Olney Town Council Reports

The next meeting will be held on Monday 5th March at 7pm in the Olney Centre. If you would like to contribute to the Public Participation section at the start of the meeting, or any time the Mayor deems appropriate, please contact the Town Clerk, townclerk@olneytowncouncil.gov.uk.

The meeting opened at 19:00, with no members of the public wishing to speak.

Apologies for absence were received from Colin Rodden. David Chennells and David Tyler were AWOL. There were no declarations of interest and, as always, the councillors were asked if anything should come up where they had an interest, they should declare it. The minutes of the previous meeting, from the 2nd March, were approved.

Cllr Keith McLean invited the Mayor, Debbie Whitworth, to give her report first, as this was her final meeting as a ward councillor. Debbie is standing down as a ward councillor on the 7th May (ward council election date), but remains a committed Town Councillor and Mayor of Olney. Debbie thanked Keith for this and noted that she didn’t have much to report other than, for those who don’t know, the Chicheley Hill roundabout construction at MK East, including a cycle bridge and associated drainage, these are not immediate, but work on the existing carriageway will begin on 16th June.
Although many residents and parents have contacted OTC in regard to this and asked for some leeway as it falls at a time when many students are travelling on it for their A-level exams, they should direct any questions to customer services at Milton Keynes, as it is not within the Olney Town Council’s remit to be able to address these concerns.
Keith McLean thanked Debbie and reported he had also received enquiries on this matter and had requested, again, for more sensible drawings, as those currently received are very technical. All that is needed is a precise timeline of what’s going to be closed when, where and for how long, none of which is included in the plans sent.
He also reported that at a previous meeting, he asked MK officers for details of litter picking and grass cutting for A roads, ring roads and rural roads. He is still awaiting a reply, and sadly, the roads are getting worse now, so he is keen for them to reply.
He added that the Petsoe End wind farm fund is now formally set up to run through the MK Community Foundation. Parishes with suitable projects can apply directly, with clear and rigid guidelines on eligibility.
It’s crystal clear what they need to do to be assessed for suitability. He pointed out that it has been a bit quiet over the Easter period. Keith then asked if there were any questions which there weren’t.

Expenditure and the budget were approved, with thanks given to the office for their hard work over the year on this.

Cllr Prosser attended the meeting of the trustees of the Ann Hopkins Alms-houses last week.  The maintenance programme is ongoing and is, as expected, with 12 houses, non-stop but all well under control.
A resident’s social event is planned for May with drinks and nibbles, and a good chance to get together, which is important.

No PCSO attended, so Debbie delivered the report from the 4th March to the 12th April:

Cllr Lowe raised concerns about a reported crime on 9th April involving uprooted trees and an attempted fire. She had reported this on the noticeboard, and many people were concerned about it. She reported it in the morning and by 10.30 she got something back from the police, saying that they had fully investigated this incident and could find no evidence to support this or identify anyone, which raises the question of how the police could investigate this in the space of an hour and a half. When she clicked the link to the report, it said the police had deleted it. There was a surprised gasp by some councillors at this information. Are we getting a true reflection of crime in the area? she asked.
She also brought up concerns of under-reporting of shoplifting. Are the shops using DISC (a digital app for reporting shoplifting)? Some may be using it, but it would be good to know who is utilising the service.
Councillor Diamandopoulos then asked about the hate graffiti (which had not, so far as Mercury could see, been mentioned up until this point) and who it was directed at. The mayor explained that specific details are not provided to the council.

The mayor reported on ongoing monitoring of E. coli levels, financed by OTC, and Mark Butterfield and the team have reported that in March, the reading was 48, which is very low, so good news there. However, we need to be mindful that this could rise as some surrounding areas are very high, and the next E. coli test will carried out this week. This will be monitored monthly, and if figures start to rise then the matter will need to be addressed.

Progressing well and as expected with toilet extension and refurbishment, with the roof nearly completed.

Plans remain unclear; no application will be submitted until details are satisfactory. There were discussions as to where exactly the courts will go, but this is still under discussion with OTC, so further plans will be submitted to the council. Cllr Bethune brought up possible parking, but this isn’t expected to cause any problems. It does seem to Mercury that there are still many aspects of the plans to be decided before anything can go ahead. The proposed fully insuring and repairing 99-year lease, while questioned, does seem to be standard for such projects. Any renewal in future is not likely to concern anyone present at
this meeting.

Approved for a former Olney resident with longstanding local connections. There were no objections to this request.

Very near completion, with strong interest from local groups. An opening event is likely. It was pointed out that this is from section 106, so it is positive. The town clerk had a meeting with the developer, who said that people may complain about having extra housing, but look what we’ve been able to achieve with the section 106 money.

There is no funding or space for a skate park. There have been discussions about this, and another proposal was to have a skate park at the Rec (Recreation Ground), but that area is utilised by sports facilities, and so that’s most certainly a no. No decisions yet from MKCC pending planning (expected in May).

A surprisingly lively debate on whether OTC should make more use of social media proceeded. While the website has improved, engagement remains low. Cllr Lowe suggested OTC should engage more with local events and people, possibly through the OTC Facebook page, which isn’t very exciting. There is an initiative from MK to increase transparency and engage with the community more. Cllr Bethune said she’d like to ask “Why?’ Cllr Lowe seemed surprised, as she’d just explained it, but patiently explained again that it was to engage with the community more, and that OTC does many things, and that people, more and more, rely on social media.
It was generally agreed that it was just one more way for people to connect. The deputy town clerk explained that they could make more use of it, and that OTC don’t receive many enquiries via Facebook, so it could be a way to get more. The clerk said, “Do we want that though?” The deputy town clerk said he didn’t know but it seemed to be generally accepted that this was the way forward.
It was agreed that Cllr Lowe would oversee Facebook content, in coordination with the office, to communicate local updates better, as she had experience in that field.

*Vehicle count over 28 days

Overall, speeds in Olney are gradually reducing, which was seen as a very positive outcome.

