The Liberal Democrat Group on Bedford Borough Council will have a free vote on the proposal for schools reorganisation. The consultation on the proposal to change to a two tier system closed on 24th July, with the decision to be taken in the autumn. Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have confirmed that the group's Councillors will decide individually whether to support or reject the proposal.
The Government has raided key infrastructure funding for Bedford Borough, cutting a fund previously allocated for essential local improvement schemes by almost 50% for 2010/11. The sudden, unilateral cut in funding deals a severe blow to the prospects of vital projects such as the redevelopment of the bus station area and the completion of the western bypass being completed in forthcoming years.
The Government has slashed promised infrastructure funding for Bedford and the Marston Vale by nearly half, although the requirement for the area to take an additional 16,000 new homes remains
Two weeks on from hailing a new 'vision' for public transport in Bedford Borough in the local press, the Mayor has not shared his ideas with the public or with local councillors. The Liberal Democrats have criticised the Mayor for seeking headlines first and solutions later, while the problems of congestion and inadequate local public transport continue.
More than eighty thousand people aged 16 to 24 are not in education, employment or training according to figures highlighted by Bedford and Kempston Liberal Democrats.
A Liberal Democrat Councillor whose son's school was hit by the swine flu bug stepped in to ensure parents received vital information on the virus after finding that Bedford Borough Council had no procedure in place to do so. Putnoe Ward Cllr Sallyanne Smith said that she was surprised and disappointed that the Council had not thought to issue general information through schools about the risks to children and how they can protect themselves against the spread of the virus.