My Time as the Milton Keynes Labour Party Secretary

I enjoyed my time as the Milton Keynes Labour Party Secretary, sadly I had to resign due to taking up the post as Parish Clerk at Loughton & Great Holm Parish Council, as they politically restricted my post.

My replacement is Carol Wood, I am pleased to say that I could give her a complete handover, unlike when I was voted in at the Annual General Meeting, I had with no paperwork or folders, I had to start everything from scratch, I had produced templates, folders copies of agendas and minutes, to do lists, and lists of agenda items for future meetings, action notes etc all on a pen drive and transferred to my successor.

I am proud to say that in my short time I had move things on to a more professional manner the following is by no means an exhaustive list but gives an indication of the work involved:

• Minuted and produced agendas for all meetings of the Executive Committee, All Members Meetings, Strategy Committee
• Oversaw and organized all matters relating to the selection of the Parliamentary Candidates for Milton Keynes North and South as Procedures Secretary
• Written up and sent to Head Office bids for campaign funds
• In regular contact and met with the Chair of the Milton Keynes Labour Party Cllr Camilla Turnbull 
• Appointed an Observer at Meetings of the Labour Group and met with the Chair of the Milton Keynes Labour Party and the Leader of the Labour Group Cllr Norman Miles to discuss matters beforehand
• Invited speakers to All Members Meetings such as Ellie Reeves of the Labour Party National Executive Committee (NEC)    

It was very hard work but very enjoyable although I hope Carol has many years yet in the role, but I hope when my personal circumstances change that I could go back to being the Secretary. 

Former Labour MP for Manchester Central Tony Lloyd addresses the All Members Meeting on Thursday 6th September 2012 at the Tinkers Bridge Meeting Place

From Left to Right Brian Barton (Secretary), Cllr Camilla Turnbull (Chair), Gareth Thomas MP for Harrow East and Shadow International Development Secretary. Thursday 1st March 2012. — at Activity Centre, Eaglestone .

         

Driving Mr McNicol

Saturday 11th May 2013

There was a good turnout at the All Members Annual General Meeting Held at the Warwick Road Activity Centre in Bletchley. I got the job of ticking in members as they came in from a list given to me by Kevin Wilson and gave those in the Milton Keynes South Constituency a voting form which added to the complications of trying to make sure I gave the voting slip to the right members. Speeches were made by Andrew Pakes PPC for Milton Keynes South and Emily Darlington PPC for Milton Keynes North Cllr Peter Marland Leader of the Labour Group and Guest Speaker Iain NcNicol General Secretary of the Labour Party (who I picked up from Milton Keynes Central Railway Station in the middle of the meeting with Jack Jenkins - Organisor, Iain was asking us questions in the car about the local party, and whether we had a Labour Hall, he also asked me to tell him a bit about myself!)
I drove them both back safely to Warwick Road and dropped them off and spent ages trying to find a parking space!
During the meeting I was tasked with trying to take photographs, but to no avail the room was too dark no matter how I tried I couldn't get a good picture so gave up. Luckily David Baume had a really good camera and seemed to be taking photographs so I did not worry too much and asked him to email some across to me.
When the meeting finished I was also asked to get as many of the Council Candidates together for group photographs with the Parliamentary Candidates I was like a bossy Teacher rounding them up from all corners of the room taking plates of sandwiches and the ladies case their handbags off them and put to one side, again David Baume came to the rescue with his expensive camera.   
I also had a chance to grab some sandwiches myself and speak to MEP candidates Maggie Hughes and James Watkins and Emily Westley, when leaving Iain McNicol who was getting a lift in Emily Darlington's car thanked me and one female MEP candidate gave me a lovely hug and a kiss which left me on a high which I never have done before when leaving a Labour Party AGM!    

Chairing My First Milton Keynes Labour Party All Members Meeting

Thursday 1st November 2011

Cllr Camilla Turnbull and the Vice - Chair Cllr Veronica Belcher were both unavailable so I was asked to Chair this All Members Meeting, must of done well as I got a round of applause at the end when I brought the meeting to a close at 9:30PM 

Left to Right Andrew Pakes, John Woodcock MP for Barrow and Furness and Shadow Transport Secretary, Brian Barton (Chair) and Alderman Kevin Wilson (Organiser) at the All Members Meeting. Thursday 1st November 2011. at the Trinity Centre, Fishermead.

Driving Ms Harman

Saturday 2nd March 2013

I had the pleasure of collecting Harriet Harman MP Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and her Office Manager from the Milton Keynes Central Railway Station with Cllr Elaine Wales (who I picked up from her home in Loughton).

Harriet did ask what car it was (a Fiat Panda) and said she liked it and used the vanity mirror as I was driving!

I dropped them all off at the Whaddon Way shops and parked opposite in the new offices of West Bletchley Council, when I crossed over the road Catherine told me that she left her handbag in the car so we back to retrieve it.

