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 

My Endorsement

Friday 7th December 2012

Maybe out of synch as regards the date, as I have been so busy finding the time of late to keep my blog up to date exciting you of my tales and the fun I have been having as Procedures Secretary I hope you have been enjoying the ride so far?

Any way as I said in a previous blog Emily had asked me to send her an endorsement in my own words which I had emailed her a while back, well imagine my surprise when I opened my post to see a glossy leaflet from Emily with my quote in which read as follows:

"I am happy to endorse Emily Darlington to become Labour Parliamentary Candidate for the Milton Keynes North Constituency.

I am convinced that she is the right candidate to take the fight to the Tories in 2015.

Emily has a great campaigning record that proves that she can engage with all sections of the community and the management/people skills to motivate and recruit a great team around her to win the Milton Keynes North Constituency for Labour."

Brian Barton
MKCLP Secretary and Proud GMB Member

Not sure if it was pure coincidence but she had on the first page written a paragraph about her back story so perhaps my advice was listened to!

Also recieved an equally good colour glossy leaflet from Rebakah Peterson. 

As Frank Carson Would Say and There's More!

Thursday 6th December 2012

This time I was eagerly waiting the usual Thursday thud through the door for obvious reasons was there any more for any more oh yes there is (in the traditional pantomine season of the year) and it could be argued what a pantomine!

This was the headline on page 18 of the Citzen newspaper:

"No Women From MK on Labour's Female Only Shortlist"

Followed by:

"Prospective MP is Not From MK"

So the revalation is that neither candidate is from Milton Keynes and that Emily's Father In Law Roger has a high profile Blog called "Night Hawk" and often blogs that he often enjoys picking his Grand Daughter up from a London Nursery on the South Bank.

The article also says that Emily uses her Mother In Law's address in Ashlands.

However Kevin Wilson (Organiser) said that she is on the local electoral roll and that she has family in Milton Keynes and is often in London for work purposes.

So there you go hopefully this should be the last of it (or is it famous last words).

Front Page News

Thursday 29th November 2012

The usual thud of the Citzen Newspaper through my door a time I look forward to as sad to admit I like reading the local papers, but imagine my horror of seeing the front page:

"Complaints over female only for would be MP Candidates sent to Labour Party HQ"

Follwed by the main headline:

"Sexism row over over Women Only Rule" 

The jist of the article highlights that an Executive Committee member is the mother in law of emily, that Brian White former MP cannot stand that a Labour stalwart is withholding his membership over this, and quotes from two female Labour Councillors saying its all wrong, with a bit saying Labour Party Executive members had decided to enforce an All Womens Shortlist against the wishes of members.

All very tiresome and unnecessary just hope that there is no backlash from it all, there was me hoping that under my watch as Procedures Secretary everything would run under the radar how wrong was I nothing like this happened when I was involved in the Milton Keynes South selection!   

An Audience With Emily

Friday 23rd November 2012

Went to see Emily Darlington at her inlaws house in Ashlands, I wanted to know a bit more about her as I was undecided who to vote for.

One the one hand I liked Rebakah Perterson's working class background as a Train Driver and that she was fairly local living in Leighton Buzzard, that is not to say that Emily had no local connections obviously her family lives in Milton Keynes and that she has a base here.

I just was fed up with candidates that went from University became Special Advisers and then through knowing the inner circle of the Labour leadership get the connections to go on to better things, I do not doubt for one minute that such indivduals are not hard working and often not on great salaries, perhaps I'm just bitter that I never went to University and had to work hard at every job not achieving a lot, with sometimes having to sign on or do dead end jobs before getting a decent one.

As we were both about to sit down with a cup of tea to get to know each other a bit more her Father In Law went out the door to drive her work colleague back to Milton Keynes Central (they had both been campaigning in Olney where Emily had rushed back from there to meet me). However Emily realised that he had not left her with any keys so we were both locked in the house I did say I had been left in worse places it was afterall a very gorgeous house and I am sure there was plenty to eat and drink, Emily was frantically banging the window and waving to her colleague, who was waving back thinking no doubt shes was being very friendly seeing her off, of course it did not make the slightest difference as they drove off.

