Is there a secret budget the Council aren't telling the public about?

Councillor questions Conservative Council’s agenda.

“Is the Conservative group who run Milton Keynes Council being totally honest with taxpayers?” Asks Cllr Andy Maric, the Liberal Democrat finance spokesperson who represents Newport Pagnell South.
It’s after Lib Dem Councillors realised part of the consultation documents on the Councils website have been missing for months and had been separated from the original Cabinet report.

Annex E, which contains all price increases both above and below the standard 4% is absent from the consultation documents and web page.

Cllr Maric said, “Obviously the document will likely exist elsewhere in the depths of the Councils website, but I fear this has been a deliberate attempt to try and hide information from members of the public, how can people possibly provide feedback on public money and budgets if its made nearly impossible for them to access the information?

The Conservatives need to publicly apologise for this as they have wasted months of already passed consultation time, reveal anything else that’s hidden by coming clean and re-assure us and members of the public that they are not hiding anything else and stake their job that their budget is and will be 100% transparent”.

Link to consultation: http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/mkcconsultationdetails/?ConsultationID=184

Euan Henderson & Andy Maric at Green Park School where Andy was once a pupil

57 years of service between Councillors Euan and Irene Henderson, who anounce that they are not standing for re-election on May 6th and are retiring from Milton Keynes Council after over half a century between them of representing Newport Pagnell.

Councillors Euan and Irene Henderson say “In Andy Maric, we have a committed Newport resident who wants to serve the town, he is an experienced member of the Network team, working hard alongside Douglas McCall and Mike Barry in the traditional Liberal Democrat way – giving action and service all year round.

We have no hessitation in giving them our wholehearted support. We hope you will too.

We thank you for the confidence and trust you have shown in us. Please give Andy the same trust and vote for him in the local elections on 6th May 2010″

Pictured above: Andy Maric and Euan at Green Park School, where Andy was a pupil. We started the campaign for a primary school for Green Park in 1987 and it opened in 1991. And we’ve been successful in fighting for improvements to the facilities of all Newport’s other schools.

Irene Henderson & Andy Maric at Middleton Pool where Andy learnt to swim when he was younger

Pictured right: Irene Henderson reminding Andy Maric of the history of Middleton Pool. It used to be open air but, after consultation with residents, we found the money to have it covered in 1989. We’re delighted at the recent improvements carried out by the Town Council.

Liberal Democrat Candidate for Newport Pagnell South Andy Maric says, “It’s an excellent local swimming pool used by hundreds of residents and their families each week, it is where I learnt to swim when I was younger and am happy to see the recent improvements by the Town Council.”

Letter is below:

“Dear Sir,

I recently attended the council meeting which discussed the budget for Milton Keynes and I have to say I was absolutely appalled by what I saw.

One by one Conservative Councillors, lead by Councillor Geary, got up and spoke in favour of savage cuts to all Secondary Schools across Milton Keynes, specifically Ousedale, Newport Pagnell. The Conservatives clearly do not understand or comprehend Ousedale is a school in need of some restoration yet has still managed to achieve excellent results over the past decade against its rival schools, I know this because I was a student there. After listening to the debate it is quite clear the Conservatives do not care about our older towns especially Newport Pagnell indeed one of them said as much. I look forward to seeing the Conservatives when they next ask for my vote and ask them to explain why they believe sacrificing our Children’s futures is in the best interests for Milton Keynes.

I hope other members of the public will remember this when voting for the “Courageous Conservatives” (as they put it) who are courageous enough in cutting money for young peoples future in Newport. Well done folks!

Andrew Maric “