One of the formalities of meetings of the full council is that everyone stands up when the mayor arrives to take his seat at the top table. This year's Mayor of Milton Keynes is Cllr Sam Crooks (Lib Dem, Broughton).One of the formalities of meetings of the full council is that everyone stands up when the mayor arrives to take his seat at the top table. This year's Mayor of Milton Keynes is Cllr Sam Crooks (Lib Dem, Broughton).
One of the formalities of meetings of the full council is that everyone stands up when the mayor arrives to take his seat at the top table. This year's Mayor of Milton Keynes is Cllr Sam Crooks (Lib Dem, Broughton).

Pictures from Milton Keynes reveal how councillors put your council tax up - and why

All the drama of Milton Keynes Council’s budget setting meeting is now over for another year.
By David Tooley, local democracy reporter
Published 28th Feb 2020, 11:45 BST
Updated 28th Feb 2020, 11:46 BST

Councillors made their cases, some successfully, some not, at Wednesday’s full council meeting for spending YOUR money on their most valued projects.This year the average council tax for a Band D property tops £1,800 for the year, covering everything from the police, the fire service, homelessness, climate change, and adult social care to street lights and dog waste bins.The amount of money demanded by Milton Keynes Borough Council in their bills which will thud through letterboxes in the next few weeks, makes up the majority of the amount of money you will have to pay.The borough council’s proportion of the council tax will rise by 3.49 per cent from April.Here we explain some of what happened in the council chamber during a marathon three hour meeting in the middle of the week:

The council leader proposed Milton Keynes Councils 200million revenue budget, with an increase of 3.49 per cent for the council tax. The borough's council tax is added to amounts demanded by the police, fire service and parish councils to make up the final bill.

1. The council's leader is Labour's Cllr Pete Marland (Wolverton)

The council leader proposed Milton Keynes Councils 200million revenue budget, with an increase of 3.49 per cent for the council tax. The borough's council tax is added to amounts demanded by the police, fire service and parish councils to make up the final bill. Photo: David Tooley

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Cllr Walker, who represents the city's Stantonbury ward, proposed a range of amendments. Some, like a new 80,000 pedestrian crossing in Queensway, Bletchley, were accepted. Most were not.

2. The leader of the council's opposition group is Conservative Cllr Alex Walker

Cllr Walker, who represents the city's Stantonbury ward, proposed a range of amendments. Some, like a new 80,000 pedestrian crossing in Queensway, Bletchley, were accepted. Most were not. Photo: David Tooley

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Lib Dem leader Douglas McCall (Newport Pagnell South) - pictured to the left in this picture - proposed amendments to Labours budget to include a wide range of community projects. They were all accepted by Cllr Marland. Pictured standing is Lib Dem budget guru Cllr Robin Bradburn (Bradwell ward).

3. The Lib Dems are in a partnership with Labour

Lib Dem leader Douglas McCall (Newport Pagnell South) - pictured to the left in this picture - proposed amendments to Labours budget to include a wide range of community projects. They were all accepted by Cllr Marland. Pictured standing is Lib Dem budget guru Cllr Robin Bradburn (Bradwell ward). Photo: David Tooley

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Cllr David Hopkins (Cons, Danesborough & Walton) thanked the administration for a 50,000 investment into the Bow Brickhill Community Centre, in his ward. He was one of a few Conservatives who had items accepted into the budget. Like other Conservatives though, he voted against the overall budget.

4. Tory councillor's budget success

Cllr David Hopkins (Cons, Danesborough & Walton) thanked the administration for a 50,000 investment into the Bow Brickhill Community Centre, in his ward. He was one of a few Conservatives who had items accepted into the budget. Like other Conservatives though, he voted against the overall budget. Photo: David Tooley

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