Schools in Central Bedfordshire will be joining more than 250,000 pupils, teachers and parents from around the UK in the country’s biggest school cycling event.

The Big Pedal is a giant inter-school cycling and scooting competition spanning 15 school days in March (5-23 March 2012). It works a bit like the Tour de France in that each day of the race is a new stage following a different Sustrans cycle route around the UK.

The more people that join in, the faster a school completes each stage. The Big Pedal winner is the one that completes the whole race in the quickest overall time.

Many schools are joining in for the whole three weeks of the race, but there are also daily prizes up for grabs in the final week, which is Bike to School Week. Schools can also choose to take part in one of the special one-day stage races instead.

Schools keep a record of everyone who cycles or scoots to school using a Class Record Sheet.

Schools log in to the website each day of the race and record their results. These are then published the following day on the website and schools can track how they and others are doing throughout the race.

Each school is given an individual time weighting, depending on their size and number of pupils, so that smaller schools are in with just as much of a chance to win prizes as larger schools.

Last year Fairfield Park Lower School in Stotfold emerged as the top school in the Eastern Region.

Cllr Brian Spurr, Executive Member for Sustainable Communities said:

"This competition is a great way to get children, parents and teachers out of the car and onto their bikes and scooters and hopefully we can repeat the success of Fairfield Park Lower School. As well as being fun this competition promotes active travel, healthy lifestyles and road awareness."

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Advice is on hand for residents looking to organise a street party or event to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, thanks to Central Bedfordshire Council and its partners in the Emergency Services.

The Central Bedfordshire Safety Advisory Group (SAG) - formed by Central Bedfordshire Council, Bedfordshire Police, Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue and Ambulance services - will be running a number of local Road Shows to offer free guidance on planning and organising street parties or other community events, to celebrate 60 years of the Queen being on the throne.

Cllr Brian Spurr, executive member for Sustainable Communities Services, said: "Residents up and down Central Bedfordshire are looking forward to celebrating the Jubilee and the Council and its partner agencies, will do all it can to help them arrange a safe and fun event.

"Already we have waived our fees regarding road closures and this service is yet another way we can help."

The SAG Road shows will be taking place in March at a range of locations across Central Bedfordshire where residents and event organisers, can come and discuss their proposed events for some free advice and guidance on organising and running their event safely.

Road Shows will be taking place in Biggleswade, Shefford, Flitwick, Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard from the 14th to the 16th March 2012.

Members of the public are welcome to drop in to any of these sessions, or they can ring in advance to book a time slot to avoid having to wait. For more information on times and dates contact Guy Quint on 0300 300 4386 or Nicola Preston on 0300 300 4256.

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Formal consultation is to begin on proposals to extend the age range of four Houghton Regis Lower schools, to cater for 3 to 11 year-olds, in a bid to improve education standards.

Hawthorn Park, Thornhill and Tithe Farm Lower Schools received approval from Central Bedfordshire Council to move to statutory consultation after an informal consultation by the schools showed solid support.

Thomas Whitehead Lower School, which had also canvassed views on the issue, will also go to formal consultation following a decision by its governing body.

Speaking about the decision Cllr Mark Versallion, Executive Member for Children's Services, says: "The Council supports the drive by our schools to raise standards and results for all our pupils. This consultation, initiated by the schools concerned, is about giving power to parents, governors, and teachers to shape the future of their own schools.

"I have committed the Council to consider any proposals by schools providing they could show support from parents, that the proposed arrangements will meet the needs of all pupils, and that the changes can be achieved within existing resources.

"Initial consultation undertaken at the start of the year has shown that many parents within the area are fully supportive of the proposed changes and there is a clear desire to move ahead with the proposals.

"The Council is publishing statutory notices for the schools concerned. These will also be on the Council's website and at Houghton Regis library, as well as the local town council and local press. This is the start of formal six week statutory consultation, ending 2 April 2012. This will give parents and other interested parties a further opportunity to put forward their views."

