Peter Brazier - 0:41:50
I don't know how we got to the stage where only Black Park and Langley have got designated.
Do you know why, Richard?
Yeah, thanks Peter, thanks Lida. So Richard Barbour, corporate director for communities.
Richard Barker - Corporate Director for Communities - 0:42:02
There's no clear reason or rationale for it, so as the report indicates, the decision to designate the two existing sites was made.
Some time ago in 1970 the remaining sites were never formally designated for no particular reason.
So this report is looking to regularise that arrangement and to ensure that we've got a consistent approach across all of our country parks.
Both the ones that are currently open and as the cabinet member has said the ones that were planning to open in the coming months and years ahead.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:42:36
Thank you. I just wanted to cheque. There wasn't a block of reason that the passage of time has been overlooked.
So legacy councils probably.
OK.
So I think regularising those and then showing
further commitment by adding the new ones
is a positive step forward.
Comments and questions from cabinet members, please?
Thomas?
Just to say that politics is often
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:42:58
about making difficult and unpleasant decisions.
This is not one of those occasions.
I think this is a thoroughly good idea,
and I fully endorse it.
Thank you very much.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:43:08
I think you highlighted the point of,
not only the financing part, but highlighted the impact
of how this should help with the natural habitat, wildlife,
landscape, and biodiversity parts,
which is really important with, you know, the pressures
that we have on land use.
So I think having these designated in the way
that you are proposing here really is, you know,
as Tom has just said about choices,
indicating just how important we think those elements are.
And you can actually see in the park, aren't you?
These are quite expansive areas.
You know, when you look at the maps,
this is not insignificant parts of the county
that are being designated.
So I think that's to be welcomed.
Cllr Jilly Jordan - 0:44:07
Gilly Jordan please. I just wanted to ask a question about Thorny Park and Iver. There are no facilities there to park and the park is just for walkers as such. There is a car park but it hasn't been maintained and I wondered if there was any scope for upgrading the park.
Peter or Richard, I don't believe we have any plans to change Thorny.
Cllr Peter Brazier - 0:44:23
Thanks Peter, thanks Councillor Jordan.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:44:25
Richard Barker - Corporate Director for Communities - 0:44:28
Nothing immediately in terms of the current capital programme, but that's an issue that we can take away and have a look at as part of the budget setting process going forward.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:44:36
Thank you very much. I think that's it for comments and questions Peter.
So the recommendation is that the cabinet confirm designation for
the country parks under the countryside act 1968 for four existing sites as you
listed denim country park thorny country park little Marlowe Lakes country park.
Which is including council land at Spade Oak Lake and
the new country park at Stowe purchase that's under construction.
Our cabinet members in agreement with that recommendation please.
Great.
Thank you. That is agreed. And so that item carries. Thank you very much.

