CONSERVATIVES ANNOUNCE MAYORAL PRIMARY SHORTLIST

We’re delighted to announce the shortlist of candidates who have been invited to attend Monday evening’s Open Primary Hustings. The candidates are, in alphabetical order:

 

Mr. Parvez Akhtar:

A long standing Queens Park resident and currently serving as the chairman of the Parish Council. An engineer by profession, Parvez is currently employed by Ford.

 

Cllr. Nicky Attenborough:

Deputy Mayor of Bedford Borough Council and portfolio holder for Adult Services. Nicky has been a longstanding resident of Kempston and represents Kempston East Ward.

 

Dr. Jason Reddy:

A practising GP, Jason was recently appointed as Deputy Medical Director by NHS Bedfordshire PCT.  Jason is a resident of Putnoe.

 

Cllr. Tom Wootton:

Formerly a Bedfordshire County Council Cabinet member, Tom now represents Roxton Ward on Bedford Borough Council. Tom manages a working family farm.

 

Bedfordshire Conservatives Area Chairman, Jonathan Gray, commented:

 

“We are delighted to announce this outstanding shortlist of candidates who will now be going forward to Monday evening’s Open Primary Hustings. The four candidates have a broad range of experience and skills. This innovative and open selection process, for which all Bedford residents were invited to apply, means that people who come to Monday’s meeting will have the chance choose from four of Bedford’s finest.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARVEZ AKHTAR SELECTED AS MAYORAL CANDIDATE

Bedford Borough voters selected  Parvez Akhtar as the Conservative Mayoral candidate at a well-attended Open Primary on Monday night.

 

The event was chaired by well known political blogger and commentator, Iain Dale, and was attended by over 400 voters from across Bedford Borough. Eric Pickles, Conservative Party Chairman, took answers from the audience at the start of the proceedings.

 

The four short-listed candidates; Parvez Akthar, Cllr Nicky Attenborough, Dr. Jason Reddy and Cllr. Tom Wootton, were quizzed by Iain Dale before taking questions from the floor. The question and answer session was followed by a ballot in which Parvez was selected after the first round, winning over 50% of the vote.

 

Speaking after the event, Parvez said:-

 

“I am delighted to have been chosen as the Conservative Candidate for the Mayor of Bedford Borough. I’m passionate about our community and I’m looking forward to the challenge of the election campaign. If the Conservative Party is successful on the 15 October, I will be honoured to serve as Mayor of all the people of the Borough.”

 

 

 

Parvez tells Nirah bosses they’d have his full support to deliver the investment and future jobs which Frank Branston worked so hard to secure

Conservative candidate for Mayor of Bedford Borough, Parvez Akhtar, has spoken with Keith Edelman, Non-Executive Chairman of Nirah, to express his full support for Nirah’s efforts to secure private sector funding for the scheme and prospect of future jobs.

 

Parvez Akhtar said:

“I wanted Keith to know that if I am elected Mayor, the Borough Council will continue to do all in its power to help progress this exciting potential development for our area. Attracting Nirah to Bedfordshire was one of Frank Branston’s major accomplishments and we owe it to Frank’s memory – and to the future prosperity of our area – to keep up this project’s momentum, even through these tough economic times.”

 

But issuing a promise to residents about the concern over further use of taxpayers’ money to support this project, Parvez added:

“At a time when keeping council tax down will a top priority, I want to assure residents that I won’t commit any further taxpayer money to this project. But in every other way possible, this project will have my full support.”

Support for Nirah is one part of Parvez’s plans to revive the flagging local economy. Other measures include breaking the log-jam on town centre regeneration projects, providing parking vouchers redeemable in local stores and streamlining council departments to make them more responsive to the needs of local businesses.

PARVEZ AKHTAR PLEDGES TO KILL OFF THREAT OF 11.5% COUNCIL TAX INCREASE

Conservative candidate for Mayor of Bedford Borough, Parvez Akhtar, has pledged to kill off the possibility of a massive council tax hike next year, if he is elected Mayor of Bedford Borough.

 

Commenting on a Council report which suggests that council tax could go up by 11.5% next year unless action is taken, Parvez said:

“This report is shocking and local people will be alarmed about the prospect of such a high Council Tax increase next year.

 

“I am also staggered that the other main contenders in this election, both of whom as councillors will have had sight of this report, have kept people in the dark about this threat.

 

“And residents will be right to ask why it is that after just three months since Liberal Democrats became the largest party on Bedford Council, we may be faced with this unfair tax increase.

 

“I have set out very clearly my determination to keep council tax down – and my backing for David Cameron’s plans for a 2-year council tax freeze.

“I will cut out town hall waste, starting with the limo. I will publish online every item of council expenditure so that people can see how their money is being spent. I will cut the cost of local politics by reducing the number in the Mayor’s Cabinet.

 

“So on polling day people will have a clear choice. They can vote for a Mayor who is open and honest about the need to take action to keep council tax down – or they can vote for one of the other candidates and see their council tax go through the roof.”

 

Notes:

Report by the Finance Portfolio Holder and the Interim Executive Director for Finance and Corporate Services

Subject: MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGY – 2010/2011 REVENUE

BUDGET UPDATE Item 5.2

http://www.councillorsupport.bedford.gov.uk/Published/C00000116/M00000603/AI00002951/$Item17ls1248ExecutiveMediumTermFinancialStrategy16September2009.docA.ps.pdf