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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.

Care home ‘heroes’ in Bedford ‘fearful’ about what a second wave could do

Hero staff at care homes in Bedford are fearful about a rising second wave of coronavirus, a meeting heard. Care staff have been battling to protect some...

Bedford Credit Union granted £25,000 funding to get it through the pandemic

A community bank in Bedford that provides an alternative to loan sharks for low income residents has been given £25,000 from a council-run fund to...

Bedford Mayor blasts health chiefs as Borough lags behind flu vaccination targets

Bedford's mayor has blasted health chiefs as figures show the Borough is already lagging behind its crucial flu vaccination targets. A special meeting of the council-run health and wellbeing...

Bedford Borough Council’s planning department one of worst in the country

Bedford Borough Council's planning department has been revealed as one of the worst in the country, according to the council officer in charge. That's according to Government figures...

Beds Police cuts averted thanks to £3m PCC special grant, panel told

Policing in Bedfordshire would have faced cuts without a special grant of nearly £3m this year, a meeting of the county’s police and crime panel heard...

More ‘birth partners’ set to be allowed in to Bedford Hospital

Hospital chiefs are set to allow more birth partners to be with mums in labour in Bedford. Restrictions on visitors to the maternity unit at the hospital...

‘Many people aren’t following covid guidelines at Bedford Hospital’, councillors fear

Hospital chiefs were put on the spot over people seen breaking coronavirus guidelines at a meeting yesterday (Monday). The health overview and scrutiny...

14 coronavirus cases at one construction site as Bedford infections rise ‘exponentially’

Fourteen cases of coronavirus have been linked to a local construction project as public health chiefs warn of an exponential rise in coronavirus across Bedford borough. The building project...

Could electric-powered bin lorries in Bedford help save the planet?

A trial of electric powered bin lorries is set to test the technology’s ability to help the council hit ambitious climate saving targets...

Environmental health officials raise noise objections to Bedford Park Concerts

Environmental health officers have proposed noise limits to next summer’s Bedford Park Concerts that the organisers say could stop them happening. Bedford Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee...

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