North East Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats

Cllr Tim Hill Covanta Incinerator - The latest news on "the grapevine" is that the challenges by Covanta and the Government to the Special Parliamentary Procedure petitioned for by Bedford Borough Council, Central Beds District Council and 23 Parish Councils have failed. However, that is still to be formally confirmed. If it is confirmed a Joint Committee of the Commons and the Lords will review the IPC decision to approve the proposal. Highways Programme 2012/13 - No update. Ward Fund - 2012/13 Ward Fund - No growth in amount available. Please advise of any suggested Projects that may benefit from a Ward Fund contribution. Ward Name - Needs to be formally consulted on with all affected residents i.e. All residents of Elstow Ward. This means as little as an article from the Borough Council in both Parish Newsletters. - Have requested that it be discussed at 14 Feb 12 meeting of Elstow Parish Council. It does not need to be in favour, just to consent to a Parish Newsletter article. Manor Road, Kempston Hardwick - volume and speeding of cars. - I have done a consultation exercise by post with allManor Roadresidents. All bar one want action ASAP but with no commonality on solutions. Will be discussing this with Cllr Charles Royden the relevant Portfolio Holder. Various Highways matters - Lay-by near railway bridge. Amey have installed the "grasscrete lay by". - Broadmead Road- Work is now planned for early spring. Still pressing for an earlier start. Sir Malcolm Stewart Homes - Double glazing and satellite tv: No update. - Gritting lorries: Am told they do not do The Crescent. Will be pressing for this. Village Heritage - Cllr Doug McMurdo the relevant Portfolio Holder has had a positive response from the Heritage Lottery Fund but none as yet from Heidleburg. Borough Council - The Council's Library Service has linked up with Family History Detectives to promote family history at Bedford, Kempston and Wootton Libraries this month. If you get along to one of these libraries this month you will be provided with free access to computers and library online resources including www.ancestrylibrary.com. Those who have been bitten by the family history bug know how fascinating and enjoyable it can be. Through this initiative, it is hoped that people will be able to get even more out of their research at their local library. Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Commenting on Liberal Democrat Transport Minister Norman Baker's announcement of £15m to boost cycling, including £8m for transport charity Sustrans to enhance cycle routes and £7m to make it easier for cyclists to use the railways, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party Committee on Transport, Julian Huppert said: "Promoting cycling and green transport is the right thing to do and I am delighted Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government are taking action. "This comes at a crucial time. Just recently The Times launched a cycle campaign in response to the shocking increase in fatalities among cyclists on our roads. "It is absolutely essential people should be able to walk to work or cycle to school in a safe environment. The extra £8m for Sustrans will go a long way to achieving this. "And the £7m for improved rail-cycle links will ensure that we continue to build a transport network which puts passengers first." Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Cllr Tim Hill Village-wide Issues a) Street lights in the old village that are more in keeping with its Conservation Area -Sustainability Committee on 25th January 2012 approved the proposal and the money has been transferred from my Ward Fund into Highways. b) Dog fouling - especially at the south of the old village - No update. c) Speeding in Abbey Fields/Elstow Lower Parking - No update. Highways Programme 2012/13 - No update. Local Issues - Since my last Parish Council Report, I have amongst other local issues progressed the following raised by residents: a) Grass verge near 9, Bayham Close needs cutting -Borough Officers are clarifying if it is adopted. No update. b) Speed checks - I have asked the local SNT for details. No update. c) Progress Way roundabout - No update. d) Overgrown bushes on verge in Wigram Close needs cutting - Officers have advised resident that it is on his land and therefore he should check his deeds. If deeds confirm officer's view, resident will need to cut back and in future, maintain bush. e) Bunyans Mead footpath - Dropped kerb. Highways asked for my feedback on exact position and I advised it needs to be outside Social Centre. f) Bunyans Mead footpath - General tidy up and weeding. . No update. g) Proposed development nearInterchangeRetailPark- Arranged meeting with Planning and Highways Officers. Developers believe it will have no impact on local traffic flow. Officers and I disagree. h) Bus timetable inProgress Waybus shelter - Ted Bowen contacted me asking me to chase this. Bus shelter will be replaced in spring and will include a bus timetable area. i) Red Lion - I have asked the Licensing Officers and the Police to work with the Red