And finally, a possibly controversial decision – Olney’s hanging baskets are to be scrapped. The clerk announced that hanging baskets will no longer be installed on the High Street. Smaller baskets do not retain sufficient water, while larger ones are too heavy for existing brackets, and maintenance has led to abuse and complaints.
Interestingly, Mercury’s long memory recalls that when new lamp posts were put up, many years back, the question was asked as to whether they, the new lamp posts, could bear the weight of the brackets for the hanging baskets, and the answer was yes.
However, benches and planters will be introduced, although no plan of positioning was forthcoming. SDC Builders (West Street development) has agreed to help the community and fund this with £10k, alongside grant support.
Despite acknowledging public fondness for the baskets, this decision was presented as final, and as the clerk said, “It can’t be helped, and why should MK have their property destroyed just because we want pretty flowers? So, this is the next best thing.”
So, no discussion by elected representatives, no vote, and no hanging baskets.

The next meeting will be held on Monday 1st June at 7.00pm in the Olney Centre.
If you would like to contribute to the Public Participation section at the start of the meeting, or any time the mayor deems appropriate, please contact the Town Clerk, townclerk@olneytowncouncil.gov.uk.

The May meeting of Olney Town Council is formally known as the Annual Meeting, not to be confused with the public Annual Town Meeting, which took place on May 15th. It mainly consists of readopting the Standing Orders, policies, procedures and protocols that the council are obliged to follow. The Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Chairs and members of the various committees are also elected.

There was only one resident who wished to speak this month. Jim Cooper spoke regarding the latest planning application by Tower Cranes UK at what is known locally as the crane site. Jim said that the original application stated that working hours would be Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 8am to 1pm, with no working on Sundays or Bank Holidays. The latest application is very different and states Monday to Saturday 7am to 7pm and Sunday 7am to 2pm, with a requirement for these to be extended at certain times to 5am to 10pm seven days a week. He thought this totally unacceptable for a market town like Olney and said that both the developer and operator were completely aware of the hours they required when they made the original application, but they realised that if they actually stated them at the time, there would be a very good chance that planning permission would be refused. They therefore went for the safer option of stating normal working hours, knowing that they would come back with this later application once they had obtained full planning permission. This is not the first time that these companies have been ‘economical with the truth’, he said, and would lead to another 900 lorry movements a year on what is already a very busy road. He recognised that the council had already objected, but he urged members to individually register their objections on the MKCC Planning Portal with reference PLN/2026/0740.

Debbie Whitworth was re-elected Mayor and Mary Prosser Deputy Mayor, both uncontested and unanimously. Having previously removed the mayor’s chain of office, Debbie then replaced it.

David Chennells and Christina Diamandopoulos had sent apologies for absence. Colin Rodden was absent and had not sent apologies. There were no declarations of interest.

In order that the PCSOs present should not have to sit through the rather lengthy annual business, Debbie Whitworth brought forward the agenda item and invited PCSO Connor Braddish to present his report. Unusually, the report covered the figures for the year to date instead of just the past month, presumably in preparation for the figures to be presented at the Annual Town Meeting later that week.

Connor said the PCSOs had that day attended Olney Middle School to observe the parking and together with the MKCC parking wardens would be visiting the other schools in an attempt to alleviate the parking problems. Debbie Whitworth said she had already received calls from parents expressing appreciation for the police presence. Sarah Lowe asked how many local retail businesses are using the Disc crime reporting app. Connor replied that currently only two, although the team had spent some time explaining it and demonstrating it to businesses. He felt that the majority of crime is still going unreported. Sarah also said that she had reported the uprooting of several saplings down by the river via 101 and was informed that it had been investigated, and there was insufficient evidence to proceed. When she later went to review the update online, she noted that her report had been deleted, and it was not in Connor’s report. It was agreed that Sarah would forward the reference number to Connor, and he would investigate further.

The following protocols and procedures were all adopted without comment or amendment. No doubt they are all available for inspection at the council office by residents, if they feel so inclined:
Scheme of Delegation and Terms of Reference; Appointment of Members to Committees; Standing Orders; Financial Regulations; Inventory of land and other assets including buildings and office equipment (Town Clerk Jane Brushwood explained that this had been substantially revised during the year); Confirmation of arrangements for insurance cover in respect of all insurable risks; Council’s and/or staff subscriptions to other bodies; Council’s complaints procedures; Council’s policies, procedures and practices in respect of its obligations under freedom of information and data protection legislation; Council’s policy for dealing with the press/media; Council’s employment policies and procedures.
Members and chairs of the various subcommittees were then appointed, largely without change. These are: Dickens of a Christmas, Finance, HR, Community Centres Management, Development, and Recs and Services. All councillors, bar two, are members of the Development committee, and David Tyler asked to stand down so that he could devote time to his new role as Ward Councillor, since this is a regular monthly meeting. Deirdre Bethune noted that, as this was the only committee that David was currently on, he should remain on it if he wished to remain a member of Olney Town Council. It was agreed that he would stand down from the Development committee but join one of the other committees that meet quarterly.

There was no report this month, since elections had recently taken place. On behalf of OTC Debbie Whitworth thanked all candidates who had stood and congratulated Peter Geary, Keith McLean and David Tyler as new Ward Councillors.

Jane Brushwood reported that good progress had been made on the new community building with work taking place at weekends and Bank Holidays. She praised the accommodating nature of the building company. Agreement had been reached with the developers of the padel court as to the plans to be submitted to MKCC. Following the previous decision to name the building Scorers Community Centre the council had belatedly realised the term ‘scorers’ could be associated with drugs use and ‘dating’. After much discussion it was decided that the building will be called The Rec Community Centre.

Debbie Whitworth reported that Mark Butterfield had recommenced the river water quality tests, and the usual seasonal rises were being observed. The exception was in the Ecoli tests, which were producing results of nil CFU (Colony Forming Units). This is most bizarre, she said, as the levels being recorded downstream of Olney were huge. The samples are tested by the same lab, so the Olney results have been flagged for further investigation. A joint meeting with multi-agency stakeholders and MP Chris Curtis had been cancelled due to the local elections, but it would be rescheduled in the near future. The ability of Anglian Water to effectively deliver water in and waste out of new developments is a key question.
Visits by the security company employed to patrol the recreation ground during the summer have commenced. Jane Brushwood said that the cost of employing them throughout this summer would be beyond her delegated authority and asked if the council wished to renew the contract. Debbie Whitworth said that many residents had said that although the security personnel could not solve every issue, their presence did make a difference. Sarah Rowe observed that Friday afternoons after school tended to be ‘pretty bad’ and Deputy Clerk Rob Mungham said that it became noticeably worse once exams were over. It was agreed to request a presence for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, plus Bank Holiday Mondays.

