Milton Ernest Parish Council Village Website

COUNCIL TAX BILLS TO FREEZE FOR BOROUGH RESIDENTS – AGAIN!

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
• 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

COUNCIL BACKS MOTION TO TACKLE UNFAIR PETROL PRICES IN BEDFORD BOROUGH

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 giving Bedford residents 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.”

It is interesting to note that dumping waste inappropriately can lead to a substantial fine; whoever dumped old engine oil by OUR new glass recycling skip may care to ponder the report below.

FINE FOR MAN CAUGHT FLY-TIPPING

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 25^th January. The court heard that on Tuesday 9^th 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.