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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
19-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Council wants powers to encourage faster roadworks
A council is applying to the government for powers to charge companies up to £2,500 a day for works on key roads, so they get fixed more quickly. This would make Buckinghamshire Council one of the first authorities in the country to introduce a Lane Rental Scheme, which would apply to about 8% of roads in the county. Steven Broadbent, the council's member for transport, said it would lead to "more meaningful options in levying fines to encourage better behaviour from those working on our roads". Stuart Wilson, leader of the Independent opposition group, said "we welcome the scheme as residents are fed up with endless roadworks and unmanned traffic lights". If approved by the Transport Secretary, the scheme would complement an existing permit system operated by Buckinghamshire Highways, with charges applying to works promoted by utility companies and highway authorities. The council hopes this will encourage companies to move their works to less busy times, or complete them in a quicker timescale, to avoid accumulating charges and lengthy disruption to motorists. Similar schemes already exist in Kent, London, Surrey and West Sussex, and the Buckinghamshire model would apply to more 500 streets, with locations to be reviewed on a yearly basis. Broadbent, Conservative, said: "While we try to coordinate works to minimise pressures, over recent years we have seen a huge increase in permits for works - and despite the planning, the cumulative effects on road users is a source of frustration." He added: "Clearly, we cannot eradicate all delays and congestion, especially when it comes to emergency works, but this encourages those working on the roads to better plan their works to take place during less busy times." Wilson added that "utility companies need to pay the societal cost and do the work quickly and right, first time". Reform UK councillor, Paul Irwin, said: "For too long our residents have suffered at the hands of utility companies over-running and taking advantage of the rules. The new system will charge per day and make them work more efficiently, so I will be supporting this wholeheartedly." Susan Morgan, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: "The lane rental scheme is a fantastic idea that emerged from the cross party income maximisation workshop, of which both myself and councillor Jonathan Waters were integral members." The authority hopes to submit its application to the Department for Transport by the end of the month. If successful, it could be implemented by the end of the year. Labour and the Green Party have also been approached for comment. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. £13.4m funding approved for link road 'Crater' pothole could be fixed with extra £5m Lane Rental Schemes Buckinghamshire Council cabinet meeting
