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Council
Wednesday, 16th September 2026 at 4:00pm

 
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  1. Cllr John Chilver
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  3. Cllr Dev Dhillon
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  1. Glenn Watson - Principal Governance Officer
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  13. Cllr Arman Alam
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  7. Cllr Robin Stuchbury
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  7. Cllr Hazel Arthur-Hewitt
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  7. Cllr Steven Broadbent
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  9. Cllr Thomas Broom
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  11. Cllr Sarfaraz Khan Raja
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  13. Cllr Thomas Broom
  14. Cllr Robert Carington
  15. Cllr Sherrilyn Bateman
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  17. Cllr John Chilver
  18. Cllr Peter Brazier
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  20. Cllr Dev Dhillon
  21. Cllr Peter Brazier
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  23. Cllr Alan Bacon
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  26. Cllr Andy Huxley
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  38. Cllr Isobel Darby
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  40. Cllr John Chilver
  41. Cllr Robert Carington
  42. Cllr John Chilver
  43. Cllr Kathy Gibbon
  44. Cllr Robert Carington
  45. Cllr John Chilver
  46. Cllr Kelly Thornton
  47. Cllr Robert Carington
  48. Cllr John Chilver
  49. Cllr Isobel Darby
  50. Cllr John Chilver
  51. Cllr Dev Dhillon
  52. Cllr Isobel Darby
  53. Cllr John Chilver
  54. Cllr Cole Caesar
  55. Cllr Isobel Darby
  56. Cllr John Chilver
  57. Cllr Peter Strachan
  58. Cllr John Chilver
  59. Cllr Christine Adali
  60. Cllr Peter Strachan
  61. Cllr John Chilver
  62. Cllr Cameron Anderson
  63. Cllr Peter Strachan
  64. Cllr John Chilver
  65. Cllr Mark Winn
  66. Cllr John Chilver
  67. Cllr Jonathan Waters
  68. Cllr Mark Winn
  69. Cllr John Chilver
  70. Cllr Khalil Ahmed
  71. Cllr Mark Winn
  72. Cllr John Chilver
  73. Cllr Thomas Hogg
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  6. Glenn Watson - Principal Governance Officer
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  1. Webcast Finished

Cllr John Chilver - 0:00:00
Thank you for attending this afternoon's meeting.
I'm John Chilva, Chairman of the Council, and I am supported by the Vice -Chairman, Frank
Mahon.
A very warm welcome to all members,
Cllr John Chilver - 0:00:30
honorary aldermen and members of the public
in attendance and watching online.
It is with great sadness that I must report
the death of Peter Carra,
who served as high sheriff of Buckinghamshire
from 2017 to 2018.
Peter played an active role in the voluntary sector,
supporting numerous charitable organisations,
and spent over 20 years as a Mental Health Act Manager
with the NHS.
I wish to send my condolences to Peter's family and friends,
particularly his daughter, Vanita, son -in -law David,
his son, Rowan, and daughter -in -law Emily,
as well as his grandchildren, who were very dear to him.
I would now like to invite Councillor Dev Dillon to say a few words.
Councillor Dillon.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to say a few words about Peter Caron.
Cllr Dev Dhillon - 0:01:35
I feel privileged to know him and have attended a number of civic engagements with him as
a chairman and a vice chairman of the Kingshire County Council.
Peter was a special person who touched a life of so many of us in our community, especially
Buck's uniformed youth.
Peter was born in South Africa and grew up in a beautiful rural environment before coming
to England to study.
He was qualified accountant with a long history of investment in private companies.
He also provided financial support and strategic planning advice to medium -sized enterprises.
All of while he was serving on board of two companies.
Since 99, he has been involved in a wide range of voluntary section organisations in Milton
King.
For one, he was a treasurer of National Shikitshu Folling Ship now Rethink.
He was a trustee of Milton Keynes Community Foundation and a director of its subsidy,
Milton Keynes Properties Limited.
Having served chairman on both organisations, he was involved in local NHS board
as a non -executive director since 1993.
He served on all the precessor board leading up to it.
and including Milton King Clinical Commissioning Group.
He also served on the board of East England Ambulance Trust
and served as a mental health manager for Central
and Northwest London Mental Health Trust.
But his equivalent do not stop there.
As a high sheriff of High Buckinghamshire in 2017 -18,
he was able to use his years in office
to promote the wider discussion on mental health,
particularly focusing on preventing an early intervention
and believe young people are the key creation
of more humane environment, aware of less various society,
and therefore should be given encouragement and opportunity
to create a better world for all of us.
He will be sadly missed.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, his son
and his daughter, and his son -in -law, daughter -in -law,
and again, as you said, Chairman,
he was very dear to his grandchildren.
Thank you very much indeed, Councillor Dillon.
Cllr John Chilver - 0:03:44
Please can members now be upstanding while we observe a minute's silence in memory of Peter.
.
Thank you all.
Please be seated.
A few preliminary words before we start the meeting.
We will follow the arrangements for speaking as laid out in the Constitution.
Please remain respectful throughout the meeting.
All members are reminded to uphold the Nolan principles
when speaking to one another.
And at the start of each debate,
I will ask members to raise their hands
if they wish to speak.
Next item is apologies for absence.
Mr. Watson, do we have any apologies?

1 Apologies

We do, Chairman, yes.
Glenn Watson - Principal Governance Officer - 0:05:32
We have apologies from Councillors Chilton,
Clark, Collingwood, Collins, Drayton, Gryphon, Kelly, Ozzibogan and Turner.
We have also received apologies from the law lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Lady Howe,
and Nicky Ross, high sheriff of Buckinghamshire.

2 Minutes

Cllr John Chilver - 0:05:55
Thank you. Next item is minutes. Our members can tend to note the minutes of the council
meeting held on the 15th of July 2026 as a correct record.
Agreed.
Thank you.
Declarations of interest, do members have any declarations

3 Declarations of Interest

of interest on the agenda items?
There are none.
Now for the chairman's update.

4 Chairman's Update

I would like to thank Gideon Springer, the Council's Community Safety Head of Service,
who stepped in for Inspector Jodie Duggan today to offer advice to members around Operation
Forward and Councillor Safety and take questions out in the street prior to this meeting.
It was very topical in light of recent events nationally
and much appreciated.
I would also like to highlight that today marks
the final full council meeting for Lisa Marie Williams,
who will be leaving the council in October.
Lisa Marie has been with the council since April 2024.
Initially, as the service director of law and governance,
and then as the Assistant Chief Executive.
Lisa Marie has worked particularly closely with members across the Council
throughout her time with the Council in her roles as Monitoring Officer and Returning Officer.
I'm very appreciative of the support provided by Lisa Marie and on behalf of the Council.
I would like to wish her the very best for the future and in her new role.
I would just like to highlight a few of the events I've attended since the last full council meeting.
The full list will be included in the minutes of this meeting.
There have been a couple of anniversaries.
It was a great pleasure to attend the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Maidenhead Rowing Club,
which is situated in Buckinghamshire near Taplow.
They moved from the Berkshire side of the river
to brand new premises on our side around 20 years ago
and seemed to be thriving in our county.
Another anniversary event I attended last Saturday
was the 60th anniversary
of the Chilterns crematorium near Hanisham.
I viewed a display of historical documents,
attended two very interesting talks,
and enjoyed walking in beautiful grounds.
I also recently attended the inauguration ceremony of the first Hindu Maitreya
Emporium in the county near Nenam and would like to pay tribute to the Hindu
community for delivering this facility. It was great pleasure to attend the
Bucks County show recently and particularly to visit the council tent
and meet many of our officers who were engaging with the public on a whole
range of services offered by the Council.
Congratulations and thanks to all.
Is it back now?
Yes.
The weather at the County show was mixed
as it was last Sunday for the Copp Hill climb
near Princess Rosebrough.
The first event took place there back in 1910
and was revived in 2009 since when over 1 .3 million pounds has been raised for charity.
Finally, it was a great honour to attend the Angels' Den in Chesham last week,
which raised funding for over 14 local charities
and other local benefactors.
I would like to spare special tribute to our own Ashley Waite,
who won an award for his Billings Initiative recycling used bicycles for the benefit of the local community.
I would like to express my thanks to those who have also represented the Council at various events,
including former chairmen Sarfas Raja and Dev Dillon,
alderman Patricia Birchley,
armed forces champion Leslie Clark.
Looking ahead, I will be joining the coach tour
around the county on Saturday for the award of trophies
for the best kept villages competition.
Congratulations to Aston Abbots,
Whitchurch, Steeplecladen, Wilbenham -Born End,
Beckonsfield, Astwood and Chaney's, this year's trophy winners and I look forward to visiting
you on Saturday.
Moving on through the agenda, the next item is the appointment of the returning officer

5 Appointment of Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer

and electoral registration officer.
Following my announcement of Lisa Marie Williams leaving her post in the previous agenda item,
Item 5 is the appointment of a new returning officer and electoral registration officer for the Council.
And in line with the legislation, it is a requirement that Council approves such appointments.
The recommendation is that returning officer and electoral registration officer responsibilities
be transferred to the Chief Executive, Zina Etheridge, and she be appointed to both roles with immediate effect.
I do not propose to open the item for debate. I will however require a proposer and seconder.
I understand Councillor Broadbent you will propose the recommendation, is that correct?
Yes, that's right Mr Chair.
And Councillor Starchbury, I understand you will resect it.
Yes, I will second please, thank you.
Thank you.
By show of hands, are members content to approve the appointment of Zina Etheridge as the Council's
returning officer and electoral registration officer with immediate effect.
Thank you.
I confirm that that recommendation has been carried.
We now move on to item six, which follows on from the previous item.

6 Appointment of Interim Monitoring Officer

This is a report for Council to confirm the interim appointment made by the Senior Appointments
and Pay Committee at its meeting last week, which was to appoint Mr Glenn Watson to the
interim monitoring officer role. And as you see, he's shyly retired from the stage for
this item. Members will be updated at the appropriate time when a permanent appointment
has been made. I do not propose to open this item for debate. Can I ask the leader and
Chairman of SAPC, Councillor Broadbent,
if he wishes to say anything on the matter.
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I do, and I will say I associate myself
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:13:14
with the comments of appreciation and thanks to Lisa Marie,
but obviously what we have to do as a legal requirement
is appoint a monitoring officer on an interim basis.
As you said, that's Glen Watson.
This matter came before SAPC,
the Senior Appointment and Pay Committee,
that you discussed, and we went through
with more than one candidate, went through a full exercise
of interviewing those candidates,
and I'm here to report that SAP's recommendations council
is that the interim monitor officer post be held
by Glenn Watson, and at the same time,
just to reassure everyone, we have commenced
the recruitment exercise for the service director
of legal, electoral, and democratic services
who in due course is expected to assume the role of the permanent monitoring officer.
Cllr John Chilver - 0:14:14
Glenn's appointment is effective from the 1st of October.
By show of hands, please can members indicate if they are content to note the appointment of Glenn Watson
as the Council's interim monitoring officer.
Thank you, that's been carried.
So I can confirm that the appointment is endorsed.
Welcome back to Glenn and I wish him all the best for his time in the role.

