NEWS CHANNEL
Published: 26/05/2009 00:00 -
Updated: 23/02/2010 13:35
Councillor Sam Crooks spoke to reporter JESSICA CUNNIFFE about the challenges facing him as new leader of Milton Keynes Council.
(media 1781)
Sam Crooks remembers the day he came to Milton Keynes: June 22, 1970. Born and brought up in Ireland, he moved here for his first job - 'making the tea' at the then-new Open University.
Nearly 39 years later he is new to another job: leading the city's council.
"Everyone outside used to laugh at Milton Keynes. My parents looked at me and said 'you're going to Milton Keynes?!' They wondered what kind of disease I had.
"The great thing was that for the people who lived in Milton Keynes, this was heaven on earth."
While the place may be heavenly, it has been a hellish year for its council, currently ranked within the bottom three per cent of local authorities by the Audit Commission.
But the software company owner was seen as a solution to an authority beset by political bickering, being allowed a clear run at the leadership by opposition parties last week.
"I do think there's a process of healing that the council has to go through as well as setting our house in order.
"I'm daunted by the size of the challenge, but the thing I can say in absolute confidence is that I believe the city can respond to the problems.
"I'm just a figurehead. I want to give expression to what I believe are the strengths of this city. I think we've got such a rich community in terms of the people in it, whether male, female, black, white, brown - whatever - it's that vibrancy and creativity that we'll be able to build on."
As well as sorting out the council, the Liberal Democrat wants to ensure the recession becomes a distant memory in the city ranked fourth (out of 98) most prone to the downturn by website uSwitch.
"The main thing I want to do at the outset is to raise the city's sights again. I think the combination of things that happened to the council over the last couple of years - the recession, various other factors - means that were a bit down in the dumps."
Though elected leader for one year, he has a longer-term plan: to make a new Master Plan. He would 'like to have another go' at the document produced at the city's inception, forecasting future jobs, housing, industry, transport and education for up to 2030 or 2040.
Further down the to-do list is cementing the city's city status, building its cenotaph, reviewing boundaries with neighbouring authorities and stopping this becoming a 'two speed city'.
"There are some really great estates that have been built and they're forging ahead. But two things I think are happening. First of all, some estates that are being built have got problems, and secondly some of the older parts of the city haven't had the investment that the newer parts have.
"There are some that have been less successful than others and we have to work out why."
During his first speech last Tuesday, the former cabinet member for finance vowed to put the council at the centre of city life.
But he acknowledges that, ultimately, its function boils down to supplying services.
"A lot of people just want their council to work. As long as their bins are emptied, as long as they're quite satisfied with their schools, as long as their elderly parents are in good care, they're happy."
(media 1781)
Sam Crooks remembers the day he came to Milton Keynes: June 22, 1970. Born and brought up in Ireland, he moved here for his first job - 'making the tea' at the then-new Open University.
Nearly 39 years later he is new to another job: leading the city's council.
"Everyone outside used to laugh at Milton Keynes. My parents looked at me and said 'you're going to Milton Keynes?!' They wondered what kind of disease I had.
"The great thing was that for the people who lived in Milton Keynes, this was heaven on earth."
While the place may be heavenly, it has been a hellish year for its council, currently ranked within the bottom three per cent of local authorities by the Audit Commission.
But the software company owner was seen as a solution to an authority beset by political bickering, being allowed a clear run at the leadership by opposition parties last week.
"I do think there's a process of healing that the council has to go through as well as setting our house in order.
"I'm daunted by the size of the challenge, but the thing I can say in absolute confidence is that I believe the city can respond to the problems.
"I'm just a figurehead. I want to give expression to what I believe are the strengths of this city. I think we've got such a rich community in terms of the people in it, whether male, female, black, white, brown - whatever - it's that vibrancy and creativity that we'll be able to build on."
As well as sorting out the council, the Liberal Democrat wants to ensure the recession becomes a distant memory in the city ranked fourth (out of 98) most prone to the downturn by website uSwitch.
"The main thing I want to do at the outset is to raise the city's sights again. I think the combination of things that happened to the council over the last couple of years - the recession, various other factors - means that were a bit down in the dumps."
Though elected leader for one year, he has a longer-term plan: to make a new Master Plan. He would 'like to have another go' at the document produced at the city's inception, forecasting future jobs, housing, industry, transport and education for up to 2030 or 2040.
Further down the to-do list is cementing the city's city status, building its cenotaph, reviewing boundaries with neighbouring authorities and stopping this becoming a 'two speed city'.
"There are some really great estates that have been built and they're forging ahead. But two things I think are happening. First of all, some estates that are being built have got problems, and secondly some of the older parts of the city haven't had the investment that the newer parts have.
"There are some that have been less successful than others and we have to work out why."
During his first speech last Tuesday, the former cabinet member for finance vowed to put the council at the centre of city life.
But he acknowledges that, ultimately, its function boils down to supplying services.
"A lot of people just want their council to work. As long as their bins are emptied, as long as they're quite satisfied with their schools, as long as their elderly parents are in good care, they're happy."
