Bedford
Liberal Democrats

News

Difficult Decisions - Have Your Say On the Savings Proposals

As I wrote on here last week, the Council has now published a set of proposals for achieving the £10 million-plus of savings required to make next year's budget balance. With the consultation on these proposals set to be launched next week, I really do hope that people take the opportunity to have their say on what has been put forward. I wrote about the consultation, and the plans, in last week's Times and Citizen newspaper, and feel it's worth reproducing that here for anyone who missed it:

23 Sep 2010
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Yarl's Wood - Child Detention Facility WILL Close

There was some speculation in the national press recently which suggested that the Government was set to drop its pledge to close the child detention facility at Yarl's Wood Immigration Detention Centre in Clapham. I have always argued that locking up children for immigration purposes is an abominable practice, and as someone who was very pleased to see the Liberal Democrat pledge to close the Yarl's Wood Family Centre included in the Coalition Agreement, I was obviously disturbed by the suggestion that the Government may be rowing back on it. I am therefore delighted that Liberal Democrat Children's Minister has quashed the speculation and confirmed that child detention will be brought to an end by the government, and Yarl's Wood's family unit will close.

19 Sep 2010
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Mayor Dave Hodgson with Paddy Tyson at the Launch of Bedford's Bus Lane Use Extension Trial

Bus Lane Trial - Lanes Opened Up to Cycles, Motorbikes and Taxis

This week saw the launch of the Council's eighteen-month trial of an extension of bus lane use in Bedford to taxis, motorbikes and bicycles. I am very keen to pursue anything which encourages more sustainable forms of transport and helps tackle congestion, and we gave this initiative serious consideration before launching the trial. We will monitor it closely in terms of safety and the impact on traffic levels and congestion. Results from trials elsewhere have been positive, so I am hopeful that that we will find that it is beneficial to air quality and helps cyclists and motorcyclists get around smoothly and safely.

17 Sep 2010
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Dave Hodgson with Village Tour Casework

Village Tour - A fantastic two weeks. Now for the Casework!

After 14 days and 55 mobile walk-up surgeries in 55 villages, the village tour came to a close at 8pm yesterday with the final session in Willington. Over the two weeks over 300 people came up to speak to me directly, and I want to say thanks to everyone who did so and for the warm welcome I received from people in villages across the Borough. Getting out and about to see all that the Borough has to offer and to meet people in their own communities is one of the best parts of this job, and it really was an excellent two weeks. I have picked up several hundreds queries and requests for information and action. I will respond to each of these directly, although please bear with me as it may take a little while to get through them all!

13 Sep 2010
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Climate Change Fund Update: Pavenham Village Hall Set to Soak Up the Sun!

I am delighted that, following the Sustainability Committee's decision this week to award it over £8,000 of funding from the Mayor's Climate Change Fund, Pavenham Village Hall and Playing Field Charity's excellent project to install loft insulation and solar panels will be going ahead. The scheme will see 16 photovoltaic panels generating 2,722 kWh of electricity from a fossil-free source and will save 1.55 tonnes of CO2 and £1,448 per year. It is a genuine community project, and exactly the sort of scheme I had in mind when we set up the Climate Change Fund. It will provide ongoing savings for the Charity, help protect the environment and provide an excellent example to other organisations who may consider pursuing similar projects. I wish the Charity the very best of luck with the project and look forward to seeing the panels in place when it is completed.

12 Sep 2010
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Consulting on the Very Difficult Decisions Ahead

You may have seen in the press or on the local TV news that this week we published proposals to achieve the £10 million-plus savings required for Bedford Borough Council's budget to balance next year. There are a number of very difficult decisions involved, and that is why we are publishing these proposals so early (the measures ultimately agreed will not take effect until April 2011) in order to enable a genuine, full and open consultation. These potential savings have been identified in order that the Council can continue to provide the services which match residents' priorities, and to ensure that the shortage of funds for Councils are not passed on to local taxpayers as we continue our drive to freeze Council tax next year.

10 Sep 2010
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