Bedford

Bedford Borough Council has agreed to a new school meals contract with Caterlink, the incumbent provider, after no alternative bids were received during the tender process. The decision was made to ensure the uninterrupted provision of school meals, despite the higher cost of the new contract. Families paying for school meals will be affected by the increased prices, while those eligible for income-related free school meals will not face any changes. Schools will need to use their pupil premium budget to cover the additional costs. The new contract pricing will be £2.82 for primary school meals and £2.92 for secondary school meals.

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Savin Nurseries, a family-run business established in 1989, has been voted as the Best Garden Centre in Bedfordshire, narrowly beating Bootsies Nursery to claim the title with almost 50% of the votes, solidifying their reputation among gardening enthusiasts and highlighting the quality of their offerings and customer satisfaction.

The Bedfordshire Police force in the UK has identified mental health support as a critical aspect of their responsibilities.

Bedfordshire Police’s work was recently showcased on Channel 4’s 24 Hours in Police Custody, highlighting the diverse range of responsibilities carried out by the force, including handling mental health concerns, missing persons cases, and incidents of public disorder. The ride-along demonstrated the empathy, compassion, and effective communication skills displayed by the officers in resolving various situations. However, the force faces challenges due to limited resources and is continuously recruiting new officers to meet the demands of the community.

Die Abgeordnete Nadine Dorries ist offiziell von ihrem Amt zurückgetreten, was zu Nachwahlen im Wahlkreis Mid Bedfordshire geführt hat. Die Labour-Partei und die Liberaldemokraten haben bereits mit ihren Kampagnen für den frei werdenden Sitz begonnen, während die Konservative Partei anerkennt, dass ein schwieriger Kampf bevorsteht. Es wird erwartet, dass die Nachwahl die politische Landschaft in Mid Bedfordshire prägen wird und möglicherweise auch die nationale politische Dynamik beeinflussen könnte.

Central Bedfordshire Council’s Development Management Committee has approved plans for a film and TV studio campus in Houghton Conquest, which is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the region. However, concerns have been raised about the potential impact on local wildlife, particularly the rare breeding birds that inhabit the designated County Wildlife Site. Steps have been taken by the developers to address these concerns, including a commitment to biodiversity and financial contributions towards creating alternative habitats for specific species.

Former Member of Parliament Nadine Dorries has officially resigned from her seat, triggering a by-election in Mid Bedfordshire after an 11-week delay. Dorries, who served for 18 years, made notable contributions in areas such as maternity and neonatal safety, women’s health, and online safety. She criticizes Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s lack of action on various issues and plans to publish a book exposing corruption she uncovered. Dorries supports the Levelling Up agenda and believes Johnson has abandoned core Conservative values. The by-election is scheduled for September 4th.

Tory MP Nadine Dorries has announced her resignation from her Commons seat, accusing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of demeaning his office and abandoning Conservative principles. Dorries’ resignation comes after she was not included in Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list, leading to her claim that Sunak removed her peerage nomination, which Downing Street denies. Her decision to delay her exit is attributed to her desire to investigate the reasons behind the rejection and continue her work with constituents. Dorries has faced criticism from voters, opposition MPs, and some within her own party, with calls for her immediate resignation due to accusations of neglect and absenteeism. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has called for the Conservative whip to be removed from Dorries, while Labour’s candidate for Mid Bedfordshire expressed frustration on behalf of the community. Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats believe they have a chance to win the seat in the upcoming by-election. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has acknowledged that Dorries’ constituents are not being properly represented but has not taken immediate action to expel her, leading to criticism of his perceived weakness. The situation remains contentious, with demands for Dorries to return to the House of Commons and the possibility of a 10-day suspension if she does not comply. The by-election is expected to be closely watched.

Two men, Klaudio Ciobanu and Ardjan Axhame, have been arrested and are now facing 30 years in prison for their involvement in criminal drugs networks.