The “glass half full” mayor of Bedford believes it is worth sticking in a regional economic partnership as “there will be a prize at the end”.
At the council’s full meeting on Wednesday (October 12) mayor Dave Hodgson gave a presentation on the re-branded Oxford-Cambridge Arc.
“It’s now to be called the Oxford to Cambridge Pan-Regional Partnership (PRP),” he said.
The Oxford to Cambridge Pan Regional Partnership includes Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, and parts of Oxfordshire.
The mayor said groups of councils tend to get more ministerial time than individual ones.
The PRP’s priorities are inward investment, environmental standards, building a brand for the area, and building a data and innovation hub.
Leader of the Conservative Group, councillor Graeme Coombes (Wilshamstead), wanted to know what’s in it for Bedford Borough.
“I appreciate that you can only tell us what you know, and what you’re given,” he said.
“It does sound a little bit vague, I just want to really know what do you think can come out of this that is in the best interest of the people of Bedford Borough?”
The mayor replied: “You’re right, it is vague.”
He explained that changes in ministers has led to changes in policies, and regular changes of civil servants meant that as soon as they understand the area’s needs, it has to be re-explained to their replacements.
“So that continual change of what they’re looking for doesn’t help,” he said.
“I think the key question is ‘what is in it for the Bedford residents?’
“Now I’m not convinced there is a whole lot, but there is a potential,” the mayor said.
“What we’re seeing from the Northern Powerhouse and the Midlands Engine is the ability to lobby the government for your area,” he said.
The mayor said improved communication for Northamptonshire helps Turvey, and improvements to Milton Keynes also help the borough.
“The borough is affected by the people around it – we get some of the benefit,” he said.
“So I think it is vague, but the opportunity for infrastructure, improved environmental standards, better inward investment and coordinated Communications… that is a good thing in itself.
“But there is a prize at the end that is worth most of my time, and officers’ time,” he said.
by John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
