Leading councillor in Milton Keynes is stepping down to spend more time with his family

Ric Brackenbury, 37, says he has found it a struggle to balance family life, with work at Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, and his role as a borough councillor in Milton Keynes.

And now, with two young children, he says something has had to give after 10 years. The Lib Dems have already selected a candidate who hopes to take Cllr Brackenbury’s seat on the marginal Campell Park & Old Woughton ward.

Cllr Brackenbury said: “All the time I have spent sitting in meetings, knocking on doors, or dealing with ward issues is time that I’ve not been able to spend with my family.

“I now have two young children and not only am I missing out on key moments in their childhood, but I am very aware of the unfair burden this has placed on my wife, who has been a rock solid support for the past decade and made my service on the council possible.”

Cllr Brackenbury, who is the current chair of the scrutiny management committee, added: “I have found it a real struggle to combine a demanding full-time job, sitting as a councillor and being a good husband and father, and all these roles have felt the strain over the past few years, and something has had to give.”

He added that: “I will never forget the last 10 years. Inevitably I can think of times where I wish I could have done that bit more or when I’ve not been able to help as I wanted to.

“But I have always done my best and tried to do what I felt was the right thing. It’s been a huge privilege to be given a voice for our community on the council, I know I will miss it, and I will be cheering my successor, colleagues and friends on all the way.”

Cllr Brackenbury notes that there have been “so many significant moments over the past decade.”

These range from from dealing with the fallout from the closure of Willen Village Surgery, to seeing off unwelcome proposals to build on green spaces in his ward.

He also cast the decisive vote for the multi-storey car park near John Lewis, and secured council support for a vote on the Brexit withdrawal agreement, as well as “working hard in the council chamber to improve and challenge emerging budgets, and ensuring scrutiny of regeneration and climate change activities in particular.”

He concluded: “However everything has its time and its season, and I’m announcing that I won’t defend my Campbell Park and Old Woughton ward at the May elections.

“I will stand down from the council and the local Lib Dems have selected Dr Matt Hinton in my place. He’ll make a superb councillor and he’s got my full support.”