7 Constitution Amendments - Planning Legislative Changes

Next item is planning legislative changes.
So this item covers the national legislative changes to local authority planning committees
which come into effect from the 31st of October this year.
As the paper covers constitutional changes which must be made,
as opposed to changes that the council is opting to make,
the report is factual and is for council to endorse.
But given the strength of feeling on the topic among members,
I am proposing to open the item to members for comment.
Councillor Strachan as cabinet member with responsibility for planning.
Would you like to introduce the report please?
You have five minutes.
Thank you very much Mr. Chairman.
Cllr Peter Strachan - 0:15:38
Just to repeat that we're being asked to endorse legislative changes to the town and country
planning regulation system.
So this is not a debate.
What we're doing is applying regulations
which have been put on this by government.
There is an extensive report of over 50 pages
which give the detail and you'd be relieved to know
that I'm not gonna go through them now.
But let me just say that the national scheme of delegation
is a mandatory change in the regulations
that govern how planning decisions are made.
and it will come into effect on the 31st of October.
And we obviously need to change our constitution
to meet these changes.
Therefore, these constitutional changes are being made
in reaction to the government's introduction
of new regulations that will ensure
that planning applications and their decisions continue
to be made lawfully at this planning authority.
The main changes are the way that what used to be call -ins are called to committee.
To give it a context, then, round about 2 % of applications that come to the council go to committee.
And it's most likely that that number will drop.
So there is now a sequence of gateway tests that must be met before the application can go to committee.
There will be no changes to the committee structure
that we currently have so that we can evaluate properly the
implications of these changes and we'll give them full
consideration for the new council next May if we decide
that changes would be appropriate.
And any changes we decide to make, I will keep colleagues
in this chamber fully appraised of them.
Thank you.
Cllr John Chilver - 0:17:44
Thank you very much. Are there any members who wish to comment on this item? Please raise your hands.
And please keep comments focused on the legislative changes rather than planning processes more broadly.
Councillor Bracken.
Thanks very much Mr Chairman. We don't have any choice on these changes, so I wanted to use the time available today to report that I have the minutes of the meeting with the Minister
Cllr Michael Bracken - 0:18:07
when these changes were decided,
an official called Humphrey, Sir Humphrey,
came to the minister and said,
Minister, I've got the, we've solved it.
We're gonna sort out the planning system once and for all.
One and a half million houses,
it's coming in under your inspiring leadership, Minister.
And the minister was very pleased.
And Humphrey said, yes, so what you have to do, Minister,
is you have to get rid of all of the politicians
from the planning system.
And the minister was a bit taken aback, the politicians.
Well not you, Minister, no, no, not you, Minister,
no, obviously, I'm talking about those local councillors.
I mean they don't know, do you know,
they have these planning committees where they get
members of the public in and people speak on these proposals
and can you imagine where this would end?
Thank you Councillor Bracken, you are my next design.
Thank you very much.
Cllr John Chilver - 0:19:13
Councillor Salfres on Roger.
Thank you.
Thank you Chairman.
Cllr Sarfaraz Khan Raja - 0:19:28
I totally, you know, what Councillor Peter Strachan just said, I totally totally disagree with what the Government's doing to us.
We as politicians or counsellors, we represent our ward.
Our residents come to us with issues,
and obviously we take in mind what the officers are saying,
but there is always a different view to their decision.
So taking that away from us,
it's a, I can't believe what they're doing to us.
It's another level of, you know,
not listening to local government, local representative.
So I'm sorry I can't agree with what's going on.
Thank you.
Councillor Stutchbury.
Cllr John Chilver - 0:20:10
In politics most things are disagreeable and governments make decisions.
Cllr Robin Stuchbury - 0:20:14
I was immensely interested having with the Constitution the council that a member has a copy of the minutes of the meeting.
I am I am fully wish him to share them because
He only had a few minutes and he couldn't
Express his opinion completely just to see whether the context of that discussion was because I couldn't include the contents of stuff on the
Agenda today. I was told I couldn't make stuff
So I'm very interested that that good and it's a question of accuracy
I think it's only fair that we see those minutes and where they came from and who said what?
As they were referred to thank you
Thank you, Councillor Waters.
Cllr John Chilver - 0:20:58
Cllr Jonathan Waters - 0:21:01
Thank you, Chairman. I think most of us would agree who have been involved in planning that this is a retrograde step.
As councillors, most of the issues that come to our committees are the difficult issues.
They're on the margins of the planning system and they do need to be challenged.
Our residents elect us to do this,
and I think the government taking those powers away
and our input is actually a real negative,
because actually we should be able to challenge,
we should be able to get the information for the officers,
and keeping it in the public,
and I think you know my view on that,
that the public should be able to see
that it's difficult issues have been dealt with
and have been dealt with publicly.
I think Sir Humphrey or whoever actually was the officer involved in civil government,
I think has very little confidence in local government and the tremendous work that we do.
Councillor Gough.
Cllr John Chilver - 0:22:01
Cllr Phil Gomm - 0:22:07
Two microphones. Thank you very much Chairman.
And yeah, I sit on the planning committee
and I thought it was a place where members of public
could speak freely about their area
and their different projects
that they may be for or against.
So it's a shame that the government is stopping us
with our freedom of speech and our democracy
at the same time.
I'm certainly against what's there.
And then just following on from my colleague there
on my left -hand side, just to slip in,
I've just got back from Stratford -upon -Avon
And I think we should have seen you up there
at the same time that as well said what you put forward,
but yeah, as it comes to planning,
it should be freedom of speech ready
for the community that we live in.
Councillor Allen.
Cllr John Chilver - 0:22:51
Thank you, Chairman.
Chairman, I've been on the West Buckinghamshire
Planning Committee for around five years.
Cllr Arman Alam - 0:22:57
And that gives me sufficient experience to say
that the role of planning committees
and planning applications that I've called in
and the importance to scrutinise these is,
I think, fundamental and important.
Planning applications and the result of planning applications
have significant impact, not only upon communities,
but residents living in the area.
Therefore, I just wanted to make the point
that I think this is a very bad step
and it's unfortunate that we have
to change our regulations accordingly.
Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor Broadbent.
Cllr John Chilver - 0:23:33
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:23:36
And I think clearly the comments made so far suggest
we're all going to be agreement in this chamber,
that this is a retrograde step.
So I just wanna make some comments
so that members of the public realise
the situation we're in.
Great swathes of our constitution,
as you can see in the pack from page 13 onwards,
have now had a line drawn through them.
And they are all about the call -in opportunities
for members, town and parish councils, and others.
At a stroke, this has gone.
I want to give the reassurance that the planning committees,
and I say thank you to all members who will populate these,
are holding extra meetings between now and Halloween.
What an appropriate date for something so ghoulish.
To make sure that we do everything we can for call -ins
that are on the books that are ready,
that they can be heard by their planning committees.
So thank you in advance to Chairman of those committees
and the members of those committees.
It does mean there is a fundamental shift in democracy
that again, I wish to put on the record.
We've all heard that phrase, I'm sure,
that officers advise and ministers decide.
This has changed that.
If there is a disagreement, an opinion,
between the nominated member and the nominated officer,
the elected member who is in that position
due to the will of the people
in the areas that they represent,
is now overridden by, where there's a deadlock,
the view of the officer.
That is a fundamental shift that erodes democracy
at its very core.
And I hope we don't get to that situation,
but that is the reality of what is in these changes.
And I actually think it's deeply unfair
to put officers into that position,
potentially having that to be done.
it is the job of us as elected members to represent people
and all of us will have spent a lot of time and effort
discharging that duty through the planning function.
So I hope we can all be very clear later on
because I think this will get into the public consciousness
as planning opportunities come that people realise
opportunities are no longer available
in the way they used to be for call -ins
that we can explain this calmly
and we are discharging our duties,
but we're holding the extra meetings
and the keeping planning committees there,
at least for the rest of this year,
so we can still hear the voice of local communities,
even if the powers available to those committees
have been eroded.
And that's all I wanna say.
I think we're all in agreement
with the changes that's put forward,
and as Councillor Stratton said, we have no choice.
But that is the background that I wanted to get out there.
Councillor Ahmed and that will be the last comment, thank you.
Cllr John Chilver - 0:26:30
Cllr Khalil Ahmed - 0:26:41
Thank you Chairman. I have to agree with the leader what you just said, but I just want to say that this is how us members in the town committee feel exactly like that when we don't have powers as elected members when we can't actually represent.
We seem like an advisor body.
I just want to just echo that fact for the leader,
that that's exactly what's actually happening to Wickham,
and now it's obviously being imposed on the planning.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr John Chilver - 0:26:59
I would like to invite Councillor Strecken
to respond to the points made.
I think we have a theme here.
Cllr Peter Strachan - 0:27:08
All of us see this as a regressive step for democracy.
We don't feel it's right.
We feel that local communities should have their say
through planning committees, but I would just stress
that this is being put on us by government.
It's not a question of us ignoring it.
We have to do it to keep our authority legal,
and I think we should make proper representation
as we are able with those who represent us in Westminster
about the implications of this legislation
for our communities.
but I think we have a collective theme that I've heard.
I think the leader captured it very well,
so I would add nothing further, Chairman,
other than to thank you for your comments.
Thank you.
By show of hands, please can members indicate
Cllr John Chilver - 0:27:59
if they are content to note the paper?
Thank you. I can confirm that the report is noted.