Lion management to reduce the nuisance caused by its customers to local residents. BPHA Walkabout - Attended summer "walk-about" with Graham Leach and Keith Hooson from BPHA, and Sue. a) Medbury LaneGarages - In need of maintenance and repair. No update. b) Bunyans Mead footpath - Part of the problem is of course that BPHA is only responsible for the parts of the footpaths fronting BPHA properties. I will be asking the Borough for confirmation of who "owns" the other parts. No update. Ward Fund - Street lights - See above. - Bunyans Mead - Dropped kerb. - 2012/13 Ward Fund - No growth in amount available. Please advise of any suggested Projects that may benefit from a Ward Fund contribution. Borough Council - The Council's Library Service has linked up with Family History Detectives to promote family history at Bedford, Kempston and Wootton Libraries this month. If you get along to one of these libraries this month you will be provided with free access to computers and library online resources including www.ancestrylibrary.com. Those who have been bitten by the family history bug know how fascinating and enjoyable it can be. Through this initiative, it is hoped that people will be able to get even more out of their research at their local library. Covanta Incinerator - The latest news on "the grapevine" is that the challenges by Covanta and the Government to the Special Parliamentary Procedure petitioned for by Bedford Borough Council, Central Beds District Council and 23 Parish Councils have failed. However, that is still to be formally confirmed. If it is confirmed a Joint Committee of the Commons and the Lords will review the IPC decision to approve the proposal. Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Mayor Dave Hodgson Bedford Borough Council has secured an extra £124,500 funding to ensure vulnerable people stay warm throughout life-threatening spells of cold weather. The outcomes of the Warm Homes, Healthy People project will reduce the level of cold related illness and winter deaths in Bedford Borough due to cold housing. Bedford Borough Council are sharing the funding with Warm Homes, Healthy People project partners, Age UK, the Salvation Army, Bedford Citizens Advice Bureau, Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation and Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity (BRCC), to ensure those in need receive practical information, advice and support including warm clothing and heating equipment. The money will serve to reach out to those in urban and rural areas as well increasing the availability of shelter to homeless people during particularly severe weather conditions. Mayor Dave Hodgson said, "This is wonderful news. The cold weather is really biting at the moment and to secure this money now means that many more people locally will be able to better deal with the extreme cold." Bedford Borough Council was also successful in their bid for funding to deliver boiler replacements for homeowners over the age of 60 with inefficient boilers. If the home's current boiler is more than 12 years old, 'G' rated, a back boiler, been condemned, or is not working, residents may be eligible to benefit from the Council's Boiler Replacement Loan Scheme. People who feel they could benefit from an application to the Warm Homes, Healthy People project should call Bedford Borough Council on 01234 228 635 and ask to be referred. Likewise, Bedford Borough organisations in touch with people who could benefit, can also call the same number. Please also bear in mind, this Friday 10th February is Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, for more information visit http://www.nea.org.uk/fuel-poverty-awareness-day-2012/. Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Lorely Burt MP Commenting on yesterday's opposition debate, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party Committee on Business, Innovation and Skills, Lorely Burt said: "The sheer hypocrisy of Labour to point the finger on bankers' bonuses is staggering. Labour presided over the biggest boom in bonuses this country has seen, from £3.1bn in 2001 to £11.5 billion in 2007. At the same time, they sat back and knighted the financial speculators who led this country to the brink of economic collapse. "The Coalition Government inherited this economic mess from Labour and has taken decisive action to put the country back on track. We've capped cash bonuses at state owned banks to £2,000 and overall, the bonus pool is smaller than last year and considerably less than under Labour. "In Government, Liberal Democrats are doing the right thing - implementing the Vickers' proposals to make banking safer in the future, continuing our fight to get the banks to lend more and introducing the banking levy which raises £2.5bn a year. All Labour can do is complain from the side lines. "While Labour spent thirteen years being intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich, Liberal Democrats have made clear that our priority is lifting the lowest paid people out of paying income tax all together." Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Andrew Stunell MP Zero-Carbon Homes are a step closer today after new proposals were announced to cut carbon emissions in new and existing buildings by Communities Minister Andrew Stunell. Mr. Stunell said changes to the country's building regulations would make new homes, shops and offices warmer and cheaper to run, support growth and take England a step closer to meeting its bold low carbon commitments. Today's ambitious measures, developed together with the construction industry, will help reduce the regulatory cost for businesses, and pave the way for the introduction of zero-carbon homes from 2016. The proposals will also help with the roll out of the Green Deal this Autumn, stimulating demand, whilst helping to cut both carbon emissions and energy bills for householders. The new set of Building Regulations published for consultation today will save over £63 million a year for businesses by cutting excessive red-tape and deliver safer and more sustainable buildings. When these amendments come into force next year, more energy efficient homes will typically save householders over £150 a year on energy bills compared with homes being built in May 2010. Homeowners will also save money with an extension to the range of simple, electrical DIY jobs that can be carried out without the need for a building inspector, reducing costs for both consumers and installers and the burden on local authorities who inspect work. Launching the consultation, Mr Stunell said: "A quarter of the carbon emissions produced each year come from our homes, so it is vital we get to grips with energy efficiency to tackle this problem. Making our homes more sustainable will also keep people warm, drive down bills and support jobs in the construction industry. "The Coalition is committed to being the greenest government ever, so improving the energy efficiency of our existing buildings through the Green Deal, and ensuring that all new homes are zero carbon by 2016 is a top priority. "But we need to do this in a way that doesn't add to the regulatory burden on businesses. So I'm delighted that these much-needed changes will provide guidance that is both fit for purpose and will cut carbon emissions, whilst also saving money for householders and businesses alike." The Department is now looking for views and evidence on the proposed regulations and will continue working with industry and other key partners before finalising proposals. Notes to editors 1) The consultation opens today and responses can be provided up until 27 April 2012, other than the proposals related to the Green Deal where responses have been requested by 27 March 2012. 2) The Government will consider the responses and aim for new building regulations to come into force in 2013, although some changes might be brought in earlier to support the Green Deal framework. 3) The consultation document on the new proposed regulations has four sections: changes to technical details increasing the energy efficiency of buildings electrical safety in homes; and changes to the building control system. 4) The proposed 2013 changes take the next step towards the 2016 zero carbon standard for homes by tightening the carbon dioxide targets for new buildings and introducing specific energy efficiency targets for new homes. 5) The energy bill savings under this Government include those from 2010 Building Regulations changes as well as those proposed in this consultation. 5) An 'Easier to Read' summary of the 2012 consultation on changes to building regulations can be found here: www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/2077415.pdf (PDF, 212kb). 6) The four sections of the consultation can be found here: www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/buildingregulations/buildingregulationschanges/. Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Bedford Borough Council has backed a campaign to reduce the unfairly inflated petrol and diesel prices charged across the borough. At Wednesday night's Full Council meeting, councillors agreed to back a motion from Mayor Dave Hodgson calling for fuel retailers to lower their prices in the borough and bring them in line with neighbouring counties and boroughs. The Council's Chief Executive will now write to fuel retailers with sites in the borough requesting an explanation why Bedford Borough residents are paying more for their fuel and for their assistance in bringing prices to a level comparable with nearby towns. Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: "We currently have an unacceptable situation whereby local residents in and around Bedford are forced to pay typically around 5 pence per litre more for petrol, and around 4 pence more for diesel, than drivers in nearby towns. I hope that the unanimous support for this motion will put further pressure on fuel retailers to address the shocking disparity in prices between Bedford and neighbouring towns. "Fuel bills make up a large part of many residents' household budgets, while higher prices here are also bad for local businesses. I am therefore pleased that the Full Council backed this motion and we will now be taking this issue up with petrol stations in the borough and calling on them to reduce their prices in line with other areas. "The fuel retailers should be embarrassed by the raw deal they are givingBedfordresidents and businesses, which is plain for all to see. I am hopeful that the more that the media, the Council and residents stand up and say 'this is not acceptable,' the more likely they are to do the right thing and bring prices down." Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Mayor Dave Hodgson has reshuffled his Cabinet after the Conservative Group on the Council failed to even vote on the crucial Council budget on which he had worked with them throughout the past year. Mayor Dave brought together a Cabinet of all parties on the Council following his re-election in May last year, casting aside party politics in the interest of working together in these difficult times. The Conservative Group have now thrown that back in residents' faces even after Mayor Dave had worked with them all year to set a budget in these difficult times to which protects services and freezes Council tax again. The breaking of the agreement to work together in support of local communities and deliver a joint budget is the second time the Conservatives have broken a pledge to work together for the good of the Borough. After Mayor Dave's first election victory in 2009, the defeated Conservative candidate made a public pledge that the Tories would work with him for the good of the Borough. Mayor Dave reached out to the Conservatives, who initially indicated their willingness to join his Cabinet, before a shock refusal without even a moment's discussion with the Mayor on working together. Following the Conservatives' refusal to rise to the challenge to making the important decisions for the Borough, Mayor Dave has moved to reshuffle his Executive of Liberal Democrat, Labour and Independent Councillors. Conservative Cllr Roger Rigby leaves the Cabinet, with his Adult Services Portfolio now taken by Labour Cllr Colleen Atkins . The Mayor will take on Cllr Atkins' existing responsibilities other than health reforms, which she retains. Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "Despite broken promises in the past from the Conservatives, I was pleased to bring them into the Cabinet last year in order to have all parties working together to meet the unprecedented challenge presented by the current financial situation. However, sadly the Conservatives have proved unwilling to work together in the interests of our communities, and have turned their backs on the task we face at the crucial moment. They have been involved in this process throughout the year, at every stage. Now they have sadly let residents down by failing to even cast a vote when it matters, breaking an agreement to support our communities despite their involvement throughout the process on this joint budget.' "Their actions in refusing to take responsibility on the most important decision of the year after all the work that has taken place with them contrasts sharply with those of local residents. Residents got involved in budget process, responding in their thousands to give their views on the proposals and shape the budget to ensure we get the best for our Borough in these extremely tough times.' "I want to thank Cllr Rigby for his work on the Executive. The multi-party Cabinet we move forward with is an extremely strong team, which is well placed to continue to deliver for local residents across Bedford Borough" Bedford Borough Council Finance Portfolio Holder Cllr Michael Headley added: "Having broken a pledge to work together in support of local residents, how can the Conservatives now be trusted to deliver this joint budget, which is the all-important task which lies ahead? The Tories have a long record locally of spiralling tax increases and poor services, and now in these tough times they reject the opportunity to work together in the cause of keeping tax down and protecting key services for residents. They have offered no alternatives at all, preferring instead to sit on their hands. At a time which demands leadership and responsibility, their response to the unprecedented challenge we face has been to freeze like rabbits caught in the headlights. Faced with the most important decision of the year, they have quite simply bottled it." The Council's 2012/13 budget was approved by a meeting of the Full Council on Wednesday, despite the Conservative Group's shock abstention. There were no votes against. Last week, at a meeting of the Budget Scrutiny Committee containing Councillors from all parties including the Conservatives, no objections or alternatives were raised. While delivering the £13 million of savings required this year, the budget freezes Council tax, protects key services which are being cut elsewhere and delivers investment in the Borough's future. Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Julian Huppert MP Welcoming the decision by the Transport Secretary to maintain yearly MOT tests, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party Committee on Transport, Julian Huppert said: "In 2010 there were 1,850 deaths and more than 200,000 injuries on our roads. That's some 600 every day. With mechanical failure already contributing to a significant number of these, the Coalition Government has made the right decision to keep frequent MOT-tests. "This will also see the system strengthened through a combination of open public data and stronger regulation. "Liberal Democrats strongly believe road safety should be central to the Coalition Government's transport strategy. I look forward to working with the Secretary of State to further this agenda." Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Advertising Standard Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint by Co-founder of the Campaign for Body Confidence, Jo Swinson MP, about a misleading L'Oréal advertisement featuring Rachel Weisz. The ASA ruled that the image used in an advertisement for L'Oréal Paris' Revitalift Repair 10 was altered to change Rachel Weisz's complexion, making it appear smoother and more even. It was judged to be in breach of industry code and "misleadingly exaggerated" the performance of the product. The advertisement has been banned in its current form and the ASA has warned L'Oréal not to use digital retouching to misrepresent the effect of their products. Jo Swinson MP Commenting, Jo Swinson said: "The beauty and advertising industries need to stop ripping off consumers with dishonest images. "The banning of this advert, along with the previous ASA rulings banning heavily retouched ads featuring Twiggy, Julia Roberts and Christy Turlington, should act as a wake-up call. Thankfully the advertising regulator has again acknowledged the fraudulent nature of excessive retouching. "The Royal College of Psychiatrists has spoken out about the harmful influence of the media on body image and has highlighted the airbrushing and digital enhancement used to portray physical perfection as an area of concern. "There needs to be much more diversity in advertising - different skin colours, body shapes, sizes and ages. Studies show that people want to see more authenticity from brands. Images can be aspirational without being faked. "The Campaign for Body Confidence challenges the narrow ideal of beauty perpetuated by the media and other industries. Tonight the All Party Parliamentary Group on Body Image is hosting a screening of the documentary Miss Representation which explores the impact on society of such an intense focus on women's appearance, instead of their achievements. "The film shows how media misrepresentation and under representation of women results in a leadership gap and the silencing of difference." Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Mayor Dave Hodgson Against a backdrop which requires savings of £36million over the next four years Bedford Borough Council has set a budget that will freeze the Borough's average Council Tax levels after a small reduction last year. To help find the savings needed to balance the Council's budget following a reduction in central government funding, Bedford Borough Council carried out a full, open and transparent consultation with local residents last year. This helped contribute towards the budget that was agreed at last nights Full Council meeting which has provided £13million of savings while enabling extra investment and support to key services for residents. The Council has also made it clear it wishes to minimise the impact on local residents throughout this period, by freezing Council Tax while striving to protect front line services as much as possible. This has been achieved by identifying further back office savings such as introducing electronic pay slips, removing subsidies for free evening meals and streamlining and improving customer serves. Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: "We are facing up to the unprecedented challenge presented by the current financial situation, and have delivered a budget which prioritises front line services and keeps council tax bills down. "This is a budget that protects Children's centres and libraries, provides major investment in school buildings and delivers vital improvements to our infrastructure areas such as the completion of the Western Bypass. Meanwhile, with the help of local residents, staff and service users we have identified £13million of savings for next year as we work towards achieving the £36million of savings needed over the next four years. "We also want to support local residents during these tough economic times, and we are therefore following last year's council tax cut with a freeze in the average bill for local households." Councillor Michael Headley, Portfolio Holder for Finance, added: "We have been clear throughout this process that we are looking to find savings from back office costs as much as possible. That is why we have identified savings, which allow us to save money without impacting directly on local residents. These savings have enabled us to avoid many of the cuts and closures being put forward elsewhere while providing additional support to the most vulnerable." Key issues from the budget include: · A freeze in the average borough element of council tax · No additional External Borrowing · £0.9 million a year extra for vulnerable