It has been the policy of the Lib Dem controlled City Council to devolve as much decision making as possible to ward councillors. For six years we have had a substantial revenue budget at ward level ( currently £20,000 pa ) and for the last two years we have also been allocated a capital budget ( £115,000 over 3 years ).
I launched the Council's new 'Buy in Campaign' at Podington Garden Centre last week. I have set up this campaign in order to support our local businesses right across the Borough. During these difficult economic times, it is important that we support our local traders, and buying locally helps our local economy, helps to sustain and enhance our communities and is also good for the environment, of course.
The Council has published the list of additional roads which will be resurfaced in this financial year thanks to the £1 million boost we recently put into the road resurfacing budget. This takes the overall investment in highway maintenance this year to around £7 million, and means that within 2 years an additional £4 million pounds has been invested in our roads and pavements over and above the level of spending by the former County Council.
The Victorian Christmas Fair is underway, with stalls in Harpur Square, Midland Road and, for the first time ever, along a temporarily pedestrianised High Street! The Fair runs until Sunday, and I would encourage everyone to get along and experience it. There is a huge range of stalls, some great entertainment and lots to do for all the family. I am hoping lots of people come in to experience the fair this weekend and do their Christmas shopping in town, as we continue our campaign to encourage people to 'Buy in Bedford!'
Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has written to members of the Liberal Democrats regarding last night's vote on Tuition Fees. He says:
The independent Institute for fiscal studies has produced a report which says the new system for paying university fees is more progressive that either the current system or the one proposed by the Browne report.