Cllr Zara Layne tagged articles - Bedford Independent

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...

Borough councillors say Special Area Charges call in to clarify decision

Labour councillors say their decision to send the mayor’s Special Area Charges decision back for reconsideration was not intended to lead to increased council tax charges for residents in Kempston West...

Council staff cuts on the cards to help balance Borough’s books

Bedford Borough Council is planning to reduce staff numbers as part of its financial recovery programme. This is forecast to save £4.2 million a year in savings from April 2026 through what its...

“When is a vacant property not a vacant property? When it’s Debenhams” – empty property report questioned

Bedford Borough councillors have raised questions over how the council defines “vacancy”, after the former Debenhams building was excluded from the official count of empty units...

Borough Councillors clash over Universal scrutiny and Government influence

A row has broken out at Bedford Borough Council over how the Universal theme park should be scrutinised, after councillors clashed over transparency, political theatre, and fears...

Campaigners’ anger as motion to withdraw EWR route support derailed in council vote

A councillor’s proposal that Bedford Borough Council withdraw its support for the current East West Rail (EWR) route was derailed last night (Wednesday), leaving a local campaign group...

Overnight charges blamed on spreadsheet error as parking u-turns continue

The evening parking fee introduced to Bedford borough car parks earlier this month was due to an “erroneous” line in a spreadsheet, the portfolio holder for finance has said. Both...

Council accused of ‘u-turn’ after reversing ‘stealth’ Sunday parking charges

Bedford Borough Council's executive has been accused of another 'u-turn' after it scrapped Sunday parking charges just days after they were introduced, saying it was nothing more than a "discrepancy". Bedfordians, councillors and...

Winter Wonderland tickets on sale – and they haven’t got planning permission yet

Bedford Winter Wonderland tickets are on sale despite a decision as to whether the event can go ahead being delayed until the end of October. Cllr Zara Layne told last night’s Full Council...

Planning permission for this season’s winter wonderland has been made

Bedford’s Winter Wonderland has submitted a planning application for this year’s event. The organisers are seeking temporary permission for an observation wheel, ice rink, fair rides, Christmas grotto and maze, food court...

Cllr Zara Layne

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