Youth workers are to be made redundant in Milton Keynes City Council’s budget for next year.
Milton Keynes City Council Conservative Group have slammed the Labour administration for making these ridiculous cuts to youth services at a time when it is most needed. Within the proposed budget papers for 25/26, the Labour-led Council have cut £241k from the service- a move that includes the redundancy of five full time staff.
At this week’s Budget meeting (Wednesday 19th February) Conservative Councillors will call upon the Labour administration to halt this catastrophic cut for one year to allow for a comprehensive consultation with our partners as to how a semblance of a youth service will continue to operate in the city. This review will assess their capacity to fill the gap left by the withdrawal of council-led services, ensuring that no “youth service deserts” are created.
Cllr Shazna Muzammil, Leader of the Conservative Group said "This isn’t just about balancing budgets; it’s about safeguarding our young resident’s future. Every decision must be made with a full understanding of what our partners can deliver, so our young people are never left stranded in the wake of political short-sightedness, we must be better, when we prioritise our young people”.
By postponing these cuts, Conservative Councillors believe the Council will have the opportunity to craft a targeted strategy that supports the areas where independent organisations simply cannot meet the need. Cllr Muzammil added “This is not merely a fiscal adjustment—it is a matter of protecting the
future of our community.”
This will be the third consecutive year that the Conservative Group will call upon the Labour- led Council to undertake a comprehensive review of the true demand and capacity for youth work provision across Milton Keynes. Despite proposals in 2023 for an in-depth investigation into the urgent challenges facing our young people—and a subsequent call in 2024 for a full analysis of independent youth service providers—the previous Labour - Lib Dem administration dismissed these crucial measures.
The Conservative Group has long maintained that any reduction in funding for youth services must be based on a clear understanding of the capabilities and willingness of our local partners to pick up the slack created from Labour’s cuts. Without detailed knowledge of current provision—and the potential of agencies like parish councils and the voluntary sector— Conservative Councillors believe the Labour Council’s plans risk destroying critical resources when our young people need stability and support more than ever.
Cllr David Hopkins, who will speak on the amendment at Wednesday’s meeting, also raised the importance of waiting for the recommendations from the upcoming Task and Finish Group on Youth Services. He added “Our youth services are the bedrock of all that we are to here to represent and support.
Just last week my proposal for a Task & Finish Group, with membership from the Youth Council, was agreed. We will be reviewing youth services across MK in order to identify how they could be made more accessible and responsive to young people’s needs. I urge the Labour administration to think again on these cuts and give Scrutiny the due time and process to contribute to finding a better way.
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