“Nothing like this has happened at Milton Keynes City Council for more than 40 years”: Reform councillors demand recorded vote… then walk out
All nine Reform councillors walked out of Milton Keynes City Council’s Full Council meeting during a recorded vote on an amendment to their own parking motion.
Reform Councillor Ray Blackman brought a motion to Council proposing a six-month parking enforcement trial in Bletchley and Fenny Stratford. It argued that obstructive, dangerous and inconsiderate parking remains a persistent concern across both areas.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Kerrie Bradburn and Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste, Highways and Transport proposed a new amendment, which her party argues keeps all options on the table while ensuring the Council’s new parking enforcement contract is used to deliver the greatest benefit for residents.
But the Reform councillors raised concerns about the new amendment, arguing that it had removed too many important points. When asked for their votes, all nine Reform councillors stood up and left without answering.
Councillor Ray Blackman said earlier in the meeting: “This amendment removed the six-month trial, increased patrols at problem locations, evening and weekend visits, actions against persistent offenders, involvement with residents and disability representatives, involvement with Thames Valley Police, clear measurement reports and scrutiny, it even removed the targeted for parking enforcement trial from the title.
“What replaced all that? Praise for how the council already does what it does.”
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat councillors say that the new amendment asks officers to look at what makes streets safer, including more targeted patrols in problem areas, smarter use of technology and data, and the use of new Government powers to tackle pavement parking when they become available.
Councillor Jane Carr, Leader of Milton Keynes City Council, added: “I was astonished that Reform requested a recorded vote and then walked out before casting their votes.
“To the best of our knowledge, nothing like this has happened at Milton Keynes City Council for more than 40 years.
“Residents elect councillors to attend meetings, debate issues before them and make decisions, even when they don’t get everything their own way.
“If Reform believed strongly enough in this issue to demand a recorded vote, residents will rightly ask why they chose not to take part in it.”