Councillors' News - 04 November 2022

Milton Keynes City Council sent this bulletin at 04-11-2022 04:53 PM GMT

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Arrangements for Forthcoming Meetings

Tuesday 8 November

Delegated Decisions at 17:30 (Chamber)

Wednesday 9 November

SaferMK at 14:00 (Suite 1.02)

Thursday 10 November

GP and Dental Task and Finish Group at 10:00 (Room 1.21)

Committee members / decision makers must physically attend meetings, but remote attendance is allowed for public participation and for non-committee members / decision makers to participate. Meeting links are usually circulated each Monday for meetings that week.

Councillor Training and Events

Highways Procurement Workshop

This online workshop (6:00 – 7.30pm on 14 November) is an opportunity for all Councillors to understand more about the upcoming procurement of the new highways contract and offer feedback of their experiences with the current contract. Invitations have already been sent to Councillors’ MKCC email addresses, and the session will be recorded for any Councillors who are unable to attend. Contact Sarah Slade for more information.

Taxi Safeguarding

Licensing colleagues are pleased to offer MKCC Councillors the opportunity to attend safeguarding training which must be completed by all licensed taxi drivers. The training is designed to help drivers recognise the signs of child sexual abuse and exploitation, modern slavery and human trafficking, extremism, drug dealing through 'County Lines', cuckooing as well as dementia awareness. Drivers’ feedback is that this training is particularly impactful. Sessions are held every Thursday at 10:00am at the Galley Hill Professional Development Centre. This open invitation is extended and endorsed by the Regulatory Committee and the Councillor Training Group. Please contact Steven Gellard to book a place secure your place.

Development Control

The next in the series of popular online planning enforcement drop-in sessions will be on Thursday 10 November at 11:00am. Contact Joanne Payne for more information or click the link to join.
Any ward or Parish Councillors are also welcome to join an Introduction to Development Management session on 16 November between 10:00am -12:00 noon. Contact Joanne Payne for more information or click the link to join.

All training dates are available here.

White Ribbon Day

Last year, Council unanimously agreed that Milton Keynes City Council should work towards becoming a White Ribbon accredited organisation, and we will be celebrating accreditation at November’s Full Council.

Councillors are encouraged to sign up to become White Ribbon Ambassadors (men) or Champions (women) as these roles advocate White Ribbon messages in the local community. It is easy to sign up; visit the White Ribbon website, read and agree to the White Ribbon code of conduct and watch a few short videos. Once accepted, White Ribbon pin badges will be sent (this usually takes a few weeks) so that ambassadors and champions can show their support.

Focus on Youth Cabinet

Pizza and Politics Event Rescheduled

YCAB are pleased to invite all Councillors to their pizza and politics event on Saturday 3 December at Civic. At the event, YCAB will be talking about what they’ve been up to over the last 12 months and are looking forward to talking politics, policy and more over a slice of pizza. Please contact Lisa Thomson for more information.

UK Youth Parliament Commons Sitting

Our Youth Parliament Members for Milton Keynes, Prayksha and Leon were in the House of Commons Chamber today for a series of debates on mental health and well-being, health, environment and education. Watch the Prayksha speak in debate 2 of the morning session and Lean speak in debate 5 of the afternoon session on the UK Parliament YouTube channel.

Reverse Advent to Support MK Foodbank

The MK Foodbank has relaunched its popular Reverse Advent campaign. Residents are encouraged to fill a box with long life food items throughout November and deliver it to the Foodbank in Kiln Farm before 2 December so it can be shared with people in need, in time for Christmas. The preferred shopping list is below and there are more details on the MK Foodbank website.

As you may have read last week, the Council is contributing an extra £80,000 to the Foodbank this winter to help create 88 new top up shops and help even more families.

Reminder - Ward Based Budget 2022-23

Thank you to those Councillors who have already submitted Ward Based Budget requests. We encourage Councillors to start (if they have not already done so) to consider their recipients over the coming months.

Please remember to complete all sections of the form, sign, and date (electronic signatures accepted) before sending on. All completed forms should be sent to Democratic Services before the 28 February request deadline.

The application form for 2022-23 can be found here and guidance notes here.

Armistice Day Observance at Milton Keynes Rose

At the end of the First World War, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. Since the end of the war, Armistice Day has been commemorated on 11 November, with a two-minute silence at 11:00am.

Milton Keynes City Council, supported by MK Rose Trust and Parks Trust will host a short observance of Armistice Day at the Milton Keynes Rose, Campbell Park on Friday 11 November 2022.

All Milton Keynes City and Parish Councillors are welcome to attend with a recommended arrival time of no later than 10:40am.

Reminder - Review of Parliamentary Constituencies

The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) will publish revised proposals for parliamentary constituencies on 8 November. This will begin a third consultation period (lasting four weeks and ending on the 5 December) and will be the final opportunity for stakeholders and members of the public to have a say on the new map of constituencies in England. The Commission will also publish all comments received during the secondary consultation stage, including transcripts from the public hearings held around the country.

Following this upcoming final consultation, the Commission will form its final recommendations which will be submitted to Parliament by July 2023. The Government must then implement the recommendations, which will take effect at the next parliamentary election after the legislation is approved.

For more information and to view the revised proposals on 8 November, visit the BCE website here.