10 Estate Strategy – Lincoln Road, Cressex Business Park, Wycombe HP12 3RH

Let's move swiftly on then to item 10, the estate strategy Lincoln Road, Cressex Business Park in Wickham.
The item is in two parts. There is a confidential appendix that members will be aware has been updated.
And therefore, we will go into a confidential session
to make sure we discuss that.
The public reports can be found on pages 5 to 12 of the PAC.
And of course, the confidential appendices are
in the confidential supplement PAC.
Robert Carrington will present this.
And Dave Skinner, our Service Director for Finance
and 151 Officer is here along with Sarah Murphy -Brookman,
Corporate Director for Resources.
And I think I've just seen yes, John Reed has entered the room service director for special projects
So it's a full phalanx here
To answer any questions, but please introduce the paper Robert. Thank you very much leader
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:46:17
So for everyone watching and run the table
Today just to set the scene the site we are talking about
is the Arriba Depot and Lincoln Road in Cressex Business Park.
It is 1 .8 acres site and it is owned as a freehold asset by the council,
but is currently let out on a long -term lease of 125 years to a tenant.
This started on the 25th of September 2005, so we have 104 years remaining.
The rent is a peppercorn and under the current lease terms,
the council has little control over the site
and so its value to the council is minimal.
The site is allocated as an employment use
within Cressix Business Park.
This is within the current Wycombe District local plan.
The occupational tenant of the site now wishes
to dispose of their interest through either
in an assignment of the lease to another party
or a disposal to the council.
The building is vacant, although the tenant
does visit the site regularly to ensure occupation.
It is in the Council's interest to take this opportunity to acquire the long leasehold
to acquire control of the site.
Acquisition will bring an important site on the Cressex Business Park into occupational
use and presents the Council with opportunities either by bringing it into use as part of
the Council's corporate estate, disposal or disposal is an onward transaction to generate
or deliver savings, income or capital receipts beyond the existing peppercorn rent.
The tenant has sought a bid from the Council and others which has resulted in heads of
terms being agreed as per one of the recommendations of this paper.
If cabinet is minded to approve the paper and the recommendations today, a future decision
about whether to let the site for revenue or dispose for an onward sale or use for operational
purposes will be made after the acquisition and with further due diligence, noting there
will be interim holding costs. There may be opportunities to let the site in the short
term to help offset these holding costs, so any revenue created would be used to support
the Council's revenue budget. So in conclusion, this acquisition will give the Council control
of a key employment site in Cressex Business Park and we'll see it come back into use creating
employment and business development opportunities for community and businesses in High Wycombe.
Thank you very much, Councillor Carrington.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:48:50
I mentioned three officers and a whole phalanx of officers sitting there.
Does any of you wish to say anything at this stage?
Okay, thank you.
Comments and questions then, please, on the paper, cabinet members.
I think as Robert has just outlined, the ultimate intent here is to bring this site back into use rather than
waiting the, did you say 90, no around 100 years,
104 years before it could come back into use. Clearly,
we would like to
ensure some ownership so we can bring this into use.
So this is part, really part one of the potential storey.
And as you said, you will bring further things back.
People want to know, well, what is the future?
And as you've said, there are multiple options open to us.
If we secure the site, the intent will be,
before we do that then, you would come back
with future papers on future choices.
Okay. So with that said now, and I remind Cabinet
that we are in public session,
Does anyone have a question in public session?
I think given the nature of the site, we will definitely go
into confidential session for a more detailed conversation.
So what I will do for those watching today's meeting is we
will go into the confidential session and then,
as we would normally do, we will come back
to convey the conclusions of that discussion
and consider the recommendations.
On today's agenda, after this particular item,
was already two confidential items.

11 Exclusion of the public (if required)

One is confidential minutes from previous meetings
and also consideration of the strategic risk update.
Ordinarily, on the latter of those items,
we wouldn't always come back, but what we will do is go
into confidential session now and we will deal
with all three of the items.
the one before us to do with the asset proposal,
and then the confidential minutes
and the estate strategy items 12 and 13, sorry,
confidential minutes, item 12,
and item 14, the strategic risk register as well.
Then we will come back into public session to update
on the item to do with the estate strategy.
So that being said, I will now have to read the statement
to take us into confidential session and exclude the members of the public.
That is to resolve under the local authorities executive arrangements, meeting and access
to information England regulations 2012, regulation 42B that the public be excluded from the meeting
for the following items of business.
On the grounds they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined within schedule
12A of the Local Government Act 1972.
Paragraph 3, information relating
to the financial business affairs
of any particular person, including the authority holding
that information.
Is that so agreed?
Agreed.
Thank you.
And whilst I was reading that, members of the public
have and other members have now left the room.
So webcast can now cease, please, and pause.

11 Exclusion of the public (if required)

Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:52:23
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Lida.
So we have four recommendations in front of us
and I will read them all out.
Number one is Cabinet approves the acquisition
Cllr Robert Carington - 0:53:01
of the long leasehold of the above property in accordance
with the heads of terms contained
in the confidential appendices.
Number two, delegate authority to the service director
of special projects in consultation
with the Cabinet member for resources and Section 151,
officer to finalise terms, contract, and due diligence,
exchange and complete on the transaction.
Number three, cabinet agrees to use earmarked reserves
to fund A, the acquisition of the long lease as an addition
to the capital programme and B, any revenue building costs
up until the point of the future decision on the site
and or a letting is achieved to the value set
out in the confidential appendices.
Number four, cabinet agrees to delegate
to the special director of special projects
and service director of corporate property
and assets subject to the property procedural rules
to let the property in a short -term netting pending the
outcome of the due diligence and legal work on options
for disposal and operational use after consultation
with the cabinet member for resources
and the section 151 officer.
Thank you very much, Robert.
So are cabinet members in agreement
with those recommendations?
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:54:12
I'm going to take them on block, please, cabinet members only.
Agreed.
Thank you.
That is agreed and therefore that item carries.
And that now brings us to item 15, date of next meeting,
which is scheduled, we are scheduled to meet again

15 Date of next meeting

at 11 a .m. on the 14th of October, 2026.
Thank you for your attendance to all today.
Thank you for those watching on the webcast.
We can now end the meeting.
Please end the webcast.
Thank you.