Page 16 - Demo

16 Phonebox Magazine | July 2025Mercury ReportPublic ParticipationThe first member of the public wishing to speak at this month%u2019s meeting was former councillor Jim Cooper. Jim noted that although the tower crane had been recently removed, no one should think that this victory was an end to the matter as there were several more battles to be fought %u2013 the most important one being the current planning application, which is due to be decided on very soon by Milton Keynes City Council (MKCC). Jim expressed his thanks to the MKCC Enforcement Team, to which he had provided information over the last two years to enable them to prove the breach of planning on the site and build a case to get the crane removed. Initially, the team had indicated that there was no case to answer as the site operator had stated that the crane was being used to assist with the construction of buildings. In fact, no construction was taking place, and the site was being used as a store yard for tower cranes and parts and lorries, so this statement from the operator was a plain lie, said Jim. He had kept up the pressure on MKCC, which eventually agreed that there had been a breach and served the enforcement notice. Jim fi nished by asking how many members of the council had taken time to comment on the current planning application or even look at it on the MKCC planning portal, not as councillors but as residents? This was obviously a rhetorical question, as no discussion or response is permitted to matters raised under public participation.Next to speak was Nigel Birrell (coincidentally another former member of the council from many years ago). Nigel said that on November 11th this year, he and other members of his family will be attending the evening memorial at the Menin Gate in Ypres and have applied to lay a wreath. This service has been held at 8pm every evening since 1929 and Nigel asked if OTC would like them to lay a wreath on behalf of the town. Mayor Debbie Whitworth said the council will discuss the matter and get back to him.Apologies for absence and declarations of interestChris Tennant, Dan Rowland and David Tyler had sent apologies. Mary Prosser declared an interest in the agenda item regarding Yardley Manor as a resident.Ward Councilor%u2019s reportPresent to give this month%u2019s report was Ward Councilor Keith McLean, who said he%u2019d been thinking about what he could say, and the answer was %u201cNot a Lot!%u201d The MKCC %u2018term%u2019 had only just started, so there was nothing much to report. A group of travellers had recently %u2018acquired access%u2019 to a site near Gunn Lane in Sherington, and the situation was being monitored by police and enforcement officers. Apart from that, there was nothing for Mercury to report, said Keith apologetically. Colin Rodden asked why there had been no Ward Councilors at a recent disability march, and Debbie Whitworth said it was because they hadn%u2019t been invited. This didn%u2019t seem to satisfy Colin, who thought that it didn%u2019t matter whether they were invited or not, but Debbie said it was unfair to criticise councillors for not attending an event to which they had not been invited. Wearing her Ward Councilor hat, Debbie said that due process had been followed regarding the situation with the TCUK crane company, and Environmental Health officers had attended the site and had expressed deep concern about the health issues, particularly with regard to noise and dust. The %u2018call in%u2019 will take place at the August planning meeting on a date to be decided.PCSO reportThere were no crime figures provided, but Debbie said the police had expressed concern about potential under-reporting of retail crime nationally and were emphasising the need for residents and businesses to report all crime. Town Clerk Jane Brushwood reported that a theft from a vehicle in the East Street car park had been captured on CCTV, and a certain %u2018local resident low-life%u2019 had been very clearly identifi ed, which would be %u2018another nail in his coffi n%u2019. The footage had been provided to the police, who are working to provide a case against this known individual.%u00a0Expenditure and budgetCoin Rodden questioned a relatively large payment to an individual. Jane Brushwood explained that there had been a number of problems with Market Place toilets, which had needed repairs. This person is also a member of the team of three that maintains the cemetery, but in future this will be broken down to repairs and cemetery maintenance, she said. Colin also questioned the payment to MKCC of %u00a31,048 a month for rates on the old and unused Football Club building. Jane said she would eventually be requesting a rebate, but the bill still had to be paid, and she was not prepared to go to jail! David Chennells was surprised to hear that this was a monthly rather than an annual charge but Jane assured him that she%u2019d get it back. Colin queried the increase in the amount paid to the contractor who empties the dog poo bins. Jane said additional bins had recently been provided on Drift Way and Yardley Manor, but was more likely due to a fi ve-week month. David Chennells noted that 67% of the annual budget for electricity in the Olney Centre had been used in the fi rst two months of the fi nancial year, and Jane replied that the centre no longer used gas. In which case the budget should be adjusted thought David.Representatives at external meetingsAs a member of the Ann Hopkins Smith Alms Houses Trustees, Mary Prosser reported that she and David Chennells had recently New lease of life for East Street Centre The trustees of the East Street Community Centre in Olney have recently secured an agreement on a new 25-year lease for the building and associated grounds. It gives the centre stability as it plans for the next few years.%u201cThis is great news for both the trustees and for our various user groups,%u201d said trustee Trevor Aldred.%u201cIt gives us long-term security of tenure and allows us to take a far more strategic view of life. Of course, it places some great responsibilities on us too, such as looking after the building and to keeping things going %u2013 but we are up for that! %u201cWe are determined to continue to contribute to the well-being of our community by supporting a very wide range of sporting and leisure activities.%u201cWe are extremely grateful to Rennie Chambers of J Garrard & Allen for his tremendous support during the negotiating process and to Kevin Cassidy of Milton Keynes City Council for his positive contributions to the process, too.%u201d