Buckinghamshire Council selects new Leader and Cabinet

Councillor Broadbent has served as a Buckinghamshire Council councillor since its formation in 2020 and was re-elected as ward councillor for Ridgeway East at the recent local elections at the start of this month. He also served as Deputy Leader of the council under the previous administration and Cabinet Member for Transport.

97 new councillors were elected to Buckinghamshire Council in this month’s elections, representing 49 wards across the county. Following his election as Leader, Councillor Broadbent then went on to appoint the council’s Cabinet, the body of councillors responsible for key decisions and with responsibility for designated portfolio areas that represent services the council provides to its residents.

The Buckinghamshire Council Cabinet is confirmed as:

• Cllr Peter Strachan - Planning and Regeneration (Deputy Leader)
• Cllr Thomas Broom - Transport (Deputy Leader)
• Cllr Adekunle Osibogun - Education and Children’s Services
• Cllr Steve Bowles - Communities
• Cllr Isobel Darby - Health and Wellbeing
• Cllr Peter Brazier - Culture and Leisure
• Cllr Carl Jackson - Environment, Climate Change and Waste
• Cllr Mark Winn - Accessible Housing and Regulatory Services
• Cllr Robert Carington - Resources

Deputy Cabinet Members were also appointed during the meeting and these positions will be detailed on the council’s website.

Commenting after the AGM, Councillor Broadbent said:

“I am deeply honoured to have been elected as Leader of Buckinghamshire Council and offer my thanks to colleagues for placing their faith in me to deliver for the people of this great county. During the recent elections, I spent a great deal of time speaking to residents about what matters most to them, and these conversations are helping to inform my immediate, medium and long-term priorities as Leader.

Votes were cast for a range of candidates in the recent elections, and I want to assure the people of Buckinghamshire that I am here to represent every single one of you, standing ready to deliver progress in your experiences of life in Buckinghamshire and your local services. I look forward to working with all Members with the shared priority of acting in the best interests of our residents every step of the way.

I must pay tribute to my predecessor Martin Tett for his tireless service and all he has achieved as Leader over the last 14 years; I take on this mantle with an excellent foundation on which to build and - in these challenging times – a financially stable council with an ambitious agenda of progress to deliver for our residents.

“While we are operating in complex landscape within local government, my priority is to progress policies and make decisions that secure a continuing bright future for our county in every way. This means maximising opportunities to deliver economic growth, recognising the special nature of Buckinghamshire’s towns, villages, rural communities and landscapes, helping those who need us most and providing high quality, value for money day to day services that our residents rightly need and expect.”

Also at the AGM, Councillor Sarfaraz Khan Raja was appointed at the council’s new Chairman, with Councillor John Chilver elected to serve as Vice Chairman for the coming twelve months. The Chairman has several duties, including leading Full Council meetings and representing Buckinghamshire Council on civic and ceremonial occasions.