What you can do to help campaign
Whatever you do to help campaign - make sure you join the group and let everyone know what you've been up to. That way we can co-ordinate more effectively!
- If you live in MK, in the 01908 dialling code area and can't get broadband, then let the group know. We can often help find a way to get broadband to your property.
- Lobby your ward councillors at MK Council to ensure this remains high on their agenda and MK Council's. Here's details of who your ward councillor is and how to contact them.
- Lobby your MP to get more investment into MK from central government. Here's details of our MPs and a way to contact them.
- Some parish councils around the UK have helped by part-funding faster exchange upgrades in partnership with BT Openreach. Ask your local parish council what they're doing to help your local area. Look at your council tax bill to see who your local parish council is (you'll see it as a line item called "precept" - for instance "Walton PC precept". Here's how to contact them.
- Publicise MK BAG to your friends, family and neighbours! Put a link to our campaign on your website, social network page (i.e. Facebook, Linked In), mention it at your next local business meeting etc.
Campaigning locally - a quick guide
MK BAG's rough guide on the levels of local government, their
responsibilities and what they need to be approached for.
Parish Councils
The first tier of local government and not
affiliated with the church! Typically unpaid, local people, without
party affiliation. Typically responsible for things such as local
parks, allotments, play areas, youth clubs, etc. Collect a small
amount of tax (a 'precept') each year and have therefore money to
spend. Responsible for the well being and growth of local areas. MK
has more than 30 parishes. Campaign that they will have an imbalance
in their local area, house prices will be impacted and their
residents will be worse off than any other neighbouring parish. They
need to help pay for exchange upgrades or extension of fibre into
their parish area. Respond best to many people booking a speaking
slot at their meetings with a logical discussion and a definitive
decision for the parish to make, or action to take. See more and
find your local parish and contact details at
www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/parishes
Ward Councillors
These are typically party affiliated and are the Borough councillors
that serve on MK Council. Responsible for MK wide policy and
political direction, including but not limited to transport,
economic development, infrastructure, comms, local partnerships,
everything that makes a town function. Have a small 'ward budget' to
spend on projects and keen to secure votes in local elections. Make
broadband a hot topic with them to help secure their support to MK
BAG in exchange for your vote. Largest party in MK at the moment is
LibDem, then Conservatives. See more about the Ward Councillors and
the local elections at http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/elections
Council officers
Responsible for day-to-day execution of council responsibilities,
and the discharge of the functions given to them, as voted for by
the Ward councillors. Responsible for all the functions necessary
for a town to function, including some of the more mundane tasks -
but utterly essential, MK could not function without the officers.
Can't respond politically, but constant communication and
petitioning can help them to establish a need in the community and
bring that to the attention of the Ward councillors, who can then
vote on direction change and instruct the officers accordingly.
MPs
National level. Useful to talk with to help shape national policy
and sometimes for influencing local matters with a personal
intervention from ministers or national organisations that can
assist on the local level.
MEPs
Not especially in MK BAG's scope of reference. Noteworthy for their
stance of how data or privacy should be applied across nation states
(i.e. EU data protection commissioner).