Bedford Borough Council's Executive and Full Council have considered the response to the summer 2022 Local Plan 2040 consultation. The Plan has been submitted to the Government's Planning Inspectorate so that "examination in public" can take place.
The Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (BLMK ICB) have admitted that the BLMK area has missed out on eight trainee GPs because the area, including Bedford Borough, lacks sufficient space within its GP estate. Some of the proposed expansions to GP provisions in Wootton, Wixams, Shortstown, Harrold and Queen's Park will now not be funded because of government infrastructure policy that is failing Bedford Borough residents.
For the first time, electors voting in person at polling stations will need to show photographic ID to vote at this year's local elections, including electors in Bedford Borough. Residents are being urged to make sure they are ready to vote in May by not only checking they are registered to vote but also checking they have an accepted form of ID.
Last night an overview and scrutiny committee received an update on some of the key priorities of the Bedford Rail Strategy:
Following recommendations - which included securing an independent review and a resetting of departmental priorities and input from the Environment Committee's Task and Finish Group - from the Planning Advisory Service and a Task and Finish Group, Bedford Borough Council's Planning Service has made excellent progress against national targets. Minor applications are now being determined within eight weeks 87% of the time (November 2022) - a huge improvement since actions were taken and well above the government's 70% target. The proportion of major applications determined within 13 weeks has also remained comfortably above the national target.
A fly-tipper has been fined this month for illegally dumping rubbish from their car. The waste was left outside the clothes recycling bank in Great Denham. This was carried out right in front of the no fly-tipping sign. The man responsible was identified by the Council's Environmental Crime Team from a CCTV camera in the area. The offender has been issued a Fixed Penalty Notice of £400.