Still we got down to business Emily started talking about her background her family came from Wales her Father had a job which sent them to Canada and she came back to the UK to look after her Grandmother after her Grandfather had died and had to support herself working in pubs (so unlike my perception of her was completely wrong that she had a gilded life) until she found a job working for the GMB Union then as a Special Advisor to Alistair Darling MP Chancellor of the Exchequer in the last Labour Government, and how her career had suffered as she refused to take positions on the ongoing Tony Blair/Gordon Brown infighting (which endeared me to her even more) and therefore was not included in either inner circle.

She had recently starting up her own business and has loyal members of staff out campaigning for her and the Milton Keynes Labour Party.

She then told me how she gave birth to her daughter on an Accident and Emergency corridor on a trolley rushed there in pain in a back of a taxi all because the Hospital had a lack of Mid Wives so she uses the NHS as well another plus point in her favour!

We talked about the enonomy and homelessnes she said how she interviewd homeless people here in the UK and Canada for a piece of work she was doing and what came out clearly was how hopeless they felt and how little ambition they had as they did not want to be disappointed if their dreams did not come true it was all very sad to hear.

I did advise her that she should tell more party members about her back story as I got the feeling I was not alone in thinking that she had a privledged and well connected background, it was interesting how she felt that the other candidate had a better operation because of union backing, funny as I told her I felt she had good support by MP's and former Government Ministers!

I was quite amazed how our conversation was not rushed and that we covered a lot of ground I think all in all we spent three hours chatting quite a feat.

I felt comfortable enougth to say I was happy to giver her my first preference vote, Emily asked me if I was happy to make a written endorsement which I consented to.

I did say if she needed any advice or help to let me know (not that I am sure I could give her any) for which she said she would.

Oh and in case you were wondering Emily's Father In Law did eventually return in the middle of our conversation so I was safe in the knowledge I could get home and not have to spend the night in Ashlands lovely though the place is!    

A Little Unexpected Work for me to do

Monday 19th November 2012

I hot footed it from the Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council offices to the Labour Hall not remembering why Kevin Wilson wanted me to be there for but I would soon find out.

It seemed it was to stuff envelopes for the postal ballot applicants that had been approved for one, and the system was as follows

1. covering letter
2. confirmation of ID form
3. ballot paper
4. ballot envelope
5. candidates statement (Kevin Wilson was at pains to fold half the pile of copies so that both candidates had equal billing)
6. freepost envelope

I was aslso asked to check that all paperwork was in order (which it was) then I put all the papers in the envelopes sealed them and put second class stamps on.

I was asked to keep a pile of ballot papers to take with me to the final hustings and count, he then used a makeshift box which was sealed with labels and we both signed each one very inventive we are in the Labour Party.

With that I went home and posted all the letters at the post box outside the Heelands shops!    

The Candidates

Emily Darlington 

I am an active campaigner in Milton Keynes, out on the door step for Super Saturdays, helping organise street stalls and taking part in Party meetings.

I campaigned for our council candidates in May where we gained 7 seats and 7 great councillors putting us in good stead to win the council in 2014. It was great to see Labour gains for the Liberal Democrats in Bradwell, Campbell Park and Wolverton and to see Margaret Burke beat the Tories in Stantonbury. 

I have national experience, travelling across the country as a volunteer in the 2010 General Election to organise campaign visits for Gordon Brown and other ministers.

- In the 2005 election, I worked at Labour HQ, helped draft the business manifesto and working in the press office.

I was a special adviser at the Department of Trade and Industry and the Treasury covering issues of innovation, economic growth and personal taxation. In government, I helped deliver 28 days holiday for all workers, simplifications to child tax credits and an increasing science budget.

Rebakah Peterson  

I have been an active member of a Labour-affiliated trade union for 19 years, and I joined the Labour Party as a full member in 2008. I am a delegate to the National Policy Forum (NPF) for the trade union section, division II, and have attended the NPFs held in Gillingham, Wrexham and Aston. Further to this I am elected to the Crime, Justice, Citizenship and Equality policy committee, regularly attending and contributing to the meetings alongside shadow Cabinet members.

