Milton Keynes Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors are set to push through sweeping constitutional changes that strip residents and parish councils of their right to challenge council decisions.
Current council rules allow any two councillors, the chair or clerk of any Parish or Town Council or any 20 residents of Milton Keynes to 'call-in' a decision by the council within a period of 5 days of that decision being published.
But on Wednesday 14 May, the Labour controlled council will force through constitutional changes that remove that scrutiny and they will be backed by the Liberal Democrats. The process will now require either 10% of all councillors or 40% of the relevant scrutiny committee—a threshold virtually impossible for smaller groups or independents to meet.
With just one Conservative councillor on each scrutiny committee, and Labour and Lib Dems holding the majority, this change effectively shuts out the opposition and removes residents’ voices from the room. It also removes any option for parish councils or residents to call-in a council decision.
“This is a power grab – plain and simple," said Cllr Shazna Muzammil, Leader of the Conservative Group
“It's a calculated attempt to silence the voices of residents and parish councils. It’s no surprise that Labour and the Lib Dems are working together again—they’ve run this Council in partnership before, and after the recent election results across the country, it looks like they’re closing ranks and running scared of being held to account."
The timing of this power shift is no coincidence. In the past six months alone, the Conservative Group has brought several serious issues into public view, including one call in meeting where over 100 residents filled the chamber to challenge the administration’s flawed “vision” for the city.
“That day was democracy in action,” Cllr Muzammil continued “Yes—it took officer time. It took councillors time, and over 100 residents gave up their evening to be there. But that’s what democracy is supposed to be about—people showing up and being heard.”
"We’re elected to serve our residents. It can’t just be about asking for their vote every single election year, then shutting the door on them when decisions are being made. This Council exists to serve the people—and right now, Labour and the Lib Dems are failing our residents. These constitutional changes silence the very people who put us here in the first place, and that’s just plain wrong.”