8 Local Transport Plan 5 Adoption

Next item is item 8, the local Transport Plan 5 adoption.
Due to the large size of the supporting documents, they have been published in a separate supplement on the Council's website.
And I would now like to invite the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport, Councillor
Thomas Broome, to introduce the item.
Thank you very much Chairman.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:28:39
Yes, this is the local transport plan and supporting freight and logistics strategy.
I hope that this is not the first time that people are seeing this.
I know that we've done a number of engagement stages along the way before we even got to
the full public consultation.
and I'd just like to say very much welcome
the positive engagement that we have generally had
as we have brought this document forward.
So just a bit of background,
this is something we're required to set out
under the Transport Act of 2000.
It sets out our long -term priorities for transport
and it is supported by the more detailed strategies
and plans that sit below it.
So effectively this is the overall strategic document
which is why you get a delightful 700 pages
of associated documentation that sits alongside it.
We have made sure that this aligns with the priorities
in our corporate plan and that it delivers the framework
that we need in order to actually deliver the infrastructure
and the changes to the Buckinghamshire Highway Network
and other transport facilities over the coming years.
So this is a very important document.
I would say for any members of the public
who are looking at this, one of the things we have had
come to us as part of that feedback throughout the process
is people will often look at it and sort of go,
well where's this particular bit,
where's that particular bit?
And I would say again, that this is the overarching
sort of strategic document under which
in which the specific plans will sit.
So for example, if you're looking at cycleways
and active travel, the LC WIP for the county
is the place where you will find the specific detail
for that rather than necessarily in the transport plan.
We have focused on providing choice
for residents in this process.
We think that it is up to the residents of Buckinghamshire
to determine how they want to get around,
and it is the job of the council to facilitate them
in doing so, whatever mode of transport
they choose to take, rather than seeking to impose
particular ideological choices on them,
one way or the other.
So I won't go on for too long,
because I'm sure there will be some people
who have some specific questions.
But I would just say to Council,
this has been long in the making.
I think almost everybody in this room
has contributed to the process.
We massively valued the feedback that we got
when we went out to full public consultation.
We have made some minor changes on the basis
of that feedback, but overwhelmingly,
it was supported from the public.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Is there a seconder, and do you wish to speak now
or reserve your right?
Cllr John Chilver - 0:31:29
Thank you, Chairman, I reserve my right.
Thank you.
Do any members wish to speak on this item?
Councillor Morgan.
Cllr Susan Morgan - 0:31:48
Thank you Chairman.
Buckinghamshire is the home to Stoke Mandeville, the birthplace of our Paralympics.
Accessibility should be one of our defining values.
Yet disabled residents across Bucks have seen decisions that suggest otherwise, including
the assumption baked into the MTFP that blue badge holders will be charged in council and
car parks before any democratic decision has ever been made.
And now we are being asked to adopt the LTP5
without the mandatory accessibility document
required by the Department for Transport.
In the LTP5 post -consultation changes document,
under LTP5 guidance, it states that all requirements
have been met apart from production
of a bus network accessibility plan.
But the Department for Transport is explicit.
Every local transport authority must have a bus network
accessibility plan in place by the 1st of April, 2027.
Accessibility was added late to the LTP5,
only because residents pointed out it was missing.
And yet the statutory document has had no scrutiny,
no oversight, and is not before members today.
It's not good governance.
and residents deserve better than being told
that the legally required accessibility work
will be done later somewhere off camera
without member oversight.
So my question to you is,
why is council being asked to adopt a local transport plan
that does not meet the DFT,
not yet meet the DFT's requirements?
Would the cabinet member consider deferring adoption
to the next available council meeting,
allowing the documents be completed, published,
and subject to proper member scrutiny?
and if the cabinet member believes a short deferral is not possible, can you set out specifically what funding, grant opportunities, statutory obligations or external deadlines would be jeopardised by waiting until the next council meeting to adopt LTP5? Thank you.
Thank you. Councillor Stachbury?
Cllr John Chilver - 0:33:59
Cllr Robin Stuchbury - 0:34:03
Yeah, thank you very much for the document. I really want to be a drone or plane because
it appears that they can get around Buckinghamshire in the document quite well. I was really concerned
with the mapping of it. It doesn't reflect the mapping of the future development in the
Buckinghamshire plan, which is going to be through consultation. I also was concerned
that it didn't truly reflect the way that people navigate themselves around medical
care in Buckinghamshire and it recognised Wexham and it recognised MK.
But I wasn't 100 % clear how it really demonstrated with the limited transport
routes in North Buckinghamshire to access some of these things. Anyone who lives in
North Buckinghamshire, getting to Wickham is difficult and getting from Wickham to
Buckinghamshire is difficult and Milton Keynes and whatever and I think it there
was linear transport cross but I didn't think there was up and down the country
it looked pretty thin and narrow, especially as we've already,
we'll be going out, have finished a consultation
where most of the growth is going to be
in North Buckinghamshire.
And this map doesn't really offer a solution to that.
And maybe it's the wrong document to offer that solution,
but it was clearly the mappings didn't look right to me.
And I hope that you can come back with that.
But I think if I've got a drone, at least I'll be able to move
freely across Buckinghamshire and sell a plane.
So I've got neither, but anyone who has, good luck to them.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr John Chilver - 0:35:29
Councillor Schafer.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Cllr Kelly Thornton - 0:35:38
The plan contains important transport ambitions,
Cllr Anja Schaefer - 0:35:42
which we will need to realise to support the local plan.
Many of these ambitions appear to depend on future grants,
developer contributions and partnership funding,
particularly for transport links between settlements.
Clearly, securing such funding is absolutely vital
to the delivery of the local transport plan.
Can the Cabinet member outline what progress has been made to date
in securing such funding, what the next steps will be,
and when a detailed update will be brought either to full council
or to the Transport, Environment, Climate Change and Communities Committee
so that members can scrutinise the delivery against these ambitions.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Cllr John Chilver - 0:36:30
Councillor Martin as the seconder.
Please speak now.
Thank you, Chairman.
Cllr Peter Martin - 0:36:39
I support our LTP5 and the work to make easier, safer, more accessible transport
in order to prove travel across the county.
Amongst other aspects, I have a particular interest
in public transport with our bus service improvement plan,
and since 2024, our bus service enhanced partnership
working with service providers,
all with the objective of making improvements
for the benefits of our residents.
In short, I see LTP5 as a really positive plan,
helping with the local plan, but clearly there's a lot of work
with the local plan still to go, and I would like to second the adoption of LTP5.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Cllr John Chilver - 0:37:34
And Councillor Breen, would you like to come back on any of the points raised?
Yes, thank you, Chairman.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 0:37:40
And I think that the first point to make on accessibility
is that I suspect the member in question
has not read policy A1, which deals with accessibility
within the local transport plan.
I think she was referring to equality impact assessments
that are conducted on the specific policies
that sit underneath this as a strategic document,
and that being the requirement.
I have to say as well to Councillor Shafer,
I think that I tried to explain as we were going into this
that this is the overarching document
that sets the direction of travel
under which you have strategies and plans
that implement specific schemes.
So this is not a document that you would expect
to have a set of delivery goals against
because you are delivering against the plans and strategies
that sit one level lower than this document.
In terms of its impact on the local plan
and future planning matters,
and I do take the point that Councillor Stutchbury makes,
and it was something that was raised
in the public consultation as well,
but it's slightly a cart before the horse situation
in that the point of the local transport plan
is to set out how you can mitigate these issues
through the wider Buckinghamshire local plan.
So again, in terms of how those things are actually implemented, how things are changed
to cope with growth in population that's being imposed on us by the government, that is guided
by what's in LTP5 but is delivered through the Buckinghamshire local plan.
So I appreciate it is a bit of a tricky one, this, because we are essentially casting an
umbrella over a number of other documents, plans, strategies that are already in place
and in many cases already delivering,
as well as some additional bits
that are sort of a bit more forward looking.
And I would say, just to wrap up,
that the reason why we have some elements in there
around things like drone technology
is because we're not only trying to deliver
the nuts and bolts basics
that our residents would expect us to
in terms of making sure that they can choose
how they get around the county
and that we facilitate to do that,
facilitate them in doing that as best we can.
But we also need to keep an eye on the future,
on emerging technologies,
and how those are going to affect
the way people get around the county.
And so there are going to be some.
Thank you, Councillor Boon, your time is up.
By show of hands, are members content to approve
Cllr John Chilver - 0:40:23
and adopt the local transport plan five?
Thank you, I confirm that those recommendations
have been carried.
Next item is item nine,

9 Buckinghamshire Youth Justice Plan 2026-2029

the Buckinghamshire Youth Justice Plan 26 to 29.
And I would like to invite the cabinet member
for education and children's services,
Councillor Carl Jackson, to introduce this item.
Thank you, Chairman.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:40:56
I'm pleased to present to council
the Buckinghamshire Youth Justice Plan.
The plan has been endorsed by cabinet and was the subject of a very constructive conversation
in the Cross Party Children's Education Select Committee on Thursday.
Today Council has been asked to formally adopt the plan, which we have a statutory duty to
produce and which is a condition importantly of getting the grant funding from the Youth
Justice Board, which is a key part of providing service.
Buckinghamshire's Youth Justice and Support Team is a partnership of the Council's Children's
services team, Thames Valley Police as you'd expect,
probation, health services, community safety,
and the voluntary sector.
The plan, which has been produced in collaboration
with children, parents, carers, and of course,
victims affected by offences, demonstrates the progress
made on cutting the number of first -time entrants
into the system, cutting reoffending,
and cutting the use of custody where appropriate.
Members will notice the positive news in the report on the reduction of the rate in children entering the youth justice system for the first time.
That's down from 89 to 60.
The falling rate of reoffending from 6 to 4, which is well below the average now for comparable areas in the country.
And very low use of custodial sentences down to 2 from 3.
Members can choose whether they describe that as all of one person or a massive 33 % drop depending on their own opinion.
The report sets out the youth justice and support teams
priorities for the next three years.
These include working more effectively to support victims
and communities harmed by the offences,
developing more opportunities for positive change
in children who have committed offences
or at risk of doing so.
There's a preventative side to this which is important.
And supporting children to stay in suitable education.
On the last point, I will draw members attention,
although many will have read the papers and noticed already,
the stark figure about the significant presence
of children who receive SEND support or have EHCPs in the youth justice system. In 2025,
children with an EHCP or receiving other SEND support made up a significantly disproportionate
amount of the youth justice caseload compared to their presence in the population, if you want to
put it that way. This is another reminder, if it were needed, of the importance of providing
prompt, effective and ongoing support to children with SEND. I'm pleased that there's a lot of hard
and the work still going into that.
The report also provides a breakdown
of the youth justice system caseload by ethnicity
and notes where there's a mismatch
between the percentage of a caseload
from particular ethnic groups
and the percentage of the Buckinghamshire population
from that group.
The situation is something that's been monitored
very closely across the partnership
to ensure that any such mismatch
is not the result of unfair differential treatment.
Mr. Chairman, I welcome the low offending
and reoffending rates in Buckinghamshire.
I welcome the positive feedback from children and families on the way that the Youth Justice
and Support Team works with them.
I welcome in particular the work that's well done to keep children in suitable education.
It's a huge part of this work.
I welcome the work done to keep children out of custody where appropriate.
And I welcome the focus on restorative justice and supporting victims.
While we need to remember that we're talking about children here in the Youth Justice system,
We also need to make sure we remember the victims
of the offences committed to.
There is more work to do, I would say,
particularly on supporting children with mental health
or with substance misuse issues.
I think that comes out in the report.
But overall, I think this is a very encouraging report.
It reflects the work of a very hardworking
and very effective youth justice and support team.
And members will be relieved to know that you don't have
to take my word for that assessment.
We've just had an inspection from His Majesty's, the Inspectorate of Probation.
They published a report of their inspection of the Youth Justice Service on the 1st of September and rated it good.
And I would point out as well, it was at the right end of good, that assessment, it was a strong good rather than a youth scraped to good.
So it was a very encouraging report.
Finally, I'd just like to thank the Youth Justice and Support team for all their hard work and I will propose that this Council adopts this plan.
Thank you. Is there a seconder and do you wish to speak now or is there a rise?
Cllr John Chilver - 0:45:19
Chairman, I'd like to second the report but I'll hold my position to speak at the end.
Cllr Phil Gomm - 0:45:28
Cllr John Chilver - 0:45:29
Thank you. Do any members wish to speak on this item?
Councillor Adou.
Cllr Shade Adoh - 0:45:40
Thank you very much chairman. It is great to see how the council is supporting our young
people to stay in education to improve themselves and also the work that is
being done to address the minority groups. We would recognise the importance
of supporting our young people within the justice system but we must also
recognise that every crime has a victim.
Could the cabinet member please share more detail
on the restorative justice?
Thank you, Councillor Morgan.
Cllr John Chilver - 0:46:16
Cllr Susan Morgan - 0:46:23
Sorry, we're having some technical issues
in the house this evening.
The Youth Justice Plan is a statutory document
that sets out how Buckinghamshire rehabilitates some of the most vulnerable young people in
our county, those at risk of offending, those who have offended, and those who need coordinated
support from multiple agencies. Getting this right is not optional. It affects real lives,
real outcomes, and the safety and wellbeing of our communities. When I chaired children's
services during this past year, I made it clear that this plan should never be a rubber
stamping exercise.
Scrutiny must come before cabinet approval
so members can change the content,
strengthen the proposals, and ensure the plan
reflects the needs of young people it is designed to protect.
However, I can see that this plan went to cabinet first,
then to children's services, and now at full council.
On paper, that looks like scrutiny,
but in reality, scrutiny's been reduced
for tick box exercise.
The committee last week was presented
with a finished document with no meaningful opportunity to amend it, improve it, or influence
its direction.
It was scrutiny in name only.
The consequences, weak scrutiny means weaker challenge on safeguarding, weaker challenge
on partnership performance, and weaker challenge on whether the plan actually delivers for
the young people that rely on it.
So my question to the cabinet member is why has the administration reduced scrutiny of the youth justice plan to rubber stamping exercise
without any meaningful opportunity for member challenge and why has proper democratic oversight been abandoned for a plan that directly affects vulnerable young people in Buckinghamshire?
Thank you. Councillor Sherwell.
Cllr John Chilver - 0:48:15
Cllr Alan Sherwell - 0:48:22
Thank you Jim. Must I agree absolutely that it would be sensible for this sort of plan to come to scrutiny
before it goes to cabinet simply because that's a lot of extra views that can be fed into the system
on something that is very complicated. I shudder when I see plans like this, not because there's anything
wrong with the plan in itself, but because the idea of trying to produce a document which
covers untamed public services in which each are a tiny cog, although an important cog,
is a nightmare. And I congratulate the officers on the amount of effort that has gone in to
trying to produce this document. But it's here and we have to have it, so we need to
get use out of it. And what I would like, and I suspect Councillor Jackson will not
have any problem with this, but what I would like is a commitment that we do get, presumably
to scrutiny, a report back in some regularity on the targets that are in this document so
that we can have the opportunity to say if we are to achieve this, then this bit of our
needs to look at this sort of thing and so on, which is not a discussion we can have
here and now, wouldn't be appropriate to have here and now. But it is something on which
all members of this council have a value and have ideas which they can commit to helping
make this work better.
Thank you. Councillor Broome?
Cllr John Chilver - 0:50:01
I don't think I put my hand up on this one, John.
I had you on my list.
Councillor Nick Namb, Hussein.
Well, I agree with my colleagues about the role of scrutiny.
Cllr Niknam Hussain - 0:50:16
I would like to emphasise that now as a Unitary Council, one of the issues I used to have
as a former councillor on both councils is the Chinese wars between the various aspects
to achieve things.
One of the biggest things always in this area
is housing, mental health, and education.
And those are in the plan, so I commend the officers
for putting it in there.
But can the cabinet member please reassure the council
and my residents that now there are no Chinese wars
between this, we are one unitary council,
but those aspects will be identified and worked on.
Because one of the biggest issues for people coming out of
the
detention is finding somewhere to live and finding mental and social support and
Thank You councillor Heather Wallace
Cllr John Chilver - 0:51:11
Thank You and
councillor you mentioned the role of
Cllr Heather Wallace - 0:51:18
Unaddressed send needs and people becoming involved with youth justice system
But what about the unaddressed mental health needs?
There's a long waiting list for CAMS, as we all know.
How are we dealing with that issue?
Cllr John Chilver - 0:51:35
Well, thank you, officers, for the report.
Cllr Robin Stuchbury - 0:51:40
Like all reports, there's always more needs to be done.
And I was fortunate enough to attend the Education Select
Committee and got a reasonable response from the cabinet
member about my concern about the criminal justice
as children with autism and issues around that.
But what I hope that he would accept
that he stated in an earlier response at last council
that he was going to bring forward a briefing on taking
forward stuff on CFEs, which I think children are very
vulnerable.
People with neurodiversity or whatever
are very vulnerable because they can't balance their relationships
and they end up in criminal justice system.
So that isn't in the report, but I understand why it isn't.
But I do think there's contributory factors in that.
What may come back, we need to actually augment.
Because every document should be a live document.
Should never be one seen all.
And I hope he would be able to look at that.
Because just to make sure that these same children are being
picked up there, as they are here,
they may be victims of crime and also commit crime.
And we must be always conscious of that as I said to him in my question that my late wife worked in the criminal justice
System and this occupied a huge part of her life and I know the vulnerabilities
I'm not an expert by heard the vulnerabilities, but not the cases. Thank you
Thank You councillor Walsh
Cllr John Chilver - 0:53:08
Thank You chairman and thank you to the cabinet member and officers for the work that they've done in bringing this policy together
Cllr Matthew Walsh - 0:53:18
I was very struck by the amount of people in the system with SEND and I'm very keen to understand
What the council's plans are to reduce that. Thank you
Cllr John Chilver - 0:53:29
Now can't the gong there's the seconder of the motion. Thank you very much chairman. How long do I get sir?
Cllr Phil Gomm - 0:53:39
Minutes two minutes. Hold on it started. Okay, so as you know, I chair the Children's and Education Select Committee
I think I might have been in a different meeting
by the sound of it, because we had that on the agenda.
I gave the members that were in there,
cross party members, plenty of time to question
the cabinet member, not question once,
but possibly question twice or three times.
I remember in that meeting at the end of it,
when they did drill, and trust me,
that committee does drill the cabinet member and officers,
they all seem to be quite acceptable of what's there.
If there was to be change within that report,
that the cabinet member, it was last Thursday,
it still could have been changed for this meeting today.
Nothing was to stop it, but it was accepted as it was.
So I take offence by the lady that used to run that committee
and say it wasn't particularly well.
But anyway, and I even let Robin Stutchbury have an extra time
when he'd come to speak in our meeting.
But going beyond that, as you know, I used to chair
Thames Valley Crime Stoppers, youth was a massive subject then
And sadly still, it goes on when it comes down to...
Can I continue?
Carry on, please.
Okay, sorry, Cheryl.
You know, when we were back then, youth was a big thing.
We had a young youth group called Fearless
that went out talking about knife crime
and stuff like that.
So, you know, from my experience there to where it is now,
there's certainly a change within Buckinghamshire
when it comes down to youth crime
and how to prevent it and stuff.
From that meeting, we haven't stopped there
because what we are gonna do,
when subject to talk to the cabinet member,
is that we are gonna have a working group
stem from there to talk about youth
and work on that subject on its own.
We've also got youth groups gonna start coming
to the, to the ASLEC committee
to talk before the meeting of their thoughts
and input that they'd like to add into that committee.
So I'm just a bit struck of everyone saying,
you know, that it's -
Thank you, Councillor Gaughan, your time is up.
Thank you very much.
Cllr John Chilver - 0:55:50
Councillor Jackson, would you like to come back
on any of the points which have been raised?
Thank you.
Yes, thank you, Chairman.
There's a few subjects to cover there in two minutes.
Cllr Carl Jackson - 0:56:01
In terms of the scrutiny process,
well, I think Councillor Gaughan has addressed that point.
I mean, he's done in line with the Constitution.
I think Councillor Morgan's argument is perhaps
with the Constitution rather than with me.
On restorative justice, I think, Councillor Adam,
it's the key point about the balance that
needs to be struck in the justice system here.
We're not talking about career criminals.
We're talking about children.
You have to start from the default position
that you can turn them.
This can be a mistake, which you can turn them away from.
It doesn't need to be something that defines their life.
We also need to remember there is still a victim there,
and I'm pleased to see that the report brings out
the work the Council are doing.
Councillor Sherwood asked about effectively regular review,
because this is a three -year plan.
It's a three -year plan because there's three -year funding.
There will be annual reviews.
So it's not a case of thanks for your time,
everyone see you again in 2029.
There will continue to be reviews.
I'll take sort of Councillor Nick Nambu -Sainton
and Councillor Wallace's questions slightly together,
because they both touch on mental health.
There is a mental health team within the Youth Justice
and Support team.
There are nurses.
There is a link with CAMS.
So children will be screened for any mental health needs.
If they're already on the CAMS rating list
or they have an unidentified need,
they will be referred to the support
they need from within the service.
So that can be addressed.
Councillor Hussain, I know you asked about accommodation.
I believe while there are measures in place
to sort out accommodation in advance of young people,
children be released from custody. I believe there is another strategy coming
forward on the accommodation point. Councillor Stutchbury asked about a
briefing on child sexual exploitation. There will be a briefing on the 1st of
October at 4pm. Friday the 1st of October I think it is
information to come out very very soon. There is also a missing and exploitation
hub which exists already. Exploitation obviously is seen as a big
risk factor for potential involvement in the youth
justice system and if I can stretch the chairman's patience for 15
seconds, Council Walsh asked about SEND. There is a very, very close relationship between
the SEND team and the Youth Justice Service. There are markers within the police system
to identify whether a child has SEND needs if they're taken into custody. That's shared
with the custody team.
Cllr John Chilver - 0:58:22
Thank you very much, Councillor Jackson. Your 15 seconds was extensive. So by show of hands,
are members content to approve the Youth Justice Plan for the period 2026 -29.
Thank you. I confirm that those recommendations have been carried.

