Latest news with #MartinTett
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Buckinghamshire council leader Martin Tett steps down
A council leader who is standing down to take a backbench role after fourteen years called it an "absolute pleasure and an honour" to serve residents. Conservative Martin Tett took charge of the old Buckinghamshire county council in 2011, before becoming leader of the unitary authority that replaced it in Tett told the BBC he now had a "new partner and grandson, plus an enormous pile of books by the bed" so it "seemed like a good time to step down".He told the BBC he planned to remain in a backbench role until at least the next local elections in 2029. The Conservatives are still the largest party in the authority, but fell just one vote short of the 49 councillors needed for a majority at the local said: "I am sure there will be people saying I am only doing this because we have lost our majority, but that is absolutely untrue."He added: "It is one of those things I have talked about a lot with my partner, and we always had this particular date in mind." 'No regrets' Tett said that among the highlights of his tenure was when he led A campaign against the HS2 rail scheme through admitted opposing it did him "no favours with the then Conservative government" but he was "very proud to be part of that and had no regrets"."A lot of the changes made to the way HS2 was planned have come about because of that campaign," he said he was also "immensely proud" of helping create the Buckinghamshire unitary authority that replaced the old county and four district councils in claimed it was "absolutely the right thing to do", adding that "it pre-empted what the government is doing now, which is introducing unitaries across the rest of the country". 'Potholes are always fun' However, he acknowledged that "probably the most difficult times" were the financial challenges the council faced "each and every year" when it set its annual also admitted he would not miss hearing the word 'potholes', but said that they were "always fun because every resident raises it", although the "majority of residents" realise fixing them is a "national problem" rather than being specific to Buckinghamshire. 'Classic local councillor stuff' Tett said local government had changed since 2011, with authorities now having "less money than they had" to "deliver what they are charged to do".He said he intended to continue representing his Chalfont St Giles & Little Chalfont ward and already had lots of "letters about just about everything from trees to fences - all the classic local councillor stuff."He is expected to formally step down on 21 May. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Buckinghamshire council leader to stand down after 14 years
Conservative leader to stand down after 14 years 7 minutes ago Share Save Amy Holmes Political Reporter Share Save Buckinghamshire Council Conservative Martin Tett has led the council in Buckinghamshire since 2011 A Conservative council leader who held his post for 14 years is to step down after his party lost its majority in last week's local elections. Martin Tett took charge of the old Buckinghamshire county council in 2011 before taking on a similar role on the unitary authority that replaced it in 2020. Buckinghamshire had been a strong Conservative county, but while the party remains the largest on the authority with 48 councillors, it needed to secure one more to keep full control of the 97-seat council. The Tories said Steven Broadbent would replace him, but the BBC understands Mr Tett would officially remain as leader of the council until a formal announcement is made at a meeting on 21 May. After Friday's results, Mr Tett told the BBC the loss of seats was down to the rise of Reform UK who he claimed had "cannibalised our vote seat after seat after seat". He added that "the people of Buckinghamshire deserve a good council, well run with a good majority and we need time to assess what that might look like." Buckinghamshire Council Steven Broadbent has been deputy leader of Buckinghamshire Council since January 2024 According to the Conservatives, Steven Broadbent has now been "unanimously elected" as its new party leader, having been a ward councillor for 10 years and deputy council leader of the authority since January 2024. Mr Broadbent said: "I am honoured and delighted to have won the backing of my colleagues, and I pay tribute to Martin Tett for his sterling service to the people of Buckinghamshire over many years." He added that "since its creation Buckinghamshire Council had been a great example of an efficient, well-run council, delivering for residents. That's why local voters have put their faith in the Conservatives again, delivering us almost double the seats of the next largest party." He said "Last week's result is a highly notable achievement given the picture across the rest of the country. It gives us a strong mandate to take the council forward and we look forward to forming the new administration later this month." The unitary authority is now be made up of 48 Conservatives, 27 Liberal Democrats, 11 Independents, four Labour, three Reform UK, two Wycombe Independents and two councillors from the Green Party. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Conservatives lose control of council by one seat
The Conservatives have lost control of Buckinghamshire Council after Reform UK and the Lib Dems made gains at the local elections. Historically, Buckinghamshire has been a strong Conservative county but while it has a majority on the council of 48 seats it needed to secure one more to keep control. However, Conservative leader at the authority Martin Tett, has put a loss of seats down to the rise of Reform UK. Voting turnout for the county was 37%. The unitary authority will now be made up of 48 Conservative councillors, 27 Liberal Democrats, 11 Independents, four Labour, three Reform UK councillors, two for Wycombe Independents and two councillors from the Green Party. The Conservatives have held control over the county council since 1973 and the new unitary authority since 2020. Martin Tett, leader of the authority's Conservatives says in this election "great" council leaders and councils had been lost. "Here in Buckinghamshire we have bucked the trend a bit. We haven't been wiped out, we are pretty well neck-and-neck between the Conservatives and all of the other parties added together. "I think we really just need to spend a little bit of time over the next two days to decide what to do. "The people of Buckinghamshire deserve a good council - well run with a good majority... we need time to assess what that might look like." He put the loss