Mary Prosser suggested this ought to be the role of the mayor, but Jane Brushwood said, although the mayor would be in attendance, it might be nice to get other people involved. Rob Mungham said that in his previous career working in schools, events such as tree planting had been performed by the youngest student and the oldest resident, although he appreciated that getting the oldest resident to turn out on a cold November night might be problematic. Deidre Bethune suggested perhaps the resident who had lived in the town the longest. It was decided to invite suggestions from residents.

Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) is a statutory set of financial and governance documents that all parish and town councils in England must complete and publish each year. The AGAR for OTC has passed internal audit and will now be sent to the external auditor.
The annual Armed Forces Day afternoon tea will take place on 23rd June at 3pm. Debbie Whitworth said the attendance in recent years had been down to single figures and was reaching out to any past or current serving personnel who might like to attend.
A new tractor is required for the maintenance of the Yardley Manor fields. A used machine would cost between £10k and £12k, and a brand new one £35k to £40k. The clerk will investigate getting funding from the Sect 106 budget, preferably for a new one.

The next meeting will be held on Monday, 1st June at 7pm in the Olney Centre. If you would like to contribute to the Open Forum section at the start of the meeting, or any time the mayor deems appropriate, please contact the Town Clerk, townclerk@olneytowncouncil.gov.uk.

There was standing room only in the public gallery at the June meeting of Olney Town Council (OTC), due to the recent public order issues at the Recreation Ground. A number of residents had asked to speak in the open forum at the start of the meeting.

First to speak was a resident of Carey Way, who said that both OTC and Milton Keynes City Council (MKCC) continue to disregard the mounting pressure put upon residents due to inconsiderate and dangerous parking in the Austen Avenue and Carey Way area. No maintenance had been carried out in recent years, and the roadways and paths are in poor condition, suffering from subsidence, she said, and are not suitable for the large volumes of sports and visitors’ parking. She suggested that, in advance of a funded longer-term solution, OTC should temporarily reopen the Nursery Field football pitch for managed overflow parking during peak visitor periods, as had historically happened for events. It is town-owned land, she said, and protective rubber matting could be used if the surface is not ‘concrete hard’. East Street Community Centre, owned by MKCC, could also be used for parking if the relevant bodies could liaise. Parking on those fields could be properly managed by volunteers for the upcoming Rugby 7s tournament, she suggested, and also for the benefit of the other sports clubs and residents in the area. She said she recognised that both OTC and MKCC had limitations, but they should consistently lobby for a solution, as that was why residents had voted them into office.
The next resident spoke more specifically about the activities at the bathing place and the surrounding areas, which he believed have now escalated from a nuisance to a matter of public safety. It is not a new issue, but one that has been building for a number of years. Residents and sports clubs are now having to deal with inappropriate parking causing obstruction to emergency vehicles, human waste on playing fields, drug paraphernalia being left in public spaces used by children, dangerous behaviour, including motorbike riding on the rec, and incidents of public disorder and violence, including fights which require police intervention. It is not sustainable to expect volunteers or residents to deal with the situation, he said. It is only a matter of time before someone is injured, or worse, and when that happens, the question will quite rightly be asked whether enough was done to prevent it and who was accountable. The key issue is a lack of direction, he thought, but also a lack of prioritisation, as it does not seem to be being treated with the seriousness required for public safety. There needs to be a straightforward answer to one question, he said: Is OTC actively encouraging or discouraging (the use of) the area? Also, why was security not in place that weekend, and why were facilities such as additional bins not in place? With the summer approaching, residents are now looking for visible action rather than more discussion, he said.
Next to speak was a long-term resident of Timpsons Row, who noted that Google Maps had assigned the postcode for the sports clubs on the recreation ground to outside his front door because it could not identify Timpsons Row as a cul-de-sac. He said that earlier in the day, on Bank Holiday Monday, the position was busy but manageable, but at 4pm the atmosphere changed. He now regularly sees cars pull up outside his house and dispense nitrous oxide gas from large canisters into balloons. He has also witnessed drug dealers walking around with large wads of money, selling cannabis and cocaine. On a lesser point, he said that the grass is being damaged by the use of disposable BBQs, noting that this problem appears to have been overcome at Emberton Park.
The next resident said he was angry and upset and blamed the council. Five or six years ago there had been an open-air meeting where all of this had been discussed, and nothing had been done since, he believed.
Finally, ex-OTC councillor Jim Cooper spoke, saying he was also very angry that Olney is being turned into a ‘seaside town’ at weekends and Bank Holidays, but there is very little that OTC can do about it with its limited powers. The big power lies with MKCC, he thought, and members of OTC should not be subjected to the abuse that had been pumped at them on social media. They are doing their best, and it’s not an easy job, having done it himself, he said. The council cannot stop people from entering the recreation ground as there are many entrances and exits. It had erected signs forbidding alcohol, BBQs, and bathing in the river, but it could not be expected to police them. Would the residents present be prepared to stand up in front of the gangs and tell them they could not bring alcohol, he asked. The security firm that OTC has engaged has very limited powers and cannot arrest offenders. Likewise, the police can do very little and only attended on the Bank Holiday Monday when there was a report of a knife being used. Where will the money come from for enforcement and policing, he asked? Drugs are not a new problem in Olney, as in the past, regular dealing took place at night on the Market Place. The problems now being experienced began during Covid, when someone from London promoted the riverbank as a destination on social media. It had now got worse, but he appealed to the public not to take out their frustrations on the councillors who are trying their best.

David Tyler had sent apologies for absence. There were no declarations of interest. At this point the majority of members of the public present left the meeting, thereby missing the later agenda item where their concerns were discussed.

