Central Bedfordshire Council

🚛 Share your views on our draft Freight Strategy 🚛 Our draft Freight Strategy sets out our updated approach to managing freight movements in Central Bedfordshire to support the freight and logistics sector, whilst minimising the negative impacts movements can have on residential communities, and to encourage freight activity to be as sustainable as possible. Consultation on this draft strategy will close for comments at 10am, Friday 20 December 2024. To read our draft Freight Strategy and let us know your thoughts on it, visit: https://ow.ly/zhHR50U2YG1

🚨 Reminder: Final garden waste collections are taking place soon. The winter break for garden waste collections starts on 2 December 2024, for 12 weeks. Depending on where you live, your last collection will be the week of 18 November or 25 November. Check your bin collection schedule at https://ow.ly/hUq450U50qS

The Climate Resilience Infrastructure Report: A Focus on Technology is out! ⚡🏦 We are delighted to have contributed to this publication from The International for Sustainable Infrastructure (ICSI), which takes a closer look at how digital technology can enhance climate resilience in infrastructure. Our resource on page 89 has been showcased in the report, which is a deliverable for the High-Level Climate Champions #RacetoResilience campaign and is sponsored by KPMG ➡See the report here: https://lnkd.in/evjJ2w5D

🚨 Fine for fly-tip in Dunstable 🚨 On 6 April 2024, our Safer Neighbourhood Officers witnessed a case of illegal fly-tipping in Beech Green, Dunstable. Thanks to their swift action, this incident was reported to our Neighbourhood Enforcement Team, who investigated the offence, identified the individual responsible, and brought the case to court. On 13 November 2024, the resident appeared at Luton Magistrates' Court, where they pleaded guilty to one count of illegal waste dumping, a breach of Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The individual received a fine of £480, plus costs of £927 and a victim surcharge of £192, bringing the total to £1,599. Anyone who witnesses fly-tipping or wants to report a fly-tip can visit our website: https://lnkd.in/eSFRWKN3

🌧️ Calling All Suppliers: Digital Flood Monitoring & Forecasting System 🌧️ ResilienTogether are launching a soft market test to potential suppliers who can provide an innovative digital flood monitoring and forecasting system tailored to local authority and multi-agency partnership. We’re particularly interested in either a ➡️ Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) product new to the UK market, or a ➡️ COTS system already in use in the UK, but with the flexibility to develop new functionality or integrate custom components that meet our specific needs. While a fully custom-built solution is unlikely to be suitable due to time constraints, we believe that existing components from proven tools, brought together in an innovative way, may offer a promising solution. If you have an existing product or platform that could be tailored to our requirements, we’d love to hear from you! Please email ResilienTogether.Project@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk #FloodMonitoring #ForecastingSystem #Innovation #DigitalSolutions #SupplierOpportunity #UKFlooding #Environment Agency ResilienTogether is part of the £200million flood and coastal programme funded by DEFRA and managed by the Environment Agency Autodesk, JBA Consulting, Metasphere infotech, Previsico, UDlive, KISTERS Group, OurRainwater , WSP in the UK, AtkinsRéalis

There are several road closures planned for Christmas events across Central Bedfordshire: Sunday, 17 November ➡️ Ampthill - Woburn Road, Bedford Street, Church Street, Dunstable Road, 11am - 8pm Saturday, 23 November ➡️ Caddington - Hyde Road, 12pm - 7:30pm Sunday, 24 November ➡️ Flitwick, Kings Road, Station Road, 9am - 9pm Thursday, 28 November - Sunday, 1 December ➡️ Leighton Buzzard, Bridge Street, Church Square, Church Avenue, Pulford Road, Judges Lane, High Street, Market Square, from 6pm (28th Nov) to 7:30 pm (1st Dec) Saturday, 30 November ➡️ Potton, Market Square, Sun Street, King Street, 12pm - 8pm ➡️ Shefford, High Street, 12pm - 10pm ➡️ Stotfold, High Street, 10am - 9pm ➡️ Toddington, Market Square, 10am - 8pm Sunday, 1 December ➡️ Clophill, The Green, 12pm - 9pm ➡️ Sandy, Market Square, Cambridge Road, 8am - 8pm Saturday, 7 December ➡️ Blunham High Street, 2pm - 9pm ➡️ Houghton Regis High Street, 5:45pm - 6:15pm ➡️ Clifton Grange Street, Church Street, 1pm - 8pm Sunday, 15 December ➡️ Potton - Market Square, 5:30pm - 6:30pm

If you're a subscriber, garden waste collections will take their usual winter break, pausing for 12 weeks from Monday, 2 December 2024, to Friday, 21 February 2025. You can still recycle garden waste during this break at our recycling centres. Check the date of your final collection at https://ow.ly/cybY50U5086

Some of our staff have been recognised at the National Children and Young People’s Awards! The Integrated Front Door (IFD) team won the Partnership Working Award for their work to support children, young people, and families. The team provides a single point of contact for reporting concerns about child safety and well-being, bringing together agencies, including social workers, health professionals, schools, and the police. This means agencies can share information and support each other, helping families access the support they need at the right time. Furthermore, a social worker was highly commended in the Children and Families Social Worker Award. Suzanne Gayford completed her training with the Council in September 2020 and qualified as a social worker in August 2021. If that's inspired you to come and join our team, have a look at some of the current social work vacancies we have here at the Council: https://lnkd.in/eKhMtV-A

Balancing work and family life can be a challenge, and we want to understand how childcare fits into that. We have launched a survey to help us understand the need for childcare in Central Bedfordshire, and to find out if there’s enough childcare available in the area 💬 Tell us about your current childcare arrangements, and any challenges or barriers you face. The survey only takes 5-10 minutes. Take part here: https://lnkd.in/euEneNbb 🗓️ The deadline to take part has been extended, so you now have until Monday 18 November to make your voice heard!

Local young musician honours Armistice Day with ‘The Last Post’ Today, as we pause to remember those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice, young brass musician Vito Kidman, from Central Bedfordshire offers a heartfelt tribute through his performance of ‘The Last Post.’ His moving rendition honours the courage and commitment of those who gave their lives for our freedom. In this powerful video, Vito’s performance is framed by two minutes of silence - a moment for reflection, gratitude, and remembrance. Vito, who has been playing brass instruments for six years, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity: "I started with the cornet, then I switched to the tenor horn, and now I play the trumpet and bugle. It’s a real honour to be part of something so special. Playing in the Ampthill Town Band, learning with my friends, and performing for everyone in my community makes all the practice totally worth it." Through such initiatives as Ampthill Town Band – like many young people - Vito has been able to pursue his passion for music. The Ampthill Town Band has recently partnered with Inspiring Music (Central Bedfordshire Council’s music service) to develop a junior strand of Ampthill Town Band. Through this collaborative approach and commitment this partnership aims to inspire young musicians by offering free instruments and training to middle school students. Vito also plays in The Boys Brigade and several school bands, furthering his love for music. His dedication not only marks Armistice Day but also embodies the power of music to bring communities together in reflection and reverence.