I attended the Labour Party Conference in 2011 in ex-officio capacity as an NPF member, and I represented South West Bedfordshire CLP as a delegate at the 2012 conference in Manchester. I have also attended the London Labour Party conference on behalf of my trade union ASLEF on two occasions. 

I stood as a town councillor in the 2010 local election for Leighton-Linslade, although I was unsuccessful, and I have campaigned in local, regional and national elections.

I attend my local Labour branch meetings when shift-work commitments allow, and I am engaged in jointly setting up a local trade union liaison (TULO) group.

 

Meet the Candidates

Saturday 17th November 2012

Kevin Wilson had rang me the day before to see if I could arrive at the Cross and Stable on Downs Barn at 10:00am to set up as he had to go canvassing as the day clashed with a super Saturday campaigning event.

I met Kevin in the car park and was given a couple of bags full of tea bags, coffee, sugar  biscuits and a couple of cartons of milk, the Caretaker was a couple of minutes late as her son had lost his shoe, but once inside I got out cups, saucers and laid out the biscuits on a plate filled up both kettles, Carole Baume came to the rescue and offered to make cups of tea and coffee for members and said how organised I was and Kevin said I was very domesticated, Dave Newens thought I was a bit optmistic with the amount of cups I had laid out, I chatted with one of the candidates about yesterdays victory in the Corby by election and the first Crime and Police Commissioner Elections.

I was also tasked with getting members to give me their contact details, before going into the meeting room, I offered to hover near to the doors to greet late comers.

There was about twenty or so who came out which was not bad then after both candidates statements there were two tables for each candidate to chat and members to ask questions, it seemed to go very well and went right up to the time allotted.

Sadly I missed what was said and did not get involved with the question and answer sessions around the table as I ended up having a long chat first with Carol Wood in the kitchen and then Pete Marland in the hallway.

I had a couple of complaints about the event clashing with Councillor surgeries and the Super Saturday but what ever we did it would clash with something and we had a tight timescale to do all this in, and from someone about being featured in a candidates leaflet but at the end of the day candidates are responsible for the content they produce.

I helped to clear up by putting the banners away etc and lugged them both along with the bags full of the tea coffee etc into the back of my car and drove to the Labour Hall.

I unloaded everything and saw Pete Marland and Sarah Richardson with both candidates and Kevin Wilson.

As drove out from the car park Emily Darlington stopped to offer to meet up for a chat which I will take her up on her kind offer. 

   

Its Shortlisting Time

Saturday 10th November 2012 

I arrived at the Labour Hall for the Shortlisting meeting to interview two candidates Emily Darlington and Rebakah Peters.

Both from two very different backgrounds one who working at the Treasury as an advisor and worked for the Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling MP and now runs her own business, the other a train driver and ASLEF union activist.

We had agreed a list of questions and went round in turns to ask them, one candidate had a cold but still did very well, and again the statements and answers to all the questions were tackled very differently from each candidate both were very good and we had no problems in letting them through to the hustings and campaigning stages with party members.

It was just a shame one candidate withdraw due to family issues and another due to a clash of a teaching committment.   

A Conference Call Beckons

Sunday 4th November 2012

Stayed at home most of the day and tried to keep reminding myself that there was a longlisting conference call at 6:00pm, in the end I wrote a post it note and left it on the coffee table that way I could not forget.

When the time arrived I wondered whether I would be able to hear everyone as the noise from the fireworks was pretty loud.

I dialled the number given too me and discovered I was the first in the conference room, it is strange hearing everyone introduce themselves most of us were there but we were waiting for one other person, (although Pete Marland thought I was not there!) not all of us were on as someone gave their apologies due to a family illness a sister that went down with appendicitise bless her.

We in turn and in althabetical order (which mean't I was first) made our views known and decided all candidates were interviewing Dave Newens who was chairing then discussed about the questions we would ask etc.

It was differcult not to cut across each other but we all had a good discussion, near towards the end I had to laugth when Pete Marland asked if he could be excused as he wanted his tea and I concurred so did I we said our goodbyes.   