Mayor Debbie Whitworth read a prepared statement. Debbie said OTC fully appreciated the concerns expressed in person, via email, and on social media regarding the unprecedented numbers of people congregating over the Bank Holiday, all of which were being taken seriously. A multi-agency stakeholder meeting was requested at once, consisting of Thames Valley Police (TVP), the MKCC Head of Parking, the MKCC Antisocial Neighbourhood Team, and the MKCC Environmental Crime Unit. All stakeholders agreed on the need for the meeting, which would take place imminently. Debbie had been in regular contact with TVP, and the focus of the meeting will be on enforcement against antisocial behaviour, as well as the drugs and human waste aspects. It will also look at the enforcement of the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), enforcement of parking violations, traffic management and emergency access, environmental protection, seasonal litter management at the rec and elsewhere, and proactive police patrols rather than reactive ones. This will not only be for this summer but also forward planning for the future, she said.

Ward Councillor Peter Geary was present to give this month’s report from MKCC. The council has ‘changed hands’ as a result of the recent elections, but this has not resulted in a huge change, since the council is now run by Liberal Democrats with Labour support, rather than the previous situation. The Council Leader is Jane Carr, councillor for Newport Pagnell, and many of the previous Labour cabinet members have retained their roles. Peter said that as Ward Councillors, he and his colleagues stand ready to do whatever is required of them as regards the recent antisocial behaviour issues, but he disputed Jim Cooper’s assertion that the ‘big power’ resides with MKCC, saying that both it and TVP had very few powers to deal with the issues.

Faye Carlisle was proposed, seconded and unanimously voted onto the council and duly took her place at the table.

Debbie Whitworth said the report had only been received earlier that day and did not include the recent events, so she declined to present it. She noted that both PCSOs were currently on leave with no standby available to attend the meeting.

Mary Prosser reported that the trustees of the Ann Hopkins Smith alms houses had recently held a soirée for residents where a presentation had been made to Jane Roberts, the retiring Secretary of 15 years, of a willow stripper used for basket making. David Chennells noted it was very civilised, in contrast to the events of four days earlier!

Debbie Whitworth reported that Mark Butterfield and the fishing association have continued to collect samples for the river water-quality tests. Electrical conductivity, which is an indicator of the presence of pollutants in the water, had risen to 900 microsiemens per cm µS/cm) which she described as appalling. Ammonia is at an acceptable level, and Phosphates slightly up, but Nitrates had risen from a safe 5 mg/L to an alarming 18 mg/L. High levels of Nitrates in drinking water nationally are a cause for concern, she said. Only three out of the possible eight species of river fly had been found, which is another indication of the poor health of the river. E. coli had once again been recorded as nil, which is suspicious, as high levels continue to be recorded in Turvey and Bedford. David Chennells said that this was obviously an error, as some level of E. coli will always be present in river water. Deirdre Bethune asked whether this would affect Riverfest, and Debbie replied that it wouldn’t, but any high levels recorded before the event would be notified to the organisers. Sarah Lowe noted that there had been several reports of foot lacerations over the bank holiday and wondered whether they could be due to broken glass in the river. Debbie said that Weil’s disease is a concern in that case. David Chennells said that although Weil’s disease is serious, it is also rare. However, it is known to be spread by rats, and the increase in discarded food waste will inevitably lead to an increase in the number of rats. It was unfortunate that the concerned residents who had attended the early part of the meeting had left and therefore missed the opportunity to volunteer to pick up the rubbish, he said.

Results for 09/04/2026 to 07/05/2026

*The 85th centile is the speed at which 85% of vehicles were traveling at or below

Colin Rodden had been looking at the detailed figures and noticed that a number of vehicles had been recorded at 30 and more mph in the 20 mph zone and wondered if it would be possible to get a PCSO with a speed gun to attend. Deputy Clerk Rob Mungham said the figures are forwarded to TVP, who decide the threshold at which to take enforcement action.

A lengthy and rather circular discussion took place on this issue, often descending into angry and uncontrolled exchanges with some councillors talking over each other, with the result that very little could be heard at times. Mayor Debbie Whitworth frequently had to call the meeting to order, and only a summary is possible here. Deirdre Bethune noted that when the waste bins are full, bags of rubbish are being left by them. This is done with the best intentions, but then wild animals and birds split them open and scatter the contents, looking for waste food. She suggested notices requesting people to take litter home when bins are full. Later on, Jane Brushwood reminded councillors that the ground staff do not work at weekends, so if the bins get full on a Friday, they are not emptied until Monday morning, or Tuesday on a Bank Holiday. Did councillors want to pay for additional bins, overtime for ground staff or other litter collection? All this would come at a cost to the council and, therefore, to residents, she said. Deirdre suggested an organised volunteer force to pick up litter, since this currently happens informally anyway, with her and many other residents turning out early in the morning to help clear up from the night before. It shouldn’t be necessary, she thought, but it is ‘our town’, and she would be happy to hand out the litter picking equipment to volunteers. Colin Rodden observed that up to now the council had been ‘dumbing down’ (presumably meaning actively discouraging) visitors to the swimming area due to residents’ concerns about bad parking, drug taking, etc., because that was what it believed residents wanted. The council was being defeated by social media, he said, so was it now time to attempt to manage the situation by managing parking on the field and additional security? By doing this, the council would be seen to be facilitating visitors, so what do residents actually want? Debbie Whitworth suggested a forum with a few councillors and residents to find out what the majority of residents want, but in previous years, whenever the council has suggested charging for use of the (rugby club) car park, the majority of people have objected. Dan Rowland wondered if the council should hold an Extraordinary General Meeting with residents to gauge opinions, but Debbie advised waiting until after the multi-agency meeting to see what enforcement might be possible. An open meeting would probably not achieve very much, she thought, but a consultation, similar to that which had recently taken place re Johnsons Field, might be more productive. Regarding parking, Sarah Lowe said that although cars were parked on double yellow lines and on pavements, the newly painted double yellow lines on Fairfields and East Street were observed. David Chennells thanked Jim Cooper for his support and praised Debbie Whitworth for her proactive approach in contacting the agencies. He appealed to residents not to criticise those who are trying to resolve the situation. It was not unexpected that people would turn out over the Bank Holiday, but the organisation of the huge numbers was unexpected. It was literally an invasion that overwhelmed everyone, he said. Chris Shaw was frustrated by what he saw as a lack of enforcement, recognising that OTC and MKCC have limited powers, but he said it should be possible to issue tickets for illegally parked cars and for the police to prosecute for drug and alcohol abuse. ‘Bad behaviour creep’ is occurring, he thought, where there is a higher and higher acceptance of bad behaviour without action being taken. Peter Geary offered to find out how many parking tickets have been issued and wondered whether a residents-only parking scheme could be considered for Carey Way and Austin Avenue, the downside being that it is often legitimate visitors to residents who get ticketed. Sarah Lowe recognised that it is not a problem unique to Olney, and that Olney was targeted on social media on a particular day. The council needs a plan for action when the number of attendees reaches a critical level, she said. David Chennells thought that, as part of their intelligence-gathering, the police should be monitoring Snapchat to get early warning of gatherings so they can promptly shut them down. Peter Geary suggested liaising with the Parks Trust in MK, which manages the parks and waterfrontage in MK and regularly deals with large gatherings. On the subject of security, Jane Brushwood said that two security contractors currently attend from 4pm to midnight, Friday to Sunday and Bank Holidays, and do not attend in bad weather as they know it will not be necessary. This flexibility saves the council unnecessary expense. It will be up to the proposed forum to decide if addition levels of security should be provided, she said, but Chris Shaw was of the opinion that any increase must be justified by being effective, as there is little point in throwing money at the issue with no improvement. Christina Diamandopoulos was at pains not to demonise all young people, saying there are plenty of occasions when young people gather to have fun with no problems. Finally, Debbie Whitworth thanked the local shopkeepers for their vigilance in checking IDs and not selling alcohol to those who were clearly inebriated, noting that there had been many instances of shoplifting. It was agreed to set up a forum with a number of councillors and residents to go out into the community to look at options.

