Agenda and decisions

That Council be recommended to make the Emberton Neighbourhood Plan pursuant to the provisions of Section 38(A)(4) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

1.         That vehicle and operator associated fees and charges, as set out in Annex A to the report, be approved to take effect from 1 April 2024 under Section 70 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

2.         That driver associated fees and charges, as set out in Annex A, be noted to take effect from 1 April 2024 under Section 53 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.

That the Taxi Policy be updated to state that the Council will have an open issue policy in regard to new hackney carriage vehicle licences, but this will be strictly conditioned to only allow wheelchair accessible and electrical / hydrogen (zero emissions / no exhaust) powered vehicles for any new licences granted.

1.         That the Council’s ongoing support for the scheme, and its important contribution to the overall regeneration of Bletchley town centre, be approved.

2.         That the emerging scheme designs, attached as an Annex to the report, (although these remain work in progress subject to ongoing work and discussions and consultations with stakeholders), be noted.

3.         That the allocation of £3.714m from the Town Deal, DLUHC Fund allocation for Bletchley towards the project, as previously approved by the Town Deal Board and S.151 Officer and approved in the Capital Programme, be approved.

4.         That the resource allocation and spend approval of a further £5.54m from the Council’s Capital Programme (currently allocated to the East West Rail project) to make an overall project budget of £9.254m be approved.

1.         That contracts with GP practices for the delivery of NHS Health Checks across Bedford Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council and Milton Keynes City Council be extended for 12 months from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. 

2.         That authority be delegated to the Deputy Director of Public Health to finalise contract extensions with individual GP practices.

That the Cabinet member for Resources notes and endorses the following draft budget proposals, which are subject to the outcomes of consultation, which commenced on 12 December 2023, and confirmation of the Local Government Finance Settlement.  The decision includes noting the Capital Programme and additional schemes and changes to the Programme with it noted that the decision to release funding will be made by the s151 Officer once confirmation of available funding has been received:

(a)        the draft Revenue Budget for 2024/25 (attached at Annex F to the report) and the latest MTFS forecast for 2024/25 to 2027/28 (attached at Annex E to the report);

(b)       the provisional Council Tax at Band D of £1,676.09 for the Milton Keynes element of the Council Tax be agreed for consultation, a 4.99% increase on the previous year (2.99% plus a 2.00% Adult Social Care Precept);

(c)        the Council’s current estimate of the 2024/25 Business Rates Baseline at paragraph 4.37, retaining the delegation to the Director of Finance and Resources to finalise this Baseline, based on the latest data for submission to Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) in January 2024;

(d)       the estimated position for the Dedicated Schools Grant and the planned consultation with schools and the Schools Forum;

(e)        that the Director - Children’s Services make decisions around the school funding formula, the funding arrangements for pupils with high needs and the early year’s single funding formula for 2024/25 in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children and Families and the Director of Finance and Resources (paragraphs 4.55 - 4.63);

(f)        the proposed fees and charges for 2024/25, which are exceptions to the Income and Collection Policy (attached at Annex D to the report);

(g)        the reserves position, reserves risk assessment and budget risk register (attached at Annexes J, K and L to the report);

(h)       the draft forecast parking surplus of £7.993m (attached at Annex G to the report);

(i)         the draft Capital Programme for 2024/25 to 2028/29 (attached at Annex H to the report); and

(j)         the resource allocation for the draft Tariff Programme (attached at Annex I of the report).