Milton Keynes North Selection for a Parliamentary Candidate

Monday 24th September 2012

Its that time again to select a Parliamentary Candidate, I had sent out an email to those members of the Executive Committee living in the present Milton Keynes North Constituency, who would form the Selection Committee to invite them to todays first Selection Committee meeting.

This time it will be conducted under an All Women's Shortlist, we met at the Labour Hall to agree the membership of the committee, the Regional Organiser along with the NEC Observer was there to go through the process to agree the membership freeze date, a budget, the membership list and of course a Procedures Secretary, oh how I dreaded that one, of course readers of this blog (I doubt there is many of you) will know I had undertaken this role for the selection for the Milton Keynes South parliamentary spokesperson (I use this term as I'm not sure if the same legal rules apply, I do not want to get into trouble and kick start election expenses it has always been etched on to my brain), anyway as there was not a queue of takers when I was asked I mock tried to hide underneath the table to show my weariness of taking on the role for a second time but of course dear readers I did accept the nomination as they say in Local Government circles.

To be fair the last time went very smoothly and the local organiser did most of the donkey work, (I mean that in the nicest way of course) but it was still a lot of work for me to do, still if I'm honerst I still enjoyed it and will most likely will again.

So that was it a short and sweet meeting and now the fun and games begin.

A Letter arrived in the Post

Monday 1st October 2012

A letter arrived in the post today nothing unsual you might say in that, but this one was about the selection process and confirming that my membership is all up to date and that I am eligable to vote.

Members of course can appeal if they are told that they are ineligable to vote because they have not been a member for six months or over from the freeze date, i.e from the Selection meeting date (Monday 24th September 2012) are you still awake and following? or if in arrears they can pay up and then be able to take part.

Anyway the reason I bring this letter up is that it was addressed to me Dear Brian etc and ended Yours Sincerely Brian Barton Procedures Secretary brillant eh or should I get out more?

Well I have confirmation from the Treasurer that the budget has been agreed and on Friday 5th October 2012, the list of postal vote requests with reasons why they need one.

Now of course things will be quiet as everyone has gone off to Labour Party Conference in Manchester!   

My Letter to MKNEWS in Support of Woughton Community Council

Dear Sirs

As a former employee of Woughton Community Council who was one of the four redundancies referred to in your article. I thought I would write (as I am now in a position to do so), to say how sad I am to read that yet again the most poorest communities are to suffer a potential loss of services not through the fault of the Community Council, but because of the way that Parish and Town Council's can raise their funding due to the tax banding (with all properties in the Parish being in the lower tax bands with not many bigger properties being able to offset this anomaly, unlike other mixed communities in Parish and Town Councils throughout Milton Keynes.)

I shall resist commenting on the rights and wrongs of Woughton on the Green, Woughton Park and Passmore being granted to set up their own Parish Council, as it was traumatic to say the least being a member of staff having to work in the middle of the cross fire and I don't wish to re live that experience, although suffice to say that I think Milton Keynes Council's Boundary Review Panel missed a trick, in working up proposals for bigger financially sustainable Parish and Town Council's, who could punch above their weight and provide efficient on the ground services that the communities need and want, and would have avoided what Woughton Community Council is now going through. I know Turkeys will not vote for Christmas and the Panel may have been unpopular but sometimes tough decisions have to be made.

National Government and Milton Keynes Council need to get their heads around this complicated funding issue as the problem is not going to go away and is only going to get worse, obviously in these hard pressed times the Community Council cannot raise the Precept massively to keep some services going, as quite rightly it is a hard sell to the electorate, who do not forget, are not all on benefits but on fixed incomes such as pensioners or working in low waged jobs and just miss the thresholds for Government assistance.

I do not have all the answers but if more budgets were devolved from Milton Keynes Council for Woughton Community Council to use on the ground it would be more cost effective and get rid of some of the petty bureaucracy, along with more partnership working with statutory bodies to pool resources together to make a difference, as too many times different organisations were setting up some worthy initiatives but were often covering the same areas in trying to tackle educational, health and poverty related issues, seconding staff for projects or benefiting from fines for example levied on fly tippers, or having a cut from the local business rates and sponsorship by businesses, perhaps Milton Keynes Council allowing the Community Council to use the empty Netherfield Housing Office rent free to save office costs just a thought.  

