Mayor Dave Hodgson talking about the challenges facing Bedford town centre on his website:

Town Centres across the country are having to battle against a range of prevailing factors such as the economic situation and the rise of out-of-town and internet shopping. Here in Bedford we obviously face these issues just as all other towns do, and there are real challenges for our town centre. However, Bedford Town Centre is showing some real resilience and, while we must all recognise that there is lots to do to support and improve Bedford town centre, we have a number of reasons to be positive about its prospects for the future, as I wrote in my monthly article in the Times and Citizen this month. If you haven't seen it, I have reproduced it here.

The Great Summer in Bedford Borough continues from the 2^nd to the 5^th June with local celebrations to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Across the borough families and friends are getting together to commemorate the Jubilee. As part of the celebrations Bedford Borough Council is organising a four day extravaganza focused on Russell Park and the Embankment.

As part of the Liberal Democrat's commitment to reducing the Council's carbon footprint by an aspirational 40% by 2015, Bedford Borough Council has again been supporting Green Office Week.

Green Office Week runs from the 14^th to 18^th May and includes fun and practical ideas to help offices to work in more sustainable ways. Each day during Green Office Week is themed, and raises awareness of the different ways we can all be greener and reduce our impact on the environment.

The annual Riseley Spring Clean again attracted villagers of all ages to help improve their local area on Saturday 12^th May.

In the weeks leading up to the litter pick, local school children had already designed posters to encourage volunteers to get involved. On the day, 63 people came out and joined the Pride inBedfordteam and collected a range of litter and other items, including:

2011/12

- I remain humbled to have been elected in May 2011 as the Borough Councillor for Elstow, Stewartby and Kempston Hardwick until May 2015.

- 2011/12 has been a very busy year across my whole Ward.

- What follows is just a short summary in no particular order of all the issues I have taken up and the progress report I have made on each to the Parish Council at its meetings.

In order to ensure the best and most effective services are delivered through Children's Centres over the coming years, Bedford Borough Council is currently seeking views on the future of the services through a consultation that will run until Friday 27 July 2012.

The key issues highlighted in the consultation include:

Councillor Sylvia Gillard has been elected as the new Speaker of Bedford Borough Council.

At the Annual Council Meeting on Wednesday 9^th May, Cllr Gillard was elected to succeed Councillor Mohammed Yasin with Councillor Mark Smith appointed as Deputy Speaker.

Councillor Gillard has represented residents in Bedford Borough as an elected member of three different local authorities. She was elected to North Bedfordshire Borough Council in 1987 and served for four years, including spells as Deputy Mayor and Mayor. She was later elected to Bedfordshire County Council in 2004 and continued until Bedford Borough Council became a unitary authority in 2009. She continues to represent the Goldington Ward.

Bedford Borough Council took responsibility for enforcing the correct use of bus lanes in the borough from Monday 30^th April.

The Police are responsible for the enforcement of the majority of traffic regulations where vehicles are moving, such as speeding or other forms of dangerous driving. However, authorised by current legislation, Bedford Borough Council is now enforcing bus lane contraventions through the issuing of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs)

Bedford Borough Council has joined other authorities along the route of the proposed western section of East West rail, to express their commitment to the scheme in support of the government's announcement that it is minded to proceed with the project.

The western section would link Bedford with Oxford and Aylesbury, and provide new transport links for borough residents and help drive wider housing and economic growth.