Following the statutory consultation and careful consideration of the responses, Councillor Versallion will make the final decision on whether this change will happen for any of the schools in April. This will be made in a public meeting so that head teachers, governors and parents can attend if they wish. The proposed changes would be implemented from September 2013 at which time year 4 pupils would have the opportunity to remain at their current lower school for a further two years or transfer to a middle school.

To have your say on the changes to age ranges at Houghton Regis Lower Schools, visit the consultation pages of our website.

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Everyone deserves to have their belongings treated with respect including children in care.

Central Bedfordshire Council has responded to a campaign by the charity ‘A National Voice’ by signing up to a new charter which guarantees that children in care will have their belongings stored and transported in suitable luggage.

Representatives from the Central Bedfordshire Children in Care Council met with Chief Executive Richard Carr and Director of Children’s Services Edwina Grant and Executive member for Children’s Services Cllr Mark Versallion to sign the ‘No Bin Bags Charter’. They explained how distressing it is for children in care if this is how their belongings are transported between placement moves.

Cllr Versallion said: ""I am extremely pleased to sign this charter. It is the Council’s formal commitment to a policy which Children’s Services already firmly embrace – that children’s belongings are special and deserve better treatment than being packed in plastic bin liners. Meeting regularly with our children in care, I am conscious of the need to ensure that the transition between care placements is a smooth and settled one. This is a significant way of showing our commitment to supporting children under the Council’s care."

The Children in Care Council is a group of local young people who use their experience of time in care to improve services for other young people and children. They routinely meet with the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services twice a year to give feedback on services for Looked After Children and Care Leavers.

Edwina Grant said: It was a pleasure to meet with the young people and hear their experiences, which are valuable in helping us to enhance the services we provide."

More than 75 per cent of local authorities in the country have now signed the charter showing their commitment to this important issue.

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Central Bedfordshire Council has embraced the Government’s new guidelines on adoption as great news for children waiting to be part of a new family.

And Councillor Mark Versallion, Executive Member for Children Services, said Central Bedfordshire Council was already responding to government calls to ensure the adoption process is speeded up.

He said: "The new guidelines are great news for children who are waiting to be part of a new loving family and for those looking to adopt.

"The new six month timescale is achievable as we in Central Bedfordshire know. While not all of our cases achieve this deadline now, we know we are in a strong position to be able to meet the challenge.

"Our adoption service is among the best in the country for recruiting adopters and placing children and is noted for its innovation."

Angela - a parent who adopted through Central Bedfordshire's Adoption Service said: "Becoming an adoptive parent has been the most rewarding thing I have ever done. To become a parent and provide a home to a child in need of one is an honour. Central Bedfordshire Council made my choice easy by their fantastic support and guidance and being able ensure the process went smoothly."

The last Ofsted report praised the Council for its ‘innovative’ Teenage adoption panel.

The panel is comprised of young people who have been adopted and who give their view on the prospective adopters’ suitability.

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Helen Nellis has today (22 February 2012) taken up the appointment of Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant for the County of Bedfordshire. She succeeds Sir Samuel Whitbread KCVO who held the position for more than twenty years.

She said "I am greatly looking forward to working with my dedicated colleagues in the Lieutenancy to support the many generous-hearted people across all parts of our County who actively participate in our communities making them notable for their vibrancy, ambition and compassion.

"We are fortunate in Bedfordshire to have so many businesses, voluntary and state sector organisations working in harmony for our common good. It will be an honour for me to serve Bedfordshire in my new role.

I would also like to pay tribute to the outstanding service of Sir Samuel Whitbread who has fulfilled the role of Lord Lieutenant with distinction and integrity and I wish him and Lady Whitbread good health and happiness on his retirement."

An international senior executive search professional with a legal and academic background, Helen Nellis has extensive experience of working with the public, charity and private sectors. She has held several public appointments throughout Bedfordshire including Chairman of Bedfordshire Health Authority, Chairman of Bedford Hospitals NHS Trust, Chairman Luton Health Action Zone and Vice-Chairman of the University of Bedfordshire.

