Issue 45February 2020

Enviro-Hub project

see page 4

Budget plans announced

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Children get active on the school run

see page 5

In this issue...

find out more on page 5...find out more on page 5...The i-Worx is open for business

BoroughMonthly

East West Rail is coming

see page 2

Borough Monthly | February 2020

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Latest budget plans announced Bedford Borough Council’s budget proposals for 2020 -2021 have been approved at the latest Full Council meeting on Wednesday 5 February.

The Budget 2020/21 sets out how the Council will deliver vital day-to-day frontline services for local residents.

From providing support and care for vulnerable adults and children, collecting the bins, maintaining roads and pavements, supporting local libraries, to keeping our parks looking beautiful, the Council provides vital services across the Borough.

The proposals put forward looked at the funding provided for these important services and at how the council will tackle challenges such as increasing costs, an ageing population and greater demand for its services.

The Council is committed to providing a budget that provides the services residents and businesses expect, safeguards the most vulnerable, while working to keep council tax down with an increase of 1.85% proposed for next year.

With increasing demand for social care for vulnerable adults, a growing elderly population and more people needing support for complex needs, Adults Services continues to take up the largest part of the Council’s spending. Approximately 40% of the proposed total 2020/21 budget of £132million is set to be spent on Adults Services. To help fund this care, the proposals include applying the government’s Adult Social Care precept of 2% to Council Tax this year.

Together the proposals mean an increase of less than £5 a month over the year for an average Band D property, or a total increase of £58.04.

Local Plan 2030 approvedThe Bedford Borough Local Plan 2030 was approved at a Full Council meeting on Wednesday 15 January.

The Local Plan 2030 sets out proposals for growth and development in Bedford Borough over the next decade. As well as allocations for the building of new homes, it also includes provision for jobs and the development of facilities such as schools, transport and shops to support new communities.

The Council will review the plan and either update it or issue a new one within three years of this adoption, in response to longer-term projects such as the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.

East West Rail is coming to and through BedfordIt has been announced that East West Rail will be stopping at Bedford Midland station, connecting the town directly to Cambridge and Oxford.

This ‘Central Section’ builds on the ‘Western Section’, connecting Oxford and Bicester with services through to Bedford.

This confirmation is excellent news for Bedford residents. Increased connectivity for our town will bring more opportunities to travel for work and leisure, as well as supporting our economic growth and prosperity, attracting businesses and jobs.

Recent modelling in the Bedford Borough Council Rail Strategy showed that East West Rail is forecast to bring over £20million of additional economic activity to our Borough. This could be additional investment, businesses, and jobs.

Borough Monthly | February 2020

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Former councillors recognised for their service Five former Bedford Borough councillors have been recognised for their years of dedication to public service.

Former councillor Pat Olney was bestowed the title of honorary Alderwoman alongside former councillors Randolph Charles, Will Hunt, John Mingay and Mark Smith, who were conferred the title honorary Alderman.

You don’t have to live in Bedford to adopt a

Bedford Borough ChildStart your adoption journey with us today

01234 718718Give us a call today Or drop us an email

adoptionandfostering@bedford.gov.ukwww.bedford.gov.uk/adoption

Adoption in Bedford Borough

Bedford Visitor Information Centre to move to Bedford Central LibraryBedford Visitor Information Centre (VIC) will be moving to Bedford Central Library from March of this year.

The VIC is a volunteer-run organisation working to promote Bedford to both visitors and residents, providing accurate, up to date and relevant information about visitor attractions, events and the local area. Since its launch in St Paul’s Church in October 2018, the VIC has welcomed nearly 2,000 people.

From March, the service will be moving to the ground floor foyer of Bedford Central Library. The move to the library will allow the VIC to develop and expand its services, with a larger area and increased space for displays and information.

The VIC will be open in the Library from early March on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays - 11am to 4pm.

Pat Olney Randolph Charles Will Hunt John Mingay Mark Smith

Borough Monthly | February 2020

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Enviro-Hub project opens in Kempston

Stay Connected!

Bedford Borough Council has launched the ‘Enviro-Hub’ project based in Kempston.

Enviro-Hub’s make it easier for people to volunteer and help keep their local community clean, by making litter-picking equipment available to borrow without having to plan ahead.

The Enviro-Hub has been launched following a successful bid to WRAP’s Litter Innovation Fund (the charity behind the ‘Recycle Now’ initiative), and the project is running in partnership with Fusion at Kempston Pool.

Members of the public will be able to borrow equipment by calling into Kempston Pool during opening hours, and signing out what they need to be able to head out litter picking – It’s as simple as that!

There will be information about the Enviro-Hub on boards at Addison Howard Park and Hillgrounds to let people know how they can get the equipment, general recycling information and showing where the closest bins are. There are also biodegradable dog waste bags located alongside the noticeboards, which are completely free to use.

