Bedford Borough Council

All the latest Bedford Borough Council news from across Bedford Borough. Everything you need to keep you up to date with what’s happening in Bedford Borough on your mobile or desktop via the Bedford Independent.

The Bedford Independent was founded to provide the people of Bedford Borough with a modern news desk that would give them easy access to genuine and unbiased Bedford news. We are independent in ownership and opinion.

Our mission is to inform and inspire the people of Bedford. To do this we will work hard to bring them the news that matters to them from our town centre to the most rural of the Borough’s villages.

Our editorial team are NCTJ trained and follows a standards code set out by the independent press regulator IMPRESS Standards.

Breaking news: Councillors launch joint petition calling for Bedford Borough mayor to resign

Councillors across Bedford Borough Council have launched a joint petition calling for Mayor Tom Wootton (Conservative) to resign. The announcement was made in an...

Lack of five-year housing supply undermining Bedford Borough’s neighbourhood plans, warns committee

Borough councillors have warned that neighbourhood plans are being undermined as plans for a 75-home development in Clapham were approved. Last night (Thursday), the chair of...

Concerns raised mayor’s comments expose Bedford Borough Council to employment law risk

A Bedford Borough councillor has questioned whether comments made by senior elected figures could expose the authority to employment legal risk, as the council faces a government-ordered...

Gym plans for Kempston’s “15-years empty” Saxon Centre

Plans have been submitted to Bedford Borough Council seeking permission to change the use of vacant office space at The Saxon Centre in Kempston into a gym. In a cover letter accompanying...

Opinion: Mr mayor, a Best Value inspection is embarrassing and the buck also stops with you

Bedford Borough Council faces a Best Value inspection and the Mayor says it's “welcome support”, calling for the chief executive to resign. Bedford needs less blame and more leadership...

What is a “best value” inspection – and why does it matter to Bedford?

A Best Value inspection is one of the most serious forms of government intervention in local government, and it's about to be carried out on Bedford Borough Council. Ordered by ministers under...

What happens if a council “goes bust”? Section 114 explained as Bedford faces financial pressure

Councils can’t technically go bankrupt, but they can issue a Section 114 notice. This guide explains what it is, what happens next, and what it could mean for services, council tax and local decision-making...

Bedford Borough mayor calls for CEO’s resignation over “systemic mismanagement” at council

Bedford mayor Tom Wootton has blamed “systemic mismanagement” within the council after ministers ordered a Best Value inspection amid financial and governance concerns...

Breaking news: Government inspectors to examine Bedford Borough Council as financial pressures continue

Bedford Borough Council will undergo a three-month best value inspection by a government inspector and two assistants as the authority continues to tackle its financial challenges...

Permission for HMO denied by Bedford Borough Council after retrospective application

Bedford Borough Council has refused retrospective planning permission for the change of use of a Bedford house from a dwelling to a house in multiple occupation (HMO)...

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