In should of got Elaine to ring through to find out where everyone was and then drove everyone to the street where the campaign team were, as we walked for what seemed forever as Harriet and Elaine had a head start I was breathlessly talking to Catherine.  

We found the team and Harriet knock on doors chatting to residents I spoke with Cllrs Norman Miles Hannah O'Neill Mohammed Khan Gladstone MacKenzie and Kevin Wilson.

One my other tasks was to take photographs as I was told that Rae Martin-Smith (Organiser) would be absent recovering from the Eastleigh by election, but disaster struck the camera was not charged, but as it turned out Rae was here after all! 

I managed to catch up with Harriet who said to me how much she could hear the birds in the trees unlike where she lives in London we talked about memoirs and Ed Milliband and her Children who had fled the nest to go to University!  

I was invited to go with Harriet, Catherine, Rae, Andrew Pakes and Emily Darlington to ASDA's at the Stadium MK for a photo opp with staff who had collected items from customers for the Foodbank. Somehow I managed to get lost I was driving on my own as everyone else went in Rae's car, and by the time I found a parking space and got into the ASDA store they were finished, but Emily asked me for a lift to Camilla Turnbull's house where everyone was going back to for sandwiches, she seemed very quiet on the way back, but as I was to learn afterwards she had a bad throat!  

Later on we went outside for a group photograph and Harriet gave a rousing motivational speech about campaigning.  

Everyone then departed to carry on campaigning, at Oxley Park, Kevin Wilson took Harriet and Catherine back to Milton Keynes Central, and before I left I handed back a large poster back to Rae as I took it from her at the Whaddon Way shops so she had more room in her car, I reminded Elaine that I also had her leaflets in the back of my car (as now she had borrowed her brothers car, which we went to another part of West Bletchley as I said I would help her deliver them.)

A very tiring but interesting day which I won't forget in a hurry!

Spring Edition of the Loughton Parish News 2013

Brian Barton New Parish Clerk 

I have been appointed as Parish Clerk for Loughton Parish Council since January 2^nd 2013.

I would like to thank my predecessor Jenny Wilcox for her showing me the ropes along with the Chair Cllr Peter Todd, and for the kind welcome that the Councillors have given me whilst I have been finding my feet.

I have recently attended a meeting of the Loughton and Great Holm Neighbourhood Action Group to introduce myself to the community leaders on that body and had an extensive tour of Loughton by Cllr Peter Todd and Great Holm by Cllr Peter Ballantyne which I am grateful for them sparing the time to do so.

I am also grateful to Ken Vaughan the Site Manager of the Specklands Allotment Site on Loughton for giving me a tour showing me the various types of plots and produces being grown by the tenants.

I have worked in the Parish and Town Council sector now for over 12 years as a Committee and Member Services Manager and I am CILCA qualified which is the industry preferred qualification for Parish Clerks, as well as previously having served as an Milton Keynes Councillor, a Parish Councillor, a School Governor and a Board/Committee member of a number of local organisations from the Milton Keynes Museum for Rural Life to the MacIntyre Care.  

I am looking forward to the challenge of this new appointment. My career has focussed in local parish administration and I have been interested in doing the senior officer role for quite some time. I think this is an excellent opportunity and I look forward to working with the members of the parish council and local stakeholders to develop further the work of the parish council.

If you have any questions concerning the Parish Council or you wish to contact me to introduce yourself I am always available and can be contacted by the following ways:

c/o 17, Mossdale

Heelands

Milton Keynes

MK13 7NE

Telephone: 07779261364

Email:  parish.clerk@loughtonmk-pc.gov.uk

The Time is Nigh!

Saturday 8th December 2012

Emily Darlington MK North Candidate with Andrew Pakes MK South Candidate with supporters outside the Kiln Farm Club

As I got near to the venue there were cars everywhere on both sides of the road it took a while to edge through had to take a short cut through a car park and I twigged why there was such a jam there was an Oriflame presentation happening nearby.

I was the fiIrst to arrive (at 10:00am) followed by the Chair, Regional Organiser and NEC Observer, and the local Organiser.

It was a cold but sunny morning I brought my camera along and the ballot papers, a couple of pens (you see you can't take the Clerk out of the boy to adapt a saying) always trying to be prepared.

The Kiln Farm Club on Tilers Road on Kiln Farm (surprise, surprise) is a lovely venue which I was told used to be the Milton Keynes Development Corporation Social Club and I guess was an old Farm House with a barn and various extensions, once inside the atmosphere was quite cosy all brick walls and pillars split level with a bar at the end.

A stage with chairs thankfully had already been set up all we had to do was put a table and chairs at the entrance and and put the banners up next to the stage.

I had the first job of marking the members off the list as they came in with the Organiser shouting out the names (must be my age now but to read the small print I had to take my glasses off so everyone was literally a blur as they came in.) My god it was so cold with the door open my fingers was numb trying to turn the pages over as I was marking the names off and writing down email addresses or to update contact numbers, one kind member offered to get us a cup of tea but foolishly I declined it all got a bit manic with various people whispering in my ear or shouting my name out about various matters but considering I'm a bloke I multi tasked well.

