www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk Latest News

Mystery medieval find and returning artefacts continue to fire kiln interest after Sutton archaeology discovery

Fri, 15 May 2026 14:31:00 +0100

Last year, we revealed that excavations carried out at Sutton Primary School by its archaeology service, Albion Archaeology, between 2024 and 2025 had uncovered a well-preserved pottery kiln, ahead of construction for a new sports pitch.

Initially the find was thought to have dated back to the Tudor period, under the reigns of King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I, but last month it was revealed that experts now believe the kiln dates back as much as 650 years to the late 14th century medieval period.

New insights shared at a community event in Sutton Village Hall this week have highlighted both the scale of the discovery and the intrigue that remains.

Alongside the pottery, a rare and unusual metal object featuring a decorative fleur-de-lys design was also uncovered. While it resembles a pair of tongs, experts believe its form and decoration suggest another purpose, possibly as an architectural fitting. However, its exact use remains unknown, adding an element of mystery to the discovery.

Archaeologists working on the site recovered more than 30,000 pottery fragments – weighing over 600kg – from 180 excavation buckets, making it one of the largest and most significant local digs in recent years. Archaeomagnetic dating of the kiln indicates it may have been in operation as far back as the reign of Edward III in the 14th century.

Those who attended the event heard a talk from archaeologist David Ingham, who project managed the dig, about how the kiln would have operated, its likely scale as a local industry, and how pottery produced on site would have been used across the surrounding area.

In a significant moment for the community, selected pottery fragments from the dig and pieces of the kiln itself were also brought back to Sutton and shared with around 100 people from the village and the surrounding area, helping to reconnect residents with their medieval past.

Leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, Councillor Adam Zerny, who organised and spoke at the event, said:

It was fantastic to see so many residents come together to learn about Sutton’s past and hear more about this remarkable discovery right beneath our feet. It was great to bring some of these artefacts back to the village and show people a really interesting insight into the history of our area.

Many of the key finds are on display at The Higgins Bedford until 4 October as part of the museum exhibition ‘Exploring Bedfordshire’s Kilns: An Industry Revealed’, which also features a detailed model of the Sutton kiln.

Central Bedfordshire Council re-elects Chair and Vice Chair

Fri, 15 May 2026 12:20:00 +0100

Councillor Vicky Malone has also been re-elected as Vice Chair.

Both councillors represent Caddington. Councillor Collins has served as a Central Bedfordshire councillor for 12 years, while Councillor Malone has served for three years following her election in 2023.

As Chair, Councillor Collins will continue to preside over Full Council meetings, represent the Council at civic and ceremonial events, and support local communities and organisations across Central Bedfordshire.

During his previous year as Chair, Councillor Collins nominated Amicus Trust as his chosen charity. The charity supports people experiencing homelessness and those at risk of homelessness. Over the year, £1,238 was raised through donations, helping to support the charity’s work.

Councillor Collins has chosen Autism Bedfordshire as his nominated charity for the year ahead. The charity provides support, information and services for autistic people and their families across Bedfordshire.

Councillor Collins said:

It is a real privilege to be re-elected as Chair of Central Bedfordshire Council and to continue representing the council and our communities over the year ahead.

My sincere thanks go to everyone who supported my chosen charity, Amicus Trust, during the past year. Thanks to their generosity, over £1,200 was raised to support its valuable work.

This year, I will be supporting Autism Bedfordshire as my nominated charity and look forward to help raise awareness of the important difference it makes to local people and families.

Councillor Malone said:

I am pleased to continue as Vice Chair of Central Bedfordshire Council and to support Councillor Collins in his role as Chair.

It is a privilege to represent the council at civic events and to support the important role the Chair plays in bringing people and communities together across Central Bedfordshire.

Find out more about the duties of the Chair.

