Agenda and minutes

The chair welcomed the members of the public and explained the arrangements  for the meeting. Members of the public were reminded that the meeting would be recorded and webcast on the Town Council’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F9npBt1wJw&t=792s).

It was RESOLVED to note the apologies for absence and the absences without apologies as listed above.

(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)

There were no declarations of interests.

It was RESOLVED that the draft minutes of the last meeting of full council be approved as a correct 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.

No members of the public had asked to speak at the meeting but a prepared list of residents’ questions had been collated for discussion after/during the presentation on the Brunel Centre Development Brief and the chair explained that there could be time for questions later during the meeting.

https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/planning-and-building/urban-design/current-urban-design-consultations

The Chair introduced David Blandamer, Senior Urban Designer from Milton Keynes City Council (MKCC) and Adam Sciberras, Special Projects Director from Milton Keynes Development Partnership (MKDP) who delivered a presentation and answered questions on the draft Brunel Centre Development Brief which was out to public consultation.

The presentation delivered by the Senior Urban Designer covered the nature and  purpose of the brief and explained the key aspects of the planning policy guidance contained within the brief and the policy context for this.

In summary it was noted that the design principles for the proposed mixed used development on the site were drawn from the Central Bletchley Urban Framework SPD and  Plan:MK.  Opportunities from development of the site included creation of  active frontages around the edge of the site,  improvements to  pedestrian permeability and the reconnection of  Queensway and Buckingham Road (visually and for pedestrians/cyclists not vehicles) as well as the marking the key focal points and gateways to the town. Constraints included the need to manage level differences, to take account of existing two storey housing nearby and to manage servicing of any new developments. The design principles for the mixed use development included housing, ground floor retail frontages, outward facing developments and the insertion of new streets together with other complementary town centre uses such as retail and night time economy facilities as well as the possibility of a health hub, public space etc.

The public consultation on the brief was scheduled to finish on 23 November 2023 and it was anticipated that the brief would be approved by MKCC in early 2024.

On behalf of MKDP, the Special Projects Director, noted that the Development Brief was quite a technical planning document and most residents would be interested in the details of any proposed scheme.  However there would be no scheme or details for some time. Once the brief was approved in early 2024 MKDP would seek a development partner to deliver the scheme and this procurement would likely take all of  2024.  Design and planning applications would follow in 2025 and MKDP was working towards development starting on site in 2026. The tenants currently in the Brunel Centre were aware of this timetable and vacation point and the only activity anticipated earlier than 2026 (assuming the Brunel and Wilko site continued as at present) was the demolition of the former Sainsburys shopping unit which was scheduled in early 2024.  

The chair raised a number of questions which had either been put forward by residents in advance of the meeting or arose from councillors  In response to questions the following points were made on behalf of MKDP.

i       Heritage – As part of the Town Deal programme MKCC  was already working on creating a narrative for Bletchley’s brand identity as well as undertaking active marketing of sites and the Turing public art commission currently being procured could potentially be located in the public realm associated with this development. The former fire station site was due to be actively marketed  ...  view the full minutes text for item FC23/24-83

Following discussion it was RESOLVED that the clerk would seek permission for an extension to submission of the town council’s formal response to the public consultation so that a draft response could  be prepared for approval by the full council on Tuesday 28 November 2023. 

It was RESOLVED that the draft response would include the following topics:

i       Items which the town council supports eg the Eastern entrance for the station, the opening up of Queensway, the transport hub

also

ii      Nighttime economy should not be limited but not promote the idea of nightclubs or casinos

iii     Service charges and green space maintenance – want to protect residents from excessive service charges

iv     Net Zero insufficiently prominent but need to recognise mix of priorities

v      Public toilets

vi     Affordable housing needs and importance of it being truly affordable

vii    Neighbourhood Plan and emerging policies

viii   Parking and parking strategy, Duncombe Street and Oliver Road issues

ix     S106 must be invested in Bletchley

x      Heritage and unique identity of Bletchley should be referenced somehow

It was RESOLVED that the draft minutes be noted.

It was RESOLVED that the recommendation that £50,000 be added to the 2024-25 budget for community events (Minute reference CC23/24-32) be considered at full council on 28 November 2023 as part of the consideration of the draft budget.

It was RESOLVED that the draft minutes be noted.

It was RESOLVED that the recommendation that a staffing budget for events be added to the budget for 2024-25 (minute reference EMPC23-24/62)be considered at full council on 28 November 2023 as part of the budget discussions.

It was RESOLVED that the draft minutes of the meeting be noted.

It was RESOLVED that the draft minutes of the meeting be noted.

It was RESOLVED that the recommendation to approve the internal audit report completed on behalf of the town council by Auditing Solutions and dated 11 October 2023 be accepted (minute reference FC23/24-67).  It was noted that there were no matters brought to the attention of the council in the report.

It was RESOLVED that the recommendation to approve the existing investment policy with no changes be accepted (minute reference FC23/24-69).

It was RESOLVED that the recommendation to approve the existing procurement policy with no changed be accepted (minute reference FC23/24-70).

It was RESOLVED that the recommendation to add £2,500 to the 2024-2025 budget to allow for increased frequency of waste collection  from the 15 dog bins on the Newton Leys Estate be accepted. (Minute reference FC23/24-73.)

At the last meeting of the Finance and Governance Committee it had been recommended that several changes be made to the scale of charges for 2024-2025 (Minute reference 2023/24-72). Subsequently officers had undertaken further market research on local hall hire fees and therefore requested that  the recommended increases to weekend hire rates at Newton Leys Pavilion and Fenny Stratford Community Centre be reconsidered.

It was RESOLVED that the  recommendation for changes to the hire charges at Newton Leys Pavilion and Fenny Stratford Community Centre be deferred to the next meeting of full council on 28 November 2023.

It was RESOLVED that a recommendation that  charges for photocopying be increased by 5p per sheet be approved.

It was RESOLVED that a recommendation that all other charges should be increased by CPI (July 2023) at a rate of 6.8% with effect from 1 April 2024 be approved.