The Bucks Free Press can reveal Martin Tett is set to be re-elected the leader of Buckinghamshire Council. The BFP’s sources confirmed Mr Tett will lead the council after its first election as a unitary authority saw the Conservatives sweep the board across the county, taking 113 seats and the overall majority. It comes as Buckinghamshire Council’s latest newsletter on May 13 was signed off by Mr Tett as leader - despite it not being made official yet. Just days before the behind-closed-doors meeting of the local Conservatives, we revealed the ones to watch for the top position, with Mr Tett coming out as the early frontrunner.
The 10 to watch - who will lead Buckinghamshire Council? The first Bucks unitary elections are over and the results are in – the Conservatives have come out on top, taking 113 seats and the overall majority at Buckinghamshire Council. The next step is for the controlling party to name a man or woman to lead the council for the next four years. Former leader Martin Tett, who was elected in the Little Chalfont and Amersham Common ward, confirmed at the Chiltern count on Saturday he would be putting himself forward for the position again. Our sources also told us challengers are expected to vie for his position as the group will decide who it could be – but there has been confirmation on rumoured names.
It was a blue wave in the first-ever Bucks Council unitary elections, as the Conservatives swept numerous wards in the central and northern areas of Buckinghamshire. The Tories dominated a large majority of the county, despite several Liberal Democrat candidates winning seats in their respected areas. During a long and drawn out day at the Gateway Office in Aylesbury on Saturday, May 8, numerous candidates were ‘too tense to talk’ as the votes were being counted.
The calm before the storm Not long arrived at Aylesbury’s Buckinghamshire Council offices for the #ElectionResults2021. Several people are already here and the first results should be revealed at around 11ish #LE2021pic.twitter.com/iBA24t93oX James Richings | Bucks Free Press (@James BFP) May 8, 2021
The budget was carried during a full council meeting, on Wednesday, February 24. Among its recommendations, which have now been approved, is a 1.99 per cent hike in basic council tax from April, together with a two per cent increase in the Adult Social Care Precept to support elderly and vulnerable people. Council leader Cllr Martin Tett previously said this budget is “focussed almost entirely on getting us through the next year and hopefully then to more predictable times”.
As part of the budget, more than £2 million will be used to cover “significant” income loss across services and pressures in children’s services.