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15 October 2026
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Mayor Tom Wootton

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.

‘Combative’ Bedford Borough Council slammed for ignoring reports of bullying and misogyny

Unelected government commissioners are set to take over Bedford Borough Council to tackle a toxic workplace culture, with a damning report revealing unchecked bullying and low staff morale...
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Bedford Borough Hall Bedford Borough council signage and entrance

Damning inspection reveals bullying and leadership collapse at Bedford Borough Council

The government is sending in commissioners to oversee Bedford Borough Council for up to three years after an inspection revealed severe leadership failures, misogyny and financial...
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Mayor Tom Wootton along with Page Thompson, President, New Ventures at Universal Destinations & Experiences and John McReynolds, SVP External Affairs. Image: Owen Billcliffe/owenbillcliffe.co.uk

Bedford Borough Council launches development forum to support economic growth and investment

Bedford Borough Council is spearheading a new development forum designed to attract investment and connect local businesses to major regional infrastructure...
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Madad_Store_Photo Image Madad UK

Monthly column: From a £1 bargain to a £50 lifeline – Madad’s Bedford homecoming

Madad began life in Bedford in 1981 as the Hira Islamic Centre. Local Muslims established the charity to create a place of worship. After its founder, Imam Irshad Ali, died in 2020...
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Cllr Henry Vann pictured pointing to a public notice sign on a public toilet in Bedford Park. Image Bedford Liberal Democrat Group

Monthly column: Mayor has left Bedford with nowhere to go

Sometimes the biggest issues in local government are the simplest. If you take your children to the park, walk the dog, go for a run, or spend a few hours enjoying the outdoors, you should...
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SEND child in a wheelchair being shown and enjoying playing with colourful building tiles and toys. Image: AnnGaysorn/Shutterstock

Monthly column: Managing pressures and planning for Bedford’s future

In recent months, Bedford Borough Council has operated in an environment that is challenging for councils across the country. Demand for essential services such as...
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Grant Palmer and Stagecoach bus at Bedford Bus Station. Image: Bedford Borough Council

Opposition councillors claim victory as axed Bedford bus routes restored

Bedford's opposition councillors are claiming a victory after the council's Executive Committee report says it will reinstate funding for axed bus routes. After bus-users in Goldington...
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Hints that Madness might be coming to town started to appear across Bedford this week. With pictures of a Fez being placed on street signs and a Fez even made its way onto the bust of Trevor Huddleston. Image: Cuffe & Taylor.

Bedford Ian writes…

18 September 2026: Parking prats, Party rift?, and Madness madness. Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings-on across Bedford Borough and tells us what he thinks of it all…
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Mayor Tom Wootton signing off the new cabinet in June 2026. Image Bedford Borough Council

Breaking news: Bedford Borough councillors reject motion to hold mayoral referendum

Bedfordians will not be asked to decide the future of the borough's mayoral system after councillors defeated a proposal for a borough-wide referendum at an extraordinary council meeting...
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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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