Mid Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats

Mayor Dave Hodgson has reshuffled his Cabinet after the Conservative Group on the Council failed to even vote on the crucial Council budget on which he had worked with them throughout the past year. Mayor Dave brought together a Cabinet of all parties on the Council following his re-election in May last year, casting aside party politics in the interest of working together in these difficult times. The Conservative Group have now thrown that back in residents' faces even after Mayor Dave had worked with them all year to set a budget in these difficult times to which protects services and freezes Council tax again. The breaking of the agreement to work together in support of local communities and deliver a joint budget is the second time the Conservatives have broken a pledge to work together for the good of the Borough. After Mayor Dave's first election victory in 2009, the defeated Conservative candidate made a public pledge that the Tories would work with him for the good of the Borough. Mayor Dave reached out to the Conservatives, who initially indicated their willingness to join his Cabinet, before a shock refusal without even a moment's discussion with the Mayor on working together. Following the Conservatives' refusal to rise to the challenge to making the important decisions for the Borough, Mayor Dave has moved to reshuffle his Executive of Liberal Democrat, Labour and Independent Councillors. Conservative Cllr Roger Rigby leaves the Cabinet, with his Adult Services Portfolio now taken by Labour Cllr Colleen Atkins . The Mayor will take on Cllr Atkins' existing responsibilities other than health reforms, which she retains. Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "Despite broken promises in the past from the Conservatives, I was pleased to bring them into the Cabinet last year in order to have all parties working together to meet the unprecedented challenge presented by the current financial situation. However, sadly the Conservatives have proved unwilling to work together in the interests of our communities, and have turned their backs on the task we face at the crucial moment. They have been involved in this process throughout the year, at every stage. Now they have sadly let residents down by failing to even cast a vote when it matters, breaking an agreement to support our communities despite their involvement throughout the process on this joint budget.' "Their actions in refusing to take responsibility on the most important decision of the year after all the work that has taken place with them contrasts sharply with those of local residents. Residents got involved in budget process, responding in their thousands to give their views on the proposals and shape the budget to ensure we get the best for our Borough in these extremely tough times.' "I want to thank Cllr Rigby for his work on the Executive. The multi-party Cabinet we move forward with is an extremely strong team, which is well placed to continue to deliver for local residents across Bedford Borough" Bedford Borough Council Finance Portfolio Holder Cllr Michael Headley added: "Having broken a pledge to work together in support of local residents, how can the Conservatives now be trusted to deliver this joint budget, which is the all-important task which lies ahead? The Tories have a long record locally of spiralling tax increases and poor services, and now in these tough times they reject the opportunity to work together in the cause of keeping tax down and protecting key services for residents. They have offered no alternatives at all, preferring instead to sit on their hands. At a time which demands leadership and responsibility, their response to the unprecedented challenge we face has been to freeze like rabbits caught in the headlights. Faced with the most important decision of the year, they have quite simply bottled it." The Council's 2012/13 budget was approved by a meeting of the Full Council on Wednesday, despite the Conservative Group's shock abstention. There were no votes against. Last week, at a meeting of the Budget Scrutiny Committee containing Councillors from all parties including the Conservatives, no objections or alternatives were raised. While delivering the £13 million of savings required this year, the budget freezes Council tax, protects key services which are being cut elsewhere and delivers investment in the Borough's future. Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Julian Huppert MP Welcoming the decision by the Transport Secretary to maintain yearly MOT tests, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party Committee on Transport, Julian Huppert said: "In 2010 there were 1,850 deaths and more than 200,000 injuries on our roads. That's some 600 every day. With mechanical failure already contributing to a significant number of these, the Coalition Government has made the right decision to keep frequent MOT-tests. "This will also see the system strengthened through a combination of open public data and stronger regulation. "Liberal Democrats strongly believe road safety should be central to the Coalition Government's transport strategy. I look forward to working with the Secretary of State to further this agenda." Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Advertising Standard Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint by Co-founder of the Campaign for Body Confidence, Jo Swinson MP, about a misleading L'Oréal advertisement featuring Rachel Weisz. The ASA ruled that the image used in an advertisement for L'Oréal Paris' Revitalift Repair 10 was altered to change Rachel Weisz's complexion, making it appear smoother and more even. It was judged to be in breach of industry code and "misleadingly exaggerated" the performance of the product. The advertisement has been banned in its current form and the ASA has warned L'Oréal not to use digital retouching to misrepresent the effect of their products. Jo Swinson MP Commenting, Jo Swinson said: "The beauty and advertising industries need to stop ripping off consumers with dishonest images. "The banning of this advert, along with the previous ASA rulings banning heavily retouched ads featuring Twiggy, Julia Roberts and Christy Turlington, should act as a wake-up call. Thankfully the advertising regulator has again acknowledged the fraudulent nature of excessive retouching. "The Royal College of Psychiatrists has spoken out about the harmful influence of the media on body image and has highlighted the airbrushing and digital enhancement used to portray physical perfection as an area of concern. "There needs to be much more diversity in advertising - different skin colours, body shapes, sizes and ages. Studies show that people want to see more authenticity from brands. Images can be aspirational without being faked. "The Campaign for Body Confidence challenges the narrow ideal of beauty perpetuated by the media and other industries. Tonight the All Party Parliamentary Group on Body Image is hosting a screening of the documentary Miss Representation which explores the impact on society of such an intense focus on women's appearance, instead of their achievements. "The film shows how media misrepresentation and under representation of women results in a leadership gap and the silencing of difference." Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Mayor Dave Hodgson 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 £0.9 million a year extra for vulnerable children looked after by the Council · 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 Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Simon Hughes MP Commenting on the UCAS applications figures, which show the proportion of English school leavers applying to university this year is greater than ever before, barring last year, and that applications from people from the most disadvantaged backgrounds remain strong, Advocate for Access to Education and Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Simon Hughes said: "These figures show that on the whole young people have not been put off by the changes in the student finance system. "This is due in no small part to the serious effort put in by the Coalition Government and many others in making sure that each young person and their parents knew all the facts about funding higher education. "In particular, many families clearly now understand that all graduates will pay less each month towards the cost of their university education than they did before. "There has been a larger drop in the number of older students applying to university. The Government will have to take a serious look at why this has happened, particularly as part-time students for the first time also do not have to pay for their university education in advance. "However, because mature students have more flexibility in when they apply, there are still good opportunities for people looking to start university this year to put in an application." Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Mayor Dave Hodgson Bedford Borough Council is pleased to announce a number of public workshops to help local residents who want to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee to hold their own street parties. The Diamond Jubilee Weekend runs from the 2nd to 5th June and marks 60 years since Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne in 1952. The workshops will take place at Riseley Village Hall at 7.30pm on Monday 6th February and the Harpur Suite on Thursday 9th February at 12.30pm and 6.30pm. The workshops will also offer advice for anyone who might be thinking of holding an Olympic street party this summer. Between 2nd and 5th June the Council is organising a spectacular weekend of events to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee. This includes the annual Kite Festival, 'It's a Knockout' and a free music festival! Street parties usually require a road closure notice, public liability insurance as well as alcohol and entertainment licenses. However, following the success of the Royal Wedding streetparties last year, the Council is again offering residents the opportunity to fill in just one form and is waiving many of the fees usually charged. Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: "The Queen's Diamond Jubilee will be a fantastic opportunity for communities to celebrate together. "We want to make it as easy as possible for residents to come together to and mark the occasion in neighbourhoods across the Borough. That's why we're ensuring there is minimal paperwork and cost involved. We're also making these workshops available to all to provide support and advice to anyone interested in holding a street party in their neighbourhood for the Diamond Jubilee, or for the Olympics. "With the potential for street parties in neighbourhoods across the Borough and a number of events to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, the Olympics and more, we're all set for a great summer in Bedford Borough in 2012! " Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Cllr Charles Royden 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 25th January. The court heard that on Tuesday 9th 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 Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

