Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats

As part of the government's initiative to help households with rising energy costs, they have announced a £150 Council Tax energy payment for households living in Council Tax bands A to D, as their main home, and Band E where there is a disabled Band reduction.

Those who do not pay their Council Tax by Direct Debit will receive an 'access code' to get their £150 energy payment.

The Bedford Flea, Affordable Art and Local Produce Market will also be returning to St Paul's Square on Sunday from 10am and there will be an arts and crafts market in the Howard Centre.

The number of patients per GP across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) has grown to over 2,700, shocking new figures have revealed. This makes the BLMK Clinical Commissioning Group the 6th worst in the country (out of 106 groups) in terms of patients per GP.

The analysis by the Liberal Democrats, based on research from the House of Commons Library, has exposed the growing shortage of family doctors that is leaving people in Bedford Borough struggling to get appointments. Since September 2015, the number of GPs in the region has fallen from 440 to 397. Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to invest in GP services to ensure people can get a doctors' appointment when they need one.

May is the National Walking Month and we are being encouraged to walk for 20 minutes each day.

Walking is an easy and accessible way to improve physical and mental health and a 20-minute walk can reduce the risk of a number of preventable health conditions, including certain cancers, depression, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Mayor Dave Hodgson has announced that Councillor Dean Crofts will join his Executive and fill the position of Adult Services Portfolio Holder following Councillor Wendy Rider's decision to step down.

Councillor Crofts has been one of the councillors for Kingsbrook since 2019. Since being elected, he has sat on Housing Committee and has been the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health. Councillor Crofts has had many successes, including working with Councillor Rider on the ground-breaking changes to the Adult Social Care Charging Policy and improving the Borough's mental health service provision and accessibility.

Brickhill Liberal Democrat Councillor Wendy Rider has taken the decision to stand down from her role as the Portfolio Holder for Adult Services. Councillor Rider will be put forward for the position of Deputy Speaker at the Council's Annual General Meeting.

Councillor Rider has been Portfolio Holder for Adult Services on Mayor Dave Hodgson's Executive since 2019. Since then, Councillor Rider has had many successes in her role, including overseeing the COVID-19 pandemic, revolutionary changes to the Adult Social Care Charging Policy and managing a quality service despite huge pressures and government cuts.

Earlier this week Mayor Dave Hodgson visited The Pheasant along with Brickhill Liberal Democrat Councillors Wendy Rider and Charles Royden and met Karen and the team.

We wish them every success when they reopen this weekend.

Nominations are now open for the Queen's Award for Voluntary Services 2023.

The Queen's Award for Voluntary Services is equivalent to an MBE, and are the highest awards given to local voluntary groups in the UK.

You can find out more, including how to nominate at https://qavs.dcms.gov.uk.