She has lived in Bedfordshire for almost thirty years and is married to Professor Joe Nellis of Cranfield University. They have three children.

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People of all ages are being invited to take part in the creation of the new Leighton Linslade Children’s Trail.

The interactive trail, full of imaginative pieces of artwork for walkers to discover, will weave through and around the town. The trail has been inspired by the town’s links with Mary Norton - author of the series of children’s books ‘The Borrowers’ and ‘Bedknob and Broomstick’ - who spent much of her childhood in Leighton Buzzard.

Martin Heron is the artist working with Central Bedfordshire Council and Leighton Linslade Town Council to make the trail. During March he is holding two sessions for local people to find out more about the trail and also get involved.

There is an opportunity to Walk the Trail’ with Martin on Saturday 10 March at 2pm. Walkers will discover the proposed route; find out more about the ideas and inspiration behind the project and the creative ideas Martin has in store for the town. He is also keen to hear your impressions and ideas. The walk starts and finishes at Leighton Buzzard Theatre.

Martin will also lead two creative sessions at the theatre on Saturday 17 March at either 9.30am to 12pm or 1pm to 3.30pm. In these workshops you can have a go at making fun characters that will inspire the final artwork for the trail.

Cllr Brian Spurr, Executive Member for Sustainable Communities for Central Bedfordshire Council said: "We want the local community to play a part in the creation of the trail which aims to encourage reading and an interest in literature for everyone. These events are a great opportunity for people of all ages to get involved in this exciting project for the town."

Both events are free of charge but as places are limited, they need to be booked in advance by contacting Hilary Western (Youth and Community Arts) on 0300 300 4244 or email hilary.western@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

To find out all the latest news about the Children’s Trail you can sign up to the dedicated blog by going to http://childrenstrail.tumblr.com/ or alternatively by contacting Emma Van Nieuwenburgh, Arts Development Officer on 0300 300 5266 or email Emma.VanNieuwenburgh@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

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Court Drive in Dunstable will be the first project to receive funding as part of a major investment programme to regenerate the town centre.

Central Bedfordshire Council, and their highways service provider Amey, will look at the needs of every road user to deliver a streetscene that is better balanced and suitable for all.

Cllr Nigel Young, Deputy Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Strategic Planning and Economic Development, said: "What we are trying to achieve is a new concept, but the outcome will be a better balanced street and one that respects, and is ‘shared’ by, all users. A well balanced street minimises visual clutter and obstacles. The Court Drive scheme will use various colours of durable materials to delineate the street and most importantly, will encourage a degree of negotiation between road users."

Work will start after Easter, and is due to be completed in the summer. The work will be completed in several phases, helping to minimise disruption.

A public exhibition of the final designs will be held in late March 2012.

Central Bedfordshire Council and Amey will also be providing a dedicated bus lane in Court Drive, which will become an integral part of the Luton-Dunstable-Houghton Regis Guided Busway.

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Central Bedfordshire Council is expanding its successful work club scheme, which delivers specialist support to help residents back into work.

The scheme, run by Bedfordshire Adult Skills & Community Learning Service started in September last year, in Houghton Regis and Leighton Buzzard.

It proved so successful it is now being expanded to Dunstable and Biggleswade.

Cllr Ken Matthews, Executive Member for Sustainable Communities, Strategic Planning and Economic Development, said: "Our new Work Clubs have proved very popular and successful and are really helping our residents with the skills they need to get into work. Expanding these clubs is in direct response to demand and interest."

"Helping our residents who are out of work, find, apply for and secure a job remains a priority for the Council and I would encourage anyone who is out of work to come along to one of our clubs and access the range of support available."

Initial feedback from those attending the work clubs confirms three people gained employment and four people were signposted to further training which has helped them gain confidence and qualifications as well as improving their prospects of getting back into work.

Adult Skills & Community Learning are also working in partnership with YMCA, eVolve your future, Sport Support and Bedfordshire FA, which are all organisations that help reach low skilled 19 to 24 year-olds and those furthest from the labour market.

