Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have welcomed the Council's approval of its proposal for more protection of open space from unauthorised Gypsy and Traveller encampments. £40,000 will now be spent on physical protection of public spaces from unauthorised encampments after the Lib Dems won the backing of the council for the work at last night's budget meeting.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw is facing calls to explain himself after he revealed that he had been told in December that Labour MP Sadiq Khan had been meeting terror suspect Babar Ahmad at Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes in December. Officials have conceded that they were aware the meeting might have been bugged although the Justice Secretary insists he was not made aware of this allegation until last Saturday. Mr Straw insisted earlier this week that the eavesdropping operation involving Mr Khan was not sanctioned by ministers.
Brian Paddick's autobiography Line of Fire is due out on 25th March, and can now be pre-ordered from the Shepway Lib Dems shop at www.shepwaylibdems.org.uk/amazonshop
Rochdale Council Leader Alan Taylor has announced that Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council will no longer use battery eggs.
Rochdale Council's Environment Cabinet Member, Councillor Wera Hobhouse, lightened the atmosphere of a sometimes tense and at times tedious council meeting in a debate on recycling and alternate weekly collections by cutting a pretty picture sporting a 'rubbish' dress made by primary school children!
Rochdale Council Environment Cabinet Member Councillor Wera Hobhouse has called for an end to scaremongering over alternate weekly collection. Councillor Hobhouse said: "I am sick of certain council members making bold claims to the media about being 'inundated' with complaints from residents. The reality is that when I question the Council's Environment Department or our Call Centre these complaints are simply not passed on. The scheme is not perfect but we can all improve it by reporting any problems to the Council. It is only by doing this that we can improve our service.
