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Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats

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News from the Liberal Democrats

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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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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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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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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Pints in the Parishes in Bolnhurst Tonight!

The latest 'Pints in the Parishes' event is taking place tonight, at the Plough in Bolnhurst. These sessions are intended to provide an opportunity for me to hear directly from anyone who wants to discuss the issues important to them in an informal, local environment. They are also a chance for for me to show my support for local, community pubs. If you would like to see me at one of these events and are wondering when I will be coming to a village pub near you, a full list of all 'Pints in the Parishes' dates and venues can be found by clicking on 'Pints in the Parishes' in the list on the left hand side of the the home page here on www.mayordave.org.uk

28 Sep 2010
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Pints in the Parishes at The Plough, Bolnhurst on Tuesday night

A belated thanks to Martin, Jayne and Michael and all their team at the Plough, and also of course to everyone at the pub on Tuesday night for the warm welcome on Tuesday evening at the latest 'Pints in the Parishes.' I enjoyed discussing a number of issues facing residents in Bolnhurst, Keysoe and other villages nearby. Speeding came up as a problem, as it did more commonly than any other issue during my recent village tour. I have a meeting with the Chief Superintendent next week, and will be discussing again how the Council can work most effectively with the police on effective speeding enforcement across the Borough.

30 Sep 2010
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