Choose You celebrates one year of supporting healthier lives across Central Bedfordshire

Wed, 13 May 2026 13:06:00 +0100

Launched in May 2025, Choose You is a free service, designed to support people to quit smoking, manage their weight, and build healthier habits that last. Over the past 12 months, the service has supported residents by providing personalised, flexible help.

In its first year, 965 Central Bedfordshire residents signed up to quit smoking, with 44% successfully quitting, helping hundreds of people to reduce the risks associated with smoking.

Meanwhile, 158 Central Bedfordshire residents, completed the programme to lose weight, with 23% successfully losing between 5% and 10% of their overall body weight, demonstrating the positive impact of tailored lifestyle support.

Choose You offers a range of support including tailored stop smoking programmes, behavioural change support, nicotine replacement options, as well as structured healthy weight programmes to help people make gradual, sustainable lifestyle changes. The service also signposts people to additional support, such as mental wellbeing, drugs and alcohol support, or sexual health services, where needed.

Residents can refer themselves directly, or be referred by a healthcare professional, making it easier than ever to access help at the right time.

Councillor Mark Smith, our Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said:

Choose You has shown just how powerful the right kind of support can be. By offering practical, personalised help, the service has enabled residents to make positive changes to their health. We are proud of what has been achieved and, as we move into our second year, we want to help even more people quit smoking, manage their weight and maintain healthier lifestyles.

Throughout its first year, the service has focused on removing barriers that can prevent people from prioritising their health. Choose You offers compassionate, non‑judgemental support to help people make achievable changes at their own pace.

Vicky Head, Director of Public Health, said:

When we launched Choose You, our goal was to provide residents with practical, accessible support to help them quit smoking and lose weight. In just one year, the service has made a real difference, supporting people to take those first steps towards better health. As we build on this success, we remain committed to ensuring residents continue to have access to high‑quality, free support to help them make positive, lasting changes and live longer, healthier lives.

The impact of the service can be seen through the real experiences of people who have taken part.

Amelia lost over 15kg through the healthy weight programme, describing it as “not a diet, but a way of living”. For Amelia she said the key was “Never missing a class. Every week, I learned something new”.

View Amelia’s story.

David who had smoked for four decades said:

It was nice to have the encouragement and know that you aren’t on your own.

For David what really helped him was the connection, consistency, and compassion he received from the service.

View David’s story.

We deliver Choose You in partnership with Bedford Borough Council and Milton Keynes City Council.

Foster carers recognised

Tue, 12 May 2026 13:45:00 +0100

The event took place on Saturday 9 May at Houghton Regis Leisure and Community Centre, with adults and children attending a Hollywood themed celebration day focused on recognising the foster carers’ commitment to supporting children and young people across the area.

The celebration also gave families an opportunity to connect and enjoy activities including a children’s entertainer, soft play and a colouring mat. All children were invited to take a sequin crown or tie to add to the glamour of the day!

We presented long service awards to 15 households, recognising milestones of 5, 10 and 15 years of fostering. Together, the awards represented 105 years of cumulative service, highlighting the lasting contribution foster carers make by providing stable, supportive and nurturing homes for children and young people.

Natalie, who has been fostering since 2018, and attended the celebration event, said:

I’ve fostered 6 children – 4 have now been adopted which is so rewarding as you’re seeing people become family, but can be emotional.

On how she started fostering, Natalie said:

I saw an advert online and wanted to help give children somewhere to call home. There was a lot of support available and I’m glad I did it. I don’t know who I’d be without fostering, and I’ll carry on for as long as I can.

Councillor Gareth Mackey, our Executive Member for Children’s Services said:

Foster carers make an extraordinary difference to the lives of children and young people by providing the stability, encouragement and compassion they need to thrive. Through their care, they create safe and nurturing homes where children feel valued, supported and able to build confidence for the future.

These awards are a recognition not only of years of dedicated service, but of the lasting impact our foster carers have on the lives of children every single day. We are incredibly grateful for their dedication and kindness, and for the vital support they continue to provide to children and young people across Central Bedfordshire.

