Your Parish Councillors
The Parish Council consists of 20 Parish Councillors, the Parish Manager, Project Officer, a small part-time office team and three rangers. Parish Councillors give their time voluntarily and do not receive payment for the time they commit to Council Affairs.
Giffard Park and Blakelands
Cllr Sandra Trew
Current Year Attendance: 45%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Community Services & Environment.
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor? 2023
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
The reason for me wanting to be elected is to influence decisions that impact your neighborhood, and contribute to positive change. Enhance community spirit, address local concerns, and help shape the future.
Cllr Wangu Bothongo
Current Year Attendance: 100%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Finance Governance and Asset.
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor? 2024
Areas of Special interest and expertise
My hope is to leverage my experiences and background to champion these causes. While I haven't yet fully utilised my BSc (Hons) in International Relations with Politics in my work experience, its focus on good governance, democracy, social justice, and policy provides valuable academic grounding for making a positive impact.
A Passion for Advocacy:
Growing up in a large family and acting as a support system instilled in me a deep understanding of the challenges faced by families, igniting a passion for advocating for equality, mental health support, disability services, and marginalised groups.
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
As a young woman and relatively new councillor, I am committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all residents. Diversity and inclusion are paramount to me, and I believe strong representation is key to ensuring everyone feels seen, heard, and supported. With the guidance of experienced councillors, volunteers, and dedicated staff, I strive to be a strong advocate for our community's needs.
Witnessing Community Strength:
Great Linford Parish's dedication to supporting various community issues through partnerships with charities, organisations, and resident-led initiatives has been truly inspiring. My own positive experiences using services such as Citizens Advice and Works For Us, highlight the incredible care, professionalism, and empathy provided.
Vacancy
Current Year Attendance:
Committee Appointments:
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor?
Areas of Special interest and expertise
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
Pennyland & Bolbeck Park
Cllr Tony Blake
Current Year Attendance: 91%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Community Services & Environment, Personnel.
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor? 2023
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
I have lived in Pennyland for 43 years and often found myself in conversation with neighbours about things we would like to see. I’m now retired so I felt this may be my opportunity to do, and not just talk.
Cllr Derek Harvey OBE
Current Year Attendance: 100%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Personnel, Community Services & Environment, Finance Governance & Asset.
When did you become a Councillor? October 2021.
Areas of Special interest and expertise: My expertise lise in Operational Management having worked in central government for 44 years. This has given me a thorough all-round understanding and experience of management including, budgets, projects, programmes, contracts, HR and staff. In my latter working years I was also developing effective relationships with employers and partners in London for which I was awarded an OBE. I am looking for these skills to be of use as a councillor and to the wider parish council team, not least in my special interests around Coummunity and Finance.
I also love being outdoors and enjoy nothing more than doing things to make the place in which we live in better, whether litter picking, bulb planting, landscaping clearance or whatever as well as meeting other people.
What inspired you to become a Councillor? I have been a resident of Pennyland since 1986 and have seen the village and parish grow and mature and, whilst some things have changed, the community remains as inclusive and supportive as the one that welcomed me and my family from the North East those many years ago and I want to remain so. Also, having worked mostly oputisde of MK, I appreciate all the more just how fortunate we are living in a place such as this. I am keen that we see it, feel it and keep it a place of which we can be proud and , having retired, I wanted to become more active in the community. I started as a Parish Guardian and as a councillor I am look to do even more..
Conniburrow
Cllr Joan Pickhaver
Current Year Attendance: 91%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Community Services & Environment.
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor? 2023
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
Having lived in the area for more than 30 years I felt the need to give something back to my local community and was fortunate enough to be elected as a Parish Councillor for Conniburrow. I want to work with residents to make our estate a place to be proud of.
Cllr Jimmy Zamek
Current Year Attendance: 91%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Finance Governance & Asset.
