PRECEPT 2006

CAMPBELL PARK PARISH COUNCIL BUDGET AND LOCAL PRECEPT

Campbell Park Parish Council (CPPC) covers the estates and areas of Winterhill, Oldbrook, Fishermead, Springfield, Woolstone, Willen, Newlands and Campbell Park.

The Parish Council serves a population of over 15,000.  There are 20 Parish Councillors, democratically elected from each area or parish ward to serve your interests, and staff is employed to manage the affairs of the council on your behalf.

As an independent authority the Parish Council has a range of powers and duties with its own power to precept a Local Parish tax.    This is collected by Milton Keynes Council on behalf of the Parish, in order to provide services to local people.

Campbell Park Parish Council is recognised as being one of the most active amongst the 45 in the city.  Over the years the parish has built a reputation for being in the forefront of providing services at a local level.

The Parish employs six staff:

Clerk to Council                                                                  Patrick Langston

Community Safety Officer (the first in England)               Michael Hrycak         

Estates Manager                                                               Dominic Warner

Estates Officer                                                                   John McLinton

Administration Manager                                                    Janice Walker

Administration Officer                                                        Elaine Webb

The Parish has two vans with many uses including "clean ups".  Michael, Dominic and John have a responsibility for our work with environment, community safety and young people and can be seen out and about around the estates together with the Parish Councillors.

The Parish Council provides a range of services, including Community and Youth Work, services to clean up the local environment, improvement of crime prevention, provision of allotments at Willen and Woolstone, ownership of a recreation field, pavilion and meeting place at Oldbrook, working to upgrade and provide play areas, working with and supporting many Community Groups.  We will be continuing to keep you in touch with your parish through our magazine Parish Council News (delivered free through your letterbox).

Our programme for last year provided out-reach services at our "One Stop Shop" in Pencarrow Place, Fishermead, facilities which serves the whole of Campbell Park Parish.   These services included supporting Victim Support by providing a meeting room for a weekly "drop-in", environmental and general information.  We continue to provide small project grants for local community groups.

We have taken control of the Oldbrook Meeting Place, Oldbrook Green and Pavilion.    Last year saw the completion of the now popular Skateboard and Bike Park on Oldbrook Green.   We worked with residents and Milton Keynes Council to remove the hedge and improve the area in Kernow Crescent, Fishermead.


We part funded new residents parking in Mill Lane, Woolstone and have started a programme of improvement to the pond and adjoining wood in Woolstone.

We have worked with Milton Keynes Council to improve the shop front area on Springfield.   We are working with residents on Willen concerned over the BMX Park and have seen improvements to the Willen allotments and we continue to monitor work in Campbell Park on behalf of residents.

Our Spotlights on culture aimed at encouraging community cohesion have achieved national recognition.

Our Educational Trust last year gave £8,000 in small educational grants to parish residents.   These grants are only available to residents of Campbell Park Parish.

We and our staff are working closely with Thames Valley Police on establishing Neighbourhood Policing Offices.

Our office, staffed by Janice and Elaine, is open from 10.00am to 4.00pm, Monday to Thursday and 10.00am to 3.00pm on a Friday and there is almost always a Parish Councillor available to help you with any concerns you may have.

Last year, CPPC's budget was just under £420,000 plus a small contribution from reserves.   For the coming year the budget will be £433,000.   This will allow us to provide further local services which are targeted to your estates helping make them a safer, cleaner place to live and work in and to create happy and sustainable communities.   It is also our hope to further build on the community involvement of residents in this parish.

Our precept rise this year will be 3.1% which is a considerable decrease on the last two years.

The Campbell Park Parish Council figure for a Band D house will be £93.30 in 2006/7.   However as 79% of houses in the parish are Bands A,B and C, most houses will pay less than this.   This money when collected can ONLY be used in the six wards within the parish.