Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve, and the Mayor to sign as correct records, the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 22 February 2023 and the Special meeting of Council held on 28 February 2023.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 22 February 2023 be approved and signed by the Mayor as a correct record, subject to a correction at CL 112 where those recorded as voting for the substantive motion should be recorded as voting against and those  ...  view the full minutes text for item CL118

Councillors to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests, other registerable interests, or non-registerable interests (including other pecuniary interests) they may have in the business to be transacted, and officers to declare any interests they may have in any contract to be considered.

As the current Chair of the Corporate Parenting Panel, Councillor M Bradburn disclosed a pecuniary interest in Item 7 (Scheme of Councillors Allowances).

To receive announcements, if any.

The Mayor made an announcement in respect of Newport Pagnell Town Football Club FA Vase semi-final match.

Any petitions received by the deadline of 7:30 pm on Monday 13 March 2023 will be reported at the meeting.

The Council received a petition from residents of Woburn Sands regarding a request for a reduction in speed limit for the area of Hardwick Road, The Leys and the built up section of Bow Brickhill Road.

The Cabinet member undertook to ask Highways Officers to undertake a technical assessment of  ...  view the full minutes text for item CL121

To receive questions and provide answers to questions received from members of the public by the deadline of 7:30 pm on Monday 13 March 2023 and any urgent questions agreed by the Mayor.

Question from Nick Duncan to Councillor Marland (Leader of the Council)

Nick Duncan was unable to attend the meeting and their question is noted below:

“As Milton Keynes City Council is recorded as having formally joined the Oxford Cambridge Partnership and that the leader is a member of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item CL122

Statement of Pay Policy Financial Year 2023-24

That Council be recommended to approve the Pay Policy Statement.

The Council is required to adopt and publish its policy statement in accordance with Section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011. The pay policy statement sets out the Council’s approach to pay. This ensures a clear and consistent approach is taken across the Council. It reflects the current practice of the Council.

A copy of the revised Statement is attached.

Councillor Middleton (Chair of the Joint Negotiating Committee (Employers’ Side)) moved the following recommendation from the meeting of the Joint Negotiating Committee (Employers’ Side) held on 24 February 2023, which was seconded by Councillor J Carr:

“That Council approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24.

The recommendation was agreed by  ...  view the full minutes text for item CL123

Councillors to ask questions of the Leader, a Cabinet Member, the Chair of any Committee, or the Leader of a Political Group on the Council.

Questions were received from Councillors D Hopkins, Ferrans, Lancaster, N Khan, Taylor, Exon, Bowyer, Mahendran, Verma, Clarke, Rolfe and Long.

(a)     Question from Councillor D Hopkins to Councillor Marland (Leader of the Council)

Councillor D Hopkins, referring to a telecoms mast being erected in Old Farm Park when the application  ...  view the full minutes text for item CL124

Councillor Trendall moved the following motion which was seconded by Councillor R Bradburn:

“1.    That this Council notes that the Government have extended the £2 bus fare cap until June 2023.

2.      That this Council believes that:

(a)     the ongoing cost-of-living crisis will worsen over the next year as from  ...  view the full minutes text for item CL125

Councillor D Hopkins moved the following motion which was seconded by Councillor Hosking:

“1.       That this Council notes that:

(a)     the public subsidies for many bus services in Milton Keynes were removed by Milton Keynes Council in April 2021 and that this led to many bus services ceasing across the  ...  view the full minutes text for item CL126

Councillor Geary moved the following motion which was seconded by Councillor Verma:

“1.    That this Council notes:

(a)          with disappointment that MKCC, after taking legal action to remove an occupier from grazing horses on land adjoining the Calverton Lane travellers site, lost the case in a judgement delivered from the  ...  view the full minutes text for item CL127

Councillor Geary moved the following motion which was seconded by Councillor McLean:

“1.    That this Council notes that:

(a)          MKC / MKCC took over responsibility for litter picking the A5 where it passes through Milton Keynes a number of years ago;

(b)         the interim Cabinet member for waste (on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item CL128

Councillor A Carr moved the following motion which was seconded by Councillor Clarke:

“1.    That this Council notes that:

(a)     cities often have lower vehicle fuel prices than rural areas, this is due to having higher populations and greater demand for fuel which drives competitive prices;

(b)    despite being a  ...  view the full minutes text for item CL129

To consider the report on the Returning Officer’s Fees and Disbursements.

The Mayor moved the following recommendations which were seconded by the Deputy Mayor:

“That the schedule of fees and disbursements for Principal Area and Parish elections be adopted for 2023/24; and

That the Head of Democratic Services and the Electoral Services Manager be appointed as Deputy Electoral Registration Officers to  ...  view the full minutes text for item CL130

To consider the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel regarding a Special Responsibility Allowance for the Chair of Corporate Parenting Panel (to follow).

The Mayor moved the following recommendations which were seconded by the Deputy Mayor:

“That the recommendation of the IRP that a Special Responsibility Allowance be paid to the Chair of the Corporate Parenting Panel - Cabinet Advisory Group at Tier 7 rate (£5,024 pro rata’d for the remainder of 2022/23  ...  view the full minutes text for item CL131

In accordance with Access to Information Procedure Rule 17.4, to note that the Provisions for Special Urgency, as set out in Access to Information Procedure Rule 16, which provides for key decisions to be taken within the usual 5-day notice period, subject to the agreement of the Chair/Vice-Chairs of the Scrutiny Management Committee, was not used during the period 1 January 2023 to 28 February 2023.

The Council is also advised that Scrutiny Procedure Rule 16(j), which provides for the call-in procedure to not apply with the agreement of the Chair and Vice-Chairs of the Scrutiny Management Committee, was used once during the period 1 January 2023 to 28 February 2023.

Contact: Peter Brown (Head of Democratic Services) - 01908 253671

Background Papers: None

The Council received a quarterly report on special urgency decisions.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

All Councillors have a budget of £1,000 to spend on Ward based issues, giving them the ability to make contributions to projects carried out in their local communities by local organisations.

For the period 1 April 2022 to 28 February 2023, applications totalling £52,482.12 (Ward Based Budget) have been approved.  Details of the applications are attached.

Contact Officer: Siobhan Pitkin (Business Support & Civic Events Manager) -     01908 252426.

Background Papers: None

The Council received a report on the Ward Based Budgets for 2022/23.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.