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24 Phonebox Magazine | January 2025Happy New Year!Milton Keynes City Council %u2013 Budget 2025-26As we move into a new calendar year, in council terms this means looking towards a new council budget which must legally be agreed by the end of February for the fi nancial year starting in April. This is probably the most signifi cant piece of work the council does every year. Its sets the Council Tax we all get charged, the fees and charges we have to pay for certain services and the places the Council will spend its money, or in some cases especially this year where it will no longer spend money.The budget is an enormous document and this year it is very challenging. Milton Keynes City Council had a major overspend in the current fi nancial year of nearly %u00a310m that should have been, but was not, foreseen. This was focussed mostly on Children%u2019s Services. While this has been absorbed in the current year with numerous in year savings across the Council, including stopping providing tea and coff ee to staff , that continuing reduced spending has to be structured into next year%u2019s budget. Other pressures are signifi cant including the National Insurance rise that government put in place at the recent budget.The headline features are:%u2022 Council Tax is proposed to rise by 4.99%%u2022 The Newport Pagnell Tip is proposed to close by April 2026 with residents now having to go to a new site to be built in Old Wolverton.%u2022 If you have more than one green bin then you will have to pay %u00a355 per annum for each additional green bin. The second and third points will have more of an impact on the residents of Olney ward given its location and the number of homes that have more than one green bin. As we question the budget further there will be many more focussed cuts that will aff ect individuals and organisations much more which we will update on here next month and in other communication channelsParking Charges in CMK to increaseWhile not included in the Council%u2019s budget consultation the Council has also taken the decision to increase parking charges at the Council owned city centre on street parking and carparks. Last year the minimum time you could park for in CMK was increased from 15 minutes in the premium rate bays to one hour and in standard rate bays to 2 hours. The proposal this year is to double the cost of the fi rst 2 hours in the standard rate bays from %u00a31 to %u00a32 and to increase the charge for premium rate bays from %u00a32 to %u00a32.50 for the fi rst hour. In addition, the cost of employees permits will be increasing.Interestingly the Council is not doing this to raise funds despite the forecast is to bring in over %u00a33m annually. The reason is to try to persuade people not to use their cars and to use buses and this was to realign charges with bus fares (which have also recently risen).We feel that these increases, while a charge on people who are already struggling will only further increase the fl ow of people using other shopping areas such as out of town stores where parking is free. It could also have unintended consequences on newer services such as click and collect. In theory, the cheapest you will now be able to park to run into collect an item you have ordered online will be %u00a32 or possibly %u00a32.50.Peter and a colleague have %u2018Called this item in%u2019 asking the Cabinet member to reconsider the decision. That meeting happened on the 17th of December. We will report the outcome next month.Olney Ward Councillor Corner CONTACT DEBBIE:Tel: 07494 681907 / debbie.whitworth@miltonkeynes.gov.ukMy ward surgeries are every Tuesday, 10am-12pm at the Olney Centre. No need to book, just pop along.Cllr Debbie WhitworthSafeguarding protocolImportant information regarding vulnerable persons: our Thames Valley Police Neighbourhood teams have recently had some training on The Herbert Protocol, which I wanted to bring to everyone%u2019s attention. The National Safeguarding Scheme is used by police forces and emergency services across the UK to support people living with dementia or other cognitive challenges who might be at risk of becoming lost or reported as missing. It%u2019s worrying at any time but more so now with winter upon us. As we all know people with dementia can sometimes start to wander, it may into the garden or street for a short time, but sometimes people get lost and go further afi eld. Carers, family or friends of a vulnerable person, or the person themselves, can fi ll in a Herbert Protocol form in advance, containing information to help the police if the person goes missing.Keeping a completed form means you don%u2019t have to try to remember the information when you are under stress if someone goes missing. And it saves time, enabling the police to start the search sooner.People with dementia at risk of going missing (Herbert Protocol), form from Thames Valley Police is here: www.thamesvalley.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/central/advice/herbert-protocol/herbert-protocolform.pdfFlooding and resilienceI attended a meeting in December on fl ooding and resilience, where the Flood and Water Manager %u2013 Environment and Waste from MK City Council gave a presentation.It was to help communities in terms of their resilience and preparation of fl ood plans. The key focus is issues with surface water fl ooding, ordinary watercourses, and groundwater fl ooding. The Council can help put Parishes in touch with other risk management authorities, who all collectively work together to help and support communities. Council Teams work together to exchange ideas and share information. The team work closely with the Waste Team, for example having systems in place for leaf fall to keep drainage routes clear.If gulleys are blocked, please report the issue on the Council%u2019s website, attaching relevant information, photos, and the detailed location. Regarding Community Flood Resilience, there are diff erent options for residents and businesses to protect and improve their premises, and community fl ood plans can be developed. If the source of concern is a main river, the Environment Agency will help shape future plans. The approach is both resistance and resilience, for prevention and reduction. The resistance approach is to stop water from entering properties or premises, which property owners can implement, and costing guidance is available on the Gov.UK website. Individuals can create their own household emergency plan which could include simple changes within the ground fl oor of the property to prepare the property for the possibility of fl ooding. Flood action groups are voluntary groups who meet on a regular basis on behalf of the whole community and parishes are advised to reach out to MKCC who off er assistance in how to go about setting such a community fl ood group up %u2013 the team will attend to help prepare local communities for eventualities.After reaching out to the fl ood team Olney received an excellent presentation from Owen Grove at MKCC and are now in the throes of a community led group being established %u2013 I recommend the neighbouring parishes in the ward to take this up.Any parishes wanting advice on the setting up of such a group please email MKCC FAO fl ood and water management team. Details here: www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/highways/road-gullies-and-fl ooding/fl oodingAs we embark on a new year I%u2019d like to wish you all a happy, peaceful and healthy 2025.Olney Ward Councillor CornerCllr Keith McLean Cllr Peter GearyCONTACT US: Keith: 07983 456081 keith.mclean@milton-keynes.gov.uk :: Peter: 07774 939404 peter.geary@milton-keynes.gov.uk