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Local Democracy Reporter

Written by the BBC's Local Democracy Reporter named at the end of the article.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service was created to help strengthen coverage of local public bodies and ensure communities have access to trusted, independent reporting on decisions made in their name.

Funded by the BBC and delivered in partnership with local news organisations, the scheme supports dedicated journalists to report on councils, public services and other democratic institutions. Their work helps residents better understand how decisions are made, how public money is spent and how those decisions affect everyday life.

For the Bedford Independent, the Local Democracy Reporting Service plays an important role in maintaining regular, detailed coverage of Bedford Borough Council and other local public bodies, supporting our wider commitment to public-interest journalism, transparency and accountability.

Bedford Hospital recruits midwives from overseas to plug staff shortages

Midwives from overseas are being recruited to help Bedfordshire Hospital NHS Foundation Trust fill its vacancies in the face of a national shortage....

Bedford’s ‘above average’ green spaces play vital role in reducing carbon

Bedford borough’s green spaces capture enough carbon from the atmosphere each year to offset 35,786 flights from London to Glasgow...

Sex worker activity and violent behaviour left residents of Bedford road fearing for their safety

The high concentration of temporary accommodation on Rutland Road, Bedford has caused disruption to residents, leading to sleepless nights, damage to property and concerns for...

Bedford councillors shut out of consultation on parental leave for elected members

Bedford councillors have expressed their surprise that consultation for a report on parental leave for councillors did not involve elected members – including two that recently had additions to...

Anonymous leaflet opposes 200m relocation of Bedford Islāmic Centre

A planning application to move the Bedford Islāmic Centre less than 200 metres along Midland Road has led to an unsigned leaflet being sent to nearby...

School attendance ‘above national average’ as children want to get back to the classroom

Attendance at state-funded schools in Bedford borough was above the national average last term, which shows that “children and young people want to get...

Council’s ethnicity pay gap continues to narrow but no analysis of data

Bedford Borough Council’s ethnicity pay gap is continuing to narrow, despite a lack of any analysis of the data to understand or explain the change. As part of its...

Councillor calls for COVID guidelines clarification

A Bedford councillor has called for more clarification on the Government’s Covid guidance. One of the amendments made for England over Christmas was that those who test positive for Coronavirus...

LFT deliveries expected in Bedford “at any moment” as COVID cases reach “astonishing” levels

Bedford is experiencing "astonishing" levels of COVID cases with numbers reaching a record high and rates of infection rising in all age groups. Yet we're still experiencing a Lateral Flow...

Bedford Borough Council finds £4 million council tax surplus

Lower unemployment than expected in Bedford has resulted in an estimated council tax surplus of more than £4 million. And the cash is set to be shared between Bedford Borough Council...

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