From the 1st February as well as getting help and advice with the following:

• CV Writing Techniques
• Interview Techniques
• Job Application Form Techniques
• Careers advice and Guidance
• Finding learning opportunities
• Searching for work opportunities

The clubs will also include:

• One to One personal mentoring and support
• Dedicated Skills workshops
• IT training
• Personalised Individual Action Plan

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Central Bedfordshire Council want your views on the Development Strategy, a new planning policy document that will play a huge part in shaping the future in Central Bedfordshire.

The Development Strategy will set out how much growth and development will need to be planned for, in areas such as housing, employment and retail. It will also suggest broadly where this should go. At a more detailed level, the Strategy will set out detailed policies to help determine planning applications.

Once adopted, the Development Strategy will replace the current Core Strategy in the northern part of Central Bedfordshire and the Local Plan and Core Strategy in the south.

Work on the Strategy has only just begun, but customer feedback on what the plan should contain is being invited from this early stage.

As part of the consultation the council will be holding four workshops to discuss the Strategy. On 1 and 6 March workshops will be hosted in Dunstable and on 8 and 14 March in Shefford. The workshops will be open to all but places will be limited. If you would like to attend, please email us at LDF@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.

There will also be a short questionnaire for people to complete. The survey seeks views on big issues such as the number of new homes and jobs we should be planning for and will be available online. Hard copies will also be available from libraries and customer contact centres, or by post on request.

As part of work on the Development Strategy the council is also running a ‘Call for Sites’ exercise where developers, landowners and other interested parties are invited to submit details of sites that they would like to see developed in future. Again, in order to find out more information about the ‘Call for Sites’, please visit our website.

Cllr Ken Matthews, Executive Member for Sustainable Communities Strategic Planning said: "We want Central Bedfordshire to continue to be a great place to live and work and the Strategy should help us to secure this. We know our residents are concerned about how their children and grandchildren will be able to get on the property ladder, how they will get work and whether the character of our communities will maintained in the future. We share these concerns and look forward to working with local people to develop a Strategy that delivers the right balance of protecting our heritage and developing our future".

The informal consultation will run until 28 March. After we’ve gathered the results we will publish a Draft Development Strategy for comment in July 2012.

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A plan to support the roll out of superfast ‘Next Generation’ broadband across Central Bedfordshire has been approved by Executive Councillors.

Central Bedfordshire’s Local Broadband Plan (LBP) will be partially funded by Central Government. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Broadband Delivery UK team has already set aside £620,000 to Central Bedfordshire to support the roll out.

Current forecasts for the spread of superfast broadband (defined as being at least 25Mbit/s) in Central Bedfordshire show that without a plan to support it, more than a quarter of residential and business premises will still not have access by 2015. Under the LBP, this figure would be significantly reduced, with around 90% of all premises having access to superfast broadband.

The LBP will also aim to ensure that all premises in Central Bedfordshire have access to standard broadband (at least 2Mbit/s) and increase the choice of broadband services and suppliers of services for local residents.

Cllr Maurice Jones, Executive Member for Corporate Resources, said: "The preparation for the Local Broadband Plan has been informed by what our residents, businesses and public sector partners in Central Bedfordshire have told us.

"Achieving the 90% superfast broadband goal will have a number of huge benefits for all these groups and Central Bedfordshire as a whole and is a key part of the transformation of public services.

"It will mean improved business productivity and efficiency, rural business growth and enterprise and a strengthening of the local economy in general."

Central Bedfordshire’s LBP will also inform the development of a wider Joint Local Broadband Plan to be developed in partnership with Milton Keynes and Bedford Borough Councils with Central Bedfordshire as the lead partner.

Cllr Jones added: "Through working in partnership on the Joint Local Broadband Plan with our neighbouring authorities we will be able to make significant savings and increase the likelihood of securing private sector interest and additional investment."

The Plan and further information on broadband in the area, including your chance to register your interest in superfast broadband is available on our website. 