of seats down to Reform UK who he said had "cannibalised our vote seat after seat after seat". Until the election, Reform UK had just one seat on the authority in councillor Paul Irwin. There are now three Reform UK councillors but before the election Mr Irwin spoke of his hopes for more. He had said: "I'd like to get the minimum of six to 10 councillors - we can make a real difference with that - anything else will be a bonus." Buckinghamshire Council becomes the latest authority where the Conservatives have lost full control, and again Reform UK has played its part. The Tories - who have controlled both the unitary council and the previous county council for many years - ended up one short of the 49 seats required for a majority, after the Liberal Democrats picked up a councillor in the Missenden Ward, which in 2021 had been a safe Tory seat. Martin Tett, the Conservative group leader on the authority, will now have to work with his fellow councillors to find a smaller party to form a coalition with over the next couple of days. Tett attributed Reform UK's vote share in some seats as playing a part with his party's losses, although the party only picked up three seats in the county it perhaps stopped the Tories in several wards around the county. The Liberal Democrats have also increased its number of councillors on the authority and return to being the second largest party. The Green Party has also doubled its number of councillors, but Labour have dropped to four, with 11 Independents and two Wycombe Independents making up the council, which was reduced from 147 councillors to 97 by the Boundary Commission for England. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Could it be a year for change in Buckinghamshire? Buckinghamshire Council
BBC News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Conservatives lose control of Buckinghamshire Council by one seat
The Conservatives have lost control of Buckinghamshire Council after Reform UK and the Lib Dems made gains at the local Buckinghamshire has been a strong Conservative county but while it has a majority on the council of 48 seats it needed to secure one more to keep control. However, Conservative leader at the authority Martin Tett, has put a loss of seats down to the rise of Reform UK. Voting turnout for the county was 37%. The unitary authority will now be made up of 48 Conservative councillors, 27 Liberal Democrats, 11 Independents, four Labour, three Reform UK councillors, two for Wycombe Independents and two councillors from the Green Party. The Conservatives have held control over the county council since 1973 and the new unitary authority since 2020. Martin Tett, leader of the authority's Conservatives says in this election "great" council leaders and councils had been lost. "Here in Buckinghamshire we have bucked the trend a bit. We haven't been wiped out, we are pretty well neck-and-neck between the Conservatives and all of the other parties added together. "I think we really just need to spend a little bit of time over the next two days to decide what to do."The people of Buckinghamshire deserve a good council - well run with a good majority... we need time to assess what that might look like." He put the loss of seats down to Reform UK who he said had "cannibalised our vote seat after seat after seat". Until the election, Reform UK had just one seat on the authority in councillor Paul Irwin. There are now three Reform UK councillors but before the election Mr Irwin spoke of his hopes for more. He had said: "I'd like to get the minimum of six to 10 councillors - we can make a real difference with that - anything else will be a bonus." Election analysis: Reform UK has played its part Buckinghamshire Council becomes the latest authority where the Conservatives have lost full control, and again Reform UK has played its Tories - who have controlled both the unitary council and the previous county council for many years - ended up one short of the 49 seats required for a majority, after the Liberal Democrats picked up a councillor in the Missenden Ward, which in 2021 had been a safe Tory Tett, the Conservative group leader on the authority, will now have to work with his fellow councillors to find a smaller party to form a coalition with over the next couple of attributed Reform UK's vote share in some seats as playing a part with his party's losses, although the party only picked up three seats in the county it perhaps stopped the Tories in several wards around the Liberal Democrats have also increased its number of councillors on the authority and return to being the second largest Green Party has also doubled its number of councillors, but Labour have dropped to four, with 11 Independents and two Wycombe Independents making up the council, which was reduced from 147 councillors to 97 by the Boundary Commission for England. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Town gets green light for £13.4m link road
The government has given the go-ahead for a new 1.1km (0.7mile) dual carriageway as part of a major bypass project for a town. Buckinghamshire Council wants to build the the South East Aylesbury Link Road (SEALR), as well as providing walking and cycling routes. The government has approved the scheme and will contribute £13.4m towards the link road, which is part of an ongoing £147m bypass project. Future of Roads minister Lilian Greenwood said the project would "improve local journeys in Buckinghamshire and boost the economy beyond". "Traffic around Aylesbury has been too slow for too long, producing air pollution in the town centre and discouraging people from using local buses," she added. The dual carriageway will connect to the proposed Southern Link Road through the Hampden Fields development. A road bridge will also be built crossing the Aylesbury to London railway line. The link road has been described as essential to enable further housing development, which could see 1,000 new homes added to the area. Martin Tett, Conservative leader of Buckinghamshire Council, welcomed the news and said: "Once complete, the South East Aylesbury Link Road will form a crucial part of a new orbital link road around Aylesbury, providing a new route around the town, significantly easing congestion through the town centre and delivering new cycling and walking routes. "The council has worked extremely hard to secure the necessary finance to deliver this crucial infrastructure for the county, which has also seen us successfully secure contributions from Homes England, HS2 Ltd and nearby developments." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. New mile-long dual carriageway will cost £147m Buckinghamshire Council Department for Transport
