Former Conservative Mayoral Candidate Jas Parmar and former Labour Councillor Luigi Reale are backing Mayor Dave Hodgson in the election on Thursday 4th May. The election for Mayor is between Dave Hodgson and the Conservative candidate, Labour came a poor third last time and the Greens were even further back in fourth place, a vote for anyone other than Dave Hodgson will only help the Conservatives.
Under the outgoing Liberal Democrat administration, Bedford Borough Council has seen a dramatic improvement in planning performance post-Covid, overtaking 30 more authorities in the latest figures published by the Government.
Bedford Borough's Liberal Democrat councillors have elected a leadership team to face the challenge of being in opposition, following the election of a conservative Mayor by a wafer thin majority of 145, just 0.2% of the vote.
The Labour and Liberal Democrat Groups on Bedford Borough have agreed a united approach to Chairs of non-Executive Committees that aren't appointed by the Mayor. This will ensure that - In light of no party having an overall majority - there is thorough and fair scrutiny of the political management and performance of the Council.
The new Conservative Mayor has already failed on one of his manifesto promises to include a new Portfolio Holder for Families, press releasing a new title but failing to issue the correct role to Full Council. At Full Council, the Mayor was given the opportunity to select his cabinet and their roles within the Executive, but chose not to fulfil a major manifesto promise.
Funded by the former Mayor Dave Hodgson's Town Centre Priority Fund, the Council-owned Old Fire Station in Mill Street, Bedford, has had historical images included in new vinyl prints covering its windows whilst work is undertaken to refresh the unit.
