Agenda and minutes

It was RESOLVED to note the apologies for absence  and the absence without apologies as listed above. Cllr Segebrecht had sent apologies for absence but was attending the meeting via a remote link and therefore would be unable to vote though eligible to participate in discussion at the discretion of the chair.

(Under the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012, made under s30 (3) of the Localism Act, councillors are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting)

Cllrs Kelly-Wilson, Bedford and Osumili drew attention to their residences in Newton Leys in relation to agenda item 7i discussion of proposed solar array at Bletchley Landfill site. Cllr Kelly-Wilson also noted that the discussion of the bus route could affect Newton Leys councillors though he was not a regular bus user.

It was RESOLVED that the draft minutes of the meeting be approved as an accurate record of proceedings.

To receive representations from members of the public on items on the agenda and to hear questions from members of the public about council business which may not be listed on the agenda.

Members of the public who wish to present  a spoken or written representation should contact the Clerk no later than 12 noon on the day before the day of the meeting in order to register to be heard or to obtain a link to join the meeting remotely.

The public speaking session will generally last no more than 15 minutes and individuals will be permitted to speak for a maximum of 3 minutes.

Requests to speak or ask questions will be dealt with in the order in which they have been received by the Clerk.

For more information or to register to speak please contact:

Delia Shephard

Town Clerk

01908 649469

clerk@bletchleyfennystratford-tc.gov.uk

Please be aware that meetings may be recorded and live streamed including the representations made by members of the public.

There were no representations from members of the public.

i       Community Committee

ii      Finance & Governance Committee

iii     Environment & Planning Committee

iv     Employment Policy Committee

v      Appeals Committee

The clerk advised that at this meeting any recommendations from committees were included on the agenda in their own right.

 It was RESOLVED to note that the meeting of the Community Committee due to be held on 8 August 2023 had been cancelled due to anticipated lack of a quorum.

It was RESOLVED that the draft minutes be noted.

It was RESOLVED that the draft minutes be noted.

It was RESOLVED that the draft minutes be noted.

(Eaton South Ward, Fenny Stratford Ward, Queensway and Denbigh Ward)

It was RESOLVED to note that casual vacancies for the following wards remained

Eaton South

Fenny Stratford

Queensway and Denbigh North

and the council was free to co-opt though no applicants had come forward in time for co-option at the time of the meeting.  The clerk had advised that there had been recent interest and that a campaign to promote the opportunity to be co-opted to the council would continue.

It was RESOLVED to note that a casual vacancy had arisen in the Manor North and Eaton Leys ward due to persistent absence and that it was not yet known whether the council could co-opt or whether an election would be demanded.

It was RESOLVED that the attendance records of all  existing councillors  (which were published on the website) be noted.

The clerk noted that this item was for noting only at this stage as a public consultation was due to be held by the developers on 19 October 2023 at Newton Leys.  There would be a session for councillors between 1 pm and 2 pm followed by a general public session.

General discussion followed during which councillors expressed individual views but a council resolution was deferred until after the consultation meeting.

The implications of this outline application were discussed in general terms and councillors regretted the lack of infrastructure provision before housing developments were occupied.  In particular councillors expressed concerned about the mix of tenure and the limited provision of “affordable” housing and cumulative impact of ware housing and this development on local roads and Kelly’s kitchen roundabout.

It was RESOLVED that the town council would comment as follows:

i)              there was a lack of affordable housing for purchase

ii)             there would be a lack a significant impact on the Kelly’s Kitchen roundabout and the Highways Agency should be required to explain its plans for dealing with this additional traffic on a major route affecting Bletchley and Fenny Stratford

iii)           that occupation of the development should be phased ensuring that infrastructure and redways were developed first.

Cllr Hume declared an interest in this item because of his role as a member of Milton Keynes City Council.

The clerk noted that on receipt of the planning application further information had been requested  from MKCC about the planned use of the community hub referred to in the non material amendment application.  The clerk had been advised that the community hub would be brought forward by the housing team to a shell and core finish only and that no further information about its use could be provided at the present time.

It was RESOLVED to note this information and to make no comments on the application.

Members noted four proposed stopping up orders on the Lakes Estate as follows:

i)              Burnmoor Close, MK2 3QG

ii)             Warren Park

iii)           Tummel Way

iv)           Serpentine Court.

