Agenda and minutes

Prior to asking for apologies, the Chairman welcomed Councillor Anja Schaefer to her first full Council meeting following the Buckingham East Ward by-election on 2 November 2023.

Apologies were received from Councillors K Ashman, S Barrett, A Baughan, N Brown, R Carington, D Goss, P Griffin, S Guy, T Hogg, G Hollis, N Hussain, M Knight, S Lambert, R Matthews, N Naylor, S Rouse, J Rush, G Smith, M Smith, L Sullivan, D Summers, D Thompson, A Waite, H Wallace and L Walsh.  Apologies were also received from Countess Howe, his Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire and Dame Ann Limb, High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire.

Tribute was paid to Julia Adey and Councillor Ron Gaffney who had recently passed away. The Chairman recorded sincere condolences to their families on their sad losses.

Councillor Katrina Wood paid tribute to Julia Adey who had been a Member of Wycombe District Council from 2011-2020 representing‘The ’ Ward and a Member of Buckinghamshire Council from 2020-21.  During her time on Wycombe DC, Julia had served as the Cabinet Member for Community from 2015-17 and as the Cabinet Member for Environment from 2017-2020.

Catherine Oliver (a Hazlemere Ward colleague of Ron Gaffney) paid tribute to Ron Gaffney who had been a current Buckinghamshire Councillor for the Hazlemere Ward.  He had passed away on 6 November 2023.

Ron had begun his career in 1964 as a trainee accountant for Buckinghamshire Council, before becoming a fully chartered accountant. Ron then worked for the former Wycombe Borough Council, which became Wycombe District Council in 1974. Ron remained working for Wycombe District Council for the remainder of his career until he retired in 2006.

From 2007 to 2020, Ron had served as a Councillor for Wycombe District Council in the former Hazlemere North Ward. During this time he had served on various committees, including Audit Committee, Licensing Committee and undertook the role of the Chairman of the Improvement and Review Commission in 2011.  From 2020 to 2023, Ron had served as a Councillor for Buckinghamshire Council representing the Hazlemere Ward.

Members then observed a minute`s silence in memory of Julia Adey and Ron Gaffney.

Members were informed that the Council had introduced the Chairman’s award which was the highest honour that the Chairman of the Council could give to individuals and organisations in recognition of their outstanding or exceptional contribution to the social, economic or environmental wellbeing of Buckinghamshire. There were criteria to be met to be nominated for this award that could be granted at the discretion of the Chairman of the Council to individuals of any age who lived in Buckinghamshire and were from Buckinghamshire.

The Chairman stated that it gave her great pleasure to make 2 Chairman’s awardsto Mike Clare, founder and chairman of the Clare Foundation, and to Paul Jennings, Chairman of the River Chess Association.

Councillor Arif Hussain, who had nominated Mike Clare for the Chairman’s award, informed Members that after a career in business, Mike Clare had set up the Clare Foundation in 2009, which helped Buckinghamshire-based charities develop their strategy and governance and increase their impact in the community.  The Clare Foundation provided organizations with free support and advice, funding and grants, leadership development, and brought like-minded charity leaders together at networking and round table events. Mike had also re-established Family Angels, which helped Buckinghamshire families on the edge of monetary ability and financial hardship. Through the Clare Foundation, Mike had led numerous initiatives that have supported the Council, Buckinghamshire's VCS sector, and Buckinghamshire residents, particularly during COVID-19. Mike was an ambassador and Deputy Lieutenant for Buckinghamshire, a Freeman of the City of London, and a winner of numerous entrepreneurial awards. In 2009, Mike had been awarded an honorary doctorate from Bucks New University in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the field of commerce and business. He was also a patron of the Clare Business School based within Bucks New University.

Mike Clare was invited to speak and stated he was very proud and privileged to accept the Chairman’s Award, on behalf of the Clare Foundation and that it recognised the hard work undertaken by fellow trustees, Martin Gallagher (CEO) and staff.

Councillor Gareth Williams, who had nominated Paul Jennings for the Chairman’s award, informed Members that Paul Jennings had led initiatives for many years to protect and restore the ecological health of the River Chess, a rare chalk stream that hosted diverse wildlife.  He had been involved in projects to monitor, lobby, and challenge the water companies, the Environment Agency, and HS2 on issues such as abstraction, sewage, and construction. He had also shared his passion and knowledge of the River Chess with the local community, especially children, through river dipping, newsletters, and social media. He has also brought together charity leaders, volunteers, and experts to work in partnership for the river.