Jane Brushwood reported that good progress continues to be made on The Rec Community Centre, and completion is still scheduled for August.
There will be an open day for residents to look around the new community centre at Winterbottom Way on 4th July.

Due to low public attendances the Annual Town Meeting will henceforth be held on a Monday rather than a Friday.

The next meeting will be held on Monday 6th July at 7pm in the Olney Centre. If you would like to contribute to the Open Forum section at the start of the meeting, or any time the mayor deems appropriate, please contact the Town Clerk, townclerk@olneytowncouncil.gov.uk.

The public session was opened by resident Richard Freeman, who thanked Councillors Sarah Woods, Deirdre Bethune and Colin Rodden for taking the initiative to establish a working group to tackle the growing problems at the Recreation Ground.
He described the move as both positive and courageous, praising councillors and local residents for working together to produce practical proposals. Mr Freeman said the responsibility now lay with Milton Keynes City Council and Thames Valley Police to play their part in addressing parking issues, highway concerns and anti-social behaviour.
He stressed that residents deserved clear answers about who was responsible for dealing with the various problems and what action could realistically be taken. His overall message was one of optimism and cooperation, although he was eventually cut short when the allotted speaking time expired.
There were no apologies for absence – indeed, even the Town Council cat was present – and there were no declarations of interest.

Approval of the previous meeting’s minutes prompted the evening’s first discussion.
Councillor Sarah Woods felt that the previous debate concerning the Recreation Ground had not been adequately reflected in the minutes. The Town Clerk reminded members that minutes are intended to provide a concise record of decisions rather than a verbatim account of every discussion. The matter went no further and the minutes were approved.

The police report covered activity between 11th May and 5th July and highlighted a busy period for officers across Olney.
Incidents included illegal parking, anti-social behaviour at the river, barbecues in prohibited areas, noisy neighbours, illegal motorcycle use, dangerous driving, assaults, attempted burglary, criminal damage, public order offences, shoplifting, suspicious people and vehicles, a mobile phone theft and the unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle. Police also reported that improved CCTV coverage and better reporting procedures at Tesco appeared to be contributing to a reduction in shoplifting.

The Recreation Ground continued to demand significant police resources.
One reported incident initially believed to involve a stabbing fortunately proved to be a fight between young people, with no knives or firearms involved.
Officers attended throughout a particularly busy Friday evening and Saturday. During one incident, police attempted to stop a rider on an unregistered motorcycle travelling across the Recreation Ground. However, because of the large number of people using the area, officers decided it would be too dangerous to continue the pursuit.
Investigations are continuing to identify the rider.
Another recurring problem has involved youngsters throwing life rings into the river and using them as floats. Police confirmed that similar incidents are also occurring in Newport Pagnell and efforts are being made to ensure the safety equipment remains available for genuine emergencies.
While officers witnessed no serious breaches during their patrols, they continued advising members of the public against swimming in the River Great Ouse.

Connor Braddish also highlighted the police’s bicycle-marking initiative, explaining that permanently marking bicycles significantly increases the likelihood that stolen property is returned to its owner.
Although the July event fell after the publication deadline for this report, similar schemes are expected to continue throughout the year.

The meeting also marked Connor’s final appearance before Olney Town Council.
He has been promoted to become a detective, and councillors warmly congratulated him on his achievement. The local policing team will shortly welcome a new neighbourhood sergeant, Keith Featherstone, together with an additional PCSO, Tina Hobson, to maintain neighbourhood policing across Olney.
The Mayor thanked Connor for his professionalism and commitment to the town, wishing him every success in his new role. Councillors across the chamber echoed the appreciation.
Councillor Colin Rodden praised the bicycle-marking scheme before asking whether the popular Olney Notice Board social media page could assist police in identifying the rider of the unregistered motorcycle.
Connor welcomed the suggestion, explaining that several useful images had already been received via social media. However, officers also needed to balance gathering evidence with ensuring the suspect was unaware that police intended to seize the motorcycle.
Arlene Ormston confirmed that CCTV footage was also being examined and that enquiries remained ongoing. Councillor Sarah Woods asked whether similar investigative techniques could be used to tackle other forms of anti-social driving, including vehicles fitted with excessively loud modified exhausts. Connor confirmed they could. Automatic Number Plate Recognition and other investigative tools are regularly used, and he encouraged residents to continue reporting incidents, as intelligence from the public remains vital.

Ward Councillor Keith McLean began by paying tribute to Connor, describing him as a tremendous asset not only to Olney but to the surrounding villages. He congratulated him on earning his promotion through hard work and dedication.
Cllr McLean then spoke movingly about the recent death of former neighbourhood policing supervisor Andrew White, whose funeral he had attended in Newport Pagnell. He said the church had been full, reflecting the enormous respect in which Mr White had been held.
He also paid tribute to Milton Keynes City Councillor Shanika Mahendran, whose sudden death had been a great shock to colleagues from all political parties.

