Central Bedfordshire Council is inviting residents and businesses to help shape a new Housing Strategy that will guide provision for the five years between 2011-2016.
The strategy, which sets out the vision and aims for housing in Central Bedfordshire, places housing matters in context with other social affairs such as crime reduction, bringing communities together, enhancing neighbourhoods and improving health.
It is an over-arching document that encompasses plans such as the Homelessness Strategy, housing for older people and the new Empty Homes Strategy, which was published in November.
The strategy also explains how the council works, and will work, in partnership with other organisations to deliver its housing plans.
Public consultation on the Housing Strategy will start on Tuesday 4 January 2011 and last for 12 weeks until Friday 1 April 2011.
You can view a copy of the Housing Strategy and have your say on the consultation through one of the following ways:
Visit the consultations section of Central Bedfordshire Council’s website www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/consultations/default.aspx ; or
Pick up a paper copy from either the Council Offices at either Central Bedfordshire Council, Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, SG17 5TQ or Central Bedfordshire Council, Watling House, High Street North, Dunstable, LU6 1LF.
If you would prefer a copy to be sent to you, or for further information, please contact John Goody, either by telephone on 0300 300 4449 or at Central Bedfordshire Council, Technology House, 239 Ampthill Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9QQ.
Thursday, 30 December 2010
Friday, 24 December 2010
Identity cards to go; school finger-printing next?
Identity cards were officially scrapped on Tuesday 21 December when the Identity Documents Bill was granted Royal Assent. Liberal Democrats have consistently campaigned against ID cards, a scheme introduced by the previous Labour Government. All existing ID cards will be cancelled within one month, and the National Identity Register will be destroyed within two months. The move has saved £845m in planned future investment over the next ten years.
But what about the various finger-printing systems ushered in by schools to help them go cash-less for school meals or card-less for borrowing from the school library? They're still alive and well here in Central Bedfordshire, much to my chagrin.
When will they go? Indeed, how many other schools have introduced ID systems for our minors and when will they be outlawed?
What are your views and experience of this abuse of personal data? I'd like to hear from you.
But what about the various finger-printing systems ushered in by schools to help them go cash-less for school meals or card-less for borrowing from the school library? They're still alive and well here in Central Bedfordshire, much to my chagrin.
When will they go? Indeed, how many other schools have introduced ID systems for our minors and when will they be outlawed?
What are your views and experience of this abuse of personal data? I'd like to hear from you.
Friday, 10 December 2010
Street Traders braced for scalping
You have until 9 January to let Central Bedfordshire Council know your views on their new draft licensing policy for street traders, which proposes to designate all streets within the authority as 'consent streets' for which a licence must be obtained for trading.
The proposed fee is £280 one-off or £750 for an annual fee.
Local resident and former guides' leader, Madeleine Burr, thought the one-off fee would be enough to kill-off the generations-old initiative of fund-raising from cake stalls and such in the community if they had to buy a licence at these prices.
For further details see www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/licensingconsultation
Please send any comments to licensing.section@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk by 9 January or write to:
Licensing Team,
Public Protection,
Central Bedfordshire Council,
The Council Offices,
High Street North,
Dunstable LU6 1LF.
The proposed fee is £280 one-off or £750 for an annual fee.
Local resident and former guides' leader, Madeleine Burr, thought the one-off fee would be enough to kill-off the generations-old initiative of fund-raising from cake stalls and such in the community if they had to buy a licence at these prices.
For further details see www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/licensingconsultation
Please send any comments to licensing.section@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk by 9 January or write to:
Licensing Team,
Public Protection,
Central Bedfordshire Council,
The Council Offices,
High Street North,
Dunstable LU6 1LF.
Barton-le-Clay ward boundary change afoot
Barton-le-Clay is due to lose Bushmead, Sharpenhoe, Streatley and Sundon as it shrinks to become a one Member ward with effect from May 2011, serving the residents of Barton-le-Clay alone.
This is not what the Liberal Democrats had proposed; we'd suggested adding Pulloxhill, most of whose children attend the Barton-le-Clay schools, in order to make the small adjustment needed to keep the ward a two-member one. But the Boundary Commission ruled otherwise, ignoring our views and those of Streatley Parish Council that had also written to the Boundary Commission asking to remain within the Barton-le-Clay ward owing to shared services and resources, again not least the schools.
Overall, new arrangements are that newly recommended electoral arrangements for Central Bedfordshire will see a reduction in the number of councillors from 66 to 59 and ward boundaries redrawn.Other planned changes include:
Central Bedfordshire Council will consist of 31 electoral wards.
These will be made up of 9 three-member wards, 10 two-member wards and 12 single-member wards. This contrasts with the current arrangement of 5 four-member wards and 23 two-member wards.
The final recommendations contain revisions not only to the council’s ward arrangements but consequently to parish ward arrangements for the parishes of Biggleswade, Dunstable, Houghton Regis and Leighton-Linslade.
