Page 24 - Demo

24 Phonebox Magazine | June 2025Changes of Democratic Processes; not for the Good, we Thinks!Usually at the beginning of May, there are elections in Milton Keynes, which happen every three out of every four years. However, this year was the fallow year, which means we had no elections, unlike many areas of the country such as Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire. Elections will resume in May 2026 in Milton Keynes, where we will have for the fi rst time in 12 years all-out elections where you can vote for up to three councillors in each ward. This is because the boundaries of the wards and, in many cases, the ward names are changing. You will undoubtedly hear much more about this as the year progresses.While we represent you on Milton Keynes Council, parish councils are also a vital part of local government. Parish councils are in some cases quite small, such as numerous rural villages across the country; in some cases, they are also very large with budgets of well over %u00a31m. There is, therefore, guidance on how parish councils%u2019 representation should be undertaken. In medium to larger councils a parish is split into wards where one or more parish councillors are voted for and represent a proportion of the parish, not the whole area. They still have a duty to work on behalf of the whole parish, not just their piece. Advantages to this are that it can stop all the councillors coming from one small area of the parish and encourage broader representation of people. It can also be seen by some as dividing the parish unnecessarily. There are proposals currently in place to ward the parish of Olney. This is not the fi rst time that this has been proposed; it was also tabled around 2010 when, following a public consultation, it was deemed overwhelmingly unpopular. Please make your views known in the upcoming consultation.In previous years, Peter and Keith and David Hosking have, on numerous occasions, taken representations from residents%u2019 groups in Olney Ward to Milton Keynes City Council by way of motions. Most recently these have included two motions on fl ooding in the last six months, but there have been many others over the years. It is a fundamental part of our role in representing the people of Olney Ward. We have also, from time to time, %u201ccalled in%u201d decisions that the Council have made which we do not think are well thought out or that will do harm to our area or the city as a whole.Most recently, Peter did this around the parking charges in Milton Keynes, and Peter and Keith did this with regard to the closure of the waste and recycling tip at Newport Pagnell. It has also been possible for residents and parish councils to call items in, with Olney Town Council doing this several years ago. In what is seen as a power grab by the Labour administration on Milton Keynes City Council, they have stopped residents such as yourselves from being able to challenge decisions that have been made that are poor, and also stopped parish councils from doing the same. This was also done with only one week%u2019s notice and was based on a report from an external organisation that we had seen for less than 12 hours. In our view this is completely undemocratic, which we both said vehemently at the council meeting held in May. We try not to become party political in these articles, but this is one example where it is very diffi cult not to be so. This is one example, of a number, where the local Labour party are scared of us, and you, the electorate, getting in the way of their grand plans for Milton Keynes. It is wrong and it should be reversed, which is what we are pledging to do if the shape of the Council changes at the elections next year. But this is not the end of the restrictions Labour are proposing. They also want to restrict the number of motions that we, as councillors, can bring to the Council to represent our wards. Under this arrangement we will be restricted to one motion at each council meeting for the whole of the Conservative Group, two motions for the Lib Dem Group and three motions for the Labour Group. Despite meetings fi nishing mid evening, not usually running past 22.30, Labour wants to restrict us representing you.Once again, this is wrong, and we will oppose this at the meeting in June, when it will be discussed, and we hope all other councillors will oppose it as well. It is particularly inappropriate for us as we represent 17 diff erent communities in Olney Ward, which covers 40% of the ground area of Milton Keynes. So, if motions need to be raised for say three parishes, we will need to agree priorities, not only amongst our communities but also within our Conservative Group!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 WhitworthOlney 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.ukCobbs Garden GP Surgery updateThe practice has now secured locum cover and started interviewing prospective salaried doctors or partners. They are working closely with NHS England to secure a new surgery, and in the meantime, plans have been submitted to create two clinical rooms in the health education room at the front of the surgery.Changes to the MK City Council ConstitutionThe MKCC proposal is for all non-executive city councillors to have a broader and more in-depth role in scrutiny.I assure you that parishes will still be able to contribute extensively to executive decision making. Scrutiny committees will have the ability to invite parishes to take part in pre-decision making, and parishes and town councils will still be able to ask questions and speak on items at meetings.All parish councils will still be able to participate in any call-in as a witness or submit a representation. The changes proposed are an opportunity for parish councils to take a greater role in contributing to wider scrutiny, which I%u2019m sure you%u2019ll agree can only be welcomed.Although the power to initiate a call-in is changing, key routes for democratic engagement remain fully intact:%u2022 Notifi cation of key executive decisions through the Forward Plan (minimum 28 days%u2019 notice).%u2022 Public rights to speak at executive, scrutiny, and subcommittee meetings (15 minutes%u2019 notice).%u2022 The right to ask questions at Council and Cabinet (48 hours%u2019 notice).%u2022 The ability to suggest items for scrutiny.Just to confi rm %u2013 planning decisions are %u2018not%u2019 aff ected.Across the Olney ward it was so lovely to see parish and town councils bringing their communities together on VE Day and throughout the month to remember, pay tributes and celebrate the end of WW11 with a variety of events.DWP proposed disability cutsThese changes that are proposed will impact both existing claimants and new claimants. Many residents across the ward are understandably anxious and concerned, and have been reaching out. My ward surgery is held every Tuesday for residents to drop in between 10am-12 noon. If you can%u2019t make the surgery, please email me highlighting your personal situation. I am proud to stand up and will stand up for residents who claim PIP. It is not a benefi t %u2013 it is a necessity.STOP Press:Great news. After totting up the fi gures and after expenses Olney has raised %u00a3707 for the VE Day Fund.