The recent Lib Dem campaign successes, and the way 'Cleggmania' hit the UK after the first party leaders' television debate, was not lost on the foreign press nor on our sister parties in Europe and the Commonwealth.
by Robert Woodthorpe-Browne
I joined the Council's tree maintenance contractors on site as they tidied up some trees in Quantock Close, Putnoe, last week. More work is being done this year thanks to the money we've put into the budget. Under the old Conservative County Council, just £1.66 was allocated per tree in the urban area of Bedford; we now spend over £11 per tree keeping trees tidy and safe.
Solihull MP Lorely Burt has been selected as the co-chair of the newly created Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Committee for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Once again the Cinque Port Dignitaries gathered at the invitation of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports at Walmer Castle. Lord Boyce hosted a function to enable him to meet the newly elected Mayors and to speak of the plans for the area.
The plan approved by the Full Council to re-organise the schools structure as a two-tier system was dependent on funding through the Building Schools for the Future programme. This will therefore not be going ahead, and the Council will not be pursuing a comprehensive restructuring. So, while there is huge disappointment at the loss of the BSF Funding and the halting of the previous agreed plan, our focus is now on the future and on improving education in Bedford Borough.
