27 November 2009
Rural Residents Snubbed Over HGV Ban
Rural residents are up in arms today after being given the cold shoulder at a Parish Council meeting last night.
Renhold Parish Council had invited Bedford Borough Council’s Environment Portfolio
Holder, Liberal Democrat Councillor Charles Royden, to answer questions on the long-
The meeting was packed out with over fifty people, but members of the public did not have the opportunity to quiz the Lib Dem Portfolio Holder over the ban.
Earlier this summer, the Liberal Democrats stalled the ban, which had been approved by the former County Council in February 2009 after years of investigation, after no consultation with residents or Ward Councillors.
Conservative Group Leader and Borough Councillor for Great Barford Ward, Cllr Carole Ellis and Councillor Tom Wootton, Borough Councillor for Roxton and surrounding villages, who were at the meeting, said:
“In all our years as Councillors, we have never seen anything quite like it.”
“Many residents braved the cold hoping to have a chance to question the decision
taken by the Liberal Democrat Portfolio Holder regarding our long-
“We were sorry that residents felt cold-
“We must work together to ensure this scheme is started sooner rather than later. Residents have a right to feel safe in their villages.”
19 November 2009
Conservatives Call On Lib Dems To End Council Farce
Breaking news on crime in Bedfordshire may not be raised at public meetings of Bedford Borough Council.
Council rules currently prevent Councillors from asking questions of Bedfordshire Police & Fire Authority unless they have been submitted three days in advance of Full Council meetings.
This is to enable representatives of the respective authorities to have sufficient time to script a reply.
At a meeting of Full Council this week, Conservatives called on the Lib Dems to abolish this rule to enable Councillors to raise important business on the night but these calls were thrown out by the Lib Dem Mayor.
Councillor Tom Wootton, Conservative Borough Councillor for Roxton Ward,
who raised the matter, is calling on the Council today to rethink this decision
and open up the Council to full and proper debate.
Councillor Wootton commented,
“The Lib Dems have already dug a gaping hole in our local democracy so large
a JCB would be proud of it by riding roughshod over the wishes of the parents
to save our Middle Schools. It now seems they are happy to dig another one.”
“Gagging Councillors from asking questions of the Police & Fire Authority is not
how an open and transparent Council should be run.”
“I believe the public want to see the Council opened up to full participation. They
want tocome to Council meetings and see their Councillors having a meaningful debate on important issues such as crime, not have to listen to a rehearsed exchange of garbage.”
“The Lib Dems for years slated popular Mayor Frank Branston for having deadlines for questions at Council meetings. This just confirms what we have always suspected about Lib Dems up and down the country – they say one thing in opposition, and do something completely differently in power.”
“I will continue to press the Council to end this farce and open up the dusty corridors of power to full public scrutiny.”
5 November 2009
Conservatives Welcome Christmas Parking Offer
It may be weeks away, but Borough Conservatives already have one eye on the all-
Conservative Councillor from Bromham, Councillor Roger Rigby originally asked the
Council in August to make parking free in all Council-
The Council introduced a similar scheme last Christmas, following calls from Borough Conservatives,
and the scheme will come as good news to shoppers and traders alike.
Councillor Rigby said,
“Back in July, the Council signed off nearly £42,000 worth of funds to provide Christmas lights and decorations in
Bedford Town Centre. If bulbs and tinsel are worth investing in, I believe our local businesses are too.”
“Conservatives called on the Council in August to launch a free Christmas car parking initiative to attract more shoppers
to our town and we are glad they have acted on our request.”
“Many businesses rely on Christmas sales just to stay afloat and Conservatives believe the Council needs to do all it can
to make Bedford stand out as a retail destination and get more shoppers to our town. This will give traders an early
Christmas boost.”
“I hope the new Unitary authority, with its vastly expanded budget, will launch many more initiatives
to attract shoppers to our Borough, and Conservatives will certainly be upping the pressure on the Council to make this the first of many new initiatives to help our businesses during the recession.”
4 November 2009
Conservatives Call On Mayor To Slash Bills
Borough Conservatives today welcomed the news that Conservative-
In a rallying call to the new Mayor, Conservative Group Leader, Cllr Carole Ellis, today urged Bedford Borough Council to follow its example and deliver on the Council’s unitary promises with early consultation with Borough residents.
Cllr Ellis said,
"Many families in the Borough are finding it tough to meet their weekly bills and residents were promised massive savings in Council Tax from the creation of a unitary authority.”
“It
is vitally important that these promises are not locked away in a Council filing
cabinet to gather dust. Let’s be clear
on this. Residents were not promised Council tax freezes or below-
of up to 12%, and that is what they will be expecting in the budget.”
“If Hammersmith & Fulham Council can do it four years in a row and get record levels of residents' satisfaction, I would hope our newMayor has similar ambitions to make a real difference for people and cut residents’ bills.”
“I urge the new Mayor to involve local residents at an early stage in the budget process to ensure that our local community and partners play an active role in determining the Council’s funding priorities for 2010/11.”
