15 Most Recent Stories From Bedford Liberal Democrats News Stories

Thu 29th Jul 2010:

Labour opposition to AV exposes staggering hypocrisy - Hughes.

Commenting on Labour's decision to oppose legislation for a referendum on the alternative vote, which was a commitment in their manifesto, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Simon Hughes said:

Lib Dem Councillors welcome review to tackle binge drinking and cut price beer.

Cllr Sallyanne Smith, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Licensing, this week welcomed the review of the last Labour Government's Licensing laws. As part of the review Bedford Borough Council is one of a select group of Councils being consulted by the Government. The proposals include new powers to give local people a stronger say when licenses are applied for, increases in fees and charges for late night licenses that will help pay for enforcement and extra Police patrols and plans for a clamp down on under age drinking and below cost sale of alcohol.

Wed 28th Jul 2010:

Councillor welcomes SmartWater to stop theft of copper wires.

Councillor Sarah Holland, Liberal Democrat Eastcotts Ward, this week welcomed a move by BT to halt the increasing problem of the theft of copper wires from the telephone system. BT will now be using SmartWater, a new technology that is invisible to the human eye but sticks to the thief and can be traced to the specific site where the theft took place.

Councillor calls for an end to the destruction of village pubs!

Cllr Nick Charsley, Liberal Democrat Portfolio Holder for Rural Affairs, is today calling for an end to loss of Public Houses, Shops and other facilities in Bedfordshire villages. He is heading up a project to bring together relevant professionals to help support local communities to take over their village pub or shop if it is under threat of closure.

Thu 22nd Jul 2010:

10 weeks on the Lib Dems have had huge influence in Government.

In just 10 weeks since the start of the Coalition Government, the Liberal Democrats have exerted a huge influence over its agenda.

Wed 21st Jul 2010:

Mayor Dave Hodgson set for Education Talks with Secretary of State.

Mayor Dave Hodgson will be joined by other local representatives from Bedford Borough at a meeting tomorrow with Secretary of State Michael Gove in the wake of the Government's cancellation of the Building Schools for the Future project. The meeting provides an opportunity to make Mr Gove aware of the circumstances in Bedford Borough following the removal of all Borough Schools from the BSF programme bar the Bedford Academy, which is 'for discussion,' and comes as the Government embarks on a review of capital investment in schools.

Fri 16th Jul 2010:

Petition Power as Lib Dem Councillors say, "Less is More".

Cllr Nick Charsley, Liberal Democrat Leader on Bedford Borough Council, was celebrating with other Liberal Democrat Councillors yesterday as they managed to persuade the Council meeting to support a drastic reduction in the number of signatures needed for the public to call for a debate at Full Council.

Wed 7th Jul 2010:

Cllr Sawyer's statement on ending of BSF funding.

"We are extremely disappointed with the decision to cancel the Building Schools for the Future Programme (BSF). The programme represented a once-in-a-generation opportunity for vast investment to transform schooling in Bedford Borough, and it is obviously a major blow that the programme has been brought to an end before that investment was made.

Councillors go Twitter!

Liberal Democrat Councillors on Bedford Borough Council are all joining Twitter and you can follow them and their thoughts on events as they happen. The Twitter account: @BedfordLibDems has been set up to create a quick-fire comments page for all fourteen Liberal Democrats on Bedford Borough Council, including Mayor Dave Hodgson.

Tue 6th Jul 2010:

Liberal Democrats Pledge to Open Up The Council For Petitioners.

As part of the ongoing drive to open up the Council, Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats are to propose new rules under which a residents' petition carrying at least 30 signatures will trigger a debate at a Full Council meeting. A report to a meeting of the Council's General Purposes Committee taking place on Tuesday 13th July recommends a minimum requirement of at least 1,000 signatures before Full Council considers a petition, but the Lib Dems are proposing to make the petitions system more open and responsive to the concerns of local residents.

Fri 2nd Jul 2010:

Council Stocks up on Gritting Salt for Winter in Midst of International Shortage.

With Bedford Borough enjoying warm summer weather, Mayor Dave Hodgson's commitment to making the Council as well prepared as possible to for next winter and any repeat of the 'Big Freeze' has seen an additional supply of 3,000 tonnes of gritting salt secured from Sweden. The Council has placed orders with domestic salt suppliers to replenish stocks for next winter, but a severe national shortage has left these suppliers unable to guarantee delivery before the winter. Rather than waiting and hoping that these orders materialise, the Mayor authorised a search of the international market, which is also suffering a shortage of supplies. A supply of 3,000 tonnes of salt in Sweden was located and secured, and this will be shipped in and added to the Council's stocks in readiness for gritting local roads when the next bout of cold weather hits.

Fri 25th Jun 2010:

Anthony Caprioli - 'Thank you' for support in Kempston by-election.

Anthony Caprioli and the local Liberal Democrats thank residents who supported him in the Kempston North by-election on Thursday 24th June 2010. The by-election was caused by the sad death of Labour councillor Ray Oliver. Labour held the seat. Despite the Conservatives trying their hardest, the biggest shock of the night was to see their vote collapse, with a 14% reduction in their share of the poll.

Tue 22nd Jun 2010:

Bedford Borough Lib Dems Announce Drive to Freeze Council Tax.

Bedford Borough Lib Dems have announced that the Council is aiming for a council tax freeze next year. The announcement follows two years of below-inflation increases in Bedford Borough after the Council inherited the country's second highest level of County Council tax from the Conservative-run County Council in April 2009. It also comes after the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced today that the Government will work with Councils to deliver a Council tax freeze.

Mayor Dave Hodgson Challenges Police Chiefs Over Merger Plans.

Mayor Dave Hodgson has warned Chief Constable Gillian Parker and Police Authority Chair Peter Conniff that concerns of Bedford Borough residents must not be swept aside in a headlong rush to merge the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Police Forces. The Police Chiefs delivered a briefing to the Mayor and to Bedford Borough Councillors about future plans last week and made clear their belief that the forces should be merged. Mayor Dave Hodgson, however, challenged the plans and said that residents would lose out if the tough decisions that need to be taken over local policing in their community are made more remotely.

Sun 13th Jun 2010:

Roads Funding £3 million Greater with the Lib Dems as Tories Display 'Astonishing Hypocrisy'.

In a display of 'astonishing hypocrisy,' the Conservatives have criticised the Liberal Democrats on the issue of roads funding in spite of the fact that thanks to the Lib Dems an additional £3 million has been invested in road repairs and resurfacing since the demise of the Conservative County Council in April 2009.

Earlier Stories

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