Milton Keynes stance on devolution among issues to be discussed at council meeting
Milton Keynes stance on devolution is among the issues set to be discussed at full and extraordinary meetings of the city council, which are being held tonight (Wednesday).
Councillors are set to debate whether to back a larger regional mayoral authority covering six council areas, during the extraordinary meeting which starts at 7pm in the council chamber at the Civic offices in Saxon Gate East.
The debate follows a motion proposed by Councillor Shazna Muzammil, Conservative group leader and a Tattenhoe councillor, to make a partnership between Milton Keynes, Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton, North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire the council’s preferred option for devolution.
The proposal concerns how councils would work together under a regional mayor, with Cllr Muzammil set to argue in her motion that choosing the right area is vital to securing the greatest influence over investment, transport, infrastructure, skills, housing and economic growth.
Cllr Muzammil wrote on Facebook that she is planning to ask for the 15-minute debate limit to be suspended for this motion, but said she expects “the answer is going to be a big no!”
If approved, the motion would reverse an instruction agreed in May 2025 restricting which councils Cabinet could approach about a regional mayoral authority.
That instruction said Cabinet should not pursue discussions about any grouping beyond Bedford, Luton, Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes unless the Government formally said it would not agree to that arrangement.
The new proposal would remove that restriction and favour the wider six-council South Midlands grouping.
Cllr Muzammil argues that the six areas already work together and share important links through jobs, businesses, transport and infrastructure.
Her motion states that their combined economy includes more than 80,000 businesses and generates over £50 billion in annual economic activity.
She highlights strengths including technology, financial services, aviation, research, engineering, manufacturing, logistics, tourism and motorsport.
Cllr Muzammil argues that the economic benefits of the wider grouping should be properly considered alongside those of the four-council option before final arrangements are established.
Her motion also states that there is no settled agreement across the wider South Midlands around the four-council proposal.
Last month Cllr Muzammil wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham supporting the Case for Six, the same six-council model motion she is putting forward for discussion at this month’s extraordinary meeting.
If approved, the motion would ask the council leader to write to the Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, setting out Milton Keynes’s position and asking the Government to consider the six-council option before deciding the final boundaries.
It would also call for the Government to speak directly to businesses, employers and other economic organisations across the wider area.
The council leader and chief executive would be asked to continue discussions with all six councils, with regular progress updates to Cabinet and the Communities and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee.
Passing the motion as drafted would establish Milton Keynes City Council’s preferred arrangement. It would not itself create the authority or confirm agreement from the other councils or Government.
At the following full council meeting, five motions are set to be discussed, with the first of these related to ending the IVF postcode lottery, and the second related to e-scooter public safety and operator accountability.
The third motion is related to improving mobile coverage across Milton Keynes as the city grows, with the fourth related to raising awareness to improve early diagnosis of bowel cancer in the under-40s, and the fifth related to electric vehicle charging for council tenants and ending the blanket refusal policy.