children looked after by the Council · £41 million to bring improvements to school buildings and facilities £0.9 million a year extra for vulnerable children looked after by the Council · Almost £6 million a year to enhance and restore roads and pavements · Funds to deliver the final section of the Western Bypass · £0.9 million a year extra for support for an ageing population · An additional £200,000 a year for adaptations to help people stay in their homes and live comfortably Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Simon Hughes MP Commenting on the UCAS applications figures, which show the proportion of English school leavers applying to university this year is greater than ever before, barring last year, and that applications from people from the most disadvantaged backgrounds remain strong, Advocate for Access to Education and Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Simon Hughes said: "These figures show that on the whole young people have not been put off by the changes in the student finance system. "This is due in no small part to the serious effort put in by the Coalition Government and many others in making sure that each young person and their parents knew all the facts about funding higher education. "In particular, many families clearly now understand that all graduates will pay less each month towards the cost of their university education than they did before. "There has been a larger drop in the number of older students applying to university. The Government will have to take a serious look at why this has happened, particularly as part-time students for the first time also do not have to pay for their university education in advance. "However, because mature students have more flexibility in when they apply, there are still good opportunities for people looking to start university this year to put in an application." Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Mayor Dave Hodgson Bedford Borough Council is pleased to announce a number of public workshops to help local residents who want to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee to hold their own street parties. The Diamond Jubilee Weekend runs from the 2nd to 5th June and marks 60 years since Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne in 1952. The workshops will take place at Riseley Village Hall at 7.30pm on Monday 6th February and the Harpur Suite on Thursday 9th February at 12.30pm and 6.30pm. The workshops will also offer advice for anyone who might be thinking of holding an Olympic street party this summer. Between 2nd and 5th June the Council is organising a spectacular weekend of events to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee. This includes the annual Kite Festival, 'It's a Knockout' and a free music festival! Street parties usually require a road closure notice, public liability insurance as well as alcohol and entertainment licenses. However, following the success of the Royal Wedding streetparties last year, the Council is again offering residents the opportunity to fill in just one form and is waiving many of the fees usually charged. Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: "The Queen's Diamond Jubilee will be a fantastic opportunity for communities to celebrate together. "We want to make it as easy as possible for residents to come together to and mark the occasion in neighbourhoods across the Borough. That's why we're ensuring there is minimal paperwork and cost involved. We're also making these workshops available to all to provide support and advice to anyone interested in holding a street party in their neighbourhood for the Diamond Jubilee, or for the Olympics. "With the potential for street parties in neighbourhoods across the Borough and a number of events to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, the Olympics and more, we're all set for a great summer in Bedford Borough in 2012! " Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Cllr Charles Royden A man caught fly-tipping in Bedford Borough has been fined a total of £500 at Bedford Magistrates Court. 44-year-old Justin Waldock from The Town, Great Staughton in Cambridgeshire appeared at Bedford Magistrates on Wednesday 25th January. The court heard that on Tuesday 9th August, Mr Waldock was seen Flytipping a number of black refuse sacks and cardboard boxes containing commercial waste behind the former Eat Fish restaurant on The Embankment in Bedford. Mr Waldock pleaded guilty to the charge of Flytipping, contrary to section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. He was fined £335 and ordered to pay £150 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. Councillor Charles Royden, Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: "Flytipping is a serious crime which not only makes our Borough untidy, it costs local tax payers to clean up. "We are increasing our detection rates and the number of prosecutions to ensure that those who behave in this way are brought before the court and obtain convictions. "As part of the Council's "Why Would You Campaign" Bedford Borough Council is taking action on those who commit all types of