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: 73%
Committee Appointments: Full Council
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor?
2023
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.
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?
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, Disciplinary
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor?
2023
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, Disciplinary
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: 82%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Community Services & Environment
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor?
2023
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: 58%
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.
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?
Downhead Park & Willen Park North
Cllr Ed Nixon (Chair)
Current Year Attendance: 83%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Finance Governance & Asset
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor?
2021
Areas of Special interest and expertise
I have a background in managing programs and projects within the Telecoms and Networks arena and have been doing this for over 20 years.
This work experience has given me significant experience with leadership, budgeting, technology and delivery.
I enjoy long walks with our 2 dogs around the parish and spending time with the family. I also enjoy travel and since Covid have been focused on UK travel which has been fantastic.
I am keen to promote sustainability and green issues which we can all do together in our own way.
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
I have lived in Milton Keynes for over 25 years and Downhead Park for most of that time.
I have 3 grown up boys and a grandson and we all live within the Great Linford Parish. Becoming a councillor seemed like a good opportunity to give something back after 25 years of living here and also to use my background to help deliver benefit into the community through our many initiatives.
Having seen the children grow up in the parish I wanted to help GLPC to provide the value to the community for future generations as well.
Cllr Mubina Chakera
Current Year Attendance: 73%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Community Services & Environment
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: 83%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Community Services & Environment
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor?
2022
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 Trevor Heale (Vice Chair)
Current Year Attendance: 100%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Community Services & Environment, Personnel
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor?
2016
Areas of Special interest and expertise
Computing and IT
Yoga
Electric Vehicles
What inspired you to become a Councillor?
That’s easy, my answer is The People.
There are few crusty ones (usually in meetings) but they’re few and far between.
The vast majority are so open and generous it makes events wonderful to attend.
Consider the monthly litter picking – The Enthusiasm and Love residents have
for their estates is contagious and we have great time.
Great Linford
Cllr Donna Nicholls
Current Year Attendance: 92%
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: 100%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Community Serivices & Environment
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: 55%
Committee Appointments: Full Council
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor?
2023
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.
Leigha Britnell
Current Year Attendance: 89%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Community Services & Environment
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor?
2023
Neath Hill
Cllr Martin Burgess
Current Year Attendance: 92%
Committee Appointments: Full Council, Finance Governance & Asset, Personnel, Disciplinary
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor?
February 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!
December 2019
Cllr Sean Porter
Current Year Attendance: 64%
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?
Redhouse Park
Cllr Franco Iannotta
Current Year Attendance: 64%
Committee Appointments: Full Council
Parish Councillor Biography
When did you become a Councillor?
2023
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
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?