Find out how you can foster a child in Central Bedfordshire.

Have your say on proposal for a new Linmere ward

Tue, 12 May 2026 10:19:00 +0100

The consultation, which opens on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, focuses on how Linmere should be represented as it continues to grow into a distinct and established community within Houghton Regis.

Linmere is a major new development that, once complete, will be comparable in size to a small town. Through this consultation, the Council is seeking views on whether creating a new ward would provide dedicated representation at town council level and help ensure local decision-making reflects the needs of residents and businesses.

Councillor John Baker, our Executive Member for Finance, said:

Linmere is growing fast and developing a strong identity. It’s only right that the community has a clear voice and dedicated representation. This consultation is your chance to shape how Linmere is represented - so I’d encourage everyone to get involved and have their say.

Residents and businesses can take part in the consultation until Tuesday, 9 June 2026.

Have your say online at: www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations

Or request a paper copy by calling 0300 300 8000 or emailing consultations@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.

Final recommendations will be considered by the Council’s General Purposes Committee on 25 June 2026, before going to Full Council on 16 July 2026.

Local families invited to drop-in sessions for funded childcare support

Thu, 07 May 2026 14:47:00 +0100

We'll be visiting local libraries to help families understand their eligibility for funded places for 2-year-olds, apply for childcare funding, and find suitable childcare.

The sessions are free to attend, with no appointment needed, and aim to make it easier for families to access the support available to them.

Councillor Gareth Mackey, our Executive Member for Children’s Services, said:

We know that navigating childcare options and understanding what support you’re entitled to can sometimes feel overwhelming. These drop-in sessions are a great opportunity for families to get clear, friendly advice and help them access funded childcare that works for them and their children.

Families can attend any of the following sessions:

Tuesday 12 May, from 9:30am to 11am at Dunstable Library
Tuesday 19 May, from 10:30am to midday at Stotfold Library
Wednesday 3 June, from 9:30am to 11am at Biggleswade Library
Thursday 11 June, from 2pm to 3:15pm at Sandy Library
Friday 3 July, from 9:30am to midday at Leighton Buzzard Library

Parents/carers will need to bring their National Insurance (NI) number with them, to help support applications.

Help shape the future of Central Bedfordshire – Local Plan scoping consultation now open

Wed, 06 May 2026 13:50:00 +0100

The Local Plan is an important document that sets out the vision and framework for future development across Central Bedfordshire up to 2050. It will help plan for the homes, jobs and infrastructure the area needs, while making sure growth is supported by the right facilities and services and the environment is protected as much as possible.

Without a Local Plan, development will still happen, but it is more likely to take place in locations we would consider unsuitable. A Local Plan still means development, but it gives us and communities more say over where, and how, that development happens.

In 2024, we asked residents what was important in making somewhere a great place to live and what they wanted to see included in the Local Plan. Since then, the government has introduced changes to national planning policy and guidance through the National Planning Policy Framework, which the new Local Plan must reflect.

The process for preparing Local Plans has also changed. New legislation introduced by the government in March 2026 now requires us to hold a formal scoping consultation as part of plan making.

This consultation is another opportunity for residents and organisations to help shape the new Local Plan before it is written. At this stage, we're not making decisions about specific development sites but is asking for views on the key issues facing the area.

The consultation does not replace the earlier engagement work already carried out. Instead, it gives us an opportunity to confirm whether the issues raised previously remain important, and to ask new questions that will help inform engagement in the next stages of the Local Plan.

Feedback from the scoping consultation will help us test and develop the plan to make sure it reflects the priorities of communities across Central Bedfordshire, including housing, the environment, infrastructure and climate change.

Councillor Adam Zerny, Leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, said:

It's vital that with any new housing the council protects the character of our communities and our environment as much as possible. The new Local Plan also helps make sure the homes, jobs and infrastructure come about in the right places. This scoping consultation is another important opportunity for residents and businesses to help influence the Local Plan as it develops. We want to hear whether the issues and priorities identified so far, are the right ones, to make sure the Local Plan reflects what matters most to our communities.

