Buckinghamshire Council's cabinet met to discuss the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, and options for Consilio Property Ltd. The cabinet approved the formal publication of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, and also approved Option 1 for Consilio Property Ltd, which includes marketing the Tatling End site for disposal, transferring the remaining assets and liabilities to the council, and winding up the company in an orderly manner. The cabinet also received updates from cabinet members on various topics, including kinship care week, secondary transfer test results, public health events, and winter gritting preparations.

Local Nature Recovery Strategy

The cabinet approved the formal publication of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, following a two-year preparation period and public consultation. Councillor Adekunle Osibogun, Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change & Waste, presented the report, highlighting that the full LNRS could be viewed in Appendix C of the Public Minutes.

The LNRS aims to establish a local set of priorities and actions for the recovery of nature and the wider environment, and to map out the most effective locations for these actions. Councillor Adekunle Osibogun, Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change & Waste, emphasised that there is no obligation to carry out any specific proposed action, and landowners are not required to make any changes to their land management practices. The proposals are intended to guide the public, private, and voluntary sectors in focusing their nature recovery efforts for greater collective impact.

During the discussion, the following points were raised:

• The interactive mapping portal contains a wealth of information, including areas of particular importance for biodiversity and areas that could become of particular importance for biodiversity.
• Thanks were given to Mr David Sutherland, Environment Bill Readiness Manager, for his work on developing the LNRS.
• Buckinghamshire Council was recognised in Farmers Weekly as a leader in biodiversity net gain[^1], offering section 106 legal agreements[^2] and conservation agreements for landowners. [^1]: Biodiversity net gain is an approach to development that leaves the natural environment in a measurably better state than it was beforehand. [^2]: Section 106 agreements are legal agreements between a local planning authority and a developer, ensuring that developers contribute to local infrastructure and community facilities.
• Many of the measures included in the LNRS are subject to government funding and policy changes, the future of which remains uncertain.
• The LNRS steering group will focus on bringing key stakeholders together to deliver strategic projects and secure funding.
• A thorough online and in-person consultation process was followed during the preparation of the LNRS, reaching well beyond the 112 formal responses received.
• References to the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty should be amended to Chilterns National Landscape[^3]. [^3]: National Landscapes are protected areas in England and Wales, designated for their natural beauty and managed to conserve and enhance their landscape, natural and cultural heritage.
• The LNRS will form a key part of the Local Plan evidence base.
• Easy-to-understand short guides will be prepared and shared with farmers, towns, and parish councils to engage with all relevant stakeholders and publicise the LNRS more widely.

Councillor Steven Broadbent, Leader, said that he would write to the Chairman of the Transport, Environment and Climate Change Select Committee requesting that HS2¹ and East West Rail representatives be asked about how they are meeting their nature recovery duties when they attend future meetings.

Consilio Property Ltd Options

The cabinet approved Option 1 for Consilio Property Limited (CPL), a company wholly owned by the council, to enhance the efficiency of the council's portfolio of companies through improved structuring. Councillor Robert Carington, Cabinet Member for Resources, presented the report, noting that the recommended option would not have any impact on the council's General Fund Reserves.

The approved option includes:

1. Starting the marketing of the Tatling End site owned by CPL for disposal, with all offers to be reviewed before any decision on disposal.
2. Transferring the remaining assets and liabilities of CPL to the council.
3. Winding up CPL in an orderly manner.

The decision was made after considering confidential appendices, which were discussed under agenda item 12.

Questions to the Cabinet

Several councillors posed questions to cabinet members during the meeting.

• Councillor Greg Smith asked Councillor Peter Strachan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning, about the lack of a strategic approach to planning in Haddenham, given the high level of housing development in the area. Councillor Peter Brazier, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, responded in Councillor Peter Strachan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning's absence, stating that the council must determine applications in accordance with local and national planning policy, and that the Local Plan for Buckinghamshire is the appropriate vehicle to set the strategic framework for dealing with and delivering infrastructure to support new developments. He also noted that the council is unable to place a moratorium on all new planning approvals until a full impact appraisal is carried out for Haddenham, but that this work is underway as part of the Local Plan for Buckinghamshire.
• Councillor Robin Stuchbury asked Councillor Carl Jackson, Cabinet Member for Education & Children's Services, about disparities in the percentage of budget share repurposed across schools as part of a proposed block transfer from the Schools Block to the High Needs block. Councillor Carl Jackson, Cabinet Member for Education & Children's Services, explained that the disparities are a result of how the national funding formula interacts with local adjustments required to implement the transfer, and that the consultation launched on 8 September 2025 is designed to engage all Buckinghamshire schools in this process.
• Councillor Anna Crabtree asked Councillor Adekunle Osibogun, Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change & Waste, to confirm that Buckinghamshire Council will continue to support the Local Nature Partnership (LNP), financially if necessary, to ensure that the goals of the LNRS are delivered. Councillor Adekunle Osibogun, Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change & Waste, confirmed that the council has agreed with the LNP on an outline package of proposed actions that aligns to delivery requirements, supported by government funding, and will continue to refine this programme of work with the LNP.

Other Matters

• Councillor Steven Broadbent, Leader, announced a change in cabinet member responsibilities, with Councillor Carl Jackson now responsible for Education and Children's Services, and Councillor Adekunle Osibogun responsible for Environment, Climate Change and Waste.
• Cabinet members provided updates on various topics, including Kinship Care week, secondary transfer test results, public health events, National Customer Service Week, Bucks History Festival, library flex, and winter gritting preparations.
• The cabinet noted the Forward Plan and the Select Committee Work Programme.