The Buckinghamshire Council meeting scheduled for 26 November 2025 included a presentation from the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable, and a discussion on street trading controls. Councillors were also scheduled to discuss reports from cabinet members, and consider several notices of motion. The meeting was also scheduled to include the appointment of an interim Chief Executive Officer.

Appointment of Interim Chief Executive Officer

The Senior Appointments and Pay Committee (SAPC) recommended that Sarah Ashmead be appointed as Interim Chief Executive Officer and Head of Paid Service, with an annual salary of £220,000. The report pack stated that the appointment would provide stability while a permanent Chief Executive is appointed. The appointment was scheduled to commence on 19 December 2025, to allow for a handover period with the current Chief Executive Officer Rachael Shimmin, who was scheduled to leave her post on 18 January 2026. The interim appointment was scheduled to last for up to one year.

Street Trading Controls

Councillors were scheduled to discuss the adoption of Schedule 4 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, regarding street trading controls. The report pack recommended that the council resolve that Schedule 4 of the act should apply to the Buckinghamshire Council area, taking effect from 1 October 2026.

The report pack also recommended that the council agree to pass a resolution designating all streets within the Buckinghamshire Council area as consent streets.

The report pack noted that the Licensing (Public Protection) Committee had previously approved a new Street Trading Policy in principle on 17 July 2025.

The report pack stated that the adoption of a unified approach to street trading regulation would provide a clear and consistent framework, ensuring public safety, preventing crime and disorder, and enhancing the character of the council's area.

The report pack summarised the different approaches to street trading controls previously adopted by the legacy district councils:

• Aylesbury Area: Consent streets have been designated in Aylesbury, Buckingham, and Wendover. Unregulated trading can occur outside these consent areas and on privately owned land. There are no licensed streets.
• Chiltern Area: Consent streets operate in several areas, and there is one prohibited street. There are no licensed streets.
• South Bucks Area: Several roads have been designated as prohibited streets for street trading. There are no consent or licensed streets.
• Wycombe Area: Several areas have been designated as Prohibited Streets, the remain areas are deemed consent streets. There are no licensed streets.

The report pack noted that a consultation on the proposals had attracted over 260 online survey responses and many additional written comments, primarily from town and parish councils.

The report pack stated that a revised draft policy had been approved by the Licensing (Public Protection) Committee in principle, but would only take effect if all streets across the council's area are designated as consent streets.

The report pack summarised the agreed amendments to the draft street trading policy:

• Focus controls on Buckinghamshire Council maintained highways only, rather than all freely, publicly accessible areas.
• Adopt an 'open door' approach to applications, allowing out of scope traders to still apply voluntarily.
• Introduce a public register for consent holders.
• Introduce flexibility between locations for consent holders.
• Redefine exempt criteria for community-focused events to recognise that an element of commercial trading maybe involved.
• Redefine community events to expressly include events organised by, or on behalf of, Buckinghamshire Council, Town and Parish Councils, recognised charities, voluntary groups, local community groups connected to good causes, education establishments and hospitals.
• Removed documentation requirements where these can be verified by other available means, such as vehicle MOT status, DVLA record and food hygiene ratings.
• Modify policy on trading near roads with speed limits of 30mph, removing prohibition and replacing with, trading near roads above 30 mph should occur only in substantial lay-bys or service roads has been retained .
• Publish clear guidance for public and event organisers.

Reports from Cabinet Members

Members were scheduled to receive reports from Cabinet Members and ask questions on issues affecting their portfolios.

The reports pack included written reports from:

