Following extensive public consultation, an updated package of Council savings proposals over the next four years has been published. After a remarkable level of participation in the consultation including over 4,000 responses, a number of proposals have been amended, including the retention of additional funds for Youth Services and the services provided by the Home Start Charity.
Yesterday I welcomed Liberal Democrat Business Minister Ed Davey MP to Bedford Town Centre to discuss the regeneration activity going on in the town and to talk about the range of positive ways in which Bedford is responding to the challenges facing all town centres in the current climate. The visit coincided with yesterday's publication of the report into the future of Britain's High Streets by 'Queen of Shops' Mary Portas, and Mr Davey came to Bedford to see for himself how the Council, local businesses and residents are working together to improve their town centre now and in the future.
There's new hope in the fight against the abominable plans of the waste firm Covanta to build a monstrous 600,000 tonne incinerator near Stewartby, with the final decision on its future to be considered in Parliament. The decision by the soon-to-be abolished quango the Infrastructure Planning Commission to grant permission will be subject to a 'Special Parliamentary Procedure' after Bedford Borough Council, along with Central Bedfordshire Council, refused to withdraw its objection to the plans, which involve the compulsory purchase of Council land.
Amongst the decisions taken at the recent Council Executive meeting, I'm pleased to report that we committed an additional £400,000 for home adaptations and improvements which help people with disabilities live comfortably and independently in their own home. We allocated the funding from the early achievement of budget efficiency savings in the current year, and those savings will make a real difference through improvements which enable people to move around their own home more freely and to use essential facilities.
My latest monthly column for the Times and Citizen, published in last week's edition, looked at Christmas shopping and the prospects for Bedford Town Centre this Christmas and in the future. For anyone who didn't see it, here's the article:
A short note to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. This morning I am looking forward to visiting the maternity unit at Bedford Hospital, the Cygent Wing, and giving my best wishes to all staff, to new parents and possibly saying hello to any Christmas Day arrivals! Later on I'll be visiting Bedford Concern for the Homeless and Rootless's (BECHAR) Prebend Day Centre as its Christmas Lunch is prepared, before going on to Bedford Fire Station and saying thank you to those on duty.
