Decision

RESOLVED:

1. That this Council:

a)      Recognises Milton Keynes’ reputation as one of the country's most successful growth areas, with a recognisable character and strong record of housing and infrastructure delivery that has helped meet local and national housing need whilst supporting economic growth.

b)      Agrees that Milton Keynes has consistently demonstrated that growth can be delivered successfully when it is accompanied by appropriate investment in transport, healthcare, education, utilities, green spaces and community infrastructure.

c)      Believes that the city's infrastructure first approach has been fundamental to its success and remains the right way to create sustainable communities where both existing and new residents can thrive.

d)      Supports the delivery of new homes our communities need and recognises the importance of increasing housing supply to tackle the housing crisis, improve affordability and provide opportunities for future generations.

e)      Supports constructive cross-boundary working with neighbouring authorities to ensure that growth across the wider region is planned strategically and sustainably.

1. That this Council notes:

a)      Buckinghamshire Council is progressing proposals for substantial housing growth and is required to identify additional land to meet housing need within its area, with a significant proportion of the locations being considered close to the Milton Keynes boundary, including significant proposals at Beachampton.

b)      Development in these locations are likely to create considerable demand for transport, healthcare, school and college places, community facilities, employment opportunities and other public services that are either located within or accessed through Milton Keynes.

c)      Milton Keynes residents and housebuilders contribute significantly through council tax, S106 funding and with support for growth towards the city’s infrastructure that new Buckinghamshire residents and builders would rely disproportionately upon, without making a fair contribution towards the costs of providing them.

d)      While housing growth can deliver substantial benefits, those benefits are undermined when development takes place ahead of infrastructure, places additional strain on existing services and fails to create sustainable communities.

1. That this Council therefore believes that:

a)      Building the homes that people need is essential and that councils should play their part in addressing the housing crisis and supporting economic growth and the debate should not be about whether homes are built, but whether growth from a bordering authority is being planned in the right way.

b)      Good growth means homes, jobs, schools, healthcare, transport links and community facilities being planned together rather than retrospectively.

c)      Milton Keynes' infrastructure first approach has demonstrated that housing growth and infrastructure investment are complementary objectives which should proceed hand in hand.

d)      It is unfair and improper for one authority to receive the financial benefits associated with large-scale housing growth whilst neighbouring authorities bear a disproportionate share of the resulting demand on infrastructure and public services.

e)      New developments adjacent to Milton Keynes should make an appropriate contribution towards the roads, schools, healthcare facilities and community infrastructure which their residents will rely on.

f)       Growth on administrative boundaries requires working collaboratively, with transparency and engagement between neighbouring local authorities.

1. That this Council agrees:

a)      To reaffirm Milton Keynes City Council's support for housing growth that is accompanied by the infrastructure and investment necessary to create successful places.

b)      To ask the Leader and the Chief Executive to write to the Leader and Chief Executive of Buckinghamshire Council seeking a commitment to meaningful engagement regarding Beachampton and any other major developments adjoining the Milton Keynes boundary.

c)      To ask the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government calling for stronger national mechanisms to support cross-boundary infrastructure planning and fair funding arrangements where the impacts of growth extend beyond a single local authority area.

d)      To ask that the Cabinet member for Planning and Sustainability commission a study and receive a report setting out the impacts of future developments, which are being proposed in Local Plans by adjacent local authorities, for Milton Keynes communities, infrastructure and public services, together with recommendations on how those impacts can be addressed.

e)      To ask the Cabinet member for Planning and Sustainability to review what options we have as a Council to ensure the best outcome for our residents when it comes to cross-boundary expansion from neighbouring authorities.