News highlights

• Local Leaders - Get Ready to Celebrate!
  Please find attached a flyer outlining the new initiative from the London 2012 Organising Committee aimed at encouraging general public engagement in the London 2012 Games. Local Leaders
  
  
• Housing Strategy Consultation
  The Council is asking people to help shape the future of Milton Keynes by giving their thoughts on how to improve housing in the Borough. The Council has recently published a Housing Strategy Consultation Paper to seek people's views on three key challenges:
  1. Increasing the supply of homes;
  2. Improving housing conditions;
  3. Making accommodation affordable for all.
  
  The Consultation Paper is available at this link: Housing Strategy
  
  The consultation runs from 1st February to 27th April. A Technical Paper is also available at the link above. Responses should be sent preferably by using the on-line SNAP system or by e-mail to the Housing Strategy and Development Team at housing.strategy@milton-keynes.gov.uk.
  
  The Housing Strategy will also be discussed at the Housing Services Forum on 1st March at 7.30pm at Acorn House.
  
  
• NHS Stakeholder Event - 10 February 2012
  We've been asked to draw your attention to the launch of the engagement phase for Healthier Together, a review of health services across Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire.
  
  The event takes place on Friday, 10th February from 12pm - 4pm at Kents Hill Park, Timbold Drive, Milton Keynes MK7 6BZ, and all interested parties are encouraged to attend. Please find an invitation with more details attached here: NHS Stakeholder Invitation
  
  
• Waste Contract Shortlisting
  We've been asked by Communications to bring your attention to the attached Press Release regrading shortlisting of the Council's Waste Contract: Waste Contract Press Release
  
  
• MKi Observatory Newsletter
  The latest MKi Observatory newsletter has now been published. This quarterly newsletter aims to keep you up-to-date with new developments and data that can be found on the system. Click on the link below which will take you to a web page from where the newsletter can be accessed: MKi Newsletter.
  
  (Note: To access the newsletter, you will need to click on the MKi Observatory Newsletter - Issue 23.pdf link which can be found below the title and next to the pdf symbol).
  
  
• Wind Turbines Consultation
  The Draft Wind Turbines Supplementary Planning Document and Emerging Policy: Wind Turbines Planning Applications (January 2012) has been issued for an 8 week period of consultation from Thursday 2nd February 2012, until 5pm Wednesday 28th March 2012. The document provides guidance for wind turbine planning applications. It seeks to increase protection of residential amenity, as well as the safety of pedestrians and horse riders.
  
  For further details of the consultation and to view the consultation documents, follow this link: Wind Turbines Consultation.
  
  For more information, contact Sarah Pullin on 01908 254235.
  
  
• Council Seminar on Co-operatives
  2012 is the United Nations International Year of Co-operatives. A seminar is being held on Monday 27th February, 5.30 - 7.30pm in the Council Chamber, to provide an overview of co-operatives and mutual models as alternative means of service delivery in relevant workstreams. Please make a note of the time and date in your diary, and further information will be provided as soon as the programme is finalised.
  
  For more information, contact Tina Butterwick on 01908 252693.
  

Meetings w/e 03 February 2012

1. Budget Review Group - 30 January 2012
The Group scrutinised the budgets of Adult Social Care and Health, Regulatory Unit, Housing & Community (General Fund), and Housing & Community (HRA).
For more information about this meeting, please contact fran.bower@milton-keynes.gov.uk

Meetings w/c 06 February 2012

1. Budget Review Group - 06 February 2012
The Group will meet to consider its report to Cabinet on 14 February 2012.
Click here to read the agenda papers.

2. Health & Community Wellbeing Select Committee - 07 February 2012
The Committee will meet to consider the following items of business:- Establishment of Shadow Health & Wellbeing Board; Update on South East Midlands Acute Services Review; Review of Guidance on Public Health; and Transforming Community Health Services.
Click here to read the agenda papers.

3. Regulatory Sub-Committee - 08 February 2012
The Sub-Committee will meet to consider a Review of a Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Vehicle Driver Licence. The press and public may be excluded from consideration of this item.
Click here to read the agenda papers.

Delegated decisions

A list of Delegated Decisions taken by Cabinet Members/officers during the week ending 03 February 2012 is attached here: Delegated Decisions List.

The list of Forthcoming Decisions to be taken by Cabinet Members/Officers can be found here: Forthcoming Decisions List. A detailed Schedule of decisions to be taken on 15 February is attached here: Schedule 1 - 15 Feb.

Please also find an agenda for the meeting of the Procurement Committee, taking place on Tuesday, 7th February: Procurement Cttee

Cabinet Forward Plan

The Forward Plan of forthcoming executive key decisions to be taken by the Cabinet, Cabinet Members and officers from February onwards is available here: Forward Plan.

Formal Members' Written Questions

The Schedule of currently active Members Written Questions is attached here: Members Written Questions.

If you wish to see past Written Questions, please contact Miranda Rehm at miranda.rehm@milton-keynes.gov.uk.

Site inspections

The inspections below are listed for the attention of Members of the Development Control Committee, appropriate Ward Members and appropriate Planning Officers:

There are no site inspections scheduled during the week commencing 06 February 2012.