It was necessary to ‘stop up’ these parts of the highway/rights of way in order to undertake the regeneration developments which the town council had already supported.  The city council would ensure that access to and from dwellings would be retained during the development period.  

It was unanimously  RESOLVED to make no objections to the proposed orders.

Amended Local Enforcement Plan consultation

Members noted Milton Keynes City Council’s public consultation on its amended local Enforcement Plan. It was RESOLVED to encourage councillors and residents to submit individual responses to the consultation.  It was also RESOLVED To comment to MKCC that whilst the proposals required the use of an on-line planning form in the view of the town council some residents might need to use other methods to communicate.

Members discussed issues which had arisen following changes to the number 5 and number 6 bus routes which had come into effect in early September. Both services now operated via Newton Leys, service 6 going to Asda and then in an anti-clockwise loop along Galapagos Grove, Santa Cruz Avenue and St Helena Avenue whilst service 6 went in a clockwise loop of St Helena Avenue, Santa Cruz Avenue and Galapagos Grove.  The changes meant the  number 6 no longer served housing on Windermere Drive. Cllr Wymer reported the concern of many residents on the estate especially elderly residents on Windermere Drive who would not go out as the bus stops were too far away and there was no suitable bus shelter.  During discussion members noted that the bus routes were decided by the commercial operators not by Milton Keynes City Council.

It was RESOLVED that the town council would

i)              write to Arriva explaining community concerns and asking them to consider rerouting the number 6 to include Windermere Avenue instead of Fern Grove

ii)             write to the public transport team at Milton Keynes City Council copying the regeneration team  to  ask them to look at access to the bus stops in Stoke Road

iii)           put a statement on the website clarifying who had made the decision to change the bus routes.

Following discussion it was RESOLVED that the revised project plan and draft emerging policy ideas document circulated in advance of the meeting be noted. 

The clerk advised that it was likely that Milton Keynes City Council would offer financial support for the winter of 2023-24 to support town and parish councils who were offering cost of living/warm spaces support to their community.  Details of the scheme were not yet available.

It was RESOLVED to authorise the clerk to apply for this funding when available and to delegate decision making about the spending of this funding to the Community Committee.

The clerk reminded members of previous decisions to include this year’s residents’ survey in the newsletter and to delay the timing of this to ensure that the results could inform budget decision making.  A draft resident survey to be included in the October 2023 newsletter was tabled and the clerk asked for comments and approval of the contents.

It was RESOLVED to approve the draft residents’ survey subject to rewording of question 5 which would now read:

“This year, what is your preference?

Reduce services and no or low increase to precept

Keep existing services but increase precept to cover inflation

Provide additional services and increase precept

Other (Please specify)”:

Members noted that in addition to including the survey in the printed newsletter, the residents’ survey would be available in a digital format which would be promoted by social media and on the council’s website.

It was RESOLVED to note that the Quality Award under the Local Council Award Scheme had been achieved by the council  in July 2023.  The chair congratulated everyone involved in achieving this award which demonstrated that in the view of the independent panel  the council achieved good practices in governance, community engagement and council improvement.

It was RESOLVED that the conclusion of the external audit be noted and the clerk confirmed that details of the audit had been published on the website including the notice of conclusion of the audit. No matters had been brought to the attention of the council by the external auditors.

It was RESOLVED that the financial management report showing performance against budget to the end of August 2023. It was further noted that allotment income appeared low but this was because renewals took place with effect from 1 October and the report did not include September or October transactions.  Councillors also questioned hire income from Newton Leys Pavilion and the clerk noted that again the report did not include September income. Further work on the use of the pavilion at weekends was still being undertaken in the light of feedback from neighbouring residents and experience with different users.

It was RESOLVED that the list of payments circulated with the agenda be ratified.

It was RESOLVED that the recommendation of the Environment and Planning Committee to increase allotment rents from 33 p to 35 p per m² with effect from 1 October 2024 be approved. (This increase was in line with the town council’s approved policy on allotment rent increases.)

The clerk advised that committees had already been asked to put forward any proposals for the 2024-45 budget along with  any proposals for new activities to be undertaken by the council.  It was agreed that any further  information should be put forward to the Finance and Governance Committee as soon as possible.  The first draft of the budget would be reviewed at full council on 28 November 2023 and the final budget was due to be approved on 30 January 2023 when the precept would be set.

It was RESOLVED that these arrangements be noted.