The Liberal Democrats believe you should keep more money that you earn. That is why we believe the tax-free threshold should raise to £10,000, saving working people £700 a year and making sure millions of the lowest paid workers don't have to pay any income tax at all. Between now and the Budget, Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats in Government will be arguing for faster tax cuts for hard-working families, promoting work and growth, and rewarding innovation, paid for by increasing the amount paid by the richest. And the Liberal Democrats in Coalition are already making the difference: More than 800,000 working people no longer paying income tax 23 million working people have been given a £200 tax cut In April this year every worker will be given a further income tax cut of £130 And by the local elections in May this year, 1.1 million of the lowest paid workers, will no longer be burdened by income tax Imagine a mum who works 3 days a week as a teaching assistant - earning £10,000 a year or just over £190 a week. Under Labour she paid more than £1,000 in income tax and national insurance. Although she wanted to work more days a week she knew it was not financially worth it. Under Labour; once tax, tax credits and housing benefit has been deducted, for every extra pound she earned she was able to keep just 10.5p. Under our plan she would see her income tax bill cut to zero making her £700 a year better off. The Liberal Democrats are committed to delivering a fairer economy, turning our tax promise into cash in your pocket. It was on the front page of our manifesto and is being implemented because of Liberal Democrats in Government. As part of this Coalition, Liberal Democrats are calling time on our unfair and out-of-whack tax system. We've clamped down on tax avoiders - targeting an extra £7bn every year We're taxing the banks by an extra £2.5bn every year We've stopped inheritance tax cuts for millionaires We've put up Capital Gains Tax We're ending the scandal, under Labour, of a hedge-fund manager paying less tax on their shares than their cleaner paid on their wages We've reduced tax breaks on pension funds for the super-rich We have retained the 50p rate And our overall priority is freeing the lowest-paid from income tax altogether and cutting income tax for millions of ordinary workers You can read Nick's speech to the resolution Foundation here. Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

A message from Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills: As families face more of a squeeze, today Liberal Democrats are arguing for greater tax cuts for hard working people. Between now and the Budget, Nick and Danny and I will be arguing for faster tax cuts, giving you a reward for hard work. And Nick will be setting out our case in a speech today. Given the budget constraint we have to raise money for the tax cut elsewhere and have plans to raise an equivalent amount from the wealthiest taxpayers. At the last election the Liberal Democrats promised to raise the personal allowance for ordinary taxpayers to £10,000. I am proud that the Coalition has committed to doing so over the course of this Parliament. For millions of ordinary hard working people, that means paying £700 less in income tax each year. Low earners, mostly women will benefit from being lifted out of tax altogether. But times are tough and quite simply, Liberal Democrats in Government want to help families who are currently being squeezed by moving more quickly. Whether it's targeting an extra £7bn from tax evaders and avoiders, taking an extra £2.5bn every year from the banks in a balance sheet tax, or the announcement I made on Monday to curb the excesses of executive pay, this Coalition is taking important steps to deliver a fairer economy. We are building a new economy, one that benefits the whole country, not just bankers in the City of London. Making the tax system fairer is crucial to that. This is a huge task that will make Britain a fairer and more liberal country for generations to come. Yours, Vince Cable MP Member of Parliament for Twickenham and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable MP Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Mayor Dave Hodgson Bedford Borough Council's Pothole Hit Squad service is celebrating its first birthday this month as new figures show they filled more than 5,000 potholes during 2011 - nearly three times the number repaired in 2010. The Pothole Hit Squad service was launched in January 2011 to provide a quick response service which was able to carry out permanent repairs to potholes in the borough. Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: "We were one of the first authorities in the country to introduce mobile teams dedicated to getting out and about and dealing with potholes on our roads. The teams have been successful in getting more potholes repaired and in doing so swiftly and efficiently. I'm delighted that they are still going strong a year on from their launch, having dealt with more than 5,000 potholes. "To put this into context, we repaired approximately 1,800 potholes during 2010, so the Pothole Hit Squad teams allowed us to repair nearly three times as many potholes during the year. This is great news for local residents and the quality and safety of our roads for all road users. "The continued support for the Pothole Hit Squad goes alongside our other efforts to look after the borough's roads with record levels of grit available at the start of this winter as well as a programme to resurface many roads throughout the borough." Local residents can report a pothole by contacting the Highways Helpdesk on 01234 718003. All potholes will be assessed on a priority basis. Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Mayor Dave Hodgson Mayor Dave Hodgson is calling on all Councillors in the Borough to back him in asking the Chief Executive of Bedford Borough Council to write to fuel retailers and suppliers in Bedford to ask them to reduce the price of their fuel for residents in Bedford Borough. Mayor Hodgson said, "Fuel prices change all the time but despite going up and down I want to know why Bedford Borough residents always have the highest prices locally. At its worst there have been days when the lowest price in Bedford is higher than the highest price in a nearby town. This is wrong and must be addressed by fuel retailers and suppliers." The problem of the fuel price discrepancy was highlighted by the Times and Citizen Newspaper. Mayor Dave Hodgson has now put a motion forward to Full Council. If supported by the Borough Councillors it will mean the Council will write to all petrol retailers and suppliers asking them why the fuel in Bedford is higher than elsewhere and