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9 November 2026
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Cllr Doug McMurdo

Councillors gather in council chambers for the extraordinary full council meeting to debate and vote on a motion to hold a referendum on the position of Mayor of Bedford Borough, 16 September 2026. Image: Bedford Independent screenshot of Bedford Borough Council webcast.

Bedford Borough Council rejects £375k mayoral referendum as Conservative group members abstain

Labour suffered a setback in Bedford Borough Council as a motion to hold a £375k mayoral referendum was defeated, while senior Conservative councillors refused to back Mayor Tom Wootton...
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Tom Wootton (Conservative) and his supporters on 5 May 2023, the night he was elected mayor of Bedford Borough

Bedford Ian writes, mayoral vote special…

16 September 2026: Bedford Ian has been looking ahead to tonight's council vote on whether the elected mayor role should be abolished (or not) and tells us what he thinks of it all…
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Mayor Tom Wootton standing along Bedfords Embankment with the town bridge in the background

Mayor Tom Wootton loses council no-confidence vote

Bedford Borough councillors voted 28 to 12 in favour of a cross-party motion calling for the resignation of Mayor Tom Wootton, who insists he will remain in office until next year's elections...
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A calculator and cash in coins and notes.

Mayor says Bedford council will ‘get out of’ financial difficulties despite concerns

Bedford Borough Council is facing a financial shortfall of around £5 million, but Mayor Tom Wootton says he remains confident the authority can balance its budget by year-end...
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Road sign pointing to the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) on Barkers Lane, Bedford. Image: Bedford Borough Council

“Too small” Bedford tip set for replacement as queues frustrate locals

Bedford Borough Council is drawing up plans for a new recycling centre as residents raise concerns over congestion at Barker’s Lane. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service...
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A calculator and cash in coins and notes.

Mayor says Bedford Borough Council has “real troubles” as new finance committee begins work

Bedford Borough Council has created a Finance and Improvement Committee to monitor its recovery plan and savings programme, as mayor Tom Wootton warned the authority faces...
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Bedford's elected mayor, Tom Wotton, pictured by Riverside Square

Mayor hits back after Lib Dems warn proposed council constitutional changes could limit public voice

Lib Dems say the Mayor wants to “silence the public” as a leaked document reveals proposed constitutional changes. The Mayor says the review will improve governance. The document, seen...
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Mayor Tom Wootton outside the former Debenhams building. Image: Bedford Borough Council

Bedford Borough councillors launch two more petitions calling for mayor’s resignation

After Bedford's Liberal Democrats launched a petition on Friday (13 February) calling for the resignation of Bedford's elected mayor, Tom Wootton (Conservative), two further 'parallel'...
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Welcome to Wixams road sign Image Bedford Independent

Update given on Wixams GP surgery as £5.5 million allocated to project

Bedford Borough councillors pressed for reassurance of a long-delayed GP surgery in Wixams after the council approved £5.5 million in funding, subject to NHS commitments...
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Bedford Borough Hall Bedford Borough council signage and entrance

Bedford Borough mayor rejects “fire sale” claim as public assets approved for sale

Bedford borough’s mayor has rejected opposition claims of a “fire sale” of public assets after approving the sale of four council-owned commercial properties earlier this week...
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