Milton Keynes Conservative Group has challenged the credibility of the Labour-led Council’s draft corporate strategy, ‘Changing Because We Have To’, calling it a “defeatist and fear-driven document that does nothing to protect services which contradicts the council’s own recently celebrated independent peer review”.
The strategy- which was open to resident feedback from the 25th April to 14th May- will go before Cabinet on 3rd June and Conservative Councillors say it paints a picture of decline, a reduction of services, and a need to ‘do less’— suggesting the Council can no longer afford to provide the services residents rely on.
Cllr Shazna Muzammil, Leader of the Conservative Group said
“This is the strangest document to be shared under the guise of a corporate sustainability strategy 2026-2029.
This document is an excuse for the Labour administration to cut more services. Labour wants residents to believe this is about survival. It isn’t. The Council is not under special measures. It has options. But instead of reforming or reviewing contracts, reducing the inefficiency, Labour is choosing to cut services, outsource further, possibly tax our residents again and then tell residents the council had no choice.”
Just a fortnight ago, the Labour administration was proudly celebrating a glowing Corporate Peer Challenge report which described the Council as ‘high performing’, ‘well run’ and in ‘relatively stable financial position’.
“You can’t publish a document telling the public we can’t carry on like this for much longer, implying reduction of services, and then parade around saying the council is high-performing and thriving — both can’t be true,” added Cllr Shazna Muzammil.
“The fundamental problem is that the current administration has forgotten that the council is funded by hardworking residents who pay their taxes and expect services. Year on year council tax goes up, services get reduced and now here we are pouring over a document full of empty crisis statements, preparing the residents for another tax hike. How long can they keep pulling the wool over residents' eyes?”
Cllr Peter Geary Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group added:
“Change is possible in an organisation, but it needs to be led by a vision of how things can be better and how to achieve that. This report clearly indicates that Milton Keynes Council is being forced to do this, lacks a vision for achieving it, and doesn’t have anyone with the necessary skills to deliver it. It shows an administration out of ideas and a leader who is incapable of leading. If this is the best he can think of, he should stand aside now and allow the council to develop a strategy that will deliver change, and a clear path showing how to get there. If not, as it is, this will cause services in the city to suffer, and the people will pay for the lack of leadership and ability. The council can and must do better.”