enviro-crimes such as fly-tipping, littering, dog fouling, graffiti and fly-posting. If local residents are aware of any similar behaviour taking place in the borough they should contact the Council immediately." If you see an enviro-crime being committed, please report it to the Council and provide as much information as you can which could be used as evidence. This can include a description of the offender, vehicle registration and any photographs. If we can gather sufficient evidence we will prosecute. You can report a enviro-crime by calling 01234 267422 Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Liberal Democrats believe you should keep more money that you earn. That is why we believe the tax-free threshold should raise to £10,000, saving working people £700 a year and making sure millions of the lowest paid workers don't have to pay any income tax at all. Between now and the Budget, Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats in Government will be arguing for faster tax cuts for hard-working families, promoting work and growth, and rewarding innovation, paid for by increasing the amount paid by the richest. And the Liberal Democrats in Coalition are already making the difference: More than 800,000 working people no longer paying income tax 23 million working people have been given a £200 tax cut In April this year every worker will be given a further income tax cut of £130 And by the local elections in May this year, 1.1 million of the lowest paid workers, will no longer be burdened by income tax Imagine a mum who works 3 days a week as a teaching assistant - earning £10,000 a year or just over £190 a week. Under Labour she paid more than £1,000 in income tax and national insurance. Although she wanted to work more days a week she knew it was not financially worth it. Under Labour; once tax, tax credits and housing benefit has been deducted, for every extra pound she earned she was able to keep just 10.5p. Under our plan she would see her income tax bill cut to zero making her £700 a year better off. The Liberal Democrats are committed to delivering a fairer economy, turning our tax promise into cash in your pocket. It was on the front page of our manifesto and is being implemented because of Liberal Democrats in Government. As part of this Coalition, Liberal Democrats are calling time on our unfair and out-of-whack tax system. We've clamped down on tax avoiders - targeting an extra £7bn every year We're taxing the banks by an extra £2.5bn every year We've stopped inheritance tax cuts for millionaires We've put up Capital Gains Tax We're ending the scandal, under Labour, of a hedge-fund manager paying less tax on their shares than their cleaner paid on their wages We've reduced tax breaks on pension funds for the super-rich We have retained the 50p rate And our overall priority is freeing the lowest-paid from income tax altogether and cutting income tax for millions of ordinary workers You can read Nick's speech to the resolution Foundation here. Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

A message from Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills: As families face more of a squeeze, today Liberal Democrats are arguing for greater tax cuts for hard working people. Between now and the Budget, Nick and Danny and I will be arguing for faster tax cuts, giving you a reward for hard work. And Nick will be setting out our case in a speech today. Given the budget constraint we have to raise money for the tax cut elsewhere and have plans to raise an equivalent amount from the wealthiest taxpayers. At the last election the Liberal Democrats promised to raise the personal allowance for ordinary taxpayers to £10,000. I am proud that the Coalition has committed to doing so over the course of this Parliament. For millions of ordinary hard working people, that means paying £700 less in income tax each year. Low earners, mostly women will benefit from being lifted out of tax altogether. But times are tough and quite simply, Liberal Democrats in Government want to help families who are currently being squeezed by moving more quickly. Whether it's targeting an extra £7bn from tax evaders and avoiders, taking an extra £2.5bn every year from the banks in a balance sheet tax, or the announcement I made on Monday to curb the excesses of executive pay, this Coalition is taking important steps to deliver a fairer economy. We are building a new economy, one that benefits the whole country, not just bankers in the City of London. Making the tax system fairer is crucial to that. This is a huge task that will make Britain a fairer and more liberal country for generations to come. Yours, Vince Cable MP Member of Parliament for Twickenham and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable MP Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Mayor Dave Hodgson Bedford Borough Council's Pothole Hit Squad service is celebrating its first birthday this month as new figures show they filled more than 5,000 potholes during 2011 - nearly three times the number repaired in 2010. The Pothole Hit Squad service was launched in January 2011 to provide a quick response service which was able to carry out permanent repairs to potholes in the borough. Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: "We were one of the first authorities in the country to introduce mobile teams dedicated to getting out and about and dealing with potholes on our roads. The teams have been successful in getting more potholes repaired and in doing so swiftly and efficiently. I'm delighted that they are still going strong a year on from their launch, having dealt with more than 5,000 potholes. "To put this into context, we repaired approximately 1,800 potholes during 2010, so the Pothole Hit Squad teams allowed us to repair nearly three times as many potholes during the year. This is great news for local residents and the quality and safety of our roads for all road users. "The continued support for the Pothole Hit Squad goes alongside our other efforts to look after the borough's roads with record levels of grit available at the start of this winter as well as a programme to resurface many roads throughout the borough." Local residents can report a pothole by contacting the Highways Helpdesk on 01234 718003. All potholes will be assessed on a priority basis. Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Mayor Dave Hodgson Mayor Dave Hodgson is calling on all Councillors in the Borough to back him in asking the Chief Executive of Bedford Borough Council to write to fuel retailers and suppliers in Bedford to ask them to reduce the price of their fuel for residents in Bedford Borough. Mayor Hodgson said, "Fuel prices change all the time but despite going up and down I want to know why Bedford Borough residents always have the highest prices locally. At its worst there have been days when the lowest price in Bedford is higher than the highest price in a nearby town. This is wrong and must be addressed by fuel retailers and suppliers." The problem of the fuel price discrepancy was highlighted by the Times and Citizen Newspaper. Mayor Dave Hodgson has now put a motion forward to Full Council. If supported by the Borough Councillors it will mean the Council will write to all petrol retailers and suppliers asking them why the fuel in Bedford is higher than elsewhere and asking them to reduce their prices to a comparable level. This could save Bedford Borough residents as much as 6p per litre and would result in a saving of up to £93.60 per year if someone uses 30 litres of fuel per week. Notes: The wording of the motion is as follows- TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING NOTICE OF MOTION SUBMITTED BY THE MAYOR: This Council notes with concern the higher price of petrol and diesel charged by fuel retailers in Bedford Borough in comparison with those in nearby towns. Council recognises that fuel costs can make up a significant proportion of household budgets, and believes that it is unacceptable that drivers who use local petrol stations are forced to pay higher prices than in neighbouring towns in the area. Council further notes that drivers in Bedford Borough purchasing 30 litres per week of the cheapest unleaded petrol available locally (Source: petrol.com, 19/1/12) are forced to spend £62 more on fuel per year than their counterparts in Luton, £78 more than Milton Keynes, £47 more than in St Neots and nearly £50 more than the national average figure. This Council believes there is no justification for forcing Bedford Borough residents to face higher costs for getting to work and other day-to-day use of their cars. This Council therefore resolves: To ask the Council's Chief Executive to write to all fuel retailers in Bedford Borough requesting an explanation as to why Bedford Borough residents are paying more for their fuel, That the letter demands Bedford Borough residents no longer be penalised and that action is taken immediately to bring fuel prices down to a level comparable to those charged in neighbouring towns, That a letter also be sent to the Chief Executives of major fuel retailers with multiple outlets in the Borough in order to seek an explanation and their support in bringing prices to a level comparable to nearby towns. Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Don Foster MP Commenting on Chairman of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten's speech at the Oxford Media Convention, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party Committee on Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, Don Foster said: "Lord Patten gets the final word and with it he says what we've all been thinking. "The BBC won't improve itself by stripping away some of its most valued work. Seven million people listen to BBC local radio across theUKand it is a lifeline for older people and the disabled. "We can't expect easy solutions to the BBC's challenges but it should be possible to meet them without harming local radio and regional TV." Notes In his speech to the Oxford Media Convention, Lord Patten said that the Trust should ensure that the BBC's local radio stations remain as local as they are now and that these stations are always supported with sufficient journalistic resources. Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY