At a meeting of Buckinghamshire Council's cabinet, key decisions were made regarding the endorsement of the new Buckinghamshire Health & Wellbeing Strategy, the approval of the Buckinghamshire All Age Autism Strategy 2025 - 2030, and the approval to market land at Cooks Lane, Mursley. Additionally, the cabinet reviewed and approved the conclusions of local plan reviews for both the Wycombe District and the Buckinghamshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan, and noted the outcome of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Single Assessment, which rated Buckinghamshire Council as 'Good'.

Health and Wellbeing Strategy

The cabinet endorsed the new Buckinghamshire Health & Wellbeing Strategy, which sets out the ambitions of Buckinghamshire Council and its partner organisations to improve health and wellbeing across the county and reduce health inequalities over the next 10 years. The strategy builds upon the previous Happier Healthier Lives Strategy (2022-25).

The strategy's vision is to help people live healthier and more independent lives, with an overall aim to:

• Reduce health inequalities
• Improve population health
• Ensure the sustainability of services

This will be achieved through action plans covering four themes: Start Well, Live Well, Age Well and Principles, with a focus on empowering communities, prevention, and proactive care.

Buckinghamshire All Age Autism Strategy 2025-2030

The cabinet approved the Buckinghamshire All Age Autism Strategy 2025-2030, which aims to improve life for autistic people by addressing inequalities, raising awareness, and enhancing support across health, education, employment, and independent living. The strategy was developed through consultation with autistic people, their families and stakeholders.

The strategy focuses on:

• Tackling health and care inequalities
• Improving autism awareness
• Supporting autistic children and young people
• Enhancing employment support
• Promoting independent living

The strategy is accompanied by a one-year action plan outlining how the strategy will be delivered.

Care Quality Commission (CQC) Single Assessment Outcome – Adults and Health

The cabinet noted the outcome of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment report, which rated Buckinghamshire Council as Good against its single assessment framework¹.

The assessment report, published on 18 July 2025, rated Buckinghamshire Council as 'Good' with a score of 73%. The report highlighted that the service was performing well and meeting the expectations of CQC.

James Bullion, CQC's Chief Inspector of adult social care and integrated care, said:

During our assessment of Buckinghamshire Council's adult social care services, we found strong leadership and staff who were passionate about delivering high-quality care. Leaders understood their local population well, and staff showed genuine enthusiasm for supporting people across the county. The authority knew they had some areas where they needed and wanted to make improvements, such as working with young people and their families to improve the transition from children to adult services for people with learning disabilities.

The council will specifically address transitions, which was rated 'Requires Improvement', and take steps to further strengthen practice in areas rated 'Good'.

Local Plan Reviews

The cabinet approved the conclusions of local plan reviews for both the Wycombe District and the Buckinghamshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan.

Wycombe District Local Plan and Delivery and Site Allocations Plan for Town Centres and Managing Development

The review of the Wycombe District Local Plan and Delivery and Site Allocations Plan for Town Centres and Managing Development determined whether policies were out of date and what weight should be given to them in decision making.

The review concluded that, taken as a whole, the plans are not out of date and most policies continue to generally accord with national policy. However, a small number of site-specific policies are no longer needed as development is complete, and a small number of policies are considered out of date and therefore should be given limited weight in decision-making. A small number of policies are considered partially out-of-date. The weight to be given to policies will be considered by decision-makers in light of national policy where it is more up to date.

Buckinghamshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan

The review of the Buckinghamshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan (MWLP) considered whether policies within the development plan required updating.

The review considered that the policies within the MWLP were consistent with national policies and therefore was up to date. The review did highlight areas of policy that, due to local circumstances, were of concern, but concluded that with further monitoring, along with the emerging work on the Local Plan for Buckinghamshire, it might be appropriate to review these policies again ahead of the next 5-year period to see if the MWLP required updating.

Disposal of land at Cooks Lane, Mursley

The cabinet authorised the Corporate Director for Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources, to proceed with the disposal of land at Cooks Lane, Mursley for residential development, as identified in the Mursley Neighbourhood Plan (2021-2040).

The decision was made to achieve the disposal of the site to meet the anticipated capital receipt as set out in the Council's current Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) capital receipts target.

The marketing strategy will be to conduct an open market campaign seeking conditional and unconditional offers.

The objectives of the disposal are to:

• Achieve the best value under Section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972
• Appoint a marketing agent to secure bids for the disposal of the site
• Approve a disposal budget to cover marketing, due diligence and legal costs
• Implement the Council's communication plan
• Negotiate draft heads of terms with preferred purchasers

The projected capital receipt substantially exceeded the benefit of the revenue currently generated from the site, making disposal financially advantageous. Any residential development on the site would contribute to meeting local housing targets as set out in the Vale of Aylesbury Local Plan (2013-2033).

Alternative options considered were:

• Do nothing: This option was not recommended because the MTFP included a capital receipt linked to the disposal of the Mursley site, and inaction would delay provision of housing in this part of the County.
• Secure planning permission prior to disposal: This was not the recommended option because the site was already allocated in the Mursley Neighbourhood Plan, which provided developers with sufficient information to enable them to bid on the site with confidence.

Question Time

Councillor Robin Stuchbury asked Councillor Carl Jackson, Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change & Waste, about the potential to finance a feasibility study for reinstating impoundment at Tingewick Mill in Buckingham, to alleviate flooding from the Great River Ouse.

Councillor Maru Mormina asked Councillor Thomas Broom, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport, about the policy support Buckinghamshire Council was providing to the Haddenham-Thame Greenway project.