Stay Connected!Don’t forget for regular, timely information on the Council, you can follow us on Twitter @bedfordtweets, Facebook @bedfordboroughcouncil and via our website, www.bedford.gov.uk.

Borough Monthly | February 2020

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Bedford Borough Council, together with Sustrans - the sustainable transport charity - is working with local schools to encourage children and parents to walk, cycle or scoot to school.

Since 2016, Sustrans has seen car use for the school run decrease and more pupils are regularly cycling or getting to school in an active way.

During the 2018/19 school year, Sustrans delivered over 200 activities with over 23,000 pupil attendances to a variety of sessions, including learning how to scoot safely, bike skills and learning to balance on a bike.

The Sustrans project is not just about getting local children more active on their journey to school, but throughout their lives. A survey of local schoolchildren has shown that more are using their bikes during their free time, helping to form good habits that will last for a lifetime.

Sustrans runs a number of activities and programmes to get children moving in Bedford Borough, and one of the biggest is the ‘Big Pedal’. This is the UK’s largest inter-school cycling and walking challenge, and it took place over a 10-day period in 2019. During those 10 days, over 36,000 school journeys were made by walking, cycling or scooting in Bedford Borough, with a total of over 180,000 miles travelled.

Children get active on the school run!

Extra crews join the Pothole Hit Squad

Gritting salt, fluctuating temperatures and surface water following heavy rainfall have all had an impact on the condition of the roads in the Borough, with a high number of potholes and road defects appearing within a short space of time.

So far this year, gritting crews have carried out over 25% more gritting runs than average – with over 2,000 tons of road salt used this winter season already.

Bedford Borough Council is drafting in additional pothole crews to help keep on top of pothole repairs this winter.

Borough Monthly | February 2020

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Ribbon cutting marks opening of the i-Worx in Bedford BoroughBedford i-Worx is officially open following a ribbon cutting by Mayor Dave Hodgson and SEMLEP Chair Peter Horrocks CBE, on Monday 27 January 2020.

The i-Worx features an advanced ‘Technology and Engineering Workshop Cluster’, offering twelve modern, office and industrial units, which will form part of the new Bedford Commercial Park. i-Worx joins the suite of i-Brand premises, including i-Lab, i-Kan and i-Hub, owned and run by Bedford Borough Council, providing high quality business space to small and medium sized companies.

Bedford Commercial Park is a 45-acre mixed-use development owned and managed by global property firm Goodman, adjacent to the well-connected A421. The first phase has seen the completion of a 407,143 sq. ft. logistics warehouse, with further development of the site set to create up to 1,600 jobs.

One of the twelve bespoke technology and engineering workshop units will be dedicated as an education and training facility to help inspire the next generation of students and help prepare people with the technical skills for these kinds of businesses. This will be available for local schools and educational institutions when it becomes operational later this year.

The vision for i-Worx is to enable and support entrepreneurs and small businesses to thrive within a high-quality premises cluster, designed with them in mind. With the emerging Oxford-Cambridge Arc, Bedford Borough Council is targeting and supporting businesses ready to build and grow in our area.

During the event, the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) also launched their new Growth Curve Initiative, a fully funded programme for high growth businesses in the area.

Mayor Dave Hodgson said, “Businesses are already signed up and set to move into a number of these spaces, and it’s fantastic to see this site now open. Bedford Borough Council and our partners are committed to investing in our local economy, infrastructure, and training to ensure we continue to grow and create jobs here.”

Peter Horrocks CBE, Chair of SEMLEP added, “Having good quality and flexible commercial space available for businesses is a prerequisite for a successful business environment. That is why SEMLEP has invested in i-Worx through the Local Growth Fund, to support technology and engineering business success and contribute towards making Bedford and the wider South East Midlands region an even more attractive place for companies to collaborate, innovate and succeed.

“I’m delighted to take this opportunity today to officially launch our new business support offer designed specifically to meet the needs of fast-growing businesses in the area. Through ‘Growth Curve’, companies can work directly with business specialists from three of our area’s universities, tapping into expertise to help shape their long-term future.”

Goodman worked in partnership with Bedford Borough Council integrating the i-Worx development into the wider park.

To find out more about moving into the i-Worx or other Bedford Borough Council i-Brand serviced buildings please visit: http://www.bedfordi-lab.com/

Borough Monthly | February 2020

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@BedfordEvents bedfordevents @BedfordEventsUK

events@bedford.gov.uk https://riverfestival.bedford.gov.uk

Live Music • Boat Parades • Dragon Boat Races • Raft Races • Food & Drink Funfair • Arts & Theatre • Sports & Heritage Villages • Fireworks

Trade & Craft Stalls • Hovercraft • Water Sports • and so much more

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