10 Buckinghamshire Council Pay Policy Statement 2026/27

Moving on, item 10 is the Buckinghamshire Council 2026 -27 Pay Policy Statement.
This is a statutory annual report on which I do not anticipate much debate.
The paper reflects roles as they were when the Senior Appointments and Pay Committee approved the statement at their July meeting.
The final published version will reflect any recent changes to senior posts.
So as Chairman of the Senior Appointments and Pay Committee, I would like to invite the Leader of the Council to introduce the item.
Thank you Mr Chairman.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 0:59:22
Yes, as you just said, this is a statutory requirement.
A number of reports on today's agenda that we must bring forward.
This one is under the Localism Act of 2011 and sets out the approach to pay and remuneration
across the council including for chief officer pay, the relationship it has to outline between
senior pay and the wider workforce and of course the approach to severance pay and transparency.
This compared to last year does not propose any fundamental changes to the Council's approach to pay,
but it has been updated to reflect current pay levels, different organisational arrangements,
and any new legislative requirements in the 26 -27 financial year.
This has gone through the SAPC Committee, as you referenced, and as we're required to do,
They're then passing on to these representatives for Council to consider today.
And seconded by Robert Carrington if needed.
Thank you.
Councillor Carrington, do you wish to speak now or reserve your right later?
Cllr John Chilver - 1:00:25
I will reserve my right to see if there's anyone else who wish to speak.
Cllr Robert Carington - 1:00:31
Thank you.
Do any members wish to speak on this item?
Cllr John Chilver - 1:00:35
Two minutes per question.
Councillor Morgan.
I don't have an issue with this, I was on the committee.
Thank you Jonathan, I forget my mic doesn't work, sorry.
Cllr Susan Morgan - 1:00:48
But there does seem to be just a slight discrepancy
on the paper that we just wanted to clarify if possible.
So paragraph 1 .10 of the pay policy states,
the lowest paid full -time equivalent employee
will receive 24 ,522 in 26, 27, while table two
begins grade one at 26 ,031 and is headed July 25 to June 26.
We just wondered if you could explain the discrepancy
and confirm the correct 26, 27 figures
before council approves the statement.
Thank you.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:01:30
Thank you, Councillor Hind.
And the point's been covered by my already.
Thank you.
I don't think there are any other speakers who indicated.
Councillor Stupsbury.
Point of clarification.
Cllr Robin Stuchbury - 1:01:49
Some years ago I questioned teacher assistants and they're not in this but they are on a
pay scale determined by the council and they are funded through the school but it doesn't
show that pay scale here and it isn't anywhere public. Is there a reason for that for you,
Chair, which maybe I can explain didn't occur to me only when I sat here earlier to ask a question,
but teacher assistants are a large part of how schools run these days and they're not the best
paid, are they? And you can get more money in Tesco and other jobs. So I would like an explanation.
I'm sure there's a legal reason for it. It's not a political point. Thank you.
Thank you the leader will respond to the questions at the end.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:02:33
Thank you Mr Chairman I'll take them in reverse order.
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:02:38
I hope it didn't just occur to you now Councillor Stutch we've given you sit on Sapsing and we've discussed the matter which you raised in that meeting.
And you've seen the full tables and indeed you will know that when we do that consideration we do compare it to other jobs that are available in the open market.
So a reference to things like Tesco supermarkets,
as if that's trying to make a point,
is completely flawed because you know,
you have been part of it, that that is considered.
What is before you today is the legal requirements we have.
You're right there's a legal answer
of what we are required to bring forward to the council
and will be published on the website in due course.
As for Councillor Morgan, then you
are absolutely right to have noticed that,
but it's not a discrepancy.
As you will know, we have a number of staff
who remain on legacy contracts,
and those legacy contracts are outside of the pay scales
that we have here.
I'm pleased to report over 95 % of our staff
have moved away from the legacy contracts
onto the bucks, pay, and conditions.
There is a member of staff, for their own personal reasons,
because they cannot be induced to move,
who has chosen to stay on their legacy contract
and that's why you have their salary represented here
rather than in the pay banding.
So it's right to query that,
it is not a discrepancy as such with the report,
it is just a fact and that individual has every right
to remain on their legacy arrangements.
Thank you.
Councillor Carington, the seconder, you have two minutes.
Thank you very much, I'm dead way,
Cllr John Chilver - 1:04:20
I'm not going to take two minutes just say I think most of what I want to say has already been said
Cllr Robert Carington - 1:04:25
Particularly again, this is a statutory thing which is purely for Council staff
But I think the leader has highlighted that very well, so I'm happy to second the motion
But not motion the item and the item 17 second
Cllr John Chilver - 1:04:44
Thank You council Board members of anything else you would like to add just to recommend this to the guests
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:04:48
Thank you. So by show of hands, are members content to approve the 2026 -27 pay policy statement?
Yes.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:04:55
Thank you. I confirm that those recommendations have been carried.