Paul Jennings was invited to speak and accepted the award for himself and the team of people he had been working with for the last 15 years.  He made brief mention of the importance of partnership working and on the recent discovery of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Members were informed that the Council had committed to re-sign an updated version of the Armed Forces Covenant.  The Covenant contained a number of pledges, by which the Council promised to:

·                Recognise and honour the sacrifices made by the armed forces.

·                Raise public awareness of issues affecting the armed forces and their families.

·                Reduce any disadvantages suffered by the armed forces community as a result of their service or association.

·                Encourage activities which help to integrate the armed forces with the wider community.

Air Commodore Simon Harper OBE, commanding officer of RAF Halton and representing the Ministry of Defence, was invited to speak and he thanked the Council for their remarkable work in supporting the armed forces and the armed forces community in the county. He mentioned that Defence was busy and continued to need support for the serving population, veterans, cadet forces, and their families. Air Commodore Harper recognized the benefit of the armed forces community to the county and stated that the covenant represented a promise, foundation, and codification of mutual support. He expressed his honour in signing the covenant and thanked the Council for their support.

Councillor Mimi Harker OBE, the Council’s Armed Forces champion, then spoke and thanked the armed forces for their service, and listed the commitments made by the Council to support them and their families.  Councillor Harker mentioned that the Council had been recognised with a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, which was the highest honour for employers who supported the armed forces community.  She also stated that the Council was happy to provide information and guidance to other organisations who wanted to sign their own covenants and pledge their support to the Armed Forces community.  In concluding, Councillor Harker, on behalf of Buckinghamshire Council, extended deepest thanks and gratitude to all who had served and continued to serve the country.

The updated version of the Armed Forces Covenant was then signed by Air Commodore Simon Harper OBE and Councillor Mimi Harker OBE.

During consideration of the Minutes, Councillor Wassell stated that at Minute 8 (Proportionality Review), it should be clarified that after Councillor Nabella Rana had left the Alliance Grouping, she had then been a non-aligned Independent for a period before joining the Conservative Group.

RESOLVED –

That, subject to the above clarification, the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 20 September 2023 be approved as a correct record.

Councillor Tony Green declared a personal interest in item 6 (Adoption of Model Street Collection Regulations) as he was a member of the Royal British Legion for the High Wycombe area and arranged collections during the poppy appeal period.

The Chairman congratulated Sir Francis QPM DL on his recent appointment to the role of Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire.  Sir Francis had been Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police from 2015-2019, retiring after over 32 years in policing, and had been made a Deputy Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire in 2020.  He succeeded Mr Alexander Boswell who retired from the role after 12 years, although Alexander would be continuing as a Deputy Lieutenant of the County.

The Chairman then informed Members that since the last Council meeting in September she had:

·                Visited Restore Hope at Latimer to present a Chairman’s Award in recognition of work done to preserve the water quality of the River Chess.

·                Attended the Best Kept Village in Bucks awards, the 10^th anniversary celebration of Chiltern Rangers, the 50th anniversary of the Ridgeway National Trail celebrations, the Milton Keynes and the Beaconsfield Civic Services, and the Chairman of Buckinghamshire Council’s Civic Service at St Mary's church, Chesham.

·                been present at the installation of the new team rector in High Wycombe, the Reverend Anthony Searle.

·                Visited RAF Croughton, where the United States Air Force had spoken of their high regard for their joint operations with the Royal Air Force.

·                opened the new Audley Wycliffe Park retirement village at Horsleys Green.

·                Enjoyed last night the pantomime of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in Aylesbury.

The Chairman also thanked her Vice Chairman, Councillor M Harker OBE, who had covered the Remembrance Sunday Service in Aylesbury, and thanked everyone who had supported the Buckinghamshire Children’s Christmas 2023 gift appeal, and had set up stalls in the Street prior to the Council meeting for the Chairman’s two charities (Medical Detection Dogs and Scannappeal), the Councillor Shadowing Scheme and on the IT Cyber Briefing for Members.

There were none.

Fundraising collections played a vital role in the work carried out by charities and were an important means of both raising money for good causes and also promoting the goals and messages of the collecting charity. However, it was equally important, to ensure that any charitable fundraising, whether in public spaces or door-to-door, was carried out by bona fide charitable organisations and collectors, that a fair percentage of collection proceeds were donated directly to charitable causes, and that no nuisance was caused to businesses and residents as a result of collections.