asking them to reduce their prices to a comparable level. This could save Bedford Borough residents as much as 6p per litre and would result in a saving of up to £93.60 per year if someone uses 30 litres of fuel per week. Notes: The wording of the motion is as follows- TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING NOTICE OF MOTION SUBMITTED BY THE MAYOR: This Council notes with concern the higher price of petrol and diesel charged by fuel retailers in Bedford Borough in comparison with those in nearby towns. Council recognises that fuel costs can make up a significant proportion of household budgets, and believes that it is unacceptable that drivers who use local petrol stations are forced to pay higher prices than in neighbouring towns in the area. Council further notes that drivers in Bedford Borough purchasing 30 litres per week of the cheapest unleaded petrol available locally (Source: petrol.com, 19/1/12) are forced to spend £62 more on fuel per year than their counterparts in Luton, £78 more than Milton Keynes, £47 more than in St Neots and nearly £50 more than the national average figure. This Council believes there is no justification for forcing Bedford Borough residents to face higher costs for getting to work and other day-to-day use of their cars. This Council therefore resolves: To ask the Council's Chief Executive to write to all fuel retailers in Bedford Borough requesting an explanation as to why Bedford Borough residents are paying more for their fuel, That the letter demands Bedford Borough residents no longer be penalised and that action is taken immediately to bring fuel prices down to a level comparable to those charged in neighbouring towns, That a letter also be sent to the Chief Executives of major fuel retailers with multiple outlets in the Borough in order to seek an explanation and their support in bringing prices to a level comparable to nearby towns. Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Don Foster MP Commenting on Chairman of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten's speech at the Oxford Media Convention, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party Committee on Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, Don Foster said: "Lord Patten gets the final word and with it he says what we've all been thinking. "The BBC won't improve itself by stripping away some of its most valued work. Seven million people listen to BBC local radio across theUKand it is a lifeline for older people and the disabled. "We can't expect easy solutions to the BBC's challenges but it should be possible to meet them without harming local radio and regional TV." Notes In his speech to the Oxford Media Convention, Lord Patten said that the Trust should ensure that the BBC's local radio stations remain as local as they are now and that these stations are always supported with sufficient journalistic resources. Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Councillor Tim Hill Councillor Tim Hill, Liberal Democrat Elstow and Stewartby ward, has been contacted by a growing number of Elstow residents concerned at the increasing levels of noise and nuisance from the Red Lion on the High Street. Cllr Hill commented, "We all want local businesses to thrive but it can not be at the expense of local residents' quality of life. There have been complaints about noise, litter and general rowdiness around the pub and this has to be curbed if the both the Red Lion and their neighbours are to live happily side by side. "I have asked Councillor Officers to look into the problems raised and talk to the people running the pub too. Hopefully this can be resolved to everyone's satisfaction and I will be monitoring the situation as it progresses." Cllr Hill said local residents should contact him if they have any further concerns or information via email: tim.hil@bedford.gov.uk or telephone: 07910 100240. Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Lynne Featherstone MP Liberal Democrat Home Office Minster, Lynne Featherstone has today announced enhanced checks for taxi drivers and private hire vehicles to ensure greater security and peace of mind for all taxi users, especially vulnerable people and women travelling alone. Commenting, Lynne Featherstone said: "Taxi drivers provide a valuable service for people in all walks of life, transporting some children to and from school, and lone women home after a night out. "It is right the public are confident the appropriate checks have been carried out before a taxi licence is granted. "As a Liberal Democrat, I'm committed to ensuring that any additional criminal checks strike a balance between a respect for civil liberties and responsibility to protect the public. Commenting further, Liberal Democrat Transport Minister Norman Baker said: "These proposals ensure that licensing authorities have all the information they need before approving a license and the public are protected and have greater peace of mind." "When you get into a taxi, particularly late at night, you want to have confidence that you are in safe hands. I therefore welcome this announcement which will make people feel more secure." ENDS Notes Lynne Featherstone is Criminal Information Minister in the Home Office. 2. The proposals will mean new taxi and private hire vehicle drivers are eligible for an enhanced criminal records check before they are issued with their licence. Current drivers will be required to have the additional checks when they apply to renew their licence. 3. Enhanced checks go beyond standard checks and disclose relevant non-conviction information held by local police forces and details of any information from the Independent Safeguarding Authority's barred list. 4. Linda Craig, director of Suzy Lamplugh Trust, said: "Suzy Lamplugh Trust welcomes this announcement and believes that all licensing authorities should ask for enhanced checks in making decisions about granting licences. The public are encouraged to use licensed minicabs and taxis so these licences must deliver the safety the public expects." 