Buckinghamshire Council Leader announces changes to Cabinet

Buckinghamshire Council Leader Martin Tett has appointed Councillor Steven Broadbent as Deputy Leader, following a decision by current deputy Gareth Williams to stand down from the council’s Cabinet.

Councillor Williams has served as Deputy Leader since Buckinghamshire Council was formed in April 2020 and more recently as Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment but has stepped aside from the role to focus on other priorities for Buckinghamshire. He remains ward councillor for Chess Valley.

Councillor Broadbent is currently serving as Cabinet Member for Transport and will keep this portfolio alongside, from Monday 22 January, the additional duties of becoming Deputy Leader. Martin Tett has also appointed Councillor Thomas Broom to the Cabinet, to lead the Climate Change and Environment portfolio from Monday. Councillor Broom vacates the position of Deputy Cabinet Member for Communities; this post will be filled in due course.

Speaking about the changes to his Cabinet, Martin Tett said:

“I wholeheartedly thank Gareth for his service as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment. The council has made huge strides in our commitment to delivering on our ambitious Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy under Gareth’s stewardship. I know he has taken this decision to continue an unwavering focus on the needs and priorities of Buckinghamshire and our residents and I know he’ll continue to serve them well as local Member for Chess Valley.”

Gareth Williams said:

“It’s been an honour to serve on the Cabinet and I’m really proud of the mammoth strides we’ve made since becoming a unitary council in April 2020. Whether it was coordinating the response to Covid as Cabinet Member for Communities and more recently in leading the council's efforts on the Environment and Climate Change, I have always sought to work across our community to deliver for residents. I remain dedicated to public service here in Buckinghamshire and to serving our residents in the best way that I can.”

Councillor Steven Broadbent said:

“I’m honoured to be appointed as Deputy Leader for Buckinghamshire Council, working closely with Martin and his other Deputy Angela Macpherson. I’m passionate about continuing to deliver on our commitments to our residents and moving our key priorities forward in the coming year. This isn’t without its challenges but we are absolutely focussed on fixing our roads, supporting our most vulnerable residents, providing more affordable homes and planning for a bright future for the county.”

The council’s website will be updated shortly to reflect these changes, full details of Cabinet Member roles and responsibilities can be found on the Moderngov website.