Decision

1. This Council Notes:

a)      That western Milton Keynes has experienced significant housing growth in recent years, with communities including Whitehouse, Fairfields, Oxley Park, Kingsmead, Tattenhoe Park, Hazeley and neighbouring areas continuing to expand.

b)      That many residents continue to experience limited direct public transport connections between residential communities, schools, healthcare, employment, retail centres and leisure facilities.

c)      That improving local bus connectivity supports the Council’s ambitions to reduce congestion, improve air quality, encourage sustainable travel and reduce reliance on private vehicles.

d)      That residents have consistently raised concerns regarding the availability, frequency and connectivity of local bus services within western Milton Keynes, particularly in Whitehouse and Fairfields.

1. This Council Believes:

a)      That access to reliable public transport is essential for residents of all ages, particularly young people, older residents, disabled people and those without access to a private car.

b)      That public transport provision should keep pace with housing growth and new development wherever practicable.

c)      That improved bus connectivity supports economic growth, educational opportunity, healthier communities, environmental sustainability and more sustainable travel choices.

d)      That opportunities to improve bus connectivity are pursued proactively through engagement with bus operators and the Council’s Enhanced Partnership arrangements.

1. This Council Resolves:

a)      To ask the Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste, Highways and Transport to explore the potential of a bus service linking Stony Stratford, Fairfields, Whitehouse, Hazeley, Oxley Park and Westcroft through the Council’s existing Enhanced Partnership arrangements with bus operators.

b)      To request that the Cabinet member for Environment, Waste, Highways and Transport, share the proposal with relevant bus operators at the most appropriate time and if operators express an interest in exploring the opportunity, provide them with available information on historic contracted bus services and Demand Responsive Transport usage in the relevant areas, alongside any other relevant data held by the Council, where practicable.

c)      To ask the Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste, Highways and Transport toensure that opportunities to improve bus connectivity across western Milton Keynes are considered as part of the Council’s wider work on the future of the Milton Keynes bus network and through its existing Enhanced Partnership arrangements with operators.

d)      To recognise that any future service would need to be considered in the context of the wider bus network, passenger demand, commercial viability, available funding and other priorities for supported bus services.

e)      To ask the relevant Scrutiny Committee to consider when possible, the provision and connectivity of bus services in western Milton Keynes as part of its future work programme, recognising that the Environment, Place & Scrutiny Committee discussed our Public Transport Network on 22 July 2026. 

f)       To request that the Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste, Highways and Transport provide an update to the relevant scrutiny committee on the outcome of engagement with operators and any subsequent proposals for improving bus connectivity in western Milton Keynes when appropriate.