The Cabinet of Buckinghamshire Council met on 8 January 2026 to discuss the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, Skills Bootcamps, grounds maintenance, conservation covenants, and the draft revenue budget and capital programme. Key decisions included approving a six-week public consultation on proposals to amend the Council Tax Reduction Scheme from April 2026, noting the progress of Buckinghamshire Skills Bootcamps, and consolidating all grounds maintenance activities into a single outsourced contract. The Cabinet also approved the use of Conservation Covenants for securing offsite Biodiversity Net Gain habitat banks.

Council Tax Reduction Scheme Consultation Approved

The Cabinet approved a six-week public consultation, commencing on 17 December 2025, on proposals to amend the Council Tax Reduction (CTR) Scheme from 1 April 2026. The proposed changes aim to reduce volatility in CTR awards, simplify calculations, and support more efficient processing of claims, which is expected to reduce processing times from 29 days to 10 days. While 75% of current households will see their award maintained or increased, 25% will see reduced awards, with 5.5% no longer meeting the criteria. Transitional protection will be provided for households experiencing larger reductions, costing an estimated £0.8 million in 2026/27. The proposed scheme is projected to increase Council Tax income by £1.5 million by 2028/29, contributing to the costs of Critical Five services such as Children's and Adults' Social Care.

Buckinghamshire Skills Bootcamps Progress Noted

The Cabinet noted the progress of the Buckinghamshire Skills Bootcamps, which offer up to 16 weeks of free, flexible training in high-demand sectors. The programme has demonstrated high performance, exceeding the Department for Work and Pensions' key performance indicator target of 70% for job outcomes, with 72% of participants achieving this. The council has been allocated £7.5 million in grant funding since July 2023, supporting 405 participants in the last funded year. The bootcamps are developed with employers and include a guaranteed interview upon completion.

Grounds Maintenance to be Consolidated into a Single Contract

All grounds maintenance activities, currently managed by idverde, John O'Connor, and the in-house North Waste & Street Scene Team, will be consolidated into a single, countywide outsourced contract. This decision aims to deliver greater consistency, efficiency, and value for money across council-operated sites. The procurement process, expected to commence by the end of December 2026, will be output-based to allow for flexibility and potential cost savings. Affected staff will be TUPE transferred, with their terms and conditions protected. Cabinet Members welcomed the proposal, noting current overlaps in contracts and the potential for improved coordination. Concerns were raised about ensuring local firms had a chance to participate in the procurement exercise, with assurances given that the Competitive Flexible Procedure would allow for dialogue with bidders regarding the inclusion of local SMEs for social value.

Conservation Covenants Approved for Biodiversity Net Gain

The Cabinet approved the use of Conservation Covenants in relation to Option 3, which involves securing offsite Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) habitat banks on sites that geographically cross the council's boundary with a neighbouring authority. Conservation Covenants, introduced by the Environment Act 2021, are voluntary agreements between a Responsible Body and a landowner to deliver lasting conservation benefits. This approach is seen as a simpler and more streamlined way to secure nature-related outcomes, reducing costs and facilitating large landscape-scale nature recovery sites. The council became a Responsible Body in May 2024. The use of Option 2, already authorised under delegated powers, was also noted.

Draft Revenue Budget and Capital Programme Approved

The Cabinet approved the draft Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2026/27 to 2028/29 and 2026/27 to 2029/30 respectively. The draft budget aims to balance statutory duties and funding reductions with resident priorities, including increased investment in Adult Social Care, addressing SEND backlogs, maintaining weekly bin collections, prioritising planning enforcement, and investing nearly £220 million in transport and highways. The budget anticipates a £44.4 million loss in funding by 2028/29 due to the Fair Funding Review, necessitating further savings. The draft budget assumes a 4.99% increase in Council Tax, comprising a 2.99% increase in the basic element and a 2% increase for the Adult Social Care Precept. The Capital Programme totals £629 million over four years, with £218 million allocated to transport. Cabinet also agreed to seek delegation from Council to add up to £100 million of new capital schemes, funded through prudential borrowing, subject to robust business cases.

Council Tax Base and Estimated Surplus Approved

The Cabinet approved the Buckinghamshire Council Tax Base for 2026/27 as 235,361.84, with a collection rate of 98.5%. An estimated surplus of £6,518,663 as at 31 March 2026 was also approved, to be shared between the Council, Thames Valley Police, and Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service. The increase in the collection rate is partly attributed to proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction scheme, which are subject to consultation and approval by Full Council in February 2026. The estimated surplus is primarily due to an improved collection rate compared to previous estimates.