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor? 2017
Areas of Special interest and expertise
Finance, management, people, community
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
After retiring I missed being active and sharing my time helping others.
Cllr Rooda Abdillahi
Current Year Attendance: 70%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Community Services & Environment.
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor?
Areas of Special interest and expertise
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
Downhead Park & Willen Park North
Vacancy
Current Year Attendance:
Committee Appointments:
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor?
Areas of Special interest and expertise
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
Cllr Mubina Chakera
Current Year Attendance: 82%
Committee Appointments: Full Council
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor?
Areas of Special interest and expertise Promoting Community
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
Downs Barn
Cllr Janet Brindley
Current Year Attendance: 82%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Community Services & Environment.
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor? 2022
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
I have lived in Downs Barn for over 30 years and during this time the local community has been my lifeline. Becoming a Parish Councillor has helped me discover more about the parish and this in turn has given me the opportunity to help the community which has supported my family over the years.
Cllr Joanna Allotey
Current Year Attendance: 67%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Personnel, Finance Governance and Asset.
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor? January 2025
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
My inspiration for being a Councillor was that of servitude to the community in which I live in. Making a difference to the residents I represent on local matters particulary to help senior citizens and the protection of green spaces is the reason behind the inspiration. As a Councillor, my aim is that my presence would be felt by using this platform to benefit the residents at all time.
Great Linford
Cllr Donna Nicholls
Current Year Attendance: 91%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Community Services & Environment.
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor? 2022
Areas of special interest and expertise
Bringing community together through the hard times! Some people may know me as the Manager of the Community Hub at Great Linford Local Centre and the community fridge coordinator. Professionally I am a chef and I love baking cakes and treats.
What inspired you to be a councillor?
My life with my family is heavily involved in the community and I am passionate about helping people to improve their situations and about our surroundings, so it made perfect sense to become a councillor.
I enjoy talking to and helping people. Whether that’s through coordinating the Community Fridge, supporting Breakfast & Banter, running the Community Hub, or running the regular Tuesday club helping prepare the warm meals that GLPC provides.
Being a councillor has enabled me to extend the work I do at the hub further into the community and you’ll see me and my family out litter picking, a positive, helpful way to spend a few hours. Great for meeting people and of course, at the end I get to serve my cakes to the volunteers.
I couldn’t do what I do without volunteers, we have some amazing helpers and I enjoy working with them and encouraging new people to become volunteers. Which in turn gives them confidence to move on to bigger things. Like being a Parish Councillor!
Cllr Christine Onan
Current Year Attendance: 82%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Finance Governance & Asset.
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor?2023
Why did you stand for election?
I have benefitted from the work of others in making the parish of Great Linford pleasant to live in for the last 40 years and would like to offer something back and to pass on for the future.
Why it is important for you to represent (Great Linford Ward)
To support the services to residents and maintain the practical and leisure parts for all ages to enjoy and benefit from.
What makes this Parish so special?
The housing in Great Linford is designed in groups instead of rows which naturally forms supportive communities and there are a lot of open spaces connecting roads and estates. Great Linford has interesting buildings and other structures which tell the story of the history of the people who lived here before and how they lived. There is a wide range of leisure and learning venues suiting all ages which provides a good mix of things across the demographics. The estates in Great Linford Parish are in a good position in the north of Milton Keynes to connect to main route roads to other places outside of Milton Keynes.
What would you say to encourage others to step up and represent their area as a Cllr?
I would say everyone has knowledge and skills to offer and the more varied it is, the more benefits there are for all who live here. The parish council staff are very approachable and supportive to the community and to the people and that work or volunteer for them.
Cllr Rick Dunn
Current Year Attendance: 91%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Community Services & Environment.
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor? 2023
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
I would say that becoming a councillor is an excellent opportunity to serve your community and make a difference in people's lives. It is a chance to represent the views and needs of your community, and to work towards creating a better future for everyone.
