The application by “Your Energy” to construct a wind farm consisting of seven turbines up to 125 metres high at Petsoe was determined by the Development Control Committee of Milton Keynes Council on Monday 17th. December.  The committee heard three representations against the application followed by three representations in favour of it. The officer recommendation to the committee, based mainly on advice from environmental consultancy firm White Young Green, was that planning permission for the wind farm should be given. Officers had also helpfully provided advice on grounds that could be used if the committee opted for refusal.

A motion to refuse planning permission for the wind farm was put to the committee and was defeated by six votes to five. The officer recommendation to grant permission was then moved and was approved by six votes to five. Planning permission for the wind farm was thus granted.

The Development Control Committee of the Council is a quasi judicial body which has delegated authority to grant or refuse planning applications. However, in this instance, the decision of the committee has been called into question by a group of councillors who have tabled a rescinding motion for the next main meeting of the Council on Tuesday 8th. January 2008.  If passed by the Council, this motion would have the effect of cancelling the planning permission and referring the matter back to the Development Control Committee for further consideration.  

After positive action by Cllr Steve Clark and Olney Town Council a Drinking Control Area covering the whole parish of Olney is now in force.  

Lib Dem Councillor Steve Clark was concerned following a rise in the number of incidents of anti-social behaviour during the summer of 2006.  Steve attended a meeting in September with the Council’s Chief Environmental Health Officer, Police Inspector Sue Usher and members of the Town Council, where it was agreed that a Drinking Control Area was needed.  A Drinking Control Area gives the police powers to deal with people and nuisance drinking.

Having consulted with local residents the necessary legal steps have been taken for a Drinking Control Area to be enforced.  Discrete signs have been put around the town telling residents about the area.  This means the Police can now stop anyone drinking alcohol if they are behaving in an anti-social or intimidating manner.  If the offender ignores the warning they face a £50 or £80 fine or arrest with a possible £500 fine if convicted.

Cllr Clark stated ‘We look forward to seeing the police using their new powers.  It will make our community safer and more welcoming’.

MK Lib Dems have welcomed the report of the Independent Inspectors Panel on the South East Plan which rejects a proposal by Conservative run Bucks County and Aylesbury Vale Councils that Milton Keynes should be expanded east of the M1 into our rural villages. “The Lib Dems are delighted that the Independent Panel which looked at the South East of England Plan sees no need to build houses to the East of the motorway” said Councillor Steve Clark. “We are also relieved that the Panel doesn’t believe there is a case for Milton Keynes to be asked to build even more homes, although the Government asked that more homes should be considered in the South East.”The Government now have to decide whether to accept the Inspectors recommendation.

Parking outside schools on the zig zag markings is currently dealt with by the police, but Lib Dem run MK Council want to see better enforcement, so new Traffic Regulation Orders are to be made which will enable the Council’s parking contractor, NCP, to issue tickets to motorists who park on the zig zag marks between 8.00 am and 5.00 pm.

The new Orders will be introduced in phases towards the end of the year. This should see all of the schools across the Borough included by 2010.

Lib Dem Councillor Steve Clark has requested that the schools in our area  should be included early in the programme.

Each school will be consulted prior to implementation of the new orders

 Supporting older residents to remain independent – and providing them with choices – is a priority for the Liberal Democrat Council, says local Olney Ward Councillor Steve Clark.

“A lot of crucial work goes on behind the scenes.  Examples are the community alarm system, providing disabled adaptations to homes, home care, free travel and ‘Plus Bus.’”

 Earlier this year saw Lovat Fields, the ExtraCare retirement village in Willen, open its doors to its first residents.  This offers people over 55, regardless of income or ability/disability, the opportunity for an active and social life.  Interest in the Village is so great that the Council is now planning a second one.

This isn’t the only improvement for older people.  Castlemead Court, a splendid state-of-the=art care home has just been opened in Newport Pagnell, the third such brand-new home built since the Lib Dems took over Milton Keynes Council.

The Government’s Minister for Waste has praised Liberal Democrat Milton Keynes Council as being one of the top authorities in England for tackling fly-tipping. She said, “Councils as diverse as Sheffield, Worthing and Milton Keynes are driving down fly-tipping through targeted, concerted action. I want other councils to follow their lead.”

Milton Keynes has seen a 35% reduction in fly-tipping incidents in 2006-07 and an increase in enforcement.

The Lib Dem run Milton Keynes Council has announced that it has no plans to introduce a ‘pay as you throw’ scheme following a recent announcement by the Labour Government to allow Local Councils to directly charge for rubbish collections.

Local Councillor Steve Clark says: ”We don’t see the need for the scheme in MK due to our relatively high recycling rates, currently 36%. We prefer to educate residents of the need to recycle”. He went on to say “We can’t continue to simple throw our rubbish into a big hole in the ground. Each household in Milton Keynes is currently paying £25 each in landfill tax and this will increase to around £33 each in April 2008 because the government is increasing the land fill tax. It is a simple equation the more rubbish we throw away in our black sacks the more we pay in tax”.

 Earlier this year (2007) we consulted you about what the Lib Dem led Milton Keynes  Council’s pledges should be.  We wanted to know which are most important to you.  Thank you to everyone who replied.  

You supported our pledges overall and they are listed below in YOUR order of priority. The Lib Dem Council will:

1.              Keep council tax rises to no more than inflation

2.       Help older people to live independently in their   community

3        Clean up any “grot” spots

4        Increase the number of community safety wardens

5                Provide more activities for young people

6                Promote energy efficiency across Milton Keynes 

We are delivering on our pledges. 

Council tax is Milton Keynes is well below the national average and the Lib Dem Council kept the rate of increase to the rate of inflation. 

We have taken on two more community safety wardens and invested an additional £200,000 in cleaning up the grot spots.

We will continue to deliver our pledges in the months ahead.

Following the Conservative controlled Local Government Association’s recent announcement supporting a move to fortnightly rubbish collection in order to push residents into recycling more, many residents have contacted us to say they want the rubbish collection to remain weekly.

Lib Dem Councillor Steve Clark is pleased to reassure local residents that the Liberal Democrat run Milton Keynes Council is committed to retaining weekly rubbish collections.

“It was the Liberal Democrats who brought back the weekly recycling collection when we took over the council in 2002, and since then recycling has continued to grow helped by the pink sacks, green bins and now the High Street recycling litter bins” said Steve Clark.  “Recycling is at an all time high in Milton Keynes, and we look forward to hearing the results of the kitchen food recycling schemes that are being trialled in parts of the borough”

Your Local Councillor  Steve Clark is one of the Governors at Olney Infant School and is  delighted that the school has benefited so much from the Liberal Democrat Council’s Primary Investment Programme.

Improvements to the school were made possible by the increased capacity brought about by the change in the Age of Transfer of children moving on to the Middle School. The school’s old computer room has been converted into a new multi-purpose room which can be used for cooking or special projects. At the same time, a former Year 3 classroom has been upgraded into a state-of-the-art computer suite. The contract to upgrade IT equipment throughout the school was won by the Council’s partner, Mouchel, and they have made a fantastic job of it. An Open Day for parents was held giving them the opportunity to see the improvements at first hand and also see their children working. The new computer suite was officially by the Mayor of Olney, John Smail, who was suitably impressed with the new facilities.