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Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedford Borough Council are celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Adoption and Fostering Week with a special information evening at Priory House in Chicksands.

The event, on Wednesday 22 February, is open to all, but if you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender you are particularly welcome.

If you are interested in fostering and adoption this is an opportunity for you to come and meet a team of professionals who will be one hand to answer your questions and give impartial advice and information.

Cllr Mark Versallion, Executive Member for Children’s Services at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: "The Council welcomes anyone who is capable of love and possesses some degree of emotional intelligence necessary for raising children, fostered, adopted or otherwise. Anyone interested in adoption and fostering is treated fairly and equally. Whatever your circumstances, the Council would like to meet you and tell you more about fostering and adoption and the children who need new families."

The information evening is an informal drop-in event so you can just pop in and grab a few leaflets or stay longer to have a chat and find out more.

The event takes place between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday 22 February at Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, SG17 5TQ.

If you can't make it on 22 February and would like to find out more call the duty officer on 0300 300 8181 or visit our website.

LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week runs from 20 to 26 February. You can find out much more about the aims of the week, and adoption and fostering in general, on the official website at LGBT adoption and fostering week.

We are celebrating LGBT Adoption and Fostering Week across Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough. The adoption and fostering service is run as a shared service between the two councils.

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Central Bedfordshire Council has approved a new contractor to run Houghton Leisure Centre following a decision by the authority's Executive today (14 February.

The new contract will begin from April 1st and will ensure that the centre, previously earmarked for closure, will continue to operate throughout 2012/13.

This decision is the conclusion of partnership working between Central Bedfordshire Council, Houghton Regis Town Council and the Centre's Action Group.

Cllr Brian Spurr, Executive Member for Sustainable Communities said: "Across public services, budgets are coming under increasing pressure which is why we had to consider whether it was financially viable for us to continue running the centre.

"But of course we want to protect front line services if at all possible and, through working with local people and organisations we've come up with a workable solution which is great news."

Tracy McMahon of the Houghton Regis Leisure Centre spoke to the Executive this morning, thanking the council for listening and working in partnership.

"I would like to thank the council and councillors for listening to the community and working in partnership with the Action Group to find an alternative to closure. We appreciate the support we received with an open day. This event was attended by over 700 people which must prove beyond all doubt that with proper advertising, good organisation and a varied of selection of activities footfall will increase and the centre will thrive."

Plans are now shaping up for;

• A new secure entrance with new turn styles in reception and computerised access
• A new 60-station fitness room, including cardio and strength/resistance equipment and free weights area which will significantly broaden and improve the fitness capacity at the centre
• New signage and internal decoration

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A second successive year of no council tax rises is set to become a reality after Central Bedfordshire Council’s Executive agreed the budget for 2012/2013 on Tuesday, 14 February.

The council will spend £179.2m on services ranging from children and adults’ social care to waste collection in the coming year, even though the continuing national economic difficulties mean that £11.3m of savings will have to be made. Executive also agreed £79.7m of capital spending for 2012/2013, forming part of the four year Capital Programme of investment in roads and street lighting, schools, care schemes and leisure projects.

Today’s decisions mark the penultimate stage in setting the budget for 2012/13, as the Executive recommended the budget for approval by full council on Thursday, 23 February.

Earlier in the budget process, through a survey carried out in the Autumn, residents had told the council that savings should be made from the back office and at no extra cost to the taxpayer.

Residents stated that investment was required to improve roads and transport, while services helping vulnerable people should be protected. The results of last year’s Big Library Debate also showed that residents value their local library extremely highly and feel they are key community focal points.