We expect to have the new Local Plan in place in 2028.

Find out more about our new Local Plan.

Housing Matters – April 2026

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:14:00 +0100

Your home, your rights: have your say

We’re updating your tenancy agreement – tell us what you think

Your tenancy agreement is one of the most important documents linked to your home. It sets out your rights, your responsibilities, and what you can expect from us as your landlord.

We provide around 5,600 council homes, and every tenant has a tenancy agreement in place. It covers key things like your right to stay in your home, how your rent works, and the services you should receive. It also helps us make sure homes are managed fairly, safely and consistently for everyone.

From time to time, we review this agreement to make sure it stays clear, up to date and fit for purpose. We are now proposing some updates, focused on making it easier to understand, fairer for all tenants, and clearer about what you can expect from us. Just as importantly, these changes are about helping you feel secure and confident in your home.

A six-week consultation is now open, and we want to hear from you.

This is your opportunity to look at the proposed changes and tell us what you think before any decisions are made. Your tenancy agreement affects your day-to-day life, so it’s important that it reflects what matters to the people who live in our homes.

The consultation runs until Tuesday 19 May.

You can read a summary of the proposed changes and take part.

Once the consultation closes, all feedback will be carefully reviewed and shared with the Landlord Assurance Board. If agreed, the updated tenancy agreement will come into effect from summer 2026.

Taking part only takes a few minutes, but it’s a valuable way to make sure your voice is heard and to help shape the services you receive.

Working in your neighbourhoods: Downside and Spoondell

Working together to make our neighbourhoods cleaner and brighter

April was a busy month for our Neighbourhood Operations Team, who delivered two successful CleanUP Days in Spoondell (8 April) and the Downside estate (10 April). These events are part of our ongoing commitment to improving shared spaces around our homes and supporting residents to feel proud of where they live.

Across both days, teams came together to tackle issues that matter most to residents, including fly-tipping, littering and dog fouling. With support from colleagues across the Housing Service and our partners, we were able to make a real and visible difference. In total, eight caged van loads of bulky waste and litter – around 28 tonnes – were removed, helping to transform these areas.

But these days are about much more than just cleaning up. They are also an opportunity to connect with residents, listen to their experiences and offer support where it’s needed.

In Spoondell, our Tenant Involvement Team were on site throughout the day, speaking directly with residents and gathering feedback through face-to-face conversations. This led to six completed tenant surveys, giving us valuable insight into residents’ views and helping to shape future services, while also identifying where additional support may be needed.

Our teams spent time out on the estates sharing advice on waste disposal, highlighting services. We were especially pleased to see residents taking part, whether through conversations on the doorstep or by getting involved in litter picking. This kind of community spirit is what helps make our neighbourhoods stronger, safer and more welcoming for everyone.

We also used the opportunity to identify and report repairs, as well as look at ways we can improve estate design to reduce anti-social behaviour and make spaces easier to maintain. Alongside this, our Dog Warden iinstalled new signage to promote responsible pet ownership and help keep shared areas clean.

By working together with residents and partners, we are continuing to build cleaner, greener neighbourhoods that everyone can take pride in.

A great afternoon meeting tenants in Leighton Buzzard

We held a free drop-in event for tenants in April

It was fantastic to see so many tenants and leaseholders drop in to our recent Housing Service event in Leighton Buzzard on 15 April.

The session gave residents the chance to meet members of the Housing team in a relaxed, informal setting, and it was great to spend time chatting over a cup of tea, answering questions and hearing directly about people’s experiences.

Colleagues were on hand to help with a range of queries, including housing management and repairs, while our Tenant Involvement Team spoke with residents about how they can get more involved and have a say in shaping services. These face-to-face conversations help us to better understand what’s working well and where we can improve.

