Dave Hodgson Marks 100 Days as Mayor

Dave Hodgson was elected Mayor of Bedford Borough in October last year, and took office 100 days ago this week. Despite this short timeframe and a toxic financial inheritance from the Conservative County Council, a review of the first months of Dave Hodgson's period in office shows that he is getting things done for local residents and is working with his Liberal Democrat colleagues to make Bedford Borough a great place to live, work and do business.

Upon his election as Mayor, Dave Hodgson inherited a forecast Council tax rise of 11.5%, a toxic financial legacy from the high-taxing Conservative County Council and a number of major decisions pending for the Council, including on the structure of both mainstream and special schools. The following is a short summary of what has been achieved under the leadership of Mayor Dave Hodgson, giving just a few examples of how he is working to make Bedford Borough a great place to live, work and do business.

'No Stone Left Unturned' as Savings Protect Frontline Services in Proposed Budget

• At the time of Mayor Dave Hodgson's election in October 2009, Council Officers were predicting an 11.5% increase in Council tax in the next financial year. The Council also inherited a toxic financial legacy from the former Conservative County Council, which included the second highest level of County Council tax in the country, underperforming services and large areas of expenditure for which there was simply no budget provision. The proposed 2010/11 budget has brought the council tax rise down from 11.5% to 2.3%, thanks to a rigorous efficiency programme which has identified over £9 million of savings efficiency savings while protecting frontline services.

Helping Local Residents to Save Energy, and stay warm in their homes

• The Bedford Borough Home Insulation Scheme has been launched, offering discounted or free home insulation for homes with less than 120mm of loft insulation or no cavity wall insulation. The scheme will help tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency for homes across the borough.

• The Council now offers energy monitors for free loan through libraries, helping people to save energy and cut their household energy bill.

Protecting the Planet

• Dave Hodgson has signed the Council up to the high profile national 10:10 Climate Change Campaign, committing to work towards a 10% cut in carbon emissions in 2010

• The Mayor's Climate Change Fund has been launched. This will allow community groups and public bodies to bid for funding from an initial £100,000 fund to support projects which will help tackle climate change and improve the local environment

• The Council is now composting the fallen leaves it collects, saving on landfill costs and protecting the environment.

Supporting the Community to Support the Environment

• Since Dave Hodgson's election the Council has started rolling out recycling litter bins in the town centre

• The Council will employ five new staff to boost promotion of the recycling collection scheme, helping residents to take part

• The Council is now providing more recycling facilities for local communities, for example the new glass bank at the Horse and Jockey pub in Ravensden

Improving the Town Centre

• Dave Hodgson has signed an agreement with Stagecoach which will see £67,000 of investment to improve the town centre bus station. The agreement also includes a commitment to ongoing maintenance to ensure this important gateway to Bedford is a more attractive place to be.

• A week of free town centre parking took place at the beginning of December, to support local retailers and shoppers.

Supporting the Local Economy

• The Council is co-ordinating a project to provide 200 new local jobs to help unemployed young people back into work

• Major firms are investing in Bedford Borough - For example, HMV has extended the lease on its town centre premises, while Sainsbury's is set to open a major new distribution centre at Marsh Leys industrial park in Kempston, creating 300 new jobs.

• Work has now begun on the first phase of the long-awaited Church Lane Neighbourhood Centre Redevelopment, with a new Aldi food store set to open soon.

Making Bedford Borough Safer

• The Council has launched the 'play.live' sessions, involving twilight activity sessions for young people to help reduce antisocial behaviour and provide young people with enjoyable, healthy activities.

Opening up the Council

• The Council has launched a drive to open up the Council and make it more open and transparent for local residents. This campaign has to date included the decision to publish all council payments to suppliers over £1,000 online, and the public sale of a former County Council limousine via Ebay.

Keeping the Borough Moving in the Big Freeze

• The Council was widely praised for its response to the 'Big Freeze,' as it worked to keep the Borough moving through the coldest weather for 30 years. Salt stocks were full as the cold weather began, leaving the Borough Council in a stronger position than many authorities as national grit rationing began.

• Dave Hodgson has allocated £200,000 of emergency funding to deal with the damage to the roads caused by the freezing conditions