Arrangements for Forthcoming Online Meetings
Tuesday 9 February
Delegated Decisions at 17.30
Wednesday 10 February
Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee at 19.00
Meeting invites will be sent to Committee Members/ Councillors directly and a link to join the meetings will also be circulated by email to all Councillors early next week. Any Councillors wishing to ask questions, or speak on items, can join the meeting and raise their hand at the relevant agenda item. For these and all future remote meetings, Councillors can use this number (07557 312 972) to alert the clerk/chair of any connectivity issues.
Re-scheduled Meetings
Development Control Committee on the 4 February 2021 has now been re-scheduled to the 18 February 2021 (7pm) and will consider the same items due originally.
Community and Housing Scrutiny Committee on the 9 February 2021 has now been re-scheduled to the 23 February 2021 (7pm) and a new agenda will be issued in due course.
Councillors IT Equipment
Devices are being prepared by IT for release as soon as possible. Please let Peter Brown know if you would prefer your device to be prioritised because of issues with your existing equipment.
Changes To The Cllr Case Work Process
“The process for handling Councillor Casework is changing – please see the below letter from the Head of Customer Data and Insight.
On a monthly basis, reports will be provided to all Councillors in the form of a spreadsheet with casework updates. If Councillors have any queries or would like an extract of existing case work, they should contact Lisa.Beckett@milton-keynes.gov.uk directly.
Councillor case work letter (Lisa Beckett).docx
Gritting Update
The gritting team have had a busy winter season so far, completing over 60 grit runs and with a Yellow Alert for Snow and Ice for Milton Keynes, they are gearing up for a busy few days.
The Yellow Alert for Snow and Ice runs from Saturday 6 February until Thursday 10 February.
We’ve already used over 3,000 tonnes of rock salt keeping the roads, redways and footways safe following periods of freezing temperatures across MK. The bespoke salt barn at the Bleak Hall depot holds around 3,500 tonnes of rock salt so we’re already had to refill our stock. Salt bins around the borough were filled up in September, so there is plenty for residents to use in their area on public footways and roads, if needed.
The 9 gritting lorries take around 3 hours to complete a Priority 1 route run which covers the grid road network and other main access roads. It also includes gritting access routes to the hospital and other health centres.
Real time updates for gritting activities are posted on the Council’s social media channels Twitter @mkcouncil and on Facebook @mkcouncil1
Our highways service provider, Ringway also post real time updates including any roadworks on Twitter @ringway_mk
What To Do In A Flood Emergency
We’ve updated our flooding emergency web page here. The handy five step guide explains what to do in the event of a flooding emergency, including how to stay safe, who to contact and how to report it.
Step 1: Before flood water enters your home, close and lock downstairs windows and doors. Keep the keys safely to hand and move upstairs.
Step 2: Continue to listen to situation updates from your local radio station and via Floodline on: 0345 988 1188.
Step 3: Stay in your property if safe to do so or until either the emergency services tell you otherwise or the floodwater has gone.
Step 4: Do not walk through floodwater. If it is necessary to walk through shallow water, take care for hidden holes, obstacles and other hazards.
Step 5: If you come into contact with floodwater, wash any exposed body parts with bottled or cool boiled water before handling food or looking after wounds.
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Remembering Captain Sir Tom Moore
We flew the flag of MKC at half-mast on Wednesday in remembrance of Captain Sir Tom Moore, who passed away aged 100 at Bedford Hospital after testing positive for COVID-19. Residents across MK also took part in a national applause from their doorsteps to honour Captain Tom, who raised more than more than £32m for the NHS.
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Evening Testing At Central Library
We’ve extended the opening hours of our pilot rapid test centre at the Central Library.
On Tuesday and Thursday evenings it’s now open until 7pm, otherwise from 9.30am to 4.30pm on weekdays. We’re running this pilot to find people who may have COVID-19 but don’t have any symptoms. Every positive case we find helps to break transmission and protect more people. If you’re working at the Civic, we recommend being tested once a week while you’re nearby.
For the very latest on COVID-19 in Milton Keynes, watch this week’s video update with MK Council Leader Pete Marland.
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Taking Part In The 2021 Census
Why do we have a Census in the UK?
Every ten years the census gives us a complete picture of the nation. It allows us to compare different groups of people across the United Kingdom because the same questions are asked, and the information is recorded, in the same way throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The census provides information that government needs to develop policies, plan and run public services, and allocate funding.
Develop policies
Before central or local government can offer services, policies must be based on high quality evidence.
We all use public services such as schools, health services, roads and libraries. These services need to be planned, and in such a way that they keep pace with fast-changing patterns of modern life. We need accurate information on the numbers of people, including the balance of young and old, what jobs people do, where they live and in what type of housing.
How is the Census information used?
- For new jobs and training policies and investment decisions
- New housing policies
- Evaluating equal opportunities policies
- Health and social services
- Roads and public transport; the data also contributes to the understanding of pressures on transport systems.
Announcement To Multi Academy Trusts Of A Free School Presumption Competition
Milton Keynes Council has launched a competition from 1 February 2021 to 19 March 2021 for Multi Academy Trusts to apply to become the provider of the new primary school that is being built in an area of the Western Expansion Area currently being referred to as Calverton Lane. This is in accordance with Department for Education guidance ‘The free school presumption – November 2019’.
The application form and specification document about the new school are available on the council website here. This competition is open nationally so will also be advertised on the Department for Education website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-school-proposals
The closing date for applications is noon on 19 March 2021.
The contact for this competition is the Education Sufficiency team: sufficiencyandaccess@milton-keynes.gov.uk
Telephone: 01908 253008
 Cabinet - 2 February
Decisions: Cabinet
Contact: Roslyn.Tidman@milton-keynes.gov.uk
 Delegated Decisions - 9 February
Link: Delegated Decisions
Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee - 10 February
Link: Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee
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