Axe wielded on £1m cheap bus tickets scheme for young people in Milton Keynes as council re-focuses on covid recovery

Leaders at Milton Keynes Council have raided the piggy bank to find £3 million to put into plans to help the economy and create jobs as businesses fail and people become unemployed.

Council leader Pete Marland (Lab, Wolverton) found himself under attack from the opposition Conservatives, and the Green party, at a meeting on Tuesday (July 21).

Tory group leader Cllr Alex Walker (Stantonbury) described the council’s new Covid-19 Recovery Framework as “woeful” and one that has failed to support the Government’s “jobs, jobs, jobs” mantra.

He wants the council to offer free parking to shoppers to help struggling retailers, and to fix the council’s “ailing planning department so it can support business and create jobs.”

But at the delegated decisions meeting Cllr Marland hit back, saying that the Conservatives should “get real”.

“If you think £1 off parking will reverse the long term trends in retail you are not living on the same planet,” he said.

He accused the Tories of putting forward no alternative plan.

But Cllr Allan Rankine (Cons, Bletchley Park) said every policy the council has should “focus on jobs”.

“We should reach out to business leaders. I don’t see a crisis task force and you have abandoned a commitment to inward investment.

“We need an action plan that recognises we are in a crisis,” he added.

But Cllr Marland responded, accusing Cllr Rankine of being “hugely disrespectful to officers”.

The council has cut back on its economic development team but he added: “Economic development is the task of planning, transport and all parts of this council.”

Veteran Green party campaigner Alan Francis urged Cllr Marland to stop the axe falling on a £1 million scheme for cheap bus travel for 16 to 21 year olds.

The council is also taking £200,000 out of tree maintenance, £75,000 from tree planting and replacement, among other schemes.

But Cllr Marland challenged Mr Francis: “Where should I get the money from? Any suggestions?”

He added that even though cheap bus travel is something the council wants for young people, now is not the time to introduce it.

Bus passenger numbers have fallen and the amount of money the council has to subsidise services has crashed as its car parking income declines.

The £3 million pot is set to be divided up to the tune of £1 million to support business recovery, £750,000 on getting people back to work, and £500,000 on schemes to help women and young people.

£10,000 has also been set aside to pay for a “new high quality artwork to commemorate NHS staff at MK Hospital.

The council is working an dotting the i’s and crossing t’s on the details of its economic recovery plan.

Cllr Marland said: “The £3m extra funding for Covid-19 recovery is the largest single support package yet announced by any council, but is necessary.”