Buckinghamshire County Council leader Martin Tett clings on to power - and wants more control of government cash

The councillor – who has held the leadership on the council since 2011 – was elected to stay in the role at the group’s annual meeting.

There had been rumours of a leadership bid from fellow Tory Peter Hardy after comments made by colleague Janet Blake this week.

But Cllr Tett emerged unscathed, saying he is keen to speak to the new communities minister Greg Clarke about the possibility of further devolution from government to county level.

He told the BFP: “I’m very pleased they have expressed their confidence in my leadership and I look forward to leading the group for the year ahead.

“I’m also very pleased with the results nationally and I look forward to working with the new government and in particular minister Greg Clark who I know is a strong devolutionist so I’m keen to get a meeting with him soon.”

“There’s lots we want to do.”

Cllr Tett - who represents Little Chalfont and Amersham Common - did not comment on speculation about a leadership plot, saying the annual Tory meeting was a closed session and remians confidential.

The final decision on the leadership will be made at Bucks County Council’s full meeting next week.

Cllr Tett – who took over as BCC leader from David Shakespeare – said his ruling Conservative group want to get their hands on cash for better infrastructure planning from the new government.

He said devolution would allow for improvements to public transportation and trains not just in Bucks but across the border into the tri-county area of Bucks, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire.

And with ambitions to take on money from the Department from Work Pensions skills budgets, he is hoping the county can take matters into its own hands to improve education and skills across the board.

Elsewhere, he said he hopes an agreement can be made to gain control of cash from business rates in the county, which currently go straight to central government.