I am very concerned by the plans to merge Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Police Forces. As will be even more evident after today's emergency budget, tough decisions lie ahead for all public sector organisations, including the police, and Bedford Borough residents could lose out if those decisions are taken more remotely.
Lib Dem councillors David Kendall, Barry Aspinell and Vicky Davies were busy on Sunday helping local residents as part of a Pilgrims Hatch Community Clean Up Day.
Mayor Dave Hodgson has warned Chief Constable Gillian Parker and Police Authority Chair Peter Conniff that concerns of Bedford Borough residents must not be swept aside in a headlong rush to merge the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Police Forces. The Police Chiefs delivered a briefing to the Mayor and to Bedford Borough Councillors about future plans last week and made clear their belief that the forces should be merged. Mayor Dave Hodgson, however, challenged the plans and said that residents would lose out if the tough decisions that need to be taken over local policing in their community are made more remotely.
Last week Jane Kulka, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Reigate, attended Surrey County Council's consultation meeting for the School Special Bus review. The county council are looking for savings in all areas that they fund. "SCC Officers presented their case for cutting some services, she said, "However there were some serious and obvious flaws and omissions in their presentation".
After months of worry over the uncertainty of the future of Surrey's bus services, there was some surprising good news recently for residents of Reigate, Woking and Spelthorne following the first phase of a county wide bus review triggered by a decision last year to slash millions from the transport budget.
Wearing the official Mayor chains in such hot weather is not an easy task, mainly because there is no opportunity to take my jacket off! The company, however was worth every minute and I realise I am making many new friends across the area.
