Petitions Policy Helping in Our Drive to Open up the Council to Local Residents
Just over a year ago, my Liberal Democrat colleagues and I on the Council fought a successful battle over the threshold to be...
25 Jul 2011
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Arts, Culture and Fund-Raising Football - A weekend in Bedford Borough
A post on Twitter on Sunday by a member of a vocal group which took part in the Bedford Busking Fest declared that "Bedford had a great vibe today." I couldn't agree more, and I would add that that vibe extended across the whole weekend, not just on Sunday, and also to a range of events in addition to the Busking Festival. The performing arts festival Bedfringe continued with a number of events over its middle weekend at a variety of venues, while on Saturday it was great to welcome Proms in the Park back to Bedford Park for the first time in a number of years. The fireworks and light show to round it off could not doubt be enjoyed from across town! The busking festival continued on Sunday with a diverse range of performers, adding a lovely extra dimension to a trip into town. Also on Sunday, a very special charity football match took place at the New Eyrie, home of Bedford Town F.C.
27 Jul 2011
Council Funding Gap: The Scale of the Challenge
I have written before about the financial challenge facing Bedford Borough Council, but as consultation begins on the first set of proposals to modernise Council services and make them more cost-effective, it is worth considering the figures involved in order to really grasp the full scale of that challenge. Bedford Borough Council has to save £36 million over four years in order to balance the books. That's an awful lot of money by any reckoning, but the fact that it represents over a quarter of the Council's current total net budget of £129 million brings the size of the task ahead into even greater focus (the bar chart on the right provides a graphical illustration). There is no escaping this; the Council is legally required to deliver a balanced budget, and cannot make a policy decision not to make all the savings, for example. What we can do, however, is to work with all parties on the Council, with staff and crucially with residents to make sure the savings are made carefully and in the fairest way poss
31 Jul 2011
Loss of Crucial Right of Way Averted as Network Rail Commits to Footbridge Alternative
After writing previously on mayordave.org.uk about Network Rail's plan to remove the riverside footbridge over the railway near Prebend Street in Bedford without providing any alternative to protect the right of way, I am delighted to report that following our negotiations it has committed to a major investment in a new footpath and underpass.
8 Aug 2011
Redevelopment Underway at Cecil Higgins Art Gallery and Bedford Museum
The building work on the exciting redevelopment of the Council's Cecil Higgins Art Gallery and Bedford Museum got underway last week. This £6 million project will help to revitalise the heart of Bedford's cultural quarter, and make the art gallery and museum more attractive to both local residents and visitors to Bedford. The redeveloped facilities will include new galleries, allowing more of the world class collections to be on display at any one time, and a shop and cafe. Not only will we be able to vastly improve what's on offer to visitors, but we're also managing to reduce the ongoing running costs for local taxpayers through a range of actions including making the buildings more efficient and sustainable and providing new space for corporate hire.
11 Aug 2011
Calm Maintained Across Bedfordshire Last Night
'Calm Maintained Across Bedfordshire Last Night.' That was the welcome headline on the website of Bedfordshire Police this morning after an extensive police operation on the streets in Bedford and elsewhere to prevent any of the sickening violence and destruction which has taken place elsewhere from happening here. I have spoken to the Divisional Commander today and congratulated the police on their efforts last night in being prepared and being out on the streets, offering a reassuring presence to local residents and businesses in our town. The Council has obviously been in close contact with the police, and we will continue to work closely together. While it was welcome that the scurrilous and unsubstantiated rumours about possible trouble in Bedford last night did not prove to be true, there can be no room for complacency. I know that the police are know this, and there will again be a major, prepared police presence out in Bedford again tonight.
10 Aug 2011