The number of councillors in the newly drawn ward boundaries has been based on the size of the electorate in 2008 and the projected electorate size in 2015.
Parliament must now implement the proposed new arrangements and an Order – the legal document which brings into force the recommendations – will be laid in Parliament in the coming weeks.
The draft Order allows for the new electoral arrangements to come into force for the next council elections in May 2011.
This is not what the Liberal Democrats had proposed; we'd suggested adding Pulloxhill, most of whose children attend the Barton-le-Clay schools, in order to make the small adjustment needed to keep the ward a two-member one. But the Boundary Commission ruled otherwise, ignoring our views and those of Streatley Parish Council that had also written to the Boundary Commission asking to remain within the Barton-le-Clay ward owing to shared services and resources, again not least the schools.
Overall, new arrangements are that newly recommended electoral arrangements for Central Bedfordshire will see a reduction in the number of councillors from 66 to 59 and ward boundaries redrawn.Other planned changes include:
Central Bedfordshire Council will consist of 31 electoral wards.
These will be made up of 9 three-member wards, 10 two-member wards and 12 single-member wards. This contrasts with the current arrangement of 5 four-member wards and 23 two-member wards.
The final recommendations contain revisions not only to the council’s ward arrangements but consequently to parish ward arrangements for the parishes of Biggleswade, Dunstable, Houghton Regis and Leighton-Linslade.
The number of councillors in the newly drawn ward boundaries has been based on the size of the electorate in 2008 and the projected electorate size in 2015.
Parliament must now implement the proposed new arrangements and an Order – the legal document which brings into force the recommendations – will be laid in Parliament in the coming weeks.
The draft Order allows for the new electoral arrangements to come into force for the next council elections in May 2011.
Gypsy and Traveller site consultation
Residents in Central Bedfordshire are being asked for their comments on a Draft Submission version of the Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan Document by 5pm on Wednesday 2nd February.
The document sets out Central Bedfordshire Council’s chosen sites for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation (23 pitches plus 4 pitches for Travelling Showpeople) for the former Mid Bedfordshire area. It also contains policies against which the determination of future planning applications for Gypsy and Traveller related proposals will be made.
The sites selected are:
eight pitches at Old Acres, Barton Road, Pulloxhill;
two pitches on land off Westoning Road, Greenfield;
ten pitches on land at the rear of Hitchin Road, Arlesey;
three pitches at Oak Tree Nursery & Magpie Farm, Upper Caldecote; and
four pitches to be placed at Kennel Farm in Biggleswade for Travelling Showpeople.
A permanent Gypsy and Traveller pitch is the space required to accommodate one household and their caravans, parking space and enough room for the turning of vehicles.
Documents which include maps of the locations and the accompanying Sustainability Appraisal are available to view and download at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/GTLDFNorth and residents are urged to make comments online. Once registered as a user, residents will be able to comment online on all of the future LDF documents.
If you wish to make comments by email or in writing, you can download a comments form from the CBC website. Paper copies of the document and comment forms will also be available at the council offices in Dunstable and Chicksands, customer service centres and libraries around Central Bedfordshire.
All comments received will be passed on to an Independent Planning Inspector who will assess the documents in a public examination. Only those residents who make objections at this stage will be able to participate in the examination.
For further information you can contact the LDF North Team on 0300 300 8000 or email ldf@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
The document sets out Central Bedfordshire Council’s chosen sites for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation (23 pitches plus 4 pitches for Travelling Showpeople) for the former Mid Bedfordshire area. It also contains policies against which the determination of future planning applications for Gypsy and Traveller related proposals will be made.
The sites selected are:
eight pitches at Old Acres, Barton Road, Pulloxhill;
two pitches on land off Westoning Road, Greenfield;
ten pitches on land at the rear of Hitchin Road, Arlesey;
three pitches at Oak Tree Nursery & Magpie Farm, Upper Caldecote; and
four pitches to be placed at Kennel Farm in Biggleswade for Travelling Showpeople.
A permanent Gypsy and Traveller pitch is the space required to accommodate one household and their caravans, parking space and enough room for the turning of vehicles.
Documents which include maps of the locations and the accompanying Sustainability Appraisal are available to view and download at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/GTLDFNorth and residents are urged to make comments online. Once registered as a user, residents will be able to comment online on all of the future LDF documents.
If you wish to make comments by email or in writing, you can download a comments form from the CBC website. Paper copies of the document and comment forms will also be available at the council offices in Dunstable and Chicksands, customer service centres and libraries around Central Bedfordshire.
All comments received will be passed on to an Independent Planning Inspector who will assess the documents in a public examination. Only those residents who make objections at this stage will be able to participate in the examination.