5. Changes will be made by secondary legislation as soon as practicable: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/media-centre/press-releases/Taxi-drivers 6. Information on the Protection of Freedoms Bill is available here: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/legislation/protection-freedoms-bill 7. The government published its report into the vetting and barring scheme in February 2011: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/crime/vetting-barring-scheme/ Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Julian Huppert MP Commenting on the announcement that the Transport Secretary is giving the go ahead for High Speed 2, Co-chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party Committee on Transport, Julian Huppert said: "This is excellent news. The Liberal Democrats were the first party to call for the high speed rail link - as far back as 2004. It will make life easier for passengers and bring huge benefits to the country as a whole, generating economic growth and creating jobs. "This project will also improve national capacity for rail freight. Finally rail can be seen as a realistic alternative to the road for moving freight. This has the potential to take heavy goods vehicles off our major routes, easing congestion and cutting carbon emissions. "This project will also improve connections further north and up toScotland, so it is important that the Government starts planning for the next phases soon. "HS2 promises to bring future economic trade and prosperity and even this first stage will go a long way to solving the north/south divide." Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Tim Farron MP Responding to Ed Balls' speech on the economy, Liberal Democrat Party President, Tim Farron said: "After nearly two years of opposing every saving the Coalition Government has made at least Ed Balls has finally admitted there is a deficit problem. "However, he still refuses to take any responsibility for Labour's 13 years in power where they failed to balance the books and get to grips with reckless behaviour in the City, even when he was City Minister. "Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government are doing the right thing, taking the difficult decisions to protect Britain from the same fate as some euro zone countries while at the same time pursuing progressive policies such as reducing taxes for the lowest earners, making sure pensioners get a fair deal and providing a fair start for every child through the pupil premium. "Ed Balls' admission is better late than never, but he and Labour still owe Britain an apology for 13 years of poor government and 18 months of lies in opposition." Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Cllr Charles Royden A roadside car seller, who was repeatedly caught illegally selling cars, has been ordered to pay £5,797 at Bedford Magistrates Court on Thursday 19th January. 55-year-old Stuart Houghton of Seaton Drive,Bedford was prosecuted by Bedford Borough Council under Section 3 of The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 for 'advertising vehicles for sale on a road'. Between October 2010 and May 2011, Mr Seaton had attempted to sell cars seven times on Seaton Drive. He was fined £4,000 for these offences and ordered to pay £1,782 in costs as well as a £15 victim surcharge. Councillor Charles Royden, Portfolio Holder for the Environment, said: "This sentence sends a strong message that we will not tolerate roadside car sales such as this and we will take action to prosecute those who continually break the law. "Furthermore, I would like to remind all local residents that buying cars in this way is extremely dangerous as you have no protection if the car breaks down compared to buying from a licensed trader." Under the "Why Would You Campaign" the Council is taking action on those that commit these types of offences and any others that affect our borough such as fly-tipping, littering, dog fouling, graffiti and fly-posting. 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 Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Lorely Burt MP Responding recently to the Prime Minster's comments on clamping down on executive pay, Co-chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party Committee on Business, Innovation and Skills, Lorely Burt said: "I'm very pleased the Prime Minister has come on board with Liberal Democrats plans to clamp down on executive pay. Liberal Democrats have been calling for action against this explosion in salaries and bonuses for years. Now we are delivering on it in Government. "People who work hard, pay their taxes and play by the rules are rightly outraged that those at the top can pay themselves as much as they like, whether their company is doing well or not. It is unfair, unacceptable and has been allowed to continue under successive governments for too long. "Vince Cable has already made clear that he would like to see more action on this, such as giving shareholders a binding vote on pay packets. We look forward to the Coalition doing the right thing and bringing forward concrete proposals to ensure an end to these unethical practices once and for all." Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg MP More than 100 of the biggest hitters in British business have signed the Government's Business Compact and are opening their doors to people from all walks of life, ending the 'who you know, not what you know' culture, the Deputy Prime Minister has announced. The businesses - employing over two million people in Britain with a turnover of more than £500 billion - have signed up to the Deputy Prime Minister's Business Compact on social mobility. This is an unprecedented partnership between business and government to spread opportunities across our society and, crucially, to create culture change in other companies. Signatories to the Compact include: nearly 20 major finance firms including Barclays, HSBC and Santander more than 10 high street retailers including Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, and Morrisons 11 well-known consumer brand manufacturers including Coca Cola, P&G and Nestle 10 major law firms including Allen and Overy and CMS Cameron McKenna eight high profile energy firms including BP, Shell and E.ON. Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, said: "This is an important step towards a society where it's what you know, not who you know, that counts. Working with the Coalition, the biggest hitters in British business are helping lead the way to a fairer, more open society. "By opening their doors to young people from all walks of life, this marks the start of a culture shift among major employers, driven by the belief that ability and drive should trump connections and privilege. "I'd like to thank the companies and organisations who have already signed up to the Business Compact. Today's success makes me even more ambitious. This great news is just the beginning - I will be doing everything I can to bring even more businesses on board." The Deputy Prime Minister is also writing to a further 50 of the biggest companies in the UK asking them to sign up. The Business Compact forms a key part of the Deputy Prime Minister's Social Mobility Strategy, launched in April 2011, which sets out the Government's determination to ensure every individual is free to achieve, regardless of the circumstances of their birth. Businesses and organisations which sign up to the Compact must agree to: support communities and schools to raise aspirations through, for example, reading and mentoring schemes or encouraging their staff to go out to schools and inspire pupils about their careers. open opportunities to all young people by advertising their work experience places through schools, online and in other public forums, rather than just giving places to informal contacts. make access to internships open and transparent, with financial support such as providing expenses or accommodation, or by treating the internship as a job that can be paid under National Minimum Wage law. recruit fairly and without discrimination, using application forms that don't allow candidates to be screened out because they went to the wrong school or come from a different ethnic group (including through using name-blank and school-blank applications where appropriate). Read the full article with editor notes here. Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY

Mayor Dave Hodgson Bedford Borough Council's proposed budget reveals that despite the extraordinarily tough financial situation, key services are to be protected while Council tax will once again be frozen. The Council undertook extensive public consultation on a four-year package of savings proposals before Christmas, as part of Mayor Dave Hodgson's commitment to working with residents in tackling the authority's vast £36 million funding gap. Thousands of responses were received, and after the savings package was approved in December, the detailed budget proposals to be considered by the Mayor's Executive on Wednesday show that savings made are enabling extra investment and support for key services for residents. With an ageing population, there is an additional £0.9 million to meet increasing demand for social care services, while there is also an extra £0.9 million for vulnerable children looked after by the Council. Unlike many other areas in the current climate, there will be no closure of libraries or children's centres, while there will be significant investment in school buildings and important infrastructure for the Borough such as road improvements and the completion of the Western Bypass. In addition, council tax bills are being frozen despite high inflation, on the back of a council tax cut last year which was reported to be the biggest in the country. Meanwhile, the proposed budget confirms that thanks to sound financial management, there is no requirement for any increase in external debt. Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "In difficult times more than ever we must make sure that every pound is spent in the best way possible. I am grateful to everyone who took part in the consultation to deliver the savings which enable use to continue to protect key services and avoid the sort of widespread cuts and closures seen elsewhere. We have obviously maximised savings in back office costs, focussing on key services such as protecting vulnerable children and adults and savings facilities such as libraries and children's centres from closure." Cllr Michael Headley "All parties on the Council have worked together on this at every stage, and we are committed to continuing to work together to ensure that we make every penny count in the current climate and are able to provide the best possible services for residents." Bedford Borough Council Finance Portfolio Holder Cllr Michael Headley added: "Good financial management is more important than ever during these difficult times, and we are pleased to now be in a position where no more external borrowing is required. We have been able to do this at the same time as investing in the Borough's future, committing £41 million for improved school buildings, for example, and tackling the backlog of road repairs which built up over many years." Highlights of the budget proposals, to be considered at a meeting of the Council's Executive on Wednesday 18th January, include: £0.9 million a year extra for support for an ageing population £0.9 million a year extra for vulnerable children looked after by the Council An additional £200,000 a year for adaptations to help people stay in their homes and live comfortably £41 million investment in school buildings and facilities A council tax freeze £5.9 million a year for roads and pavements Funds to deliver the final section of the Western Bypass Published and promoted by North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats, 37 Kathie Road, Bedford MK42 0QJ Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY