Decision Maker: Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: July 16, 2025

Purpose:

Content: 1.      That this Council notes: a)            Milton Keynes is a city known for its diversity, innovation, green spaces, welcoming communities, and ambitious outlook. b)            Signs of neglect and vandalism including graffiti, litter, overgrown vegetation, dirty and broken street signage, poorly maintained underpasses and roundabouts and other declining infrastructure in public spaces are a growing concern for residents. c)             These issues impact how our residents feel about the place they call home — undermine civic pride, contribute to a sense of decline, and can make communities feel unsafe or forgotten. 2.      That this Council believes: a)            Civic pride is about more than just appearances — it’s about respect, safety, and local identity. b)            Small signs of neglect can have a large impact and reversing that trend must be a shared ambition. c)             By working together, we can help to restore pride in Milton Keynes and support residents to be part of the solution — from dog owners picking up after their pets to businesses supporting clean-up efforts, from supporting community litter picks to residents and parish councils helping with cleaning up graffiti, all of which the City Council already plays a role in. d)            While community involvement has a role to play, civic pride must be backed by properly funded services – not left to the good will of local residents and businesses alone. 3.      That this Council acknowledges: a)            The continued work of Council teams, The Parks Trust, and local Parish and Town Councils in maintaining public spaces across Milton Keynes. Their contribution is vital to the appearance and health of our city, especially the 12 Parishes who have taken on devolved landscaping responsibilities. b)            For over a decade under the last Conservative government local authorities suffered the largest cuts to any single government department, and therefore Milton Keynes City Council now lacks the financial resources to deliver discretionary services at levels the public may wish to see. c)             As a financially responsible authority with a challenging medium-term budget position, it is important to manage the expectations of the public, not seek to make promises we cannot keep or make resources commitments without clearly explaining how they would be financed. 4.      However, sustaining a clean and welcoming environment is not a job for public services alone. It requires all of us — residents, businesses, and organisations — to take pride in our surroundings and play an active role in protecting them and that consideration should be given on how best wider civic society can play a role in delivering sustainable improvements to our communities. 5.      That this Council resolves to ask Cabinet to: a)            Continue to empower parish councils, community organisations businesses and individuals to help improve our public areas. b)            Share good practice from Parish Councils that have successfully taken on devolved landscaping responsibilities through the Parishes Forum, Councillors News, and the City Council’s communication channels. c)             Continue to work with Thames Valley Police to strengthen visibilityof enforcement against persistent offenders who vandalize, fly tip or litter in public areas, including a summary of current activity and public reporting processes, and for the outcome to be reviewed by the Environment and Place Scrutiny Committee. d)            Include how the VCS sector and other parts of civic society can play a role in continuing sustainable service delivery as part of the review into the future operational model of the council taking place through the “Changing because we have to” programme. e)            Publish a clear, accessible summary for residents on how Conservative-imposed funding cuts over the past 14 years have impacted the City Council’s ability to maintain public spaces — so residents understand where responsibility truly lies and why national investment is essential.