Cllr Wendy Robinson
Current Year Attendance: 100%
Committee Appointments: Full Council
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor? 2025
Areas of special interest and expertise
My background after graduating was first as a systems engineer at GEC Marconi when it was at Linford Wood. Later I did the Graduate training program to become a primary school teacher which I did at Brooksward school on Neath Hill before having my son. I have also worked at the Parish council as an office admin assistant. Now to fit around my parents needs I work as a supply teacher. You will often spot me with a litter picker as I like to see our beautiful Parish litter free! I am enthusiastic and follow through with what I say I will do. I also like to think of myself as a friendly approachable person but only you can be the judge of that!
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
I have lived in the Great Linford Parish for over 30 years and have enjoyed the benefits from services offered by the Parish Council. These have included the fantastic summer holiday schemes that my son enjoyed when he was young, the use of community buildings run by the Parish council for clubs I am involved with, becoming a member of the community larder and the help of Parish rangers to get rid of litter! When I worked at the Parish council, I also witnessed the great work they did supported people other than myself, particularly during the pandemic with distributing food Parcels from SOFEA and being open for food bank information as well as being available to answer questions and point people in the right directions to get the support they needed. So now I am back to supply teaching and things are more settled with my family commitments I think it is time to give more back to the community that I love.
Neath Hill
Cllr Martin Burgess
Current Year Attendance: 100%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Finance Governance & Asset, Personnel.
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor? 2017
Areas of Special interest and expertise
No expertise in anything really, just enthusiastic when I find something that gets the juices flowing!
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
A lot of the areas I have worked in over the years were very affluent but were lacking the open spaces with all the vegetation. Once I moved here I came to realise how lucky we are to have all this right outside our front doors. I felt that this was important and that it needed looking after and helping to improve for everyone’s benefit where possible.
Milton Keynes is a great place to live and there is much more to it than the concrete cows and roundabouts that everyone automatically thinks of!
Cllr Sean Porter
Current Year Attendance: 18%
Committee Appointments: Full Council.
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor?
Areas of Special interest and expertise
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
Redhouse Park
Cllr Franco Iannotta
Current Year Attendance: 82%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Personnel.
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor?2023
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
I’m so pleased to have been elected at Cllr for the Redhouse Park Ward. I’m well know on the estate, many of the Redhouse Park residents might have either come across me during times when improvements on the estate need, perhaps seen me chopping up fallen down trees that have blocked the roads or perhaps when I’m walking my dog - either way, if you see me please stop and say hi. I’m keen to hear from you.
Currently, I’m working on a project with GLPC. Together with a few other residents, we are looking to improve the Redhouse Park playpark facilities to include some street furniture, higher fencing around the Multi Use Games Pitch and not forgetting to fix the muddy entrances at each end of the goals as an example. Of course, the role requires me to think wider than our estate and I’m certainly going to enjoy getting out and about.
I feel honoured to support the parish, thankful that I have been awarded this position that could help those that need it and I feel passionate about making a difference while brining others along on this journey with us.
Willen Park South
Cllr Tara Jefferies
Current Year Attendance: 100%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Community Services and Environment, Personnel.
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor? 2024
Areas of Special interest and expertise
I enjoy helping people and bringing the community together, whether that is through creating a safer environment or helping with their struggles, or just to talk and listen.
Volunteering at the Great Linford Community hub as well as the Conniburrow Youth Club gives me a good idea as a parish Councillor what I could bring to people of all ages in any way I can, helping to bring a safe space and helping them to have a voice and provide options is a huge passion of mine.
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
As a single mother of two teenagers, who has lived here for 10 years, I've been extremely fortunate to receive the support of the local community, whilst managing disability and raising a young family along the way.
Starting as a volunteer at The Great Linford Community Hub has helped to rebuild my confidence by having others around me who listen. This rebuilt confidence has solidified my focus to be more community oriented with a desire to help people of all ages making the Parish we live in a better place for all.