Consultation and Community Engagement
Central Bedfordshire Council is committed to the people of Central Bedfordshire and providing good quality public services for local people. In order to achieve this vision it is vital that we understand the views, needs and aspirations of the communities we serve. All local authorities have a statutory duty to consult on specific areas of service delivery. As a customer focused Council, it is committed to extending its consultation beyond statutory requirements.
Contact us
For further information please contact the Consultation Team on consultations@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Keep Informed
The Council regularly seeks the views of local people on a wide range of topics and services throughout the year such as Community Safety, Public Transport, Education and Schools, Leisure, Libraries and Culture, Planning and Regeneration.
If you would like to be kept informed of Central Bedfordshire Council consultations which are open to the public to respond, please complete a registration form giving your contact details and your interests. Please follow the link below to complete a registration form.
Consultation database
The Council’s Consultation Database (opens in new window) records all consultation carried out by or on behalf of the Central Bedfordshire Council. You can use this database to find out about current consultations, how you can get involved and the headline results of completed consultations.
Current online consultations
Please use the links below to view current online Central Bedfordshire Council consultations. Please use the Consultation Database to view all other current consultations.
Fairer Charging Policy Consultation
We are planning to change the way an individual’s charges for services or contribution towards their support is calculated. The policy we are proposing to change is called the “Fairer Charging Policy”. Please follow the links below to view the documents explaining the proposed changes.
Fairer Charging Consultation document (application/pdf; 392kB)Charging for Non-Residential Social Care Services- Draft policy (application/pdf; 61kB)
The existing policy has been in place since 2003 and we are proposing some revisions which are described the documents below. The changes will not affect people living in long-term residential or nursing care or those receiving after-care services under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983.
We would like to give individuals, carers, staff and our partners the opportunity to comment on these proposed changes. Your views are important, as the policy will affect different people in different ways. The consultation will run until 5pm, Friday 10 September 2010. If you would like to comment on the proposed changes you can do so by:
2. E-mail your views to fairercharging@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
3. Write to FREEPOST RSCB-ZCRL-LSAG, Fairer Charging Consultation, Central Bedfordshire Council, PO Box 1395, Bedford, MK42 5AN
We will use your feedback to help us draw up the final version of the policy, which will be agreed later in 2010.
Council officers will be available at the following drop in open meeting sessions to talk about this consultation (booking is not required).
- Tuesday 29 June 2010, 9:30am to 12:30pm - Furness Avenue, Dunstable, LU6 3BN
- Tuesday 13 July 2010, 9:30am to 12:30pm - Gale Court, Hexton Road, Barton-le-Clay, MK45 4LH
- Thursday 15 July 2010, 9:30am to 12:30pm - Finch Crescent, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, LU7 2PF
If you would like further information you can either e-mail fairercharging@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or call 0300 300 8000 and ask for Ramone Nurse or Joanne Bellamy.
Empty Homes Strategy Consultation
Your feedback on the draft strategy is important and will form part of a report to Members of the Social Care, Health and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee in Autumn 2010.
Please follow the link below to view more information about the Empty Homes Strategy and how you can submit your views on it.
Empty Homes Strategy consultation
The consultation period end on 15th October 2010
Childcare Sufficiency Assessment
Central Bedfordshire Council is asking parents and carers about what support they need to assist with childcare so they can work, or undertake training or study that will enable them to work in the future.
There are four questionnaires in the consultation aimed at parents, childcare providers, childminders and employers to feed into the report and the results of the consultation will guide the Councils statutory Childcare Sufficiency Report for 2011. All responses will be treated in confidence.
Your views will also help the Council to assess the demand and capacity for families with three and four year old children to access their free pre-school Early Years Entitlement.
Please take a few minutes to complete this a questionnaire by following the links below.
Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2010 - employers questionnaire
Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2010 - childcare providers questionnaire
Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2010 - parents questionnaire
Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2010 - childminders questionnaire
For more information or any enquiries please contact Heather Knox telephone 0300 300 6615 or email heather.knox@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Consultation on Central Bedfordshire Strategy for Carers 2010 -13
Carers providing unpaid support to friends, family members, partners and neighbours who are ill, frail, disabled or who have mental health or substance misuse problems have a crucial role within families & communities of Central Bedfordshire.
Central Bedfordshire Council are inviting carers, individuals and groups or organisations for their views on the Central Bedfordshire Strategy for Carers 2010 -2013.
Please follow the link below for more information, to view a copy of the strategy and to access a consultation response form.
Central Bedfordshire Strategy for Carers 2010 -13 - Consultation
Closing date for responses is 5pm on 1st November 2010.