The Buckinghamshire Council meeting on 17 September 2025 included discussion of the council's pay policy, the Youth Justice Plan, and a review of the Audit and Governance Committee's work. Councillors were also scheduled to hear reports from cabinet members on topics ranging from strategic finance and economic growth to transport, culture, and community safety.

Buckinghamshire Council 2025/26 Pay Policy Statement

The council was asked to approve the Buckinghamshire Council 2025/26 Pay Policy Statement, which is required under Section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011. The statement outlines the council's policies on:

• Remuneration of chief officers
• Remuneration of the lowest-paid employees
• The relationship between chief officer remuneration and that of other employees

The lowest-paid full-time equivalent employee at Buckinghamshire Council in 2025/26 was scheduled to be paid £23,557 per annum, while the chief executive was scheduled to be paid £240,000. The pay multiple between the highest and median salary was listed as 6.05, and the pay multiple between the highest and lowest paid was listed as 10.19.

Audit and Governance Committee Annual Report

The council was asked to note the Audit and Governance Committee's annual report for the 2024/25 financial year. The committee is responsible for independently overseeing the effectiveness of the council's governance, risk, financial management, and internal control arrangements.

The report noted that Buckinghamshire Council elections on 1 May 2025 resulted in a reduction from 147 to 97 councillors.

The Audit and Governance Committee met seven times during the year and reviewed its forward work programme to ensure it mirrored the council's risks and priorities. The committee also:

• Reviewed the council's constitution.
• Approved the terms of reference for internal audit, the business assurance strategy, and the counter-fraud plan.
• Received updates on the work of the counter-fraud/investigations team.
• Reviewed the strategic and key directorate risks facing the authority.

The report also noted delays in the publication of the council's statement of accounts, and the government's introduction of statutory backstop dates mandating approval of the statement of accounts for the financial year ending 31 March 2024 by 28 February 2025.

Buckinghamshire Youth Justice and Support Team (YJST) Plan 2025-26

The council was asked to adopt the 2025-2026 Youth Justice Plan, which details progress against statutory outcomes for children and young people and outlines priorities and potential future challenges for the partnership.

The Buckinghamshire Youth Justice and Support Team (YJST) is a multi-agency partnership funded by Thames Valley Police, Buckinghamshire Council Children's Services, Health Services and Probation. The YJST plays a key role in preventing offending and reoffending, reducing the use of custody, and contributing to multi-agency public protection and safeguarding.

The Youth Justice Board (YJB) has set three national outcome indicators for all YOTs¹ which form the baseline for performance information:

• Reduce the number of First Time Entrants (FTE) to the Youth Justice System
• Reduce Re-offending
• Reduce the Use of Custody

Priorities for 2025-26 included:

• Delivering against a robust disproportionality plan
• Sharing data for bi-annual needs analysis
• Evidencing ways in which Child First has been adopted across organisations in Buckinghamshire

Reports from Cabinet Members

Councillors were scheduled to receive reports from cabinet members, including:

• Councillor Steven Broadbent, Leader of the Council, on strategic finance, the Growth Board, the Buckinghamshire Growth Plan, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the Buckinghamshire Enterprise Zone, Race 2 Space 2025, the Aylesbury Woodlands development, HS2 and East West Rail, and the South East Aylesbury Link Road (SEALR).
• Councillor Adekunle Osibogun, Cabinet Member for Education and Children's Services, on exam results, the Adult Learning Service, the Holiday Activities and Food Summer Activity Programme, the National Family Hubs Strategy, Skills Bootcamps, and the Children in Care Celebration Day.
• Councillor Steve Bowles, Cabinet Member for Communities, on community safety, Opportunity Bucks, the Helping Hand team, Making Every Adult Matter, Community Boards, and asylum and migration.
• Councillor Robert Carington, Cabinet Member for Resources, on recruitment success in children's residential services, the draft statement of accounts, treasury management, the Denmark Street Project, Hampden Fields Primary School, the Kingsbrook Secondary School Expansion, Orchard View Primary Academy, and improvement works in Aylesbury.
• Councillor Peter Brazier, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, on Library Flex, the Summer Reading Challenge, theatre on the move, Black History Month exhibitions and workshops, culture development, the Buckinghamshire Film Office, archives, Simply Walk, leisure centres, the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy, and parks.
• Councillor Thomas Broom, Cabinet Member for Transport, on the capital programme, electric vehicle chargepoint installation in Wendover, school transport, highways, Marlow Bridge, and public transport.
• Councillor Peter Strachan, Cabinet Member for Planning, on the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), the Local Plan for Buckinghamshire consultation, and planning enforcement.
• Councillor Mark Winn, Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory Services, on Gypsy & Traveller Services, Trading Standards, multi-agency work, licensing, environmental health, crematoria and cemetery service, the registration service, the coroners service, homelessness prevention & advice, temporary accommodation, housing development, disabled facilities grants and Bucks Home Choice.
• Councillor Carl Jackson, Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change & Waste, on litter enforcement, fly-tipping enforcement, the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes, tree planting, the Warm Homes Local Grant, Energy Doctor visits, and the Domestic Building Envelope Energy Efficiency (DBEEE) Grant.
• Councillor Isobel Darby, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, on the CQC inspection outcome, a contract award to AginCare, the Integrated Community Equipment Service (ICES), the opening of Wing View care centre, tobacco control, the Healthy School Neighbourhood project, the Healthier Homes Pilot, and the Health & Wellbeing Strategy.

Notice of Motion

Councillor Mark Roberts, seconded by Councillor Mike West, proposed a motion asking Cabinet to amend the Community Board Terms of Reference to reflect that in future the Chair and Vice-Chair of each community board should be appointed by the community board's Buckinghamshire Council members from amongst their number, to better reflect the political balance of each community board area.

Leader Decisions Taken

The council was scheduled to note information on decisions taken by the Leader since the last full council agenda. These included decisions on the Adult Learning Accountability Agreement, a contingency plan for responding to provider failure, tree removal in Beaconsfield, the Farnham Park Trust, the allocation of Rural England Prosperity Funds, and the Council's response to the Government's Consultation on the Special Development Order for Universal Destinations & Experiences Proposals for an Entertainment Resort Complex.