Children's Commissioner reports on Yarl's Wood
The Children's Commissioner has published a report highlighting ongoing concerns and maintaining the view that 'the detention of children for immigration control should cease'.
28 Feb 2010
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News from the Liberal Democrats
New Recycling Bins an Immediate Hit with Town Centre Shoppers
New recycling bins in Bedford Town Centre introduced by Liberal Democrat Mayor Dave Hodgson have seen just over ½ tonne of plastic bottles and drink cans collected in less than two months. The new recycling bins, which have been called for by Liberal Democrats on the Council for many years, were introduced following Dave Hodgson's election as Mayor. They are already helping to save local taxpayers money by reducing landfill costs and are enabling residents to recycle 'on-the-go' in the town centre for the first time.
25 Feb 2010
Police authority merger 'likely to cost £20m'
Henry Vann has uncovered figures in a recent parliamentary report suggesting that the proposed merger of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Police Authority is 'likely to cost £20m'.
20 Feb 2010
Over a Quarter of a Million Pounds Granted to Bedford Borough's Voluntary Sector
Bedford Borough Council's Grants Committee, chaired by Mayor Dave Hodgson, met last week and allocated £276,000 to voluntary sector groups carrying out a wide range of extremely important functions within the Borough. Grants were made to a variety of groups such as BECHAR, which provides vital services to the homeless and rootless, the Citizen's Advice Bureau, Bedford Women's Refuge and Victim Support.
17 Feb 2010
Police authority move confirms proposals to merge with Hertfordshire
Local fears that Bedfordshire Police is set to be merged with the Hertfordshire Force have increased after Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Bedford and Kempston Henry Vann uncovered a bid for £500,000 of funding from the Government's 'Merger Exploration Fund.'
14 Feb 2010
Borough Budget Protects Frontline Services and Keeps Council Tax Bills Down
Bedford Borough Council's approved budget has brought down the Council Tax increase for residents from a forecast 11.5% before Mayor Dave Hodgson's election in October to a below-inflation 2.3% after £9 million of savings were identified. The budget includes £5.9 million for road and pavement maintenance, as the Liberal Democrats continue the fightback against the former Tory County Council's massive backlog of repairs, and extra funding for a range of green initiatives including recycling in both the urban and rural areas and the Mayor's Climate Change Fund.
11 Feb 2010