Cllr McLean reported some welcome environmental news. The Air Quality Management Area covering Olney has now officially been removed. The designation had been in place since 2008, but nitrogen dioxide levels have remained below national objectives since 2014, leading to its withdrawal following a sustained downward trend.

He also announced that Milton Keynes City Council was introducing a new vehicle removal policy.
[The day after the meeting, Mercury can confirm that the policy was formally approved.]
Under the new arrangements, persistent offenders who repeatedly ignore parking restrictions could have their vehicles removed rather than simply receiving another parking ticket. Similar schemes elsewhere have proved effective by making illegal parking considerably more expensive for repeat offenders.
Olney Town Council will receive further information on how the policy will operate locally.

Cllr McLean also confirmed that the area would soon have both a new Neighbourhood Policing Supervisor and a new Chief Inspector.
Continuing a long-standing tradition, he intends to drive the new Chief Inspector around the ward to provide a first-hand understanding of the local communities and issues affecting the area.
He also thanked the Mayor for keeping ward councillors informed about the multi-agency meetings on Recreation Ground issues and said he hoped at least one ward councillor would continue to attend these meetings wherever possible.
When no questions followed his report, Mr McLean joked,  “I must be getting better at it.” The remark raised a smile around the council chamber.

The council then unanimously appointed Trevor Cooper as Olney Town Council’s newest councillor.
Invited to address members, Mr Cooper said he had several matters he wished to raise but preferred to do so at a future meeting after settling into his new role.
Following the formal vote, he took his place around the council table.
For the first time in some while, all fifteen council seats were occupied.
‘Bingo’, came the observation from around the chamber – a full house of 15; 16 if you include the cat.

RIVER REPORT: Electroconductivity is rising to unacceptable levels, running into the low 900s when the average is 756, and normal is 50 – 800, so not great. E. coli has lowered to 132 CFU/100ml, but do not get complacent, as either side of us, and at Bedford, it is in excess of 10,000.
If there was one subject that dominated the evening, it was undoubtedly the Recreation Ground.
For well over an hour councillors debated a comprehensive report prepared by the Recreation Ground Working Group, established following increasing concerns from residents about anti-social behaviour, parking, litter, river safety and communication between the various agencies involved.
The report, prepared by Councillor Sarah Woods with fellow councillors and local residents, contained 34 separate recommendations, ranging from improved communication and better signage to CCTV, additional bins, parking controls, and stronger partnership working with Milton Keynes City Council and Thames Valley Police.
Before discussing the report itself, councillors considered the continuing issue of river safety.

River Safety: The Mayor reminded members that conditions on the River Great Ouse can change rapidly and that the Upper Great Ouse has been identified as one of the country’s most polluted rivers.
She referred to recent incidents elsewhere, including teenagers in Northampton becoming seriously ill after swimming in contaminated water, together with concerns over diseases such as Weil’s disease.
While acknowledging that people will continue to enter the river, she stressed there was very little that any parish council could legally do beyond issuing clear warnings and encouraging people to think carefully before entering the water.
Chris Curtis MP is due to meet the relevant water authorities and has invited both the Mayor and Mark Butterfield to submit any questions or concerns they would like raised on Olney’s behalf.
Councillor Colin Rodden suggested installing an information board near the river displaying details on water quality.
The Town Clerk explained that water quality changes frequently and keeping a permanent noticeboard updated would require both staff time and ongoing maintenance. Existing warning signs are already in place.
Councillor Rodden acknowledged those practical difficulties but maintained that the council should continue to explore ways to provide clearer information for visitors.
Councillor Chris Tennant reminded members that the Town Council had consistently taken the position that anyone entering the river does so entirely at their own risk. “We know people have died,” he said, “but beyond issuing appropriate warnings there is little more that a parish council can realistically do.”

Attention then turned to the Working Group’s report. The Mayor thanked everyone involved, particularly the residents who had devoted many hours to gathering information and producing what she described as a detailed and thoughtful piece of work.
She reminded councillors that while some proposals could be implemented quickly, others would require cooperation from Milton Keynes City Council, Thames Valley Police and other agencies.
Councillor Sarah Woods explained that the report was the result of extensive discussions involving councillors and four local residents.
Some recommendations were already being progressed, while others were still developing as ideas rather than fully worked-up proposals.
Although the report contained 34 recommendations, she believed around 26 could potentially move forward following further discussion.
The council then began working through the document section by section.

Better Communication: The first topic concerned communication with residents.
One of the strongest messages from those living close to the Recreation Ground was that they wanted far better information about what the Town Council was doing behind the scenes.
Residents also wanted clearer explanations about what powers Olney Town Council actually has, as many people wrongly assume the Town Council controls policing, parking enforcement and highways matters.
Councillor Woods said one of the biggest frustrations was that much work often goes unnoticed simply because people never hear about it.
She also highlighted ongoing confusion surrounding online reporting systems, where members of the public are sometimes directed to the Town Council even when issues are actually the responsibility of Thames Valley Police or Milton Keynes City Council.
During the very first Working Group meeting, she said, residents had been genuinely surprised to discover just how much work the council had already been undertaking.
That demonstrated the need for better communication.

The Social Media Debate: The Town Clerk suggested that social media had played a significant role in encouraging more visitors to the Recreation Ground in the first place by portraying it as an attractive destination.
Councillor Chennells respectfully disagreed. He argued that social media should be viewed as one of the council’s strongest tools rather than part of the problem.
Almost everyone now uses social media, he said, including those responsible for anti-social behaviour. Publicising enforcement activity and making it clear that offences are being monitored could become an effective deterrent.
“The last thing people engaged in anti-social behaviour want,” he suggested, “is publicity.”
Councillor Deirdre Bethune agreed that residents needed regular reassurance that the council was actively tackling the issues.
She pointed out that although the problems have undoubtedly become worse, they are by no means new and are being experienced by towns across the country rather than just in Olney.
The Mayor agreed that communication needed improving but also recognised that not everyone uses social media.
She suggested that Phonebox Magazine could continue playing an important role in keeping residents informed alongside online updates.

