Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have defended their decision to add an amendment on council governance to a key proposal regarding Universal Studios.
Group leader, cllr Henry Vann (De Parys) argued that the urgency of the matter could not wait for a separate meeting.
The amendment, which was debated at last night’s Extraordinary Full Council Meeting (21 August), was criticised by some who felt it was an inappropriate addition to a discussion focused on the council’s planning response to the proposed Special Development Order (SDO).
The amendments included establishing a dedicated Universal Project Overview & Scrutiny Committee, with interim shadow arrangements in place to ensure oversight from all political groups.
Job done right
The meeting heard that this was intended to maximise economic, cultural, and educational benefits while monitoring the impacts on infrastructure, housing, and construction.
Cllr Andrea Spice (Conservative, Wixams and Wilstead), the portfolio holder for economic growth, planning and prosperity, said: “I would just like to remind all members here that the agenda item today is to agree the SDO response by the Borough Council and not to discuss local governance of the project that can and will come forward, but is not on the agenda for tonight.”
The portfolio holder added that governance was something to look at in the future, rather than making a “knee-jerk” decision on something that wasn’t on the meeting’s agenda.
Deputy mayor, cllr Jim Weir (Conservative, Great Denham) said: “I’m really sad sat here tonight to listen to all the debate, for nearly an hour, on an amendment. Yet, no real question has been asked about the report [on the council’s response].
Vann speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS0 after the meeting, insisted the move was essential for “getting the job done right”.
“This is the first time Bedford Borough Council has had the chance to debate Universal in full,” he said.
“It’s absolutely right that we tweaked the planning consultation response… but we’re also doing our job as councillors to make sure… residents’ voices are heard.”
He described the amendment as a way for councillors to be a “critical friend” to the administration, ensuring they are “getting it right on behalf of residents.”
More than planning
The councillor argued that the project is much broader than just planning. “This isn’t just about the planning response to the SDO,” he said. “We’ve actually got these things to be asking for now to see what these are, to have the opportunity to feed into them now.”
He highlighted a range of issues that require immediate attention, including “housing, transport, infrastructure, employment,” and a crucial finance strategy with the government.
Vann concluded by stressing the importance of immediate action. “We need to be working now to maximise the opportunity and minimise any detrimental impact on residents,” he said.
“So, actually, there is an urgency to this in terms of seeing what’s going on.”
The decision to grant planning permission for the theme park will be determined by the Secretary of State for Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
The public consultation is open until midday on August 31, 2025, and residents were encouraged to review the outline plans on the government website and submit their comments.
The Environmental Statement, along with the other documents, plans, and drawings that accompany Universal Destinations & Experiences’ planning application, can be found here.
For any enquiries about the consultation, residents can contact MHCLG@mottmac.com.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