Events like this are all about making it easier for tenants to connect with us. Whether it’s raising an issue, asking a question, or simply sharing feedback, we want to be accessible and available in ways that work for our residents.

Thank you to everyone who came along and took the time to speak with us. We look forward to hosting more events like this in the future and continuing those important conversations.

We want your feedback on complaints

You may be contacted by an independent company to share your experience

If you’ve recently received a response to a complaint you raised through our formal complaints process, you may be contacted by an independent company called Acuity.

Acuity works with us to gather feedback on how we handle complaints. They will ask a few short questions about your experience, helping us understand what we’re doing well and where we can improve.

If you are contacted, the call will come from 01582 323045. Calls are made between:

9am and 8pm on weekdays
10am and 6pm at weekends

If you miss the call, a recorded message will be left.

Taking part is completely voluntary, and your feedback will not affect your tenancy or the services you receive. Your views help us improve how we respond to complaints and support our tenants.

Things work better when you’re involved

Make your voice heard and help shape your housing service

We would like to recruit 3 more tenants or leaseholders to our Landlord Assurance Board, to help improve housing services in Central Bedfordshire.

From our repairs service to the work we do to look after your neighbourhood, you know what works well and where things could be improved.

As part of the Landlord Assurance Board, tenants work alongside senior housing staff and councillors to review performance, ask questions and help shape how services are run. If you join the Landlord Assurance Board, you will:

be part of discussions about what’s working and where changes are needed
help make sure tenants’ views are heard
be part of conversations about how services are run and improved
have the opportunity to ask questions directly to senior housing staff

We’ll provide training and support, and we'll cover reasonable expenses. There are 6 meetings a year. Support with digital access is available if needed, such as a contribution towards IT equipment or broadband costs.

Find out more about the Landlord Assurance Board.

We are particularly keen to welcome members with experience in housing, building and construction, health and safety, social work or health, finance, law, business, or community voluntary organisations.

Sound like something you'd be interested in? Email us, and we'll arrange to get in touch with you and have chat: housingregulation@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.

There are lots of opportunities to get involved!

If you’re not sure about joining the Landlord Assurance Board, there are plenty of other ways to get involved, depending on how much time you have.

Whether it’s taking part in a quick survey, joining a one-off session, or getting more involved through regular meetings or groups, there are options to suit everyone.

Find out more about how to get involved.

Other opportunities to talk to us!

Upcoming events for our tenants – get involved!

We really value opportunities to keep in touch with our tenants, and our drop-in sessions are a simple way to do just that. They’re informal, welcoming sessions where you can speak directly with members of the housing team about anything on your mind.

If you’ve got a query about your home, would like some guidance, or simply want to check in with us, please feel free to come along. There’s no need to book – just drop by at a time that suits you and we’ll be happy to help.

We hope to see you at one of the upcoming sessions and look forward to catching up with you. View a full list of dates and events.

Wednesday 6 May 2026 from 10am to 11am

Coffee meeting, Crescent Court Communal Room, The Crescent, Toddington, LU5 6DY

Monday 11 May from 11:30am to 1:30pm

Housing Information Hub, The Dunstable Centre, Dunstable, LU5 4JD

Tuesday 12 May from 2pm to 3pm

Coffee meeting, Baker Street Communal Room, Baker Street, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1BL

Wednesday 20 May from 9am to 11am

Housing Information Hub, Houghton Regis Library, Bedford Square, Houghton Regis, LU5 5ES

Thursday 28 May from 3pm to 5pm

Housing Information Hub, Ground Floor Library Building, Lake Street, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1RX

Friday 29 May from 11am to midday

Coffee meeting, Gale Court, Hexton Road, Barton-le-Clay, MK45 4LH

Have you heard about social care’s best kept secret?

Find out more about Shared Lives at 2 upcoming events

Shared Lives is social care’s best-kept secret. It’s where people with additional needs don’t just receive support but become part of a household. They build confidence, independence and a genuine sense of belonging by living with a family in their home.

