PUBLIC FORUM: A maximum of 30 minutes is allocated for members of the public to speak on any community matter. Questions to be posed to the Council should be submitted to the Clerk by 12 noon on the day of the meeting.
Email: Clerk@whitehouse-cc.gov.uk. Tel: 01908 875483
Members of the Public can join the meeting by Microsoft Teams:
Meeting ID: 336 028 307 052 Passcode: hzs3jP
AGENDA
1.WELCOME – The Chair to welcome all to the meeting and introduce Councillors present.
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – To accept apologies for absence, submitted to the Clerk prior to the start of the meeting.
- DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS – Councillors to declare any personal, prejudicial or pecuniary interest they may have in respect of any items on the agenda.
- MINUTES – To approve, and the Chair to sign as a correct record, the minutes of an Ordinary meeting of the Council, held on 19 December 2024. 2024-12-19_DRAFT MINUTES
- OPEN UNIVERSITY PROJECT – POVERTY AND STIGMA – Sheila Thornton (OU Project Lead) to provide the Council with a brief outline of a project funded by the Open University about living on a low income in MK’s new development areas, with a focus on Whitehouse. 2025-01-16_ITEM05_OU PROJEC
- NEW COMMUNITY FACILITIES – To receive an update on new community facilities in the Whitehouse area.
- MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC AMENITY LAND AND OPEN SPACE
- To discuss and highlight any maintenance issues in the area.
- To establish a Landscaping Working Group to consider the potential for devolving landscaping services from Milton Keynes City Council to Whitehouse Community Council.
- MK PLAY ASSOCIATION – OPEN ACCESS SUMMER PLAY SESSIONS – The Council to consider providing MK Play Association sessions during the summer school holidays. 2025-01-16_ITEM08_ MKPA SUMMER SESSIONS
- COUNCIL BUDGET 2024/2025
- To authorise payments made since the last meeting and payments to be made (To Follow)
- The Council to review and agree the current status of the 2024/2025 budget. (To Follow)
- DRAFT COUNCIL BUDGET 2025/2026 – The Council to give particular consideration to revenue and capital budget proposals for 2025/2026 and to further consider: 2025-01-16_ITEM10_DRAFT COUNCIL BUDGET 2025-2026
- Potential Capital and Revenue expenditure for the Hive
- Funding towards Youth Provision for a minimum of 2 years (subject to a successful grant to cover the cost of the first year of funding (earmarked reserves).
- Specific activities in 2025/2026 where early booking of activities or high demand services are required (e.g. Firework Display Services if a Diwali event is to go ahead in 2025/2026.
- To agree the Council’s De-Minimis Reserves for 2025/2026
- To agree the Council’s Earmarked and General Reserves for 2025/2026
- To agree the Council Budget for 2025/2026.
- PRECEPT 2025/2026 – Taking account of the agreed Council Budget 2025/2026, the Council’s 2025/2026 precept to be determined, based on an agreed Council Tax Base of 2280.51 (Average Band D properties).
- NALC CONFERENCE – The Council to consider nomination up to 2 people to attend the NALC Conference (America Conference Centre, London) on 23 June 2025. The conference theme is ‘Power Shift’ with an emphasis on the devolution agenda. 2025-01-16_ITEM12_NALC CONFERENCE
- MILTON KEYNES CITY COUNCIL CONSULTATION – BOUNDARY COMMISSION REVIEW – The proposal to place a Ward boundary in the middle of Whitehouse will be of particular significance and the Council may wish to formulate a response. Deadline for comment is at the end of January 2025.
- GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION – STANDARDS AND CONDUCTS FRAMEWORK IN ENGLAND – The Council to consider responding to the consultation on the introduction of a mandatory minimum Code of Conduct for Local Authorities in England (if introduced, this would apply to Town & Parish Councils). The aim is to strengthen the standards and conduct regime to ensure consistency of approach amongst Councils investigating breaches of the Code of Conduct, including the introduction of the power of suspension. Deadline for comment is end of February 2025. Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England – GOV.UK
- LICENSING – BOROUGHWIDE STREET TRADING CONSENT – LOCAL GOVERNMENT (Miscellaneous Provisions) ACT 1982 – The Council is invited to comment on the following Boroughwide Street trading application:
Name: Howe & Co.
Details: 8 Fish and Chip Vans
Proposed Trading Times: Mon to Sun 12:00 – 14:30 and 16:00 – 21:00
Type: Renewal
Deadline: 3 February 2025
(Note: Street Trading is prohibited within 250 metres of any school’s entrances and/or exits, during main school hours and 30 minutes following a school’s normal closing time)