There were some good examples of partnership working with The Parks Trust and Chris Carvell's Environment Team at Milton Keynes Council the Community Wardens, PCSO's, Residents Associations, Schools, the Sure Start Centres, Community Mobilisers, Woughton Leisure Centre Trust, Milton Keynes Academy, Woughton Skills Ladder and the NHS Primary Care Trust as examples, but unfortunately there were many times when some Officers at Milton Keynes Council thought they knew best and tried to dictate what would be happening on the ground in the Woughton area without sometimes even consulting the Community Council.      

I think Milton Keynes Council is doing a bit of a divide and rule by saying that £50,000 monies set aside for help with the boundary changes had to be used in defence of the Judicial Review by Campbell Park Parish Council, (as a former Vice - Chair of Campbell Park Parish Council I fully support them doing so as it would of been quite wrong for them to have lost the Willen Community, and then be in the same position as Woughton Community Council), why were there not other budgets from the Legal Department used to off set these costs, yet again the local community have been deprived from having the money invested in Woughton.  

I would like to say that the staff have gone through a restructure and had to cope with a lot of change, and it is very easy for the public who see staffing costs in the budget and say that there should be more redundancies, with the cost savings going towards saving services but staff need to deliver these services, Councillors should not and cannot due to work and familiy commitments deliver services as they need to be devoting their time to campaigning and supporting the communities that they serve, and not knocking volunteers that do great work and save the Government and Milton Keynes Council a lot of money that would need to be invested in supporting residents going through tough financial and emotional periods of their lives, there is only so much time that they could commit and if they find alternative employment the knowledge is then gone and the time and training would need to start all over again for a new set of volunteers. Also not all staff are administrators although some would see this as a non job but it is a legal requirement to send out agendas and write out minutes that record all decisions, so that the residents can see what is being done on their behalf. To pick but a couple of examples on how staff can make a difference the Youth Workers for instance have helped many young people who are going through some very bad experiences, and have been able to advise them or just been a shoulder to cry on, many young people have gone on to be outstanding hardworking citizens, which who knows how their lives may have turned out had not that support not been there, and its not easy on the staff who have to cope listening to such sad harrowing accounts of their lives. The Community Workers by setting up and funded initially by the Community Council such as the Busy Bees Lunch Club on Coffee Hall and the Tinkers Bridge Drop In for example, then help those groups to have the confidence and know how to run them themselves, this not only empowers these communities but makes a difference by easing social isolation with a friendly chat and a change to make friends with their neighbours also sign posting residents to other organisations that can help them when they encounter personal problems.

Woughton Community Council has a yearly Carnival another success story run and managed by all members of staff giving up their time on a Saturday which brings all the community together and an opportunity for all local groups to work together making costumes for the procession and their floats, and business to offer their services by taking up a stall.

Grant Aid has also been given to help groups survive or be set up who have identified a need in the area along with Residents Associations to not only function but assist with their Fun Days and coach trips as Woughton has the lowest rate of car ownership so it is not always possible for families to get away and have some quality time together.

I know as a former Parish Councillor on the old Woughton Parish Council, Campbell Park Parish Council and Bradwell Parish Council and also as a Bradwell Ward Councillor on Milton Keynes Council, that difficult funding decisions have to be made, and so I want to wish all members the best of luck in making these hard choices, even though I no longer work for Woughton Community Council I do still follow its good works and want to see it go from strength to strength along with most importantly the communities that they serve and have their best interests at heart.

I do not want see in my life time in this great city that I love and that has given me so much, divided and social excluded communities  ending up with a two track Milton Keynes, with opportunities for some to prosper and enjoy a good quality of life and not for others because of where they live, although it makes frightening reading in the Social Atlas that already a child born in Woughton will live 9 years less than a child born in the nearby Middleton Ward.  

Kind Regards
Brian Barton