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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.

Coronavirus forces planning decisions to be made behind closed doors

Major planning decisions will be taken behind closed doors until the coronavirus crisis is over. Bedford Council’s planning committee has decided...

Bedford Hospital delays all non-urgent procedures to cope with coronavirus outbreak

All non-urgent procedures are being delayed as Bedford Hospital deals with the coronavirus outbreak. The chief executives of both Bedford and the Luton...

Dinosaurs are about to go extinct – again, as Bedford Brough Council approves ban on paper

Self-identified dinosaurs and Luddites at Bedford Borough Council are threatening a “rebellion” if paper is banned at meetings...

Bedford Borough reinforcements arrive to tilt the balance as opening shots are fired in village’s planning battle

Reinforcements from the council have arrived just in time for the opening of a public inquiry into plans to build up to 80 new homes in Bromham...

Trees to be sacrificed to ease Sharnbrook School traffic build-up

Four mature trees – and possibly a fifth – are to be sacrificed to the needs of parents driving their children to and from a school...

‘Held to ransom’: Policing council tax rise agreed to unlock national funding

Securing full funding to police Bedfordshire in 2020/21 has been likened to holding police and crime commissioners to ransom and putting a gun to their...

Bedford’s Mayor feels the heat over climate change action

The heat was turned up on Bedford's Mayor, Dave Hodgson over whether the council was doing enough to do its bit to tackle climate change...

Bedfordshire hospitals prepare for coronavirus

Hospitals in Bedfordshire would resort to using isolated side rooms, if there were cases of a the coronavirus virus in the county...

Bedford Hospital: seven-day service proposed following merger

A consistent standard of health services, even at weekends, could be one of the benefits of a merger between two Bedfordshire hospitals, a meeting heard...

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