11 Scrutiny Annual Report 2025-2026

We now move to item 11, which is the annual scrutiny report for 2025 -26.
This paper details the work of the Council's five select committees over that period and is a report for Council to note.
Councillor Addo, as Chairman of the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee, I understand you will present this report on behalf of all five select committees. Thank you.
Thank you very much chair. I am pleased to present to the council the annual
Cllr Shade Adoh - 1:05:41
scrutiny report which covers the 2025 -2026 council year. The select
committees have continued to play vital role in challenging decision -makers and
improving outcomes for Buckinghamshire residents. The scrutiny function is key
to good governance and the successful functioning
of local democracy.
I would like to pay a special thanks to each
of the select committee members, cabinet members,
and deputy cabinet members
who attended our meetings during the year.
Officers from each directorate will come
and answer our difficult questions, our scrutiny team,
external partners, and members of the public
who have either submitted questions, attended meetings,
watched the webcast, or engaged through other meetings.
Throughout the year, each select committee
has managed its own work programme
and undertaken a significant amount of work.
I will not go through the reports in detail.
However, as members will have read the contents
and the highlights of the 2526
for each committee as detailed in the paper,
These highlights would include a whole range of topics, extremely important to residents,
such as the Children's and Education Select Committee hearing from an experienced foster
carer around the Mockingbird Project, as well as reviewing the significant national reforms
and their impact on children's services.
Finance and resources undertaking this annual scrutiny of the budget.
The health, adult and social care commencing an access to emergency care review and continuing
to hold external health partners to account.
The growth infrastructure and housing reviewing the work of Buckinghamshire Archives,
a place I visited just sometime this week, including a visit to the archives themselves
and importantly reviewing the process of the local plan, something we're all very keen on.
Transport, environment, communities and climate change continue to dedicate a meeting to the scrutiny of HS2 as well as scrutinising East West Rail,
which both have such an impact on the daily lives of both the Nantia residents.
We all have already several months into the 2026 -27 year and the select committees have commenced their work for this year.
This will be reported to Council again in 2027.
I am looking forward to the year ahead and keeping
up the excellent work undertaken by the select committees.
I welcome your continued engagement
and encourage residents to get involved
where they are able to do so.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:08:38
Are there any questions or comments from members?
Councillor Morgan.
Thank you, Chairman.
I have to say I was quite astounded when I read this report.
Cllr Susan Morgan - 1:08:52
The scrutiny annual report claims that scrutiny provides independent cross party challenge
and even describes scrutiny committees as apolitical.
But the events of this year tell us a completely different storey.
In February, when the Conservatives gained a one -seat majority, they tabled a motion
at the start of the meeting to remove opposition chairs from scrutiny committees.
It was exceptional.
It was unprecedented.
And it was done without notice.
That's not apolitical.
Neither is it cross -party.
And it's certainly not independent challenge.
It was a political manoeuvre designed for the Conservatives to take control of scrutiny
or to mark their own cabinet members' homework.
Yet this annual report presents scrutiny as if none of that happened.
It includes the names and photographs of the chairs that were ousted, myself included,
but none of us were asked to contribute to this report.
None of the chairs who actually led scrutiny for most of the reporting year
were invited to provide commentary, assessment, or reflection on the work that we undertook.
That is extraordinary.
Scrutiny is supposed to hold decision makers to account,
test evidence, improve outcomes for residents.
But this report has been produced centrally without input
from the people who actually led scrutiny for the majority
of the year and without acknowledging the political
intervention that removed us.
It presents scrutiny as a neutral apolitical function
while omitting the very moment scrutiny was politicised.
It's not transparency and it doesn't show accountability
and it's not an honest reflection of how scrutiny operated in 2526.
Leader, how can the annual scrutiny report claim scrutiny is apolitical and independent
when opposition chairs were removed through an exceptional political motion
and when the very people that led scrutiny for most of the year
were excluded from contributing to this report.
Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor Nick Ngan -Hosain.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:11:10
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I really do think sometimes I'm a broken record
Cllr Niknam Hussain - 1:11:16
in that the first line of page 83,
our select committee's work apolitically made me choke.
I've been a member of this council since 2000,
the predecessor councils and this council since 2003.
and we, Buckinghamshire, is one of the few councils
in the whole of the UK, in the whole of England and Wales,
that has scrutiny chairs from the administration.
Even parliament, even parliament has their select committees,
the chairmans are mostly from the opposition.
So to say that scrutiny is apolitical,
a select committee's work is apolitical,
is being economical with the truth, I would say.
As for the work of the scrotal images, they must be commended, they work hard, and depending on the chair, they do question.
But as has been noted in the previous part of this council meeting, sometimes the...
Thank you very much, your time is up.
Councillor Hazel Arthur -Hewitt.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:12:19
Thank you.
Yes, this isn't for me to talk to have any opinion on any
Cllr Hazel Arthur-Hewitt - 1:12:29
of the chairs that work hard.
I find it very hard to explain to residents,
so perhaps you might be able to do it for the record
in this meeting, exactly why the council has chosen
to interpret the constitution to stop proportionality the minute
you're over the line of having just slightly
over half the council because proportionality was actually
quite fair when you were just under half, you know,
like bang on the line, shall I say.
And it was a really healthy, exciting time.
And the way things turned over, I
would back Councillor Morgan in saying
it was done in a very right you can go now fashion
before it needed to be done.
But the biggest thing for me is explaining to residents,
because it's a choice, it's a deliberate choice,
why this council, unlike every other council
around the country, has decided to interpret it,
that once you get slightly over the halfway mark at council
in terms of the party,
why you can take the power of all the committees.
Thank you.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:13:31
Councillor Adela, would you like to come back
on any of the points which have been raised, please?
As this, thank you, Chair.
Cllr Shade Adoh - 1:13:41
This seems like very general comments,
not specifically to my portfolio, but in saying that,
I find it interesting that Councillor Morgan
actually made reference to not being,
the council, the leaders appointing members
for whatever reasons, and I just wonder,
does she consider that whilst appointing herself
to be the member to chair the committee at the time?
Why did she not get somebody else to do that?
And to the other people that have actually spoken,
because if you feel that, you know, we were chosen
because they wanted to put us there, you chose yourself.
So there is that opportunity.
There are other councils which actually do have members
and have been made aware that actually Councillor Nick Namu
Zane, the lead Democrat in the town council,
do not have opposition members leading this scrutiny.
So I would suggest that we are doing a good job.
That is what is important.
We all are here to represent our residents.
We are doing that.
And I can specifically speak for us,
the members that are here.
You have the opportunity to contribute at any time.
And that is what we do.
That is what this council is about,
providing the service,
meeting the needs of our residents.
That is what we do.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:15:17
Thank you now I've got two more speakers and that'll be it. Councillor Broome.
Thank you very much Chairman.
It is disappointing that when
Cllr Thomas Broom - 1:15:29
we're given the opportunity to talk about the very good work that the select committees do no matter who is sitting in the chair, the opposition
decides that it's going to spend all of its time
talking about whether or not they receive
the special responsibility allowances for the positions.
I have to say, I have had, I have.
Can we have order please?
I have been a cabinet member for a number of years now
and I've appeared before a number of select committees
and they are always places that keep you on your toes,
that provide you with a robust challenge.
There's too much chatter going on.
And that allow for a level of detailed scrutiny
that can be difficult in exchanges
that we have that are relatively brief in the chamber here.
My experience has been that I have
been pushed on various issues by members
of on the opposition side of the chamber,
but also by my own colleagues, which is precisely
the point of this system.
I would gently refuse.
Thank you.
Your time is up.
The last speaker I have is Councillor Waters.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:16:39
Thank you, Chairman.
Cllr Jonathan Waters - 1:16:43
I'm going to take a slightly different line on this because, again,
within the report, I wasn't approached to actually input, but I did want to thank all
the members who were on the Growth and Infrastructure Committee for dealing
with such broad range of subjects
and working well together.
I think we did grill cabinet members
and we did a very good job in trying to actually make sure
we were covering everything from libraries
to the local plan and significant areas.
Yes, I think some of the points which you raised before,
they are important, they're constitutional issues
which are there.
My view is that maybe it's for another day.
But I do want to thank all the people who were on the committee with me.
I think other than 10 minutes of actual time, though there are two pictures of it,
I chaired everything for the 10 minutes.
So I think probably, hopefully people will take the thank you and met with my full.
Thank you.
Your time is up.
Thank you.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:17:54
Councillor Ardo, would you like to come back on any of those points again?
No, thank you, Mr Chair. Thank you.
Thank you. So by a share of hands, please can members indicate if they are content to note the paper?
Thank you. I can confirm that the report is noted.
So now we move on to item 12, the Cabinet Member Reports.
I will ask the Leader and then each of the Cabinet Members in turn if they have anything further to add to their reports, and then open up questions from Members.
And due to the number of motions we have on today's agenda, I'm planning to continue the pattern of taking three questions for the Leader on his report, and two for each of the remaining Cabinet Members on theirs.
Please raise your hand if you wish to speak.
Any questions or points raised should be in relation to the reports in today's agenda.
And if the cabinet member is unable to take your question, please do send it directly
for a response.
And you have one minute to put your questions.
So we'll start with the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Broadbent.
Do you have anything to add to your report?
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:19:16
Thank you Mr. Chairman. Yes, just a quick one and one I hope we're all very proud of.
You will recall that last year we had the visit from the LGA, the Local Government Association
with their corporate peer challenge, and we should all be very proud of the fact they
have done the follow -up visit and quote,
Buckinghamshire Council is an impressive organisation with strong foundations, strong leadership
and a positive organisational culture.
And their review has found, end of quote by the way,
their review has found that in all areas highlighted
during the original assessment,
great progress has been made,
strengthening local communities, supporting economic growth,
improving services, delivering new homes,
and maintaining a robust financial position
despite the pressures facing councils across the country.
I think it goes without saying,
we should all be proud of that,
proud of the people who work here,
the officers as well as what we've done as we continue to deliver for the
residents of Buckinghamshire. Thank you. Do members have any questions for the
leader?
Cllr John Chilver - 1:20:20
Cllr Niknam Hussain - 1:20:33
Councillor Niigner, Mr. Chairman. I commend the report from the leader especially on the
business growth and investment and the growth board.
The council is rightly investing in attractive businesses,
jobs and skilled professionals to Ellsbury.
And I don't think anyone in this chamber can deny that
and we all surely support that.
But to do that, we must also provide
the basic infrastructure those families need.
What does the leader propose to do,
urging impractical to ensure that children
living in Ellsbury and those moving here
can access a local school place?
The reason I bring this up yet again is literally a few weeks ago I had a doctor come to my
office who has decided to move to Ellsbury while he's on the Thames Valley Creed, I think
they call it, rotation in normal language, and he's moved his family within one street
of two local schools.
But can he get into those local schools?
No he can't.
His children have to be either taxied or he has to drive one of them himself.
and he is the only worker and the only driver in the family.
Thank you, that's your time.
Thank you very much.
Councillor Malmina.
Yes, thank you.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:21:44
Yeah, it's good to see business growth,
Cllr Maru Mormina - 1:21:47
private sector investment and job creation at Westcott and Silverstone.
But what's missing from the report is how this headline investment
translates into measurable benefits for the residents.
Now bearing in mind that these are highly skilled
and high value sectors,
what proportions of the jobs being created
are expected to be filled by Buckinghamshire residents?
And what is the council doing to ensure
that local people can access these opportunities
rather than employers having to rely on skilled workforce
predominantly recruited from outside the county?
Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor Broadbent.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:22:31
Just two. Okay, so I'm really pleased both questionnaires have recognised the strong work we're doing on economic growth,
Cllr Steven Broadbent - 1:22:40
both using the money that we have available to back our local businesses.
And what that does mean is absolute benefits to residents.
Not only does our local economy grow,
that will obviously cycle through
into supporting other local businesses
and give job opportunities to people.
I don't need a report like the Milburn Report,
although I'm glad it's happening,
to know we have a problem with needs.
And so if you join the work we're
doing on our economic growth with the investment
we're making in our skills budgets
to make sure that those furthest away from the job market
have an opportunity.
And in fact, I talked about this when
and I presented the corporate plan last time,
then there was absolute benefit.
You ask what else the council is doing.
When we do our large procurement exercises,
we deliberately include in there
what's called social value elements,
which means those employers are required
to look at apprenticeships, work opportunities,
with many of those being allocated as a proportion
to having to reach into Buckinghamshire communities.
So Buckinghamshire young people in particular,
but not exclusively, have an opportunity through the power
that we do in our procurement to make sure the stuff we buy
can be a direct benefit to them.
So there is an awful lot happening across skills.
We work with Bucks College Group.
In fact, I've said this before,
when I used to have a highway portfolio,
we've encouraged the Bucks College Group
to put together a new T -level on civil engineering.
That is working with the two big companies
on a highway contract, with the college,
and with ourselves so that they have work opportunities
and they influence the curriculum at the council.
It's the very first year this year,
and I was pleased to meet two of the people on that course
when we did the groundbreaking
of Wickham for the hospital site.
And those young people who are on that course,
because of the joint partnership work we've been done,
to look at the whole economic system, job opportunities.
And it's this administration that will make sure
that we continue to do that because that is how,
when we talk about prosperity in the future
of a strong Buckinghamshire,
it's a great example of how we do it.
So thank you for your support on that.
To Councillor Hussain, who similarly recognises
that our infrastructure needs are obviously immense.
There is an awful lot of work happening at the moment
on the school sufficiency proposals.
I'm looking at Councillor Jackson
because I do believe some of that
that goes out to consultation soon.
So your doctor friend, yourself, everyone else
will be able to make sure you can comment on that.
And I'll remind you again, across the range