For further information you can contact the LDF North Team on 0300 300 8000 or email ldf@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
Saturday, 20 November 2010
Do give your views on the CBC budget 2011
Central Beds Council has recently endorsed a budget strategy that includes a range of proposals to deliver the 28% savings that will be necessary next year and for the following three years. The coalition government wants the savings front loaded, rather than evenly spread over the four years, which makes economic sense, although it's painful.
To some extent, the Council is fortunate that we take a relatively low sum from central government, so the cut is not as deep as that in other local authorities.
My thanks to all the constituents who have contacted me already to share their concerns and thoughts. Do please keep you views coming. As I'm on the customer Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, that is the area where I can make the most insightful comment, although I shall have my say on the full range of issues under debate. What do you like, and what should we stop doing to save effort and cost in your view?
You can view the strategy at our website http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/modgov/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=577&MId=3344&Ver=4. You can also comment on any of the proposals by visiting www.letstalkcentral.com and joining in with the online discussion or by writing to us at FREEPOST RSJS-GBBZ –SRZT, Budget Strategy, Central Bedfordshire Council, Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, SG17 5TQ. Councillors will also be discussing the many of the proposals within the draft strategy through Overview and Scrutiny Committee during November . All of the feedback will be presented to the Executive before considering the final budget in February.
Please e-mail me your views at janet.nunn@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or come along to my monthly surgery at Barton-le-Clay library, 10-12am on the second Saturday monthly for a chat.
To some extent, the Council is fortunate that we take a relatively low sum from central government, so the cut is not as deep as that in other local authorities.
My thanks to all the constituents who have contacted me already to share their concerns and thoughts. Do please keep you views coming. As I'm on the customer Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, that is the area where I can make the most insightful comment, although I shall have my say on the full range of issues under debate. What do you like, and what should we stop doing to save effort and cost in your view?
You can view the strategy at our website http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/modgov/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=577&MId=3344&Ver=4. You can also comment on any of the proposals by visiting www.letstalkcentral.com and joining in with the online discussion or by writing to us at FREEPOST RSJS-GBBZ –SRZT, Budget Strategy, Central Bedfordshire Council, Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, SG17 5TQ. Councillors will also be discussing the many of the proposals within the draft strategy through Overview and Scrutiny Committee during November . All of the feedback will be presented to the Executive before considering the final budget in February.
Please e-mail me your views at janet.nunn@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or come along to my monthly surgery at Barton-le-Clay library, 10-12am on the second Saturday monthly for a chat.
Consultation on school transport for 16-18 year olds closes 17 December
Central Bedfordshire Council is asking all residents to give their views on transport for students in further education to help shape future provision.
The consultation, which runs until 17 December, is on proposals to alter the provision for students aged 16 to 18, bringing it more into line with that for school aged children as well as new legislation and government guidance.
Proposed revisions to the existing Post 16 Transport Policy include changes to the maximum distance for which a student can receive free or subsidised travel. It also suggests new criteria for low income, medical and special educational needs and looked after young people, that are compatible with the current Home to School Transport Policy agreed by the Council in March 2010.
While it is not legally obliged to provide free transport for students aged 16 to 18, the Council does have to consider how it will help learners access further education and to have a Post 16 Transport Policy that reflects this.
You can find out more and respond to the consultation through Central Bedfordshire Council’s website: http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/surveys/transport/post16.htm
Copies of the papers can be obtained from Customer Services on 0300 300 8133.
For the academic year 2009/10 and 2010/11 Central Bedfordshire Council adopted the Post 16 Transport Policy previously operated by Bedfordshire County Council. This is now being re-evaluated and a new ‘Post 16 Transport Policy Statement’ for the 2011/12 academic year must be in place by 31 May 2011.
The Council will consider responses to the consultation at the meeting of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 25 January 2011 and at its Executive on 8 February 2011.
The consultation, which runs until 17 December, is on proposals to alter the provision for students aged 16 to 18, bringing it more into line with that for school aged children as well as new legislation and government guidance.
Proposed revisions to the existing Post 16 Transport Policy include changes to the maximum distance for which a student can receive free or subsidised travel. It also suggests new criteria for low income, medical and special educational needs and looked after young people, that are compatible with the current Home to School Transport Policy agreed by the Council in March 2010.
While it is not legally obliged to provide free transport for students aged 16 to 18, the Council does have to consider how it will help learners access further education and to have a Post 16 Transport Policy that reflects this.
You can find out more and respond to the consultation through Central Bedfordshire Council’s website: http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/surveys/transport/post16.htm
Copies of the papers can be obtained from Customer Services on 0300 300 8133.
For the academic year 2009/10 and 2010/11 Central Bedfordshire Council adopted the Post 16 Transport Policy previously operated by Bedfordshire County Council. This is now being re-evaluated and a new ‘Post 16 Transport Policy Statement’ for the 2011/12 academic year must be in place by 31 May 2011.
The Council will consider responses to the consultation at the meeting of the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 25 January 2011 and at its Executive on 8 February 2011.
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