Reporting Problems: Councillor Woods returned to one of the residents’ main concerns – the difficulty people experience when trying to report incidents.
She explained that although everyone is encouraged to report problems through the police’s 101 system, many residents feel discouraged when they receive little or no feedback. In one recent incident involving the motorcycle on the Recreation Ground, two people reported the matter but heard nothing further for three weeks.
The Mayor acknowledged the frustration but stressed that reporting incidents remains essential. Every report made through 101 contributes to police intelligence. The more incidents are officially recorded, the stronger the case for allocating additional police resources to Olney becomes.
“It may feel as though nothing happens,” she observed, “but without those reports the police have no evidence of the scale of the problem.”

A Long List of Ideas: As discussion moved through the Working Group’s recommendations, it quickly became clear that members broadly supported the report’s direction but questioned whether all 34 proposals could realistically be debated in a single evening.
Suggestions ranged from improved communication and clearer signage through to CCTV, additional security patrols, parking restrictions, volunteer initiatives and stronger partnerships with Milton Keynes City Council and Thames Valley Police.
Several councillors commented that many of the ideas had considerable merit but required further development before formal approval.

‘Quick Wins’: Councillor Chris Tennant suggested concentrating first on measures that could be introduced immediately.
The phrase ‘quick wins’ soon became the unofficial theme of the evening.
Councillor Sarah Woods agreed that several proposals could be implemented without lengthy consultation or significant expenditure, allowing residents to see that progress was being made while more complex proposals continued to be developed.

Councillor Shaw’s Proposal: At this point Councillor Shaw offered what many around the table appeared to be thinking.
He praised the Working Group for producing an excellent and detailed report but admitted he had not expected councillors to work through more than thirty recommendations during a single meeting.
Rather than attempting to approve every proposal individually, he suggested the council formally endorse the work already undertaken, allow the Working Group to continue refining its recommendations and return with a much shorter list of practical proposals for formal approval.
There was broad agreement across the chamber.
Councillor Deirdre Bethune supported the suggestion, adding that attention should initially focus on improvements that could realistically be delivered straight away.
Simple measures, such as improving signage and ensuring that Milton Keynes City Council empties bins before busy weekends, could make an immediate difference without requiring major investment.
Councillor Tennant agreed, describing the report as an excellent piece of work but reminding members that some recommendations would inevitably require detailed financial consideration.
The Town Clerk added that where funding already existed for smaller improvements, there was no reason why those projects could not begin immediately.

New Bins Approved: One of the first practical decisions concerned litter bins.
Councillor Woods explained that additional bins were needed around the Recreation Ground to cope with increasing visitor numbers. Councillor Tennant proposed that the Town Clerk be authorised to spend up to £5,000 on new bins. The proposal received strong support and was approved with little difficulty.
It was one of the first tangible outcomes of the evening’s lengthy discussions.

Better Water Information: Councillor Woods also suggested making river safety information much easier for residents and visitors to understand.
Rather than relying solely on technical information, she proposed that the Town Council website should provide straightforward explanations written in plain English.
Members also discussed the possibility of installing QR codes near the river so visitors could quickly access the latest water quality information using their mobile phones.
This proposal was also supported and became another of the evening’s “quick wins”.

Spartan Security: Attention then turned to Spartan Security, whose patrols have become a regular feature around the Recreation Ground.
Councillor Colin Rodden questioned whether the council had received a report covering the recent Bank Holiday period and asked whether there was scope to strengthen the security presence.
The mayor reminded members that Spartan patrols complement, rather than replace, police responsibilities and once again stressed that incidents should continue to be reported through 101.
The Town Clerk explained that Spartan staff patrol on agreed days and are easily identifiable, normally wearing high-visibility clothing and carrying radios.
Councillor Bethune noted that during particularly hot weather they had not always worn high-visibility jackets, making them less obvious to members of the public.
Councillor Woods suggested that members of the Working Group should meet directly with Spartan to discuss operational improvements and consider whether a direct contact number could be made available for urgent issues while patrols were on duty. The Town Clerk agreed to arrange a meeting.

Volunteers Recognised: Councillor Woods then paid tribute to a local resident who has spent many hours voluntarily litter-picking around the Recreation Ground.
She felt the individual’s efforts deserved public recognition.
The Town Clerk noted that other volunteers also help regularly and reminded members that the council already funds weekday litter collection, although additional weekend volunteers would always be welcome.
Councillor Bethune proposed creating a community WhatsApp group for residents willing to assist with occasional litter-picking sessions.
The Town Clerk confirmed she had no objection, provided it was not administered through her own mobile phone.
The proposal received general support.
Councillor Rodden questioned whether volunteers should be clearing litter created through anti-social behaviour at all, arguing that offenders should be encouraged to take responsibility for their own rubbish.
As had happened several times during the evening, discussion briefly became ‘rather lively’ before the mayor restored order and moved members back to the agenda.

Moving Forward: As the debate finally drew to a close, the mayor thanked everyone involved in producing the Working Group report. She particularly praised the cooperation shown between councillors and residents, describing it as a positive example of the community working together to solve difficult problems.
Councillor Shaw’s earlier proposal – once he had recalled what he’d said as it was some time back – to continue the Working Group, reduce the lengthy list of recommendations into a smaller number of deliverable actions and bring those back to council for formal approval – was then put to the vote. It was carried.
While relatively few of the 34 recommendations were formally adopted on the night, the meeting nevertheless produced several immediate outcomes.
Additional bins will now be purchased, clearer river safety information will be provided, discussions with Spartan Security will continue, volunteer initiatives will be developed and, perhaps most importantly, the Working Group will remain in place to develop the remaining proposals into practical actions. Given the length of the discussion, that represented a productive and lively evening’s work.

With the lengthy Recreation Ground debate finally concluded, the council was able to move through the remainder of a still substantial agenda.

Councillors then turned their attention to the council’s financial business. The expenditure schedule and budget recommendations were considered and approved without significant debate, allowing the meeting to move on to a series of community updates.

The Mayor reported on attending the recent Ousedale School Awards Evening, where around 125 students were recognised for their achievements.
She described the evening as a tremendous celebration of young people’s success and praised the exceptionally high standard reached by the award winners.
Following the ceremony, she spoke with members of the judging panel, who expressed a keen interest in strengthening links between the school and the wider Olney community.