Buckinghamshire Council’s ability to regulate charitable collections in public areas was discretionary and was reliant on full Council passing a resolution to adopt regulations to control charitable “street collections”.  Whilst adoption was discretionary, it was clearly desirable for Buckinghamshire Council to adopt these controls. This contrasted with house-to-house charitable collections that were governed by a statutory licensing regime which required all such collections to be licensed and Buckinghamshire Council had no discretion to adopt controls.

The Council currently regulated both types of charitable collections, that was house-to-house and collections in public places, by virtue of established historical arrangements that were in place under each legacy District Council area prior to the formation of the unitary council in April 2020. In accordance with the ongoing programme of work harmonising the policies and approaches of the various licensing functions of the Council it was proposed that a new resolution was made to adopt the Home Office’s Model Regulations for Buckinghamshire Council.

The Cabinet Member for Homelessness and Regulatory Services informed Members that the draft Regulations had already been to public consultation, and been submitted to the Licensing Committee who had recommended that the Regulations should be adopted.

RESOLVED –

That the Model Street Collections Regulations as set out in the ‘Charitable Collections (Transitional Provisions) Order 1974 (SI 1974/140) (Model Street Collections Regulations) be APPROVED and ADOPTED.

Council was informed that a request had been received from the Alliance Grouping Leader to conduct a proportionality review.  Since the last proportionality review in September 2023, Councillor Anja Shaefer had been elected via by-election and subsequently joined the Alliance Grouping. Councillor Luisa Sullivan had left the Conservative Group and was ungrouped. Councillor Ron Gaffney, a former member of the Conservative Group, had sadly passed away on 6 November 2023. Councillor David Anthony, former member of the Conservative Group, had resigned on 13 November 2023.

These political group changes had resulted in a change in proportionality as detailed in the Council report and at Appendix 1, which was based on 145 Members.  Appendix 1 detailed the allocation of seats on Council Committees and other bodies to political groups.

RESOLVED –

That the allocation of seats on Council Committees and other bodies to political groups at Appendix 1 (supplementary agenda report) be APPROVED.

Regulation 30(1) of the Local Authority (Public Health, Health and Wellbeing Boards and Health Scrutiny) Regulations 2013, provided that two or more local authorities could appoint a joint committee.  The Joint Authorities each had their own independent established health overview and scrutiny functions, but recognised that there may, from time to time arise certain matters where it would be to the individual and collective interest of one of some of the Joint Authorities to exercise their overview and scrutiny functions through a joint health overview and scrutiny committee, comprised of representatives of the constituent Local Authorities.

The Chairman of the Health and Adults Social Care Select Committee informed Members that whilst Buckinghamshire was part of an Integrated Care System with Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (made up of Wokingham, Reading and Berkshire West local authorities), known as BOB ICS, Buckinghamshire residents also accessed health services within the neighbouring integrated care system of Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. These footprints were set up by the NHS in 2015 to drive forward the Sustainability Transformation Plans (STPs).  The BLMK JHOSC would comprise 13 Councillors with three Councillors appointed by Bedford Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council, Luton Council and Milton Keynes City Council and one appointed by Buckinghamshire Council.  The draft terms of reference for the BLMK JHOSC were attached to the report to Council.

RESOLVED –

(1)               That it be AGREED to appoint a Member to the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Joint Health Scrutiny Committee (BLMK JHOSC), part of the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care System.

(2)               That the terms of reference for the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee be AGREED.

Members received reports from Cabinet Members. There was an opportunity for members to ask questions of individual Cabinet Members about matters and issues affecting their portfolios.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Martin Tett

The Leader informed Members that he had attended the recent ‘Dragons Den’ event run by the Clare Foundation at which Councillor Paul Irwin had pitched and won a substantial amount of funding for his charity, Inspire Bucks, which supported disadvantaged children across the county.  The Leader placed on record his recognition of Councillor Irwin’s efforts.

The Leader received questions on the budget shortfall and its impact on non-statutory services funded by Community Boards, as well as the Opportunity Bucks scheme.  Members were informed that details of the budget would be revealed to all Members in due course and at the same time.

The Leader reiterated that the Opportunity Bucks scheme was a worthwhile initiative to target areas of disadvantage and improve the conditions for residents across the county.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Angela Macpherson

The Cabinet Member received questions about the handover of patients discharged from Milton Keynes to care workers, and the resourcing to manage the growing concern of mental health post COVID.

