For everyone interested in History and also the work of Britain's Parliament; the US Congress; the European Parliament and the French Parlement. Also deals with China and the European Union.
Discusses Practice, Procedure, History and current issues.
Washminster
Washminster
Showing posts with label Milton Keynes Council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Milton Keynes Council. Show all posts
Thanks for all the comments about Washminster. As a result I will be bringing the blog back - and am currently working on a schedule for posts.
I may be a little tied up in the next few days - as I am a candidate in the Shenley Brook End ward for Milton Keynes Council (Nothing better for writing a blog dealing with politics and government than regularly updated experience on the front line!!!)
However Washminster should be back in the next couple of weeks
Dawn had already broken before the result was announced. However the drama sometimes shown on TV when a result is announced does not reflect reality. The first stage is to check that the number of ballot papers equals the number issued. At that stage observers from the parties can "sample" - they note how each ballot paper has been marked, and estimate the probable proportion going to each candidate. Therefore I knew fairly on that I wasn't going to win.
The final result for Furzton ward was
Turnout 38.28%
Chris Williams (incumbent Liberal Democrat councillor). 1077. 43.29% (2007 - 1193)
Maggie Geaney (Conservative). 622. 25.00% (2007 - 622)
J David Morgan (Labour). 557. 22.35% (2007 - 299)
Stuart Henry Moore (UKIP). 161. 6.47% (2007 - 125)
Beverley Caprice (Green). 72. 2.89%
In Britain, local authorities are the creation of Parliament - who can reorganise or abolish any of them. Unlike the states of the United States - they have no independent existence. Even the right for a community to call itself a "City" is dependent upon the Royal Prerogative.
The last major reorganisation took place in 1974. For most of England there was a two tier structure - with county and district levels. The metropolitan Counties were abolished - after resisting the policies of the Government in the 1980s. Some other authorities were given unitary status - combining and replacing county and district functions.
Milton Keynes is a unitary council. They have an extensive website accessible here. Citizens can access details of Cabinet and Council meetings - and read the reports which will be considered. Other documents relating to the council are available here. The Council is made up of 51 Councillors, elected for four years - with a third facing election each year (with 2013 being an election free year). The current list of councillors, listed by party, is available here.
The area is also served by a number of Parish Councils. I live in Furzton, which is in the south west of Milton Keynes city (the whole district includes rural areas to the north and east). We are served by Shenley Brook End & Tattenhoe parish council. Despite the name - this has nothing to do with church parishes - but is a local authority providing some vital services at a community level. For more details of parish councils in Milton Keynes press here.
Retired. An experienced lecturer, tutor and researcher with practical experience of working in the UK and European Parliaments.
I have a keen academic and practical interest in the workings of both the UK Parliament and the US Congress.
Over the years I have broadcast on both British and US Politics for BBC local radio stations and presented Platform:MK, Heritage:MK & Heritage Matters on Milton Keynes based Community Radio Stations.
