It was GCSE results day yesterday, with the provisional results showing that Bedford Borough students' Average Attainment 8 Score for 2019 was 45.45, an increase last year. This is the average score obtained by a student for their best 8 GCSE results. This increase mirrors the national picture.
Once again, over 60% of students secured a Grade 4 and above in both English and Maths subjects.
Bedford Borough Council is writing a new Town Centre Plan and is asking people for their views on the future of our town.
Town centres across the country are changing. The internet and online shopping are permanently changing how we shop and how we use our town centre.
But Bedford has a unique story to tell: alongside our unique and beautiful river, 62% of our local retail are independent shops- a higher percentage than Cambridge; small businesses get automatic rate relief; and last year, 77 new businesses opened in the town centre. Bedford is a place to come to shop, enjoy events, culture, heritage, our local markets and much, much more.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson has today announced her first Shadow Cabinet.
In announcing her Shadow Cabinet, Jo Swinson declared she has built a team that will provide "the real alternative our country needs".
The Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet is 50/50 gender balanced and has a membership of 15% BAME.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson said "I am proud to announce my new Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet to stop Brexit. Given the threats from nationalism and populism, more than ever before, people are crying out for a new vision for our country."
Lucy Nethsingha now chair of the EU Legal Affairs Committee
As reported by Jennifer Rankin in the Guardian(21August), our Lib Dem MEP for the East, Lucy Nethsingha**, is one of a handful of British MEPs voted into a leading role on European parliament committees, which play a significant role in EU lawmaking.
At the Hertfordshire County Council Meeting on 16th July 2019, County Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst, who represents Central Watford & Oxhey and is the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Herts County Council proposed a motion calling on HCC to review its use of surface dressing as highway maintenance for urban roads.
Bedford Borough Council is consulting on proposed modifications to the Local Plan 2030.
The Council's Local Plan 2030 has been progressing, with hearings held by the Planning Inspectorate in May and June 2019.
Following these hearings, the Council was invited by the Inspectorate to submit a number of modifications to the Plan. These include 'main modifications' which are required for the Plan to be taken forward and considered 'sound'.
This 21 August MEP profile includes interviews with Lib Dems Lucy Nethsingha and Chris Davies, both of whom have been elected to chair important committees. ➼theguardian.com
Mayor Dave Hodgson's latest column for the Bedford Independent was on the topic of Bedford Borough's 'fascinating and illustrious' history. In the piece, Mayor Dave reflects on recent visits he has hosted in the historic Mayor's Parlour, including from the Maldives' UK Ambassador, and he invites anyone involved with a local group which might enjoy a visit to get in touch, because the Parlour and its contents 'belong to all of us'.
Our national interests are European and they are global. So, as we continue to work to stop Brexit, we Liberal Democrats will also look ahead and develop a proper national strategy on the basis of a clear understanding of what our interests are. We must act and decide on our future, because if the UK fails to do so, if through fear and timidity we dither and do nothing, there are consequences of inaction.