Members also heard that the new Winterbottom Way Community Centre is now fully operational following its official opening on 4 July.
The mayor thanked everyone who had helped make the launch such a success, particularly Mary, Chris, Jane and the many volunteers who provided refreshments throughout the afternoon. Special recognition was also given to Councillor Chris Tennant and the steering group for the considerable amount of work undertaken behind the scenes to bring the project to completion.
Representatives from the Cowper and Newton Museum attended the opening, while musicians from Ousedale School provided entertainment throughout the afternoon.
The centre has already begun receiving bookings, and the Mayor thanked both the caretaker and council staff for their work supporting the various user groups now using the building.

The council also heard that discussions are continuing regarding the possible establishment of an Army Cadet unit at the new community centre.
An open day is planned for 12th September, allowing residents to visit the facility and gauge local interest.
Members felt the cadets would provide valuable opportunities for young people through adventure training, skills development and community involvement.

Deputy Town Clerk Rob presented the latest data collected by the council’s Speed Indicator Devices. The figures painted a generally encouraging picture.
At Yardley Road, near Olney Middle School, more than 25,000 vehicles were recorded travelling northbound during the survey period. The average speed was 19.57mph, comfortably below the 20mph limit and lower than the previous month’s average.
On Asprey, Foxhill, almost 49,000 vehicles were recorded heading northbound, with an average speed of 24.25mph in the 30mph zone.
Meanwhile, at Aspreys, Hollow Wood, around 44,000 southbound vehicles were recorded, averaging 25.22mph.
Overall, councillors welcomed another positive set of figures showing average speeds remaining comfortably within the posted limits.

Newly appointed Councillor Trevor Cooper asked whether the Speed Indicator Devices were positioned in the most appropriate locations. The Town Clerk explained that responsibility for deciding where the devices are deployed rests with Milton Keynes City Council rather than Olney Town Council.
Further discussion centred on Warrington Road, where members felt additional monitoring would be beneficial.
Although requests have already been submitted, Milton Keynes City Council has yet to alter the monitoring locations.
When members wondered whether another formal request should be submitted, the mayor confirmed that the matter was already within the system and awaiting a response.

Councillor Colin Rodden, declaring an interest as a Weston Road resident, raised concerns about a damaged post that had been struck by a vehicle some time ago.
The post remains bent, preventing a Speed Indicator Device from being installed there should the location eventually be approved.
Ward Councillor Keith McLean said he had not previously been made aware of the issue but assured members he would investigate once the relevant information had been forwarded to him.
Councillor Rodden added that while motorists appear to be slowing down more than in previous years, cyclists continue to express concerns about vehicle speeds on the road.

The Town Clerk confirmed that work relating to the former football club site remains on schedule for completion during August.
Little had changed since the previous meeting regarding the proposed padel courts, with the project still awaiting progress through the planning process.
Councillor Deirdre Bethune asked whether noise associated with padel tennis had been taken into account.
The Town Clerk replied that she expected any potential noise issues to be considered as part of the planning application.

Members were pleased to hear that plans for the Johnson’s Field junior play area had now been received.
Work is expected to begin on 17 July. No decision has yet been reached regarding the proposed fun park. However, Milton Keynes City Council has assured Olney Town Council that it will continue providing updates as the project progresses.
Overall, councillors welcomed the fact that progress is finally being made after a lengthy period of planning.

One of the most significant decisions of the evening concerned the future ownership and management of the land surrounding the new Winterbottom Way Community Centre.

Councillors discussed proposals for Olney Town Council to take responsibility for the entire site from Milton Keynes City Council, along with a £500,000 maintenance fund.
Should the transfer proceed, responsibility for maintaining the land and facilities would pass entirely to Olney Town Council.
Councillor David Chennells acknowledged that accepting responsibility represented a considerable commitment but believed it was a rare opportunity that should not be missed.
“It is a lot of money,” he observed, “but another opportunity like this may never come along.”
The alternative would be for Milton Keynes City Council to retain responsibility for the site and continue making the decisions about its future. The Town Clerk reassured members that the £500,000 maintenance fund would be ring-fenced solely for site maintenance and could not be simply diverted elsewhere within the council’s budget.
Councillor Chennells also pointed out another important advantage. With ownership comes control. Should repairs or improvements be required in future, Olney Town Council would be able to make decisions directly rather than relying upon another authority. He also pointed out that in all probability by the time the money was spent, none of those sitting around the table would be on OTC.
Councillor Chris Tennant agreed, describing the proposal as a major opportunity for the town that should be embraced while the chance existed.
Other councillors expressed similar views and the principle of the transfer received broad support, subject to the necessary legal work being completed.

Traditionally, Olney Town Council does not hold a formal meeting during August.
However, after such an extensive evening spent discussing the Recreation Ground, Councillor Chennells suggested cancelling the next meeting could send the wrong message to residents. With significant public interest continuing and further work already planned, he felt momentum should be maintained. Members agreed.
An August meeting will therefore take place, allowing councillors to continue monitoring progress and consider further recommendations from the Recreation Ground Working Group without waiting until September.

The July meeting will almost certainly be remembered as one of the longest in recent years. The Recreation Ground dominated proceedings, but by the end of the evening councillors had achieved considerably more than simply debating problems.
The Working Group’s efforts received widespread support, several immediate improvements – or ‘quick wins’ – were approved, and the group itself was asked to continue refining its recommendations before bringing a shorter, more focused package of proposals back to council.
Away from the Recreation Ground, members welcomed a new councillor, congratulated PCSO Connor on his promotion to detective, celebrated the official opening of the Winterbottom Way Community Centre, approved expenditure, reviewed encouraging traffic-speed data, received updates on several community projects and took an important step towards securing local control of one of Olney’s newest public assets.
It had been a long evening, occasionally lively, sometimes humorous and, at times, rather chaotic. Yet throughout the meeting there remained a genuine determination from councillors of all viewpoints to improve the town and work constructively with residents and partner organisations.
By the time the mayor finally declared the meeting closed, one attendee had long since decided enough was enough. The cat.

The next meeting will be held on Monday, August 3rd 7pm in the Olney Centre. If you would like to contribute to the Public Participation section at the start of the meeting or any time the mayor deems it appropriate, please contact the Town Clerk at townclerk@olneytowncouncil.gov.uk.