The Growth, Infrastructure & Housing Select Committee of Buckinghamshire Council was scheduled to meet on Tuesday 17 March 2026 to discuss the progress of the Buckinghamshire Local Plan, evaluate the Library Flex project, and review Q3 performance indicators for various portfolios. The meeting agenda also included a discussion on the work programme for the upcoming council year.

Library Flex Update

The committee was scheduled to evaluate the Library Flex project six months after its implementation. This initiative was introduced to increase library opening hours and achieve a required £555,000 Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) saving. The project was reported to have been delivered within budget and timeframe, exceeding targets for increased opening hours. Over 5,270 customers had registered for Library Flex, with positive engagement across age groups and genders, and high customer satisfaction reported. Future plans included targeted engagement with underrepresented groups and a seasonal pilot for longer opening times, aiming for 10,000 registrations by April 2027.

The Buckinghamshire Local Plan

Progress on the Buckinghamshire Local Plan was to be monitored and captured following the publication of information on potential sites. The council was at the Regulation 18 stage of the plan, having received 1,300 responses during public consultation. The aim was to reach Regulation 19 stage in July for further public consultation, with a submission to the Planning Inspector by 31 December 2026. Discussions were expected to cover concerns about communication regarding the plan, the delivery of infrastructure, and the potential need for a new town. The definition of grey belt land and the impact of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) were also anticipated topics. The report pack indicated that the Employment Land Review would categorise different types of developments, and there was a concern raised about the limited number of brownfield sites proposed for development.

Q3 Performance Indicators for 2025 to 2026

The committee was scheduled to evaluate the progress made on key performance indicators for several portfolios:

• Planning: This section of the report was expected to detail the percentage of major and non-major planning applications decided on time, as well as the percentage of such applications overturned on appeal. It would also cover the percentage of planning enforcement notice appeals successfully defended and the number of uncommitted Section 106 contributions that require use within two years. The percentage of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) liability notices issued within 12 weeks of planning permission being granted was also to be reviewed.

• Housing & Regulatory Services: Performance indicators for this portfolio were to include the percentage of households in substantive temporary accommodation, the financial impact on residents from scams intervention, the number of rough sleepers, the number of applicants with or expecting children in non-self-contained Bed & Breakfast accommodation for longer than six weeks, and the number of households on the Council's Housing Register (Bucks Home Choice).

• Culture & Leisure: This section was to cover engagement with Buckinghamshire Archives through social media and in-person visits, the number of visitors to Country Parks, visits to main cultural venues, and visits to leisure centres and pools. It would also include the percentage of library enquiries resolved at the first point of contact.

• Leader: The performance indicators for the Leader's portfolio were to include the amount of commercial floorspace generated on Enterprise Zones and the number of leading Buckinghamshire firms engaged with by the council.

Work Programme

The committee was scheduled to reflect on its work during the 2025 to 2026 council year and suggest potential items for the next council year. The Buckinghamshire Local Plan was noted as a significant item for the next meeting.