At the start of the meeting the Chair asked me to read out the number of eligiable members who could vote which I did with my best formal Clerks voice on.

I then could relax and sat at the back to listen to the candidates speeches which were very good which were followed by questions and ranged from the NHS, the Unions, engagement with young people and the voters, pensions, Food Banks, Jobs and Benefits.

Then I voted and had to wait until everyone else had done so followed by first counting the postal votes and all the other votes cast, it always seems the longest part of the selection process the Chair then announced the winner who was Emily Darlington.

After a few thank you speeches (one of which Emily had given me a name check along with others who she was grateful for their advice given which touched me), it was my time then to take a group photograph I wanted to use the garden courtyard but it was felt we might lose people trying to get them to walk round to there so used the area to the outside of the club.

Everyone was handed a poster or Vote Labour billboard and then like a photograper at a wedding I had to round up everyone get them to stand closer together hurry up stragglers and shout out as to where Andrew Pakes and Emily where, as back up her husband took photographs from his I Phone.

I was impressed how I turned very bossy and projected my voice to get everyone in position to look the right way at me as I do not have a booming Brian Blessed voice (still the result of which you can see at the beginning of my blog piece).

Once inside I did a bit of tidying up and was invited to a pub for a celebration drink with Emily and a few other party members in Stony Stratford.

I was thanked by various party members for my work as the Procedures Secretary which was very nice I was buzzing now it was all over and quite relieved all had gone smoothly.

It was a good job I bumped into Emily and her husband in the car park as I was unsure as to which pub they had decided to meet in luckily another party member spotted us to say the Bull which was orginally decided on was closed for refurbishment, we then went to the Cock Hotel and nobody was there! thank god for Google and mobile phones as we got instructions that everyone was in the Crown at the Market Square.

Once inside I had to tell someone that this was the place where Paul McGann and Richard E Grant filmed a scene from Withnail and I, I then saw photograps of them on the wall of them filming that scene.

Shame I didn't get the chance to tell them of the time I had my photograph with Paul McCann at the Stadium MK earlier this year and how he gave me a hearty slap on the back for some bizzare reason, and that when I came to get his autograph he was more interested chatting to the girl about the same place he went on holiday as her oh well a missed opportunity but maybe for another time!             

Loughton Parish Council Appoints New Parish Clerk

Loughton Parish Council today announces that it has appointed a new Parish Clerk.
Loughton Parish Council has decided to upgrade the role of the Parish Clerk from 6 hours a week (previously) to 28 hours a week (0.75 full time equivalent). This has necessitated a change of incumbent.

The change is due to the increased activities of the Parish Council in Loughton which has meant that the job of Parish Clerk has become a lot busier. The Parish Clerk is the only employee of the Parish Council (unlike other parishes in Milton Keynes which employ a number of administrative staff). The new appointment starts from 1st January 2013.

Chairman of Loughton Parish Council, Peter Todd, said :-
"Loughton Parish Council is working hard to engage with local residents. We have seen this for example in the consultation with all residents in Loughton over the changes to the Loughton parking restrictions. We have also started to publish a newsletter delivered to all homes in Loughton and Great Holm to update residents on local issues and to listen to their views on local issues and effectively represent their views on matters of planning and other changes affecting their neighbourhood, and helping to renew play areas. The Council has historically had a rather low profile with local residents but local residents are now more aware of the activities of their local parish council and like to see the area being improved bit by bit"

The new appointee as Parish Clerk is Mr Brian Barton. Brian has been awarded the CILCA qualification which is the industry preferred qualification for Parish Clerks and has over 12 years experience working in local government as a Committee and Member Services Manager, as well as previously having served as an MK Councillor, a Parish Councillor, a School Governor and a Board/Committee member of a number of local organisations from the MK Museum for Rural Life to the MacIntyre Care.

Commenting on his new appointment, Brian Barton said :-
"I am looking forward to the challenge of this new appointment. My career has focussed in local parish administration and I have been interested in doing the senior officer role for quite some time. I think this is an excellent opportunity and I look forward to working with the members of the parish council and local stakeholders to develop further the work of the parish council"

Chairman Peter Todd also paid tribute to the outgoing clerk, Mrs Jenny Wilcox :-
"Jenny has done an excellent job as Parish Clerk. She has been organised, reliable, diligent and supportive. I have appreciated the advice and assistance she has provided and the helpful pointers she has given me in trying to effectively perform the role of Chairman. She has often been inundated with work and has put in countless unpaid hours and deserves significant recognition for her commitment and service to the local community. Jenny is leaving us at the end of January 2013 after a period of handover and I would like to wish her all the best for the future "

Author: Peter Todd Published: Wednesday 12th December 2012