In order to meet residents’ expectations, Executive have agreed a budget which will see the council:

* Streamline management and administration, cut consultants and reduce the number of buildings the council works at;

* Renegotiate contracts in highways maintenance, energy, information technology, vehicle leasing and in leisure services – specifically at Dunstable and Tiddenfoot Leisure Centres and the Grove Theatre - to provide better value for money;

* Encourage residents to engage with the council through our new website by providing more online services and change the way face to face customer service is provided by moving to appointment systems and use of customer access points;

* Deliver services with a more commercial focus and trade some of our services to bring in income;

* Invest £37m in road maintenance over four years;

* Spend an additional £1.4m in social care for older people and an additional £1.7m on services for adults with disabilities;

* Invest in improving services that help people to live independently at home for longer, so reducing the use of residential care;

* Keep all libraries open and invest £850,000 in them over the next two years, to ensure libraries are modern, sustainable and meet the needs of future generations.

Cllr Maurice Jones, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: "Throughout the whole budget process, we have been very clear that we do not want to put extra pressure on families’ budgets by raising council tax and our focus has been on ensuring that residents receive maximum value for money for the rates they do pay. We’ve proved over the last year that we can do this. We’ve remodelled the former costly music service into the viable ‘Inspiring Music’, which offers exciting musical opportunities in schools and the community."

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Central Bedfordshire Council has recommended a way forward, after consultation, on the future of Crescent Court, Toddington.

The Executive Committee met today (Tuesday 14 February) to consider a range of four options, including one submitted during the consultation process on behalf of the residents of Crescent Court.

The Executive narrowed the range of options down to two, and asked that more work be done to establish which of the following would be the most feasible:

* The development of an Extra Care Scheme on the existing site, aligned with the suggestions put forward by existing residents. This would involve looking at a phased development, whilst retaining the existing building.

* The development of an Extra Care Housing Scheme on a new site in Toddington, through the Neighbourhood Plan for Toddington.

Extra Care schemes differ from traditional sheltered housing because they are designed to provide support for people with a range of needs. So, for example, residents with mobility issues or other disabilities may live in the scheme, which might also have services and staff to support those with more care needs, such as people with dementia. Extra Care services have a care team on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week which allows residents to remain independent in their homes within the housing complex.

Councillor Carole Hegley, the Executive Member of Social Care, Health and Housing for Central Bedfordshire Council explained the next steps:

"We have been very grateful to everyone who has taken part in this consultation, and particularly to those who have come forward with alternative ideas and suggestions. The Executive were pleased to see that residents of Crescent Court put together their own option and this was submitted to the Executive for their consideration alongside the other three options. As we move forward, we will continue to work with Crescent Court residents, and hope they will get involved in the design of any new development."

It is expected that the outcomes of the feasibility study on the remaining options will be concluded in the spring and that a final decision will be taken by the Executive later this year.

Cllr Hegley added, "Whilst we’ve taken time to engage and consult the local community about the long term future of this important service, we’re also addressing more immediate issues at Crescent Court, including the installation of a new heating system."

For further information visit our website.

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Sixty young people from across Central Bedfordshire recently took part in the MORE 16 and MORE Drive courses to improve their driving knowledge and skills.

Three workshops, covering driving skills, maintenance and safety, were run by vehicle inspectors and collision investigators from Bedfordshire Police, Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service, Three Shires Driving School and Millbrook’s proving ground and offered real-life experience from professionals at the top of their field.

The MORE 16 programme gave 16 year-olds their first taste of driving on a Millbrook track, whilst also offering guidance to parents on choosing a driving instructor and on how to help their teens when practising. Parents attending even receive a high-speed passenger ride around a track with a Millbrook pro-driver with competition history in motorsport such as rallying or racing.

MORE Drive offered 17 to 24 year-olds, who have already passed their driving test, the chance to drive on a skid pan and experience ABS braking systems. As well as practising emergency stops at speed to demonstrate the distance it takes to stop at varying speeds.

Twenty-year-old Dani Page who attended the MORE Drive course said: "It was a great way to learn about real dangers on the road and how to deal with these situations when faced by them. I now have a greater knowledge of a wide range of hazards, how to control a car in a skid and in emergencies to what to do in the event of an accident.

"This knowledge was gained from hands on experience with professional drivers and demonstrations from Police collision investigators and the Fire and Rescue Service. It has changed the way I view things and given me an insight in how easily an incident can occur and what I could do to avoid any situation that I may encounter."

