Cllr Jane Carr is the new Leader of Milton Keynes City Council after her appointment was approved by councillors at yesterday’s Annual General Meeting.
Cllr Carr is the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and represents the Newport Pagnell ward. She has served as a city councillor for eight years, having first been elected in May 2018. She brings a wealth of experience from both local government and her professional career.
Cllr Carr has previously served as Cabinet Member for Tackling Inequalities and Child Poverty, where she developed a strong track record in addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing communities. Her work focused on efforts to reduce child poverty and inequalities, while also promoting public health, skills development, higher education and youth services.
Cllr Carr is also an independent social worker, bringing valuable frontline experience in supporting vulnerable individuals and families. She brings wider local government experience, having previously served as borough councillor and worked within a county council.
She replaces Pete Marland, who was the city council’s previous leader for 12 years.
: “It’s a huge honour to be elected to lead Milton Keynes City Council. Milton Keynes is a special place with so much going for it, and I’m proud to serve our communities. I would like to thank Pete Marland for his leadership and the work he has done for our city.
“As we look to the future, we’re committed to listening and caring about the things that matter to residents, big or small. Milton Keynes is a proud and diverse community, and we’re ambitious for our city.
“One of our key priorities as an administration will be to deliver a city-wide Mental Health Strategy, bringing together local organisations and partners to ensure people can access support when they need it.
“We’ll continue to support families, tackle inequalities, improve safety in our neighbourhoods, and protect the environment, while making sure vulnerable people get the extra help they need. Together we can continue to build a city that feels safe, welcoming and respectful. We want to build on the success of Milton Keynes by bringing communities together, creating homes and jobs for local people, supporting those who need it most, including carers and pensioners, and ensuring young people have real opportunities for the future.”
Cllr Carr was formally appointed at the City Council’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 20 May alongside the new Cabinet, who will serve as a partnership between Liberal Democrat and Labour groups, having received 20 and 19 seats respectively in the city elections on 7 May:
- Cllr Lauren Townsend – Deputy Leader (Resources and Customer Experience)
- Cllr Kerrie Bradburn – Highways and Transport
- Cllr Jennifer Wilson-Marklew – Environment, Waste and Sustainability
- Cllr Peter Cannon – Children and Young People
- Cllr Donna Fuller – Adult Services, Health and Communities
- Cllr Saleena Raja – Communities and Partnerships
- Cllr Shanika Mahendran – Planning
- Cllr Sam Crooks – Regulatory Services
- Cllr Ed Hume – Housing