Members were informed that there was more integrated working than last year, and she felt assured that there was a more robust mechanism for discharge. The Cabinet Member also mentioned that mental health was managed with Oxford Health through the urgent and emergency care board and that there were several initiatives in Buckinghamshire, including the Safe Haven initiative.

Cabinet Member for Homelessness and Regulatory Services, Mark Winn

The Cabinet Member provided a short update announcing that the consultation on the Housing Strategy, which outlined the issues and solutions for housing in Buckinghamshire, had been extended to 18 January 2024.

The Cabinet Member received questions about Bucks Home Choice and pavement licensing issues related to Kingsbury Square.  Members were informed that the Bucks Home Choice figures represented people in housing need, not necessarily homeless, and that the Housing Strategy would identify the gaps in provision which could then be addressed.

The plans for Kingsbury Square had not yet been published by the Council, and as such, he could not comment on them at this time, but would be open to a discussion about any related concerns once they had been made available.

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, Councillor Gareth Williams

The Cabinet Member received questions on tree planting and the Council’s carbon emissions.  Members were informed that the Council had consulted with Forestry England, and would organise community planting days in Wing, where a new wood of more than 100,000 trees was being created. These would likely begin next February.

The Cabinet Member also confirmed that the Council would continue to evaluate its progress towards reaching net zero emissions for its own operations by 2050 or sooner, and that the evaluation would be part of the Portfolio and Asset Strategy. The Council had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

The Chairman informed Members that two motions had been submitted to the meeting.  The motions related to:

(i)                 Member Call-In of Planning Applications.

(ii)               Protecting Childrens and Adults Health by Reducing Idling in Buckinghamshire.

(i)                 Member Call-In of Planning Applications

The motion was proposed by Councillor Robin Stuchbury and seconded by Councillor Stuart Wilson –

“Under the current Constitutional arrangements, a single Member may request a Call In of a planning application in their Ward and, if material planning grounds are provided, the Service Director, in consultation with the Chairman of the relevant Planning Committee may agree to the request.

If 3 Members of a particular ward make the request, with appropriate grounds, then there is an automatic right for the matter to be Called In to the Committee.

This Motion proposes that such an automatic right be given to every Member.

Where 3 Members are of a different political group, or less engaged with the planning process as the others, then it is very difficult to get the 3 Members to agree a joint request for Call In. And, in anticipation of the boundary changes in 2025, many Wards will not have 3 Members representing them after May 2025.

This Council therefore calls on the Audit and Governance Committee to propose appropriate wording to make the necessary changes to the Constitution to ensure each Member should have the right to request a Call In and – if material planning grounds are provided – such an application should automatically be considered by the relevant Planning Committee.”

Councillor Stuchbury briefing explained the rationale of the motion.  During the debate it was mentioned that whilst the reduction in the number of Members and the change in the Ward boundaries at the next Council elections in 2025 would require the Constitution to be changed in certain aspects, the Audit and Governance Committee and the Standards and General Purposes Committee at their next meetings would consider reports proposing setting up a cross-party Constitution Working Group in order specifically to consider all the changes for the Constitution required in preparation for 2025.  For this reason, the motion submitted to the meeting was premature.

At the conclusion of the debate, the motion was put to a vote and declared to be LOST.

(ii)               Protecting Childrens and Adults Health by Reducing Idling in Buckinghamshire.

The motion was proposed by Councillor Ed Gemmell and seconded by Councillor Adam Poland-Goodyer –

“The Council notes:

1.                  The Council has committed in its Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy to “Reduce Emissions to air from all council operations” and notes that “Some air pollutants are acidic (for example oxides of nitrogen and sulphur dioxide) or are powerful oxidizing agents (for example tropospheric ozone) and will corrode the lining of the lungs, other living tissue, and inorganic material”

2.                  In addition, under the Wycombe District Air Quality Plan, that Council committed to:

a.                  “Work with the Highway Authority to identify and agree Information displays at strategic positions as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

The written responses to questions from Members, published as a supplement to the agenda, were noted.

A list of decisions taken by the Leader since the last Full Council meeting on 20 September 2023 were received and noted.

4pm, Wednesday 21 February 2024 (Budget setting meeting)

4pm, Wednesday 21 February 2024 (Budget Setting)