Picture of Local Democracy Reporter

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.

Number of omicron cases doubling every two to three days in Bedford Borough

It’s too early to say whether the omicron variant is more severe than other variants, but if cases rise rapidly it could be enough to overwhelm the NHS, a meeting heard...

Police and Crime Commissioner could set £10 council tax increase

Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner could set a £10 increase in council tax precept (Band D) next year without holding a referendum, a meeting heard. Gavin Chambers...

Bedfordshire PCC wants sniffer dogs in pubs to tackle ‘drugs epidemic’

Bedfordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner has said he’d like to see more sniffer dogs in pubs and bars to tackle the ‘drugs epidemic’. Festus Akinbusoye, told the...

Police investigate “horrific” TikTok videos of Bedford teachers

“Pretty horrific” videos of teachers and other adults in Bedford schools have been uploaded to TikTok – and some of have involved police action. And while the council has declined to...

New policy for keeping Bedford children safe approved by Borough Council

Guidance for keeping children safe in education has been divided into two sections to include a section for ‘low level’ concerns, a meeting heard. And these include situations like teachers...

Fusion under fire again – this time for “dirty” leisure facilities

Users of some leisure centres in Bedford are being faced with "dirty" facilities, a meeting heard. Bedford Borough Council’s portfolio holder for leisure and culture, councillor Doug McMurdo...

Green councillor loses committee seat after Lib Dem defection

A Green councillor has lost her seat on a Bedford Borough Council committee following the defection of a Lib Dem councillor to the Conservatives. And the Lib Dems were blasted at a meeting...

Bedford Borough full council meeting live stream cut for seven minutes without warning

A lively debate over Bedford Borough Council’s constitution was suddenly taken off the air when the live feed of its Full Meeting was cut without warning. The live stream of the meeting on...

Disappointment as call for council and school worker pay-rise amended

Councillors have expressed disappointment that a call for a fully-funded pay rise for council and school workers has been amended after it was found to undermine a national process. A...

Blue badge and council tax fraud among biggest drains on public finances

Council tax fraud and blue-badge misuse are among the serious issues recognised by Bedford Borough Council as a drain on public funds. A report to Bedford Borough Council’s...

Get the latest Bedford news first

Subscribe to our free daily email for our lead story each morning before we publish it anywhere else, plus the key Bedford Borough headlines from the last 24 hours – without having to log into social media.