Councillor Budge Wells, Deputy Executive Member for Sustainable Communities Services, said: "The MORE programmes are a great way for our young people to learn new skills and improve their driving ability.

"I am delighted that demand for the courses has been so high. Everyone who attended took away useful new skills and a better appreciation of what it means to be a safe and responsible driver."

We will be running the courses again on the 3 and 4 March and it would be wonderful if as many of our young people as possible could attend."

For more information on either the MORE 16 or MORE Drive programmes, or to attend the events in March, email roadsafety@amey.co.uk.

MORE 16 and MORE Drive are supported by Central Bedfordshire Council in partnership with their Highways Service provider Amey.

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A Maulden woman has been fined after pleading guilty to illegally claiming £1848 in benefits.

Magistrates ordered Hayley Matthews of Wingfield Avenue, Maulden, Bedfordshire to pay £265 in fines, legal costs and surcharges after an investigation by Central Bedfordshire Council and the Department of Work and Pensions. This uncovered she had falsely claimed £593 in Housing Benefit, £168 in Council Tax Benefit and £1086 in state benefits.

Matthews, 35, will also have to pay back the benefits overpayments in full.

Cllr Maurice Jones, Executive Member for Corporate Resources at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: "Benefit cheats take money away from those people who really need it.

"This investigation clearly shows Central Bedfordshire Council and other agencies will not tolerate abuse of the benefits system and will take action against those who make a fraudulent claim.

"As well as facing penalties, fraudsters face a criminal record if convicted. While we take a hard line on benefit fraud benefits, help is always available for people who are genuinely entitled to receive financial aid."

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Resident’s have been asked to be alert to fake council tax bills apparently from Central Bedfordshire Council.

The warning came after a 17-year-old, who was not even registered as a council tax payer, was issued with a bill demanding over £350.

Councillor Maurice Jones, Executive Member for Corporate Resources said: "This fake could quite easily fool someone.

"However the forger clearly does not know we would never send a bill out with the wording 'Agent Visit'. They have also got our logo completely wrong and there are a number of other inaccuracies.

"Nevertheless, it is worrying and I urge anyone who thinks they have received a bogus bill to contact the Council’s Revenues and Benefits department.

"This is not a widespread problem, as we've only had one report to date but customers should be vigilant given we will be issuing our annual bills in March."

The letter contains a warning in bold letters of ‘Agent Visit’ in seven days - which never features in council tax bills and a rectangular logo, as opposed Central Bedfordshire Council’s official circular one.

To contact the Council’s Revenue and Benefits team call 0300 300 4154 and ask to speak to Julie Luckman and if you are concerned about scams in general visit our website.

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Central Bedfordshire Council has invited New Earth Solutions-Remondis Consortium and Viridor to enter the final stage of competition to secure the contract to deal with Central Bedfordshire's future waste.

The Council, in common with authorities across the country, has been looking to develop a long term solution to managing waste in an environmentally sensitive and cost effective way.

Waste management is a specialist field and the Council has been conducting an extensive procurement exercise to find a private sector company to develop and deliver services and infrastructure in partnership with the Council.

In March 2011, the Council announced that it was working with four potential partners and since then has been working with the companies to progress the technical, legal and financial aspects of their proposed solutions.

Having now deselected two of the four bidders, the remaining two companies shortlisted to progress to the next stage will further refine and develop their proposals. Both of the shortlisted solutions involve the development of facilities at the Council owned site at Thorn Turn near Dunstable to meet the requirements of the contract.

Both of the solutions include:

• A treatment solution for dealing with the household waste that is left over after recycling, which delivers environmental improvements over disposing of this material to landfill;
• A solution for treating residents' separately collected organic material, including kitchen and garden waste, to increase composting rates;
• One brand new and three refurbished Household Waste Recycling Centres designed to improve access and safety and provide increased opportunity for recycling;
• The provision of two gritting salt storage barns in strategic locations to cater for the Council's storage requirements and enable the continued management of the road network during adverse weather.

