Chair’s Report to Council on the Council Year 2007-08

27/05/08 — published by Mikki Thomas

Campbell Park Parish CouncilChair’s Report, May 2008At the NALC (National Association of Local Councils) conference in October we were told by a variety of speakers from a government minister downwards that parish councils should be ready to take on new and expanded roles; it is appropriate then that the dominant theme of this year in Campbell Park Parish Council has been our on-going discussions about our future role: what are our key tasks and how should we be structured to carry them out?We have consulted the public about their priorities through an extensive questionnaire sent out in the summer, the raw results of which have just become available, and through the Parish Meeting, an innovation in 2007.  Consultation will continue in 2008/9 with a new series of “Your Neighbourhood” events round the parish, and the Parish Meeting.We have spent an away day and a special council meeting discussing the same topics – our key tasks, and the structure that follows from them - and the debate continues in the hands of a small working party.  2008 will see the culmination of this process, and a clear path ahead defined by the council.Meanwhile the council has been getting on with the tasks it has set itself.  The Planning Committee has commented on every planning application, and presented the views of the parish and its inhabitants to Milton Keynes Council; often this has been successful, in that decisions have reflected the views we have presented.  In other areas, such as houses in multiple occupation, we have been less successful.Our two public service committees, Environment and Community Action, have been active throughout the year.  Our public hall has been refurbished, and further improvements are in the pipeline; the empty landscape depot has been brought back into productive use.  Our allotments are fully let with a waiting list – we will soon need to consider providing more as Campbell Park grid square grows in population.  There are exciting plans for renewing the landscape of Kernow Crescent in Fishermead, including an expanded childrens’ play area.   The parish continues to support youth work in the parish – for example, through supporting youth clubs such as the Springfield Initiative and Fishermead Academy, and summer holiday activities for children.  We are building future capacity for these activities through the sponsored training of new youth leaders for the parish.  At the other end of the age scale we are exploring with Age Concern what our older population needs from us.The varied national and ethnic composition of the parish is reflected in our continued promotion of Spotlight events, and our support for MKREC’s highly acclaimed Diversity Ball.The parish has supported artistic endeavours in the parish – the Campbell Park Community Choir, work by MK City Orchestra and the Banner project, for example.We have also given generous assistance to the refurbishment of one of the parish’s most outstanding buildings, the seventeenth century church in Willen.The obelisk has finally been installed in its permanent home as a part of the landscape linking Springfield and Campbell Park.  The parish’s search for a new home continues, and, if we choose to build new offices, the location has been determined as the pavilion on Oldbrook Green.  Feasibility studies continue. Milton Keynes Council is reviewing the boundaries of parish councils, and it looks likely that our suggestion that we amalgamate with Central Milton Keynes Parish, to improve the service to all our parishioners, is being received sympathetically. All this has been achieved without an increase in the council’s council tax.Behind it all is the hard work of every councillor, all of whom give their time and abilities as best they are able, and the council’s dedicated staff.  To both may I give my personal thanks for each individual’s unique contribution.  It is invidious to single anyone out for particular mention, but two people cannot be overlooked.  Yvonne Honeywell retired after over sixteen years of dedicated service as a councillor – she deserves especial thanks.   Michael Hrycak, of our staff, spent much of the year not in the office, but on active service in Afghanistan as an officer in the Territorial Army.  We have been relieved to learn of his recent safe return.  There are, inevitably, omissions from this report.  Some are because of the need for brevity; some because of my poor memory.  I apologise if I have left out a key topic or vital issue. Campbell Park Parish CouncilChair's Report, May 2008
At the NALC (National Association of Local Councils) conference in October we were told by a variety of speakers from a government minister downwards that parish councils should be ready to take on new and expanded roles; it is appropriate then that the dominant theme of this year in Campbell Park Parish Council has been our on-going discussions about our future role: what are our key tasks and how should we be structured to carry them out?
We have consulted the public about their priorities through an extensive questionnaire sent out in the summer, the raw results of which have just become available, and through the Parish Meeting, an innovation in 2007. Consultation will continue in 2008/9 with a new series of "Your Neighbourhood" events round the parish, and the Parish Meeting.
We have spent an away day and a special council meeting discussing the same topics - our key tasks, and the structure that follows from them - and the debate continues in the hands of a small working party. 2008 will see the culmination of this process, and a clear path ahead defined by the council.
Meanwhile the council has been getting on with the tasks it has set itself. The Planning Committee has commented on every planning application, and presented the views of the parish and its inhabitants to Milton Keynes Council; often this has been successful, in that decisions have reflected the views we have presented. In other areas, such as houses in multiple occupation, we have been less successful.
Our two public service committees, Environment and Community Action, have been active throughout the year. Our public hall has been refurbished, and further improvements are in the pipeline; the empty landscape depot has been brought back into productive use. Our allotments are fully let with a waiting list - we will soon need to consider providing more as Campbell Park grid square grows in population. There are exciting plans for renewing the landscape of Kernow Crescent in Fishermead, including an expanded childrens' play area. The parish continues to support youth work in the parish - for example, through supporting youth clubs such as the Springfield Initiative and Fishermead Academy, and summer holiday activities for children. We are building future capacity for these activities through the sponsored training of new youth leaders for the parish. At the other end of the age scale we are exploring with Age Concern what our older population needs from us.
The varied national and ethnic composition of the parish is reflected in our continued promotion of Spotlight events, and our support for MKREC's highly acclaimed Diversity Ball.
The parish has supported artistic endeavours in the parish - the Campbell Park Community Choir, work by MK City Orchestra and the Banner project, for example.We have also given generous assistance to the refurbishment of one of the parish's most outstanding buildings, the seventeenth century church in Willen.
The obelisk has finally been installed in its permanent home as a part of the landscape linking Springfield and Campbell Park. The parish's search for a new home continues, and, if we choose to build new offices, the location has been determined as the pavilion on Oldbrook Green. Feasibility studies continue.
Milton Keynes Council is reviewing the boundaries of parish councils, and it looks likely that our suggestion that we amalgamate with Central Milton Keynes Parish, to improve the service to all our parishioners, is being received sympathetically.
All this has been achieved without an increase in the council's council tax.
Behind it all is the hard work of every councillor, all of whom give their time and abilities as best they are able, and the council's dedicated staff. To both may I give my personal thanks for each individual's unique contribution. It is invidious to single anyone out for particular mention, but two people cannot be overlooked. Yvonne Honeywell retired after over sixteen years of dedicated service as a councillor - she deserves especial thanks. Michael Hrycak, of our staff, spent much of the year not in the office, but on active service in Afghanistan as an officer in the Territorial Army. We have been relieved to learn of his recent safe return.
There are, inevitably, omissions from this report. Some are because of the need for brevity; some because of my poor memory. I apologise if I have left out a key topic or vital issue.