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Bedford Borough Council Adult Services Portfolio Holder Cllr Wendy Rider has slammed Prime Minister Boris Johnson over his comments in which he blamed care homes themselves over the coronavirus crisis they have faced across the country.
Commenting, Cllr Rider said: "Care homes and those who staff them deserve thanks, not this insulting and inaccurate blame-shifting from the prime minister. Boris Johnson has falsely claimed to have put a 'protective ring around care homes', and now he is seeking to blame them rather than take responsibility for his own government's failings.'
With some children potentially at increased risk of abuse and neglect during the coronavirus pandemic, Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have encouraged anyone who is concerned about a child's wellbeing to report it. The call follows last night's meeting of Bedford Borough Council's Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which heard that with many children not going to school and seeing trusted adults currently a significant rise in referrals to children's social care is expected at the beginning of the next school term in September.
New local data from Public Health England and the Joint Biosecurity Centre, working with Bedford Borough Council, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Commissioning Collaborative have been released as part of a 'deep dive' in Bedford Borough, shows that while Coronavirus infections are still high in the Borough, they are starting to decline.
This morning, Acting Leader Ed Davey addressed the Local Government Association's online conference. He spoke about the crucial role of local government - not just in keeping our communities safe during this coronavirus pandemic, but also in building a fairer, greener, more prosperous country as we emerge from this crisis.
Herts County Council has missed out on £450,000 of government funding for emergency measures to improve pavements and cycle ways. The council was promised nearly £1.7 million from the government for work that could be done in the next few weeks if it could come up with suitable schemes. Having looked at the council's proposals the government has cut the funding to just over £1.2 million. It is one of 22 councils who have missed out on their full allocation whilst 32 were given everything that they were promised. Hertfordshire's reduction is the third largest in England.
Mayor Dave Hodgson has thanked residents, businesses, NHS staff, all our carers and council staff, police and other emergency services in his monthly Bedford Independent Column.
You can read the column below:
I would like to thank everyone for playing their part. The last four months have been difficult.
Earlier last month, the Liberal Democrat Constitutional Spokesperson, Wendy Chamberlain MP called an adjpurnement debate where she demolished the arguments for First Past the Post. This was the first time since 2016 that the need for equal votes was debated in the House of Commons, and it was long overdue.
Bedford Borough's largest housing association bpha has been challenged to 'aim higher' on improving the energy efficiency of its homes after its own figures showed that its main target for raising standards affects fewer than 2% of properties.
bpha has over 19,000 properties overall, mostly in Bedford Borough, and is responsible for maintaining around 13,000 of those homes. In a presentation by bpha representatives at a Bedford Borough Climate Change Committee Meeting, it set out its aim to bring all of its properties up to at least a band D energy efficiency rating.
The landmark Domestic Abuse Bill is due to be passed by the House of Commons today.
Survivors desperately need the new legal protections and support that this Domestic Abuse Bill will bring.
More than two million people experience domestic abuse every year. Survivors desperately need the new legal protections and support that this Domestic Abuse Bill will bring.