Cllr Budge Wells, Assistant Executive Member for Sustainable Communities Services said:"I'm very pleased that this important project is progressing as planned and has now successfully completed another key milestone in delivering much needed infrastructure to provide a long term solution for the Council's waste".

"For the waste that cannot viably be recycled or composted, the remaining bidders have proposed modern solutions that will have a minimal impact on the local environment and deliver significant environmental benefits."

"The Council remains committed to achieving its aim of recycling or composting 60% of its waste by 2020 and the proposed solutions will assist us in meeting this target."

The final tenders stage will be completed by Autumn 2012, with a preferred bidder being selected. It is expected that following final due diligence contract award will take place at the end of the year.

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Waste representing more than £2.6 million in landfill tax has been diverted from landfill thanks to residents magnificent recycling record, said Central Bedfordshire Council today.

Latest figures from Central Bedfordshire Council show householders in Central Bedfordshire recycled 51.6% of their waste in 2010/11 – placing it seventh out of all unitary councils across the country.

In addition, residents produced 50kg less residual waste per person than the UK average. If this waste had been disposed of in residents' black bins and sent to landfill, it would have cost the council £2.6 million in landfill tax.

Cllr Budge Wells, Deputy Member for Sustainable Communities Services said: "Recycling is not only good for our environment it’s good for council taxpayers’ pockets too.

"The landfill tax is going up next year to £64 per tonne so it’s important we recycle more to help keep Central Bedfordshire's council tax down for residents in these tough times.

"However in the light of these new figures it looks like we are on track to reach our target of recycling 60% of our waste in 2020."

To find out how to contribute to and increase the recycling rate in Central Bedfordshire, go to Central Bedfordshire's website.

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Residents have been praised for their reaction to the first of this Winter's snow today by Central Bedfordshire Council.

Cllr Brian Spurr, Executive Member for Sustainable Communities Services said: "I am pleased with residents' reaction after the first Winter's snow this weekend. Frankly it is February and we should expect some snow but from what I have seen, residents have simply just got on with it."

Cllr Spurr was speaking after figures showed gritting crews used a 1000 tonnes of salt on approximately 50% of Central Bedfordshire highways.

Up to 18 crews of the 'White Knights' - so-called after they were named following a competition last year - worked around the clock over the weekend to keep Central Bedfordshire moving.

Cllr Spurr, said: "Our gritting crews did a grand job over the weekend in keeping our main roads clear. They met the challenge with true grit and determination to keep Central Bedfordshire moving."

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With temperatures set to plummet again tonight, Central Bedfordshire Council is asking residents to keep an eye out for vulnerable neighbours, who may be susceptible to the effects of cold weather.

Cllr Carole Hegley, Executive Member for Social Care, Health and Housing at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: "Please think of older and vulnerable neighbours at this time and where possible try to pop in to see if they are well or need any help."

Cllr Hegley's call comes after Central Bedfordshire Council launched its Warm Homes Healthy People scheme, which aims to offer help and support for vulnerable people living in cold and damp homes.

The Scheme offers advice and financial assistance to improve your home insulation and heating. You do not have to be in receipt of benefits to receive help from the Warm Homes Healthy People Scheme.

If you are a homeowner, or a tenant in a privately rented home and your home is cold, damp or has an old inefficient heating system, you could be eligible for a range of help.

This scheme is being run in conjunction with other Partners such as NHS Bedfordshire, Age UK Bedfordshire, Older People’s Reference Group, Advocacy for Older People, Disability Resource Centre and Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity.

Handy hints to keep warm during the current cold snap.

• Try wearing bed socks and thermal underwear at night.
• Keep warm by dressing well and wearing plenty of thinner layers rather than fewer, thicker ones.
• Stay active can also have a big impact on how warm you feel on colder days. If possible, try to move around at least once an hour.
• And of course eating regular meals will help keep energy levels up during winter, and hot drinks such as tea and coffee.

For more information please contact us on: 0300 300 8302 and mention Warm Homes Scheme.

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