Forward Plan and Select Committee Work Programme Noted

The Cabinet noted the Cabinet Forward Plan, which provides advance notice of reports to be discussed at forthcoming meetings, and the Select Committee Work Programme, outlining discussions for upcoming Select Committee meetings.

Question Time Addressed

During Question Time, Councillor Stuart Wilson questioned Councillor Robert Carington, Cabinet Member for Resources, regarding the Council Tax Reduction scheme consultation, particularly its timing over the Christmas and New Year period and its conformity with the Gunning Principles. Councillor Carington responded by outlining the reasons for the proposed changes, the approach to consultation, and citing examples of neighbouring authorities undertaking similar consultations over the festive period. Councillor Robin Stuchbury, addressing Councillor Peter Strachan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning, inquired about the plan for introducing the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) in North Buckinghamshire, including the proposed timeline and engagement with parish and town councils. Councillor Strachan detailed the ongoing viability work, the expected timeline for public consultation on a draft charging schedule by summer 2026, and the subsequent independent examination and adoption, likely in early 2027.

Confidential Minutes Approved

The confidential minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2025 were approved.

Q2 Strategic Risk Register Noted

The Cabinet noted the Council's Risk Management Framework, providing oversight on strategic risks.

Next Meeting Date Confirmed

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 10 February 2026 at 10 am.

Additional Information

Council Tax Reduction Scheme Consultation

The proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme aim to simplify calculations and target support more effectively to the lowest income households. The scheme is expected to reduce non-payment by £0.4 million per annum and increase Council Tax receipts by approximately £1.5 million by 2028/29. Transitional protection will be provided for households experiencing significant reductions in their CTR awards. The consultation is crucial to ensure that the amended scheme is adopted from 1 April 2026, subject to approval by Cabinet and Council.

Buckinghamshire Skills Bootcamps

The Skills Bootcamps have shown a high level of performance, with enrolment at 98%, completion at 86%, and job outcomes at 72%, all exceeding the Department for Work and Pensions' targets. The programme focuses on vocational skills at levels 2-5 and guarantees an interview upon completion.

Consolidation of Grounds Maintenance Provision

The consolidation of grounds maintenance activities into a single countywide outsourced contract is intended to deliver greater consistency, efficiency, and value for money. The procurement process will comply with the Procurement Act 2023, and TUPE transfer of affected staff will be managed to protect their terms and conditions.

Conservation Covenants for Biodiversity Net Gain

The use of Conservation Covenants is approved as a tool to secure offsite Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) sites, particularly those that geographically cross authority boundaries. This approach is expected to simplify delivery, reduce costs, and facilitate large landscape-scale nature recovery sites.

Q2 Strategic Risk Register

The Cabinet noted the Council's Risk Management Framework, which provides oversight on strategic risks.

Forward Plan and Select Committee Work Programme

The Cabinet noted the Forward Plan, which provides advance notice of reports for forthcoming meetings, and the Select Committee Work Programme, outlining discussions for upcoming Select Committee meetings.

Council Tax Base Setting and Estimated Surplus

The Council Tax Base for 2026/27 has been set at 235,361.84, with an estimated collection rate of 98.5%. An estimated surplus of £6,518,663 on the Collection Fund as at 31 March 2026 has been approved for distribution to precepting authorities.

Draft Revenue Budget and Capital Programme

The draft Revenue Budget and Capital Programme have been approved, balancing statutory duties and funding reductions with resident priorities. Key investments include Adult Social Care, SEND places, transport, and highways. The budget anticipates a £44.4 million reduction in funding by 2028/29 due to the Fair Funding Review, necessitating further savings. The Capital Programme totals £629 million over four years, with significant investment in transport, schools, and waste facilities.

Question Time

Councillor Stuart Wilson raised concerns about the Council Tax Reduction scheme consultation, particularly its timing over the Christmas and New Year period and its conformity with the Gunning Principles. Councillor Robert Carington, Cabinet Member for Resources, responded by outlining the reasons for the proposed changes, the approach to consultation, and citing examples of neighbouring authorities undertaking similar consultations over the festive period. Councillor Robin Stuchbury inquired about the plan for introducing the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) in North Buckinghamshire. Councillor Peter Strachan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Planning, detailed the ongoing viability work, the expected timeline for public consultation on a draft charging schedule by summer 2026, and the subsequent independent examination and adoption, likely in early 2027.

Confidential Minutes Approved

The confidential minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2025 were approved.

Next Meeting Date

The next meeting is scheduled for 10 February 2026 at 10 am.