• Councillor Steven Broadbent, Leader of the Council, who was expected to provide an update on council finances, the Buckinghamshire Economic Growth Plan, the National Film & Television School investment, the Buckinghamshire Enterprise Zone, England's Economic Heartland, the South East Aylesbury Link Road, High Speed 2, East West Rail and Heathrow Airport expansion.
• Councillor Robert Carington, Cabinet Member for Resources, who was expected to provide an update on the Together Survey, the Customer Relationship Management system, National Customer Services Week, procurement, property and assets, Aylesbury Town Centre, High Wycombe - White Hart Street public realm improvement scheme, Chesham Broadway SuDS based public realm project, the Denmark Street Project, Hampden Fields Primary School and the Kingsbrook Secondary School Expansion.
• Councillor Carl Jackson, Cabinet Member for Education and Children's Services, who was expected to provide an update on the SEND inspection, Care Leavers' Month, SEND places across the county, the new Ofsted Education Inspection Framework, early help support for families, the HAF Christmas Activity Programme, the Bucks Home Education Team, recruitment and retention in the Early Years and Childcare Workforce, Kinship Care, Fostering Awards and the Virtual School Conference.
• Councillor Thomas Broom, Cabinet Member for Transport, who was expected to provide an update on the delivery of the capital programme, the Wendover Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Trial, the Misbourne Greenway, Local Transport Plan 5, school transport referrals for the 2025/26 academic year, the School Transport Policy consultation and bus service improvements to Aylesbury bus routes.
• Councillor Ade Osibogun, Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change & Waste, who was expected to provide an update on waste management and enforcement, the simpler recycling scheme, food waste rollout for flats, enforcement against littering, the garden waste service, leaf clearance, the flood management capital programme, the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, the Council Land Tree Planting Programme, the River Great Ouse In-Channel Clearance in Buckingham, Project Groundwater's Success at the Flood & Coast 2025 Awards, grant updates, energy doctor visits and the Home Upgrade Grant 2 scheme.
• Councillor Peter Brazier, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, who was expected to provide an update on libraries, Black History Month, Wildwood Wonders Sensory Workshops, Library Flex, Health on the High Street, the We Make Wycombe Creative Hub, Spotlight Weeks, Buckinghamshire Archives, the Buckinghamshire Film Office, WhizzFizz: Weekends of Wonder, Country Parks, Parks and Green Spaces, Leisure Centres and the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy.
• Councillor Steve Bowles, Cabinet Member for Communities, who was expected to provide an update on the Armed Forces, Remembrance Sunday, community safety, Public Spaces Protection Orders, CCTV, the Helping Hand team, the Making Every Adult Matter team, the Resilience Service, Opportunity Bucks and Community Boards.
• Councillor Mark Winn, Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory Services, who was expected to provide an update on the Registration Service, the Coroner's Service, Strategic Waste Management and Enforcement, unauthorised encampments, the Crematoria and Cemetery Service, Housing Development, Homelessness Prevention & Advice, Temporary Accommodation, Disabled Facilities Grants, Bucks Home Choice, Environmental Health and Trading Standards.
• Councillor Peter Strachan, Cabinet Member for Planning, who was expected to provide an update on the Kingsbrook Meadows Strategic Alternative Natural Greenspace, the Draft Local Plan for Buckinghamshire consultation, Local Plan Reviews, Community Infrastructure Levy, Planning Compliance & Enforcement and the Gypsy and Travellers Call for Sites.
• Councillor Isobel Darby, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, who was expected to provide an update on the Integrated Community Equipment Service, Healthwatch, the Carers Programme, Safeguarding week, the Fair Pay Agreement, the Principal Social Worker Annual Report, the Buckinghamshire All Age Autism Strategy, Tomorrow's World - Health and Wellbeing in Buckinghamshire in 2045, the Healthy School Neighbourhood in Action, the International Day of Older People Event and the Children and Young People's Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Support Service.

Notices of Motion

The council was scheduled to consider four notices of motion:

• A motion from Councillor Steven Broadbent, seconded by Councillor Phil Gomm, regarding supporting local farmers through council activities and procurement. Councillor Chris Chilton proposed an amendment, seconded by Councillor Hazel Arthur Hewitt.
• A motion from Councillor Khalil Ahmed, seconded by Councillor Trevor Snaith, regarding addressing emergency healthcare access inequality in Wycombe through council health responsibilities. Councillor Isobel Darby proposed an amendment, seconded by Councillor Lesley Clarke OBE.
• A motion from Councillor Jackson Ng, seconded by Councillor Simon Rouse, regarding the Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority Consultation Objection.
• A motion from Councillor Ade Osibogun, seconded by Councillor David Moore, regarding protecting Buckinghamshire's chalk streams.

Councillor Steven Broadbent's motion regarding supporting local farmers through council activities and procurement, resolved to:

• Affirm its support for local farmers by recognising their role in food security, rural employment, environmental stewardship, and community wellbeing.
• Ensure that, where feasible and lawful under the Procurement Act 2023¹, council procurement processes provide appropriate access for local suppliers particularly for food, catering, and other related services—whilst maintaining value for money and transparency.
• Require that catering at council-organised events includes food & drink options sourced from local producers, including meat, dairy, fruit, and vegetables, unless specific dietary or cultural needs dictate otherwise and that an annual report reflecting the achievement of this requirement is compiled and submitted to the Cabinet Member for Resources and presented to Cabinet.
• Promote, within existing budgets and public awareness campaigns encouragement to Buckinghamshire residents to shop locally and support the County's farming community, thereby reducing food miles and strengthening the local economy.
• Engage with local farming representatives and stakeholders, including via the Rural Forum, to ensure their voices are heard in council considerations and activities.

Councillor Khalil Ahmed's motion regarding addressing emergency healthcare access inequality in Wycombe through council health responsibilities, resolved to:

• Ask the Health & Adult Social Care Select Committee to consider a focused scrutiny inquiry into emergency care provision, including travel times and system pressures, health needs identified through the JSNA, and to invite representatives from Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and NHS England to provide evidence.
• The Council will formally report on the outcomes to NHS leadership and Buckinghamshire MPs.
• Encourage all councillors to support this work in the interest of ensuring equitable access to emergency healthcare for all Buckinghamshire residents.

Councillor Jackson Ng's motion regarding the Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority Consultation Objection, resolved to:

• Submit a formal objection to the consultation, setting out the council's concerns regarding the impact of the proposed reductions on community safety and emergency resilience in Buckinghamshire.
• Make clear that the council does not support widened operational independence for the Chief Fire Officer and the weakened democratic scrutiny it would lead to.
• Set out a separate objection to the Chief Fire Officer about the failure to provide sufficient time for consultation over a truncated 10 week period over Christmas and New Year and formally request a further 3 week extension
• Write to the Chair of the Fire Authority, expressing the council's objections, calling for the proposals to be withdrawn, and seeking urgent reassurances regarding the maintenance of safe and adequate fire and rescue provision for Buckinghamshire's communities

Councillor Ade Osibogun's motion regarding protecting Buckinghamshire's chalk streams, resolved:

1. That as Local Planning Authority it has due regard when preparing the emerging Local Plan for Buckinghamshire to:

*   the Chilterns Chalk Streams Planning Guidance, in relation to:

    *   Key planning principles to ensure avoidance of harm and support positive outcomes for chalk streams health and biodiversity.
    *   Specific policy recommendations covering water use, biodiversity, sustainable drainage, and development buffers.
*   The Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes and specifically: PRIORITY 10: Conserve, enhance and restore Chalk Streams and associated measures.

1. To work with key partners including the Chilterns Chalk Stream Project, the various Catchment Partnerships, BBOWT, River Thame Conservation Trust and other partners to publicly promote the importance, status and protection of chalk streams across Buckinghamshire.
2. To request that Cabinet write to DEFRA and local water companies urging action to further regulate abstraction and invest in water infrastructure that protects chalk streams and seeks to minimise any flood risk.
3. Ensure that the actions from this motion and any subsequent policy implementation remain consistent with future legislative developments, including amendments to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, the Environment Act 2021, and any successor biodiversity or water management legislation.

Questions on Notice

Councillors were scheduled to answer questions on notice from members.

Councillor Trevor Snaith asked Councillor Robert Carington about High Street Rental Auction powers.

Councillor Robin Stuchbury asked Councillor Mark Winn about a revised public notice at Nook Park, Great Horwood.

Councillor Hazel Arthur-Hewitt asked Councillor Mark Winn about sharing a commissioned report on the council becoming a social housing provider.

Councillor Robin Stuchbury asked Councillor Steve Bowles about parking in council car parks in Buckingham.

Councillor Robin Stuchbury asked Councillor Ade Osibogun about engagement with the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.

Councillor Chris Chilton asked Councillor Steven Broadbent about Buckinghamshire's performance against comparators.

Councillor Robin Stuchbury asked Councillor Carl Jackson about a funding transfer from Schools Block to the High Needs Block.

Councillor Larisa Townsend asked Councillor Carl Jackson about measures to ease pressures on schools with disproportionately high SEND needs.

Councillor Chris Chilton asked Councillor Robert Carington about procurement arrangements.

Other Matters

The agenda included the presentation of Honorary Aldermen, and a report for information on key decisions taken by the leader.