Bedford
Liberal Democrats

News

Making clear the situation regarding schools changes once again

I was concerned to see the article in last week's Beds on Sunday which suggested that a change to a two-tier schools system across the Borough is being pushed forward by the Council. It is not. When the Building Schools for the Future money was cut, that signalled the end for the Council's previously agreed reorganisation as it was dependent on that funding. I have made very clear since that there are just two exceptions to this: the changes in the case of Woodside Middle School due to the school being placed in special measures; and the new Bedford Academy and its feeder schools, as the Academy wishes to become an 11-19 secondary school and will receive the funds required for this change from government. It is absolutely vital that parents, students, teachers and schools have certainty on the way forward, so I will continue to state as plainly as possible that this is the situation.

26 Sep 2010
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Intelligent, Targeted, Effective use of CCTV: Putting the case to the Scrutiny Committee

On Thursday night I was invited to the Scrutiny Committee, after Conservatives on the Council called into question two recent Council decisions relating to CCTV. When it came to the meeting itself, the Conservative Councillors on the Committee asked very few questions at all on the two decisions, and I'm still not sure exactly why they made vociferous calls in the press for the decisions to be reviewed. However, I was glad of the opportunity to discuss the decisions and make clear that I am adamant that the Council will do all it can to make our communities safer while also ensuring the civil liberties of local residents are protected.

25 Sep 2010
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Dave Hodgson and Cllr Doug McMurdo at Bedford Museum

£1 Million Boost for Council's Cecil Higgins Art Gallery and Bedford Museum Redevelopment Project

The news that the Council has been successful in its bid for £959,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery and Museum project is great for the Borough and for local taxpayers. Added to the Council's £3.6 million investment and other generous contributions, it means that we can go ahead with a project that will make the art gallery and museum an extremely attractive destination in the town centre, while also cutting revenue costs for local taxpayers on an ongoing basis.

24 Sep 2010
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Difficult Decisions - Have Your Say On the Savings Proposals

As I wrote on here last week, the Council has now published a set of proposals for achieving the £10 million-plus of savings required to make next year's budget balance. With the consultation on these proposals set to be launched next week, I really do hope that people take the opportunity to have their say on what has been put forward. I wrote about the consultation, and the plans, in last week's Times and Citizen newspaper, and feel it's worth reproducing that here for anyone who missed it:

23 Sep 2010
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Yarl's Wood - Child Detention Facility WILL Close

There was some speculation in the national press recently which suggested that the Government was set to drop its pledge to close the child detention facility at Yarl's Wood Immigration Detention Centre in Clapham. I have always argued that locking up children for immigration purposes is an abominable practice, and as someone who was very pleased to see the Liberal Democrat pledge to close the Yarl's Wood Family Centre included in the Coalition Agreement, I was obviously disturbed by the suggestion that the Government may be rowing back on it. I am therefore delighted that Liberal Democrat Children's Minister has quashed the speculation and confirmed that child detention will be brought to an end by the government, and Yarl's Wood's family unit will close.

19 Sep 2010
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Mayor Dave Hodgson with Paddy Tyson at the Launch of Bedford's Bus Lane Use Extension Trial

Bus Lane Trial - Lanes Opened Up to Cycles, Motorbikes and Taxis

This week saw the launch of the Council's eighteen-month trial of an extension of bus lane use in Bedford to taxis, motorbikes and bicycles. I am very keen to pursue anything which encourages more sustainable forms of transport and helps tackle congestion, and we gave this initiative serious consideration before launching the trial. We will monitor it closely in terms of safety and the impact on traffic levels and congestion. Results from trials elsewhere have been positive, so I am hopeful that that we will find that it is beneficial to air quality and helps cyclists and motorcyclists get around smoothly and safely.

17 Sep 2010
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