Our Councillors have seen the great progress being made at The Launchpad, a project led and funded by Southend City Council and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership which is now nearing completion.

Serving on a committee is one of many great ways you can support the Party, and we are always keen to encourage new talent. The Party website has lots of information in the internal-elections hub.

We have upcoming Federal elections for:

• The Federal President
• The Federal Vice President responsible for working with ethnic minority Communities
• 3 members of the Federal Board (note the reforms to the structure of the Board summarised here)
• 21 members of Federal Council
• 15 members of Federal Policy Committee
• 12 members of Federal Conference Committee
• 6 members of the Federal International relations Committee
• 10 Delegates to the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

A family-friendly interactive app has been launched as part of a project to help transform Chelmsford residents' relationship with The Chelmer Valley Local Nature Reserve - known locally as the Bunny Walks.

The app (from the Lib Dem-led Chelmsford City Council) is part of a Safer Streets programme for the area, made possible through funding the Council obtained from the Government. It will engage with families using quizzes, interesting facts about the history, flora and fauna of the reserve and help residents feel more confident when they're walking or cycling through the area.

With our Brighton conference approaching (agenda and registration here), I've recently written the latest report back to conference on the Board's work. Here is a slightly expanded and updated version of that report.

The next general election

With a new Conservative Party leader nearly upon us, the range of plausible dates for the general election is wide open. As it now may well be much sooner than seemed likely at the time of our last conference, the Federal Board has been reviewing our general election plans.

During National Allotments Week, Newnham Liberal Democrat Councillors Hilde Hendrickx and Jake Sampson speak about the importance of the natural environment and green spaces across the Borough.

Councillor Sampson said "I love walking my dogs through Newnham Allotments. It's fantastic to see all the little plots so full of life with a huge variety of plants and food being grown. Green spaces like this are so beneficial for the environment and our own mental health."

The Annual Canvass of households, to update the Electoral Register, is now live. Each year we have to, by law, find out who is eligible to register to vote.

Communications (via email, letter or form) were sent, in stages, to all residential properties in Bedford Borough from 21st July 2022. You can respond by internet or by phone. If these options are not accessible to you, the response can be posted back. If you have received a form, please do not return it if you have responded using one of the digital methods, as we only need one response.

Mayor Dave Hodgson has reassured residents that vital frontline services will continue to be protected despite years of government grant cuts and with the country facing a cost of living crisis. Unlike many other councils who have had to stop some of their services, Mayor Dave has ensured that bins have been regularly collected, no libraries have closed and no Children's Centres shut down.

This week is Afternoon Tea Week, did you know afternoon tea was 'invented' by the Duchess of Bedford.

Anna Maria, Duchess of Bedford, is credited with inventing the English custom of afternoon tea around 1840. At the time it was usual for people to take only two main meals a day, breakfast, and dinner at around 8 o'clock in the evening. The solution for the Duchess was a pot a tea and a light snack, taken privately in her boudoir during the afternoon.

Bedford Borough Council has issued a warning to residents and visitors over growing concerns about blue-green algae blooms that are appearing on areas of the lakes at Priory Country Park and some of the Borough's watercourses.

Blue-green algae naturally occur on inland waters such as rivers and lakes, estuaries and in the sea. It plays an important role in freshwater and marine biodiversity but excessive amounts can result in the forming of blooms.

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to spare families from soaring energy bills by cancelling October's price cap increase, accusing the Conservatives of "stalling in the face of a national emergency".

The bold plan would save a typical household in Bedford Borough around £1,700 a year. The 70% increase in the energy price cap expected to be announced by Ofgem later this month would be cancelled, with the Government instead paying the shortfall to energy suppliers so that they can afford to supply customers at the current rates.