of elements that we have, a reduction in government funding
in certain parts of our education,
sufficiency provision has made that all the more difficult.
So when that comes through, I hope you will.
Make sure you contribute all the comments
and encourage your residents to
on the school sufficiency process
so that we've got the right school places for people.
But of course, that continues to mean matching jobs
with where people live,
making sure there's opportunities for people,
and that is the good work,
and I've tried to explain that in my report,
that the Growth Board does.
It's a combination of voluntary sector, health sector,
education sector, and private sector businesses,
and ourselves, to make sure Buckinghamshire can thrive.
That's the point, that's what I've talked to you about
before and all the everything has an influence and spills out from that so
thank you for the comment. Thank you next is the deputy leader and cabinet member
Cllr John Chilver - 1:26:21
for transport Councillor Thomas Broome do you have anything to add to your
report? Thank you chairman yes as we come out of the summer where we have been
Cllr Thomas Broom - 1:26:30
delivering on our 120 million pound road programme the biggest investment in roads
in the history of the county.
We are on track to deliver the 270 resurfacing
capital schemes that we set out earlier on this year,
every single one of which was of course voted against
by the Liberal Democrats in the budget earlier this year.
But we will now turn our attention
to the declining weather and as we get into the close
of the year and autumn, we are stepping up our preparations
for things like drain clearance,
and obviously when it starts to get really cold,
we can have the grittos actually out dealing with ice
rather than hot weather over the summer.
As part of those efforts, and as part of a wider drive
to push more information into the public domain,
as I reported at Cabinet this week,
we are now making available,
through the FixMyStreet platform,
the date on which drains and gullies across the county
were last cleared so that people have access
to that information and over the coming months
we also hope to be able to provide that information
in terms of when the next round of gully cleansing
will take place which will put more information
into the public domain and help residents understand
the huge amount of work that goes on
to clear the more than 80 ,000 drains and gullies
across the county.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:28:00
Thank you very much. Are there any questions for Councillor Broome, please?
Councillor Sarfas, Conroger.
Thank you, Chairman.
Cllr Sarfaraz Khan Raja - 1:28:13
Buckinghamshire Council encourages and empowers residents to make their own choices about how they travel.
Many residents have already invested in electric vehicles
because they believe they were making the greener
and more environmentally responsible choice.
With the government introducing 3 p .m. mile charge
on electric cars from April 2028,
is the cabinet member concerned
that this could discourage residents from switching
to electric vehicles and unfairly penalising those who have already done so.
In simple terms, why should Buckinghamshire residents have confidence in government policies
that encourage them to make a greener choice one day and only to be charged more for doing so the next day?
Thank you, Councillor Brouwer, would you like to answer questions separately or together at the end?
I'll take these separately.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:29:12
I mean, it's a really, really good point.
You know, this is a situation where, you know,
Cllr Thomas Broom - 1:29:17
we've had a lot of push for the adoption of EVs.
People have made that choice in good faith
and then suddenly they're being whacked
by an additional tax.
That is perhaps something that we shouldn't be too surprised
about when it comes to this particular government
as it's either a new tax or a tax going up
on just about everything.
Here at Bucks we will continue to make sure that we provide as much
infrastructure as we can to support people in their choice of transport
whatever that choice of transport is. I'm very happy to have a further
conversation with the Councillor about how it's impacting your residents and
in the wider Wickham area as well to make sure that we are
providing as the help and support that we can to make sure that people get to
how they move around the county.
And that is not imposed on them either by ideological fiat
or by clunking economic reality
in the form of ever rising taxes.
Cllr Robert Carington - 1:30:16
Thank you, Councillor Shevlin -Bateman.
Thank you, Chairman.
Cllr Sherrilyn Bateman - 1:30:24
Councillor Broome, given the repeated delays
and cancelations by key transport schemes in Elsbury,
including the Adams Garage Junction improvements
and the uncertainty around the Kingsbrook Woodlands Canal Bridge funding.
Can you explain and give assurance to residents about the infrastructure commitments set out
in LTP 5 that they are deliverable and when the promised signage and lining improvements
at the Addams Garage junction will be completed?
Thank you.
Thank you for the question.
Cllr Thomas Broom - 1:31:01
Yes, I mean, it's always something of a moveable feast when you're dealing with a lot of
physical infrastructure projects, stuff does tend to get moved around within the programme.
We've seen this over the summer where we've had certain weeks where it's just been too
hot on the road surface to put down certain treatments.
And so the programmes had to be moved around.
I think the really important thing is are we delivering the programme overall?
I think last year our slippage rate was something like 0 .2%.
So we are not only putting in record investment,
but we are making sure that that record investment
is delivering into schemes.
And I think that was reflected by the Department
for Transport ratings of various aspects
of delivery of transport and highway maintenance,
which ranked Bucks as one of only, I think,
20 or so local authorities in the country
as the top grade when it came to actually delivering
the investment as well as actually the level
of investment itself.
On the wider point about sort of looking to the future,
you mentioned schemes that require things
like developer contributions.
The reality is that we will set out the ambition,
particularly through documents like the local transport plan,
but also, as I say, the strategies and plans that
sit under that.
and then it is a case of working through the available funding streams to be able to deliver that.
I would point to a number of successful schemes that are either have been delivered or are currently underway.
I think, you know, we're not a long time off of an opening of the South East Alesbury Link Road, for example.
You know, major projects that this council is delivering despite the complexity and often
the lack of available funding.
But I absolutely take your point about certain specific schemes.
And I think it probably better if we have a follow -up conversation on the, I think,
two specific schemes that you mentioned there.
I'm very happy to get you some answers on those.
Thank you.
The next cabinet member is the cabinet member for Culture and Leisure, Councillor Peter Brazier.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:33:25
Do you have anything to add to your report?
Thank you Chairman, I have nothing to add and happy to take questions.
Cllr Peter Brazier - 1:33:32
Are there any questions for Councillor Brazier?
Cllr John Chilver - 1:33:34
Dev Dillon.
Thank you Chairman.
Cllr Dev Dhillon - 1:33:40
Given the emails and the interest of the public in continued layoff opening off of a stock
Could the cabinet member please provide update
of any definitive timeline?
And what is the barrier causing the current delay?
And what steps are taken by this council?
Councillor Fraser, did you want
to answer a question separately or together?
Cllr Peter Brazier - 1:34:06
I'll answer separately, if you don't mind, Chairman.
Thank you.
I think the question was about stoapages and the current,
I think I missed the end part of the question there.
Stoke Poggies, we're still on schedule to have it
open to the public by the end of the year.
The progress is going well on the cafe.
We've opened up tenders now for a cafe operator.
I think we're waiting on our colleagues in highways
to do some work at the entrance
where the public footpath is.
I know that's held us up a little bit.
And as I said, I think if you've got some ribbon and scissors,
I'd like to meet you down there before the end of the year, hopefully.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Councillor Bacon.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:34:55
Yes. Thank you, Chairman.
Cllr Alan Bacon - 1:35:01
I was interested especially in what you had to say about libraries
and the Summer Reading Challenge, which is linked to the 2026 National Year of Reading.
I have a family member who collects, chooses books from libraries to deliver to housebound people,
and I often hear from her how difficult it is to find new books for them,
books that they haven't already read.
The National Year of Reading,
its aim is to get the nation reading.
We hope that this works, but assuming it's going to work,
will you be pressing for substantial increase
in the library's budget for books purchase
because I think there's going to be a problem otherwise?
Thank you for the question,
Cllr Peter Brazier - 1:35:57
and I think that's something I can look into.
we do have a very expansive selection of books.
I think we've got something like 140 ,000
in the store in Aylesbury.
And we also cooperate with 14 other local authorities
within the library system.
I've forgotten what the system's called now,
but we do cooperate with other,
so for example, you could be in South End on C,
get a book out of a library there
and return it to the library in Aylesbury.
So we do work with others, and that increases
the availability and range of books
that we have in the library service.
If there's something specific, please let me know,
and I'll find out if there is anything we can do
to find a specific book, but as far as I know,
I think just about every book that's ever been published
is available in the system somewhere.
So let me know if there's something specific, thank you.
Thank you. Next up is the cabinet member for communities, Councillor Steve Bowles. Anything to add to your report?
Cllr John Chilver - 1:37:01
I have nothing to add, Chairman, thank you.
Any questions for Councillor Bowles? Councillor Andy Huxley?
Cllr Andy Huxley - 1:37:21
Thank you, Chairman. As a resident of Aylesbury Town, parking is a key to our existence.
It is now three months since we outsourced parking enforcement. Can you tell me how it is doing, please?
Thank you. Yeah, thank you for that. Last week I had the first of our sort of quarterly
Cllr Peter Brazier - 1:37:43
Cllr Steve Bowles - 1:37:47
meetings with ACPO and there's been a substantial increase in the number of tickets issued,
which is mainly due to the fact that we have a full complement at last of civil enforcement
officers working on parking for the first time.
We're also developing a programme to roll out more technology,
including moving traffic enforcement cameras in key areas,
which will include schools, which I know will interest
a lot of members, because parking around schools
is a real, real problem.
I know it from my own experience, where I live,
of people parking on the corners of roads
leading onto a main road on the double yellow line.
So yeah, they will be focusing on that.
They're also working on analytics,
which will be sent to me monthly,
which will show A, how many tickets have been issued
and where officers have actually been.
So that will be really, really useful.
So I'm really pleased with how this initiative is proceeding.
I mean, the enforcement rules themselves remain unchanged.
The new model continues to focus on improving consistency,
supporting compliance and helping communities tackle ongoing parking pressures.
Thank you.
Thank you. Councillor Larissa Townsend?
Cllr John Chilver - 1:39:20
Cllr Larisa Townsend - 1:39:25
Thank you. Your report highlights increased compliance under the new APCA contract and
the intelligence led enforcement approach and commits to helping communities tackle
parking pressures. And you did just mention about school parking. That's an issue that
regularly lands in many members' inboxes. And in one village in our ward, Flatwell Heath,
we brought together all three primary schools to develop a joint community travel plan,
Including pupil led campaign to encourage safer and more considerate parking around schools
Will you consider developing a countywide initiative to support coordinated approaches to school parking like ours bringing schools?
local members and community stakeholders together with enforcement officers
Including strengthened enforcement efforts at school arrival in collection times with a review of whether school parking behaviours improve as a result
Cllr Steve Bowles - 1:40:22
Yes, thank you for that question. We already actually have school transport parking plans in place.
So you looking at this as an expansion of that. I mean, I'm happy to look at it, but as I say, we have that in place.
So if you want to send me the detailed email about it,
then I can discuss it with the parking team.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:40:47
Next up, we have the deputy cabinet member
for environment, climate change and waste,
Councillor Jasper Choker.
Do you have anything to add to your report?
Nothing to add to it.
Thank you.
Does anybody have any questions for Councillor Choker?
Councillor Crabtree.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Councillor Osiboggan's report makes mention
of both tree planting and tree management,
explaining in the attached documents
Cllr Anna Crabtree - 1:41:12
that trees are routinely inspected every three years.
Given the dry weather that was experienced this summer
and the high likelihood of another hot summer next year
with the forecast El Nino impact,
when will the Council have reliable, updated figures
on the survival rates of trees planted
under the Bucks Tree Mission Programme?
And if the majority of the trees planted do not survive,
will the cabinet commit to replanting all the trees
necessary to reach the 543 ,000 planting targets?
Thank you.
Yeah, thank you for the question.
I'm not sure exactly when they'll be inspected
as the hot weather's just happened,
but we do replant failed trees under the tree planting programme
and we get regularly updated on that.
I'll be happy to share any update
Cllr Jaspal Chhokar - 1:41:58
with you once we get our next update
on the Buck Street Mission.
Thank you.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:42:03
Councillor David Moore.
Thank you, Chairman. I'd firstly like to thank
Councillor Chokar and
Councillor Adeyoze -Bogan
for all their help and support in the war
Cllr David Moore - 1:42:15
against fly tipping. Thank you to your waste
team. We are collecting lots of fly tips
and it's been a one year anniversary
of the South Bucks Wumbles
where we've managed to work with your team really well
so I really appreciate that.
But my question is, as the successful
increase of the fly tipping fine cap which is going to increase thanks to your lobbying efforts,
thanks to Joy Morris's lobbying efforts, thanks to our council's lobbying efforts. What is this
council going to do now to increase those fines, ensure the consequences are there, if you're going
to fly tipping bucks you face the consequences, what's going to happen now? Thank you. Thank you
for the question Councillor Moore. I know your ward and my own ward are at the front of fly
Cllr Jaspal Chhokar - 1:42:54
tipping from neighbouring authorities because of where we're located.
And we do have a zero tolerance approach to that.
Council Osso -Bogan is committed to that.
As and when we can increase fines, we will wrap them up to the maximum possible
because, as I said, this is a zero tolerance policy.
And thanks to all the work that the South Bucks Wombles do in our area,
they're a great organisation that's been set up and
congratulations on their one year anniversary.
Cllr Isobel Darby - 1:43:19
Cllr Jaspal Chhokar - 1:43:24
and thanks to all the community groups across our county that help keep our county clean.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:43:31
Thank you. Next up is the cabinet member for resources, Councillor Robert Carrington. Do you have anything to add to your report?
Cllr Robert Carington - 1:43:38
Thank you very much Mr Chairman, nothing further to add from me, I'm happy to have some questions.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:43:42
Questions for Councillor Carrington? Councillor Kathy Gibbons?
Thank you, Chairman.
Cllr Kathy Gibbon - 1:43:52
I just wanted to ask a question about people phoning into the Council with queries.
How is the Council's virtual voice assistant roll out going and what are the impacts so
far?
And also, what percentage of calls can it deal with itself?
Is it saving any money for the Council and are customers satisfied with the service?
Thank you very much for that question.
and just to preempt the chairman,
Cllr Robert Carington - 1:44:15
I'm happy to take them individually.
So I think you're talking about
the voice virtual assistant,
which for those of you who have rung so far,
you'll be aware, started coming live in June,
starting the waste and general inquiries.
This is when you ring, you're given a suite of options,
and one of them is if you want to talk
to a AI digital advisor.
I mean, from the initial stats,
we've had about 18 ,000 people,
18 ,000 calls have decided to take that option.
I'm happy to say over 50 % of those have been resolved
without needing to be escalated.
And for members of the public watching,
I want to stress at all points
that there is an officer available.
This is not removing the human from the process at all.
conscious very much that AI is very much in the public eye
at the moment the BBC has discovered it exists
and serve a number of storeys on that.
But to reassure that there will always be a member,
a member of the customer service centre available to talk to
but out of the 18 ,000 calls we've had,
50 % have decided not to.
And in answer to the money point, the savings,
the fact that half of those have been solved by the AI
means that that frees up the officers to deal
with the more transactional, the more difficult calls
regarding council tax, regarding SEN,
regarding homeschool transport,
and that obviously frees our time
and is working towards our NTFP saving,
particularly regarding AI of three million
over the full NTFP period.
And on satisfaction, we've interviewed,
we've given surveys for about 1 ,200 surveys,
and out of the 92 % responses we received,
70 % have said they are happy with it and just to add there will be a member
briefing in October on this to cover to give you all information on this and the
full timeline of the other lines and particularly on the chat function as
Cllr John Chilver - 1:46:22
well. Thank you councillor Kelly Thornton. Thank you chair and councillor Carrington
your report includes a property and assets update on Denmark Street the
schools programme and the chair Discovery Museum but I know it contains no account
of planned disposals.
Cllr Kelly Thornton - 1:46:35
The strategic asset management plan permits selected
investment disposals and the sale
of surplus operational property.
What transparency policy will you adopt
for a regular updated public asset
by asset disposal pipeline subject to lawful reductions,
showing decision stage, intended outcome timetable,
and when the local member consultation required
by property rule 8 .7F will occur?
Thank you very much for your question.
And the answer of where it goes with the scrutiny is cabinet.
Cllr Robert Carington - 1:47:04
It is all on the forward plan and can all be seen there.
And questions can be asked like your colleague, Councillor,
Crabtree came to cabinet this week to ask on the Areva site.
There is always the option there and there is the Finance
and Resources Committee, which I know the SAMP is coming
to in October.
So that is the opportunity for all of that.
Thank you.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:47:29
Next is the cabinet member for health and well -being, Councillor Isabel Darby.
Do you have anything to add to your report?
Yes I do, please Chairman.
Cllr Isobel Darby - 1:47:41
Last week was World Suicide Prevention Day and I was humbled to attend the unveiling
of another listening bench at Bearden Crematorium.
It was a moving and uplifting occasion with many hugs and tears from survivors of bereavement
by suicide. 6 ,190 people in England and Wales took their lives in 2024. And the national
charity survivors of bereavement by suicide, described by the local leader as a club no
one wants to join, is 35 years old. And they plan to instal 35 listening benches this
year to mark that anniversary. They're active locally. They have groups to support bereaved
families with in -person and online groups.
And it is so important for those people who are grieving in a very different way
to a lot of us who have lost people due to other causes of death.
The reason that I have chosen to talk about this today is you've all got one of
these.
And suicidal thoughts can be disrupted and
suicide prevented by interventions, sometimes by a complete stranger.
And I'm sure we've all seen on social media, anniversaries, where people are saying,
five years ago I was going to take my life, I'm so glad I didn't.
And it is the intervention, sometimes of a stranger, sometimes of a loved one,
a work colleague, whatever, but that's all it sometimes takes.
And so I'm asking all of you to take this leaflet home, read it, please don't recycle it,
please then give it to somebody else and spread the word to somebody in your community.
So as local leaders, we can all help spread that word and reduce suicide in Buckinghamshire in the future. So thank you.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:49:32
Thank you very much. Any questions for Councillor Derby? Councillor Dev Dhillon?
Thank you, Chairman. My question is on another subject. I was very sad to know what Councillor Derby just said.
Cllr Dev Dhillon - 1:49:42
giving the significant health and economic impact on smoking in our local community.
What specific action and steps our council is taking to help residents to quit smoking for good in their life?
Thank you very much for your question.
Cllr Isobel Darby - 1:50:01
Well, you've seen in my report about the work we've done with Be Healthy Bucks.
Now obviously, Stoptober is coming up and so there will be increased campaigns then.
We have done really well. I think we've got eight percent of our population smoke
You will see the results of stopping smoking especially in our deprived areas
And I think that's really important because those smokers are the people who can least afford to smoke
And so it means that they will they will have more money in their households. So there's going to be
This the social media there's public awareness
There'll be road shows all sorts of things and then when people get referred to be healthy bucks
they get a tailored programme to help them.
And there's also an incentive.
So if they stop smoking for four weeks, they get some vouchers
as well as a little bit of a present at the end
to say well done.
And it's been proven that if people actually stop smoking
for four weeks, they're far more likely to stop forever.
So it's a hard nut to crack, but we are doing our very best.
And our partner, Be Healthy Bucks, are coming
up with some tremendous results.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Councillor Colle -Caesar.
Thank you very much, Chairman.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:51:13
As the cabinet member will know, I've been fighting with the parents of the short break
Cllr Cole Caesar - 1:51:16
centre and those who use these vital services.
But can I ask her a very simple question?
Why is care packages and transport taking so long to be put in place for these families?
Is it because we haven't got enough staff or resources?
Thank you Chairman. Thank you very much for your question Councillor
Cllr Isobel Darby - 1:51:39
Caesar. I think if you can give me the details of the specifics then I'm more than happy
to come back to you because obviously these every individual case there are individual
reasons and let's if there is a blocker I will be absolutely delighted to help unblock
that. Thank you. Next up is the Deputy Leader and
Cabinet Member for Planning Councillor Peter Strachan. Do you have anything to add to your
Cllr John Chilver - 1:52:00
Cllr Peter Strachan - 1:52:06
report? Yeah, thank you Mr. Chairman. We all know now that the Reg 19 has finished the
consultation about that. Just to tell colleagues that we had 8 ,500 responses to that and also
to give an assurance that everyone will be considered and replied to. So the job of officers
now is to collate and consider all of those responses before we put the plan forward to
the Inspector at the end of the year and also just to tell you or give you an assurance
that we have to submit all the responses that we receive to the Inspector so there is no
question of the Council hiding any of the responses from residents. The Inspector will
see them all.
Thank you. Any questions for Councillor Strachan?
Cllr John Chilver - 1:53:03
Councillor Dali. Thank you, Chair.
Councillor Strachan, with the unwelcome change to the call -in powers to planning committees,
Cllr Christine Adali - 1:53:15
this change might have an accidental positive impact on officers' time pressures.
Given how many applications went into committee, have you considered assessing the potential
of this time freed up and what impact the change could have to the reduction of persistent
backlogs within the planning application system?
Yeah, I mean we're still coming to terms with what the implications are for the changes
coming down the road.
Cllr Peter Strachan - 1:53:45
as I said at the start of the council meeting.
And we are considering, as a consequence of that,
what will happen to the planning system,
the reduction in the number of committees,
what will happen to officers workloads
and the implications that that would be.
So all I would give you an assurance of,
we are very aware of what the implications would be
with the changes coming down the road.
And we still have absolutely every ambition
to improve the planning system as much as we are able,
given the circumstances that the government now puts us in.
Thank you.
Councillor Cameron Anderson.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:54:28
I'd just like to ask the cabinet member,
obviously up and down the country,
the correspondence in relation to the local plan
has been nothing but exceptional.
Cllr Cameron Anderson - 1:54:38
We've had action groups, councils, parish councils
coming together to respond.
I understand that the council
is in a very difficult position with this.
It is obviously the government's mass
over development agenda, but how much weight
does a cabinet member think that residents opinions
actually have in the grand scheme of this?
And is there a way that we can be a little bit more
transparent with residents when it comes to making
objections in the future?
Thank you.
Yeah, and I think we also alluded to this,
Cllr Peter Strachan - 1:55:03
and I understand why the question is being asked,
because we clearly want our residents' views to be heard
and able to influence planning applications
by either committee or by delegation.
Clearly we worry about the implications
of the regulations that are being put upon us
because it's quite clear, frankly,
that we have a government who's determined
to build houses and reduce any local objections
that they are able and we see this as a,
is a very bad thing for democracy as a whole
and local voices as a whole,
but I absolutely acknowledge the question.
And I think from our point of view,
all we can keep doing is engaging with people in this room
and beyond that with residents as much as we're able.
And I think it also perhaps enhances the value
of things like planning surgeries,
where we can keep exchanging information
about the worries that residents have,
but I do acknowledge the point you raised.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:56:13
Thank you. Next up, the cabinet member for Housing and Regulatory Services, Councillor
Mark Wynne. Do you have anything to add to your thought?
Thank you, Chairman. Just one thing. As we've been sitting here, the consultation on homelessness
Cllr Mark Winn - 1:56:25
and rough sleeping has just been published. As it's an important strategy, I thought it
would be important to just highlight the actual that this is happening and what the strategy
years. The strategy focuses on early intervention and prevention and the council's aims to
reduce homelessness and rough sleeping and improve community wellbeing and ensure Buckinghamshire
remains a place where individuals and families can thrive. The strategy focuses on three
key areas, preventing homelessness early by identifying people who may be struggling and
providing help as soon as possible before they lose their home. Secondly, it reduces
the need for temporary accommodation and where necessary, ensuring it is safe and suitable
while helping people move into settled housing as quickly as possible. Thirdly, it's there
to support people to rebuild their lives by helping them move into affordable, settled
housing and access the support they need to live independently and thrive. The consultation
runs to the 25th of October and I request that all members encourage the public, their
parish councils and their town councils to take part in the consultation.
Thank you very much. Are there any questions for Councillor Wynne?
Cllr John Chilver - 1:57:41
Councillor Jonathan Waters.
Cllr Jonathan Waters - 1:57:51
Thank you, Chairman. Can I thank the cabinet member for the update on the Renters' Rights
Act and its implementation progress. I have a new controversial HMO given planning permission
on appeal currently under construction in Loudwater.
This has raised significant concerns on how robust,
timely and effective HMO licences are policed and enforced.
Currently, by Buckinghamshire Council,
a licencing system only has value to the residents in HMOs
and a level of comfort to the wider community
if investigations action is taken swiftly following
reported breach.
Can you confirm how many complaints have been received
in respect of HMOs, how quickly are they investigated,
and how many cases have enforcement action been taken?
Also, what resources are committed to ensuring
that HMS licence obligations are being followed by landlords?
This is becoming an increasing concern for our residents
in Loudwater and across Buckinghamshire.
Thank you for the question.
Obviously, the safety of HMOs is extremely important,
Cllr Mark Winn - 1:58:53
and the team take that with the strength that it needs.
But I don't know about the individual case,
so I can't comment and I haven't got the figures in front of me,
so I will write to you about those if that's okay.
If you write to me about the issue, we'll make sure it's dealt with.
Thank you.
Cllr John Chilver - 1:59:16
Councillor Khalid Ahmed.
Thank you, Chairman.
Cllr Khalil Ahmed - 1:59:24
Councillor Wynne, in your report for disabled facilities grant, I note that in quarter one
that you've approved 49 grants, but it doesn't state quarter two, but I assume it's quarter
two slash three.
You received 153 applications.
I might assume you actually only approved a third of the application that you received
for disabled facilities grant.
That's one question.
And then second one, do we extend to red kite residents as well, the DFT grants?
Thank you.
Thank you for that question.
Cllr Mark Winn - 1:59:58
On the sort of Pacifics, that's not necessarily the case.
That's the cases that are coming forward.
It's not those cases come forward, not only those cases have gone ahead.
Since that isn't the case, I could possibly get you a figure on that.
We're not rejecting that number.
And your second one about red kite. It can apply to red kite but they also have their own scheme as well I think.
We can.
Yeah, we can as well.
Thank you very much.
Cllr John Chilver - 2:00:27
Finally, the cabinet member for education and children's services, Councillor Carl Jackson, do you have anything to add to your report?
Nothing to add, Chairman.
Thank you. Any questions for Councillor Jackson?
Councillor Thomas Hogg?
Cllr Thomas Hogg - 2:00:52
The grooming gang scandal nationwide was one of the worst scandals in our national history.
Barkinghamshire was far from unscathed in this scandal.
Aylesbury, Wickham.
I even heard that it was in Cheshire.
I use the past tense,
but there is a lot of evidence that this is still going on.
And while I know that there are
inquiries under way
for historical abuse,
I am equally interested in what is continuing to happen.
I have spoken to my local police force about it
and they promised me that in our area,
they have not had any of those issues.
Your time is up, thank you.
Cllr John Chilver - 2:01:54
Thank you, Councillor H**
Cllr Carl Jackson - 2:02:03
You rightly identified this as obviously an extremely serious issue.
So there's a number of different things going on at the same time here.
You mentioned the statutory national inquiry.
We obviously are working with that inquiry.
We don't want to work alongside it or against it.
So that inquiry has the power to run,
it has a national inquiry,
and it also has the power to order local inquiries.
It's already done that in Bradford, Oldham,
London, and Keighley, I think are the first four.
It's asked, it hasn't, it could yet ask
for a local inquiry in Buckinghamshire.
It hasn't done, yet.
We're not going to preempt it by sort of starting our own.
We will work with your inquiry,
like I say, rather than alongside it.
We are cooperating very closely with it
because although those local inquiries
haven't included Buckinghamshire so far,
We are still having requests for information which we are providing promptly. We are still we've had a request not to
Destroy or delete any documents that might be relevant to the inquiry. Obviously we weren't going to we're complying with
with that request
There is an existing
Missing an exploitation hub. This is obviously the council working very closely with the police and other relevant agencies on
existing ongoing
exploitation.
We know that there are children and young people
at risk of exploitation.
That Missing and Exploitation hub is there to support
children and young people up to the age of 25, by the way.
We obviously have a particular focus and responsibility
for children in our care.
There is gonna be an all member briefing,
which I'd ask for given the interest in and importance
of this subject on the first of October.
I think I said it was Friday earlier,
it's actually a Thursday, I think.
Invitations I think have gone out for that.
Please attend.
It's not just going to be the relevant people
from Buckinghamshire Council.
It's also going to be representatives
from the police there as well
to give a kind of overall picture
of how the fight against exploitation is ongoing.
And obviously I will bring further updates
on any interactions of significance
with the National Inquiry in due course.
Thank you.
Councillor David Moore.
Thank you, Chairman.
Cllr John Chilver - 2:04:11
My question was the same actually.
Cllr David Moore - 2:04:14
and I just want to put my note, my disgust,
that some councillors find the grooming gang scandal funny.
It is not funny.
There are thousands of victims from Scotland
all the way down to the south of England
because of this terrible scandal.
And all I want to say is I commend the cabinet member.
I withdraw my question
because it was very similar to Council Hogg's.
And I just want to say to the cabinet member,
I'm reassured by those actions
that there will be continual engagement
with any inquiry that goes ahead.
Thank you, Chairman.
Thank you that brings us to the end of the cabinet member reports.

12 Reports from Cabinet Members

Cllr John Chilver - 2:04:44
Just a reminder that if you had a question which you are unable to ask, please do send
it directly to the cabinet member for response.
So by show of hands the members can tend to note the cabinet member reports.
Thank you very much.

13 Notices of Motion

Now we move on to item 13 which is a Notice of Motion in respect of the Ouse Valley Water
Resources Management Plan. Councillor Statsbury, can you confirm your intention formally to
move this motion? I confirm my intent to move the motion. Thank you. Councillor Shafer,
I understand you will formally be seconding this motion, is that correct? Yes I will,
Thank you. Before I invite you to both propose and second the motion, I want to say as Chairman
how this matter will be dealt with. And it's my ruling as Chairman, following discussion
with the Monitoring Officer, that due to both the technical nature of this motion and the
subject matter of this motion coming within the terms of reference of the Council's Select
discussion to the Transport, Environment, Climate Change
and Communities Select Committee for full consideration.
But while there'll be no debate on this item,
Councillor Stuxbury and Schafer can speak informally,
proposing and seconding the motion.
So Councillor Stuxbury, would you like to propose the motion?
You have five minutes.
Yeah, I very much would.
Noting the change in circumstances,
Cllr Robin Stuchbury - 2:06:25
is I may speak differently.
This motion is about the Youth Valley Way.
Just for information for the people in this room,
we have a collection of members of Parliament
who already stated their interest in this motion.
And they will be contacting the Secretary of State.
For information, I wrote a question
to the cabinet member for environment, went to cabinet,
he answered that question, which is a public record.
I also informed both the chief executive
and the section 51 officer of this scheme.
I also sent a briefing note to the leader of the council
on this scheme.
The cabinet member for environment and climate change
has been at three meetings when this has been briefed.
So the technicalities of this scheme are far reaching.
we now live in a ever -changing environment
and I think no one can say this summer was normal.
No one can say that the environment this summer
was how we lived.
I will ask you to consider that.
The information that I sent you could not be included
in the agenda because I was advised by the Constitution
and the Council you couldn't have that to discuss,
which is the Constitution and the Council.
You had that information.
I thank those members who kindly responded to me diligently and may comment on that information.
I praise them for their efforts.
This scheme will change the nature and improve the nature of North Buckinghamshire.
It will create a linear waterway and it will move water from Affinity Water in Northampton
north to Milton Keynes, it will move water from Buckingham.
If the canal goes in across to the new adventure park,
there will be a new sewage works going in
at Stearney Stratford, which will clean up all the water
in North Bucks in the actual development plan
when that goes in.
Not funded by this council, not a penny from this council.
That would be angular water.
The schemes of delegation has gone through,
as we stated in the motion,
that's going through the environment agency,
it's going through Angular Water,
it's going through many people.
The point that this council had just merely been asked
was to recognise the importance of the scheme,
to be able to be a contribution to the scheme.
My concern is that the decision to put it
to a select committee may mean that we become
an observer of the scheme, not a partner in the scheme.
because if it goes through as it's intended and all five members of Parliament move it through the Secretary of State
and it becomes part of a legislative programme, it will go ahead under a government development order.
Of course, that could change and it could all fall apart.
Personally, I've been involved in these things in Buckingham since 1999.
Never once have I seen a schema offered such marvellous solutions to North Bucks' problems.
It also helps resolve the infrastructure issues within the future Buckingham Development Plan
by offering solutions to make sure that developments won't have to go through grumbling conditions
to be built.
It also assists the, creates a linear waterway between two percentage councils.
I find it strange that it's going to go to the Select Committee, but that's the decision
and the council because the discussion which is going
on elsewhere is the real discussion and how
that discussion is going to differ
from the select committee.
I will play along with the proposals and work
with them positively as I have done all along.
I spent all summer with colleagues involved in this
from the Canal Society and Mr. Terry Cavender, I must say,
who is a tremendous man, meeting members of parliament,
and getting them on board, cross -party working,
linear working, to be able to get to a stage
that we have today.
You know by any political world,
that is not easy to achieve.
But when you have that outside saying,
yes, we want to do something positive,
and it will go to the party conference season,
and we'll see what comes out of that.
Could be that other parliamentary people
wish to sign it.
But let's say while they're still time on the clock, the environment is telling us we've got change.
The environment's telling us that we are now in a clock of where the world is turning.
This offers fresh water. We have no water in. Now this will create fresh water.
This will create something. It's a positive scheme. Thank you for listening.
Thank you.
Cllr John Chilver - 2:11:23
Councillor Schaffer, as the seconder of this motion, you have two minutes, please.
Thank you, Mr Chairman.
Cllr Anja Schaefer - 2:11:33
Before anything else, I would like to be quite clear about what this motion is and what it
is not.
The project is being explored by Anglian Water, working with local partners as part of its
future water resources planning.
The motion does not ask Buckinghamshire Council
to fund the project, does not commit the council
to spending money, and it does not intend
to bypass the feasibility work
or any future statutory process.
I think that's important to say.
What it does ask is that the council engage positively
with a proposal that could bring significant benefits
if it proves viable.
This summer has shown how important
border security has become.
Parts of southern and eastern England experience severe drought conditions,
and this has also been noted in North Buckinghamshire.
At the same time, many communities, including Buckingham and surrounding villages,
remain very vulnerable to flooding after heavy rain.
We face both challenges at once.
The strength of the proposed Ouse Valley water corridor
is that it would help address several problems at the same time.
It could improve water storage and water security.
It could help reduce flood risk.
It could create new habitats for wildlife,
and it could provide new opportunities
for recreation and public enjoyment.
There's also a strong economic case.
Reliable water supplies are essential
for homes, businesses, and future growth.
If we are serious about long -term planning,
we must think about water infrastructure
just as we think about roads, schools and transport.
And finally, water does not stop at council boundaries.
That is why the motion asks the council
to work with neighbouring authorities
and with Anglian Water to explore solutions
to a shared challenge.
Thank you, your time is up.
Thank you very much.
So this motion will now be considered
Cllr John Chilver - 2:13:36
by the tech select committee as per their terms of reference
which are set out within the Select Committee Arrangements section of the Council's constitution.
Point of order, Chairman, if I may ask the advice of the Monitoring Officer, one last hurrah before she goes.
Cllr Susan Morgan - 2:13:54
Does point 3 .36 take away that this Council makes the decision on?
I just, I don't think the Chair has the power to actually take the decision away from this Council.
to you and Glenn Watson.
Glenn Watson - Principal Governance Officer - 2:14:14
Yes indeed the Chairman does have that authority in consultation with the Monitoring Officer
to determine that an item of motion that's put forward would be best falling under the
terms of reference of a particular body in the Council and can so refer. Just so that
is not a unilateral exercise without any democratic engagement, that's why the provisions are
that the motion gets proposed and seconded
and that there is that speaking time
so there's not just that cutoff.
So that Councillor Stutchbury and Councillor Shafer
have been able to speak to put their point.
It's been heard by members, it's been heard by the public.
That started the process now for which this can now refer
as the chairman has said that it should
to the tech select committee.
And that's what will happen now.
But it is the right that he does have the authority
to do that in consultation with the monitoring officer.
Cllr John Chilver - 2:15:07
And I can confirm as chairman that that consultation and discussion did take place
The next three items are all items for information only

14 Questions on Notice from Members

Item 14 is questions on notice from members
Question 15 point 15 is report for information key decisions report
And the final

15 Report for information - Key Decisions Report

Item on the agenda is the date of next meeting

16 Date of Next Meeting

which is Wednesday the 25th of November at 4 p .m.
So thank you all very much indeed
for your attendance and contributions this evening.
Safe journey home and enjoy the rest of the day.
Thank you.