For Shared Lives carers, it can become one of the most meaningful things they ever do.

Clare, a person who is supported through Shared Lives in Central Bedfordshire, described the service as:

It’s like having another family. You don’t have to pretend to be someone else. You can just be yourself. Shared Lives is about being part of someone’s home and family. It’s not living by yourself in your own flat, or a care home, it’s different, it’s being part of a home where you are helped and supported.

To find out more about Ategi Shared Lives and learn how you can become a Shared Lives carer there will be information stands held at:

Grove View reception area: Wednesday 6 May, between 10am and 1pm
Dunstable Centre reception area: Wednesday 6 May, between 2pm and 4pm

Find out more about Shared Lives in Central Bedfordshire and how to become a carer.

Learn more about the Ategi Shared Lives service.

Share your views with us!

Help us continue to improve our housing service

We want to make sure you can contact us in the way that works best for you, and your views are essential to this process.

Take our short survey and tell us how you prefer to communicate. Whether you're happy with how things are now, or you think we could do better, we want to hear from you. Take part in the survey.

We’re always looking for ways to improve, but we can’t fix what we don’t know about. Your feedback helps us make things better for everyone.

Comments, compliments, complaints and service requests

Having your voice heard and providing your feedback is valuable to us. There are lots of ways that you can have your say about our housing service.

Comments

Often people want to suggest improvements to services. If you make a suggestion, we will record this as a comment.

Compliments

If you tell us about a service that has been good or a member of staff who has been helpful, we will record this as a compliment and share your praise with those involved.

Service requests

A service request is a request by you for us to take action to put something right. Service requests are not complaints, but we record them, monitor, and review them for learning and improvements. If we consider the issue raised to be a service request, we will ask the relevant team to reply to you directly.

Complaints

You can complain if you are affected by the way we provide services. Common examples of complaints are delay; poor record keeping; failure to act; failure to follow procedure or the law; poor communication; behaviour of our staff (also called officers); or giving out misleading information.

You can provide any of the above feedback by contacting housing.feedback@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or you can contact us online.

Children’s bike collection returns to Houghton Regis to support young riders

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:00:00 +0100

The initiative aims to give pre-loved bikes a new lease of life by passing them on to local children who might not otherwise have access to one. The collection builds on the success of previous events, which have already helped distribute around 25 bikes to local schools and young people.

Donated bikes have been used by schools to support Bikeability training, encourage active play, and help pupils travel to school more independently. Feedback from schools highlights the positive impact the scheme has had:

Clare Lewis, Headteacher at Lime Tree Academy said:

I can’t thank you enough on behalf of the children. Your generosity has been amazing. The bikes are used on the field at lunchtimes, and Bikeability training has been very successful. We’re now looking forward to ‘learn to ride’ sessions.

Pix Brook Academy added:

We are so grateful for the donated bikes. They not only help keep our students active but also give them the opportunity to develop independence.

Esland School also welcomed the initiative:

Some of our pupils had never learned to ride. Thanks to these donations, they can now begin developing this essential life skill and will soon undertake Bikeability training.

Tracy Wye, Executive Member for Sustainability, said:

This is a fantastic example of how a simple act of donation can make a real difference in our communities. By giving a child access to a bike, we’re not only supporting their health and wellbeing, but also helping them build confidence, independence and essential life skills. I’d encourage anyone with an unused children’s bike to bring it along and help us continue this positive work.

This latest collection is focused solely on children’s bikes, ensuring more young people can benefit from safe, accessible cycling opportunities.

Further details will be available via The Hub’s website ahead of the event.

Serious housing fraud uncovered at Central Bedfordshire Council

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:24:00 +0100

A former council employee, Kanyin Jolaosho, formerly of Carroll Drive, Bedford, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of housing‑related fraud, committed over the course of his employment, involving losses totalling £39,812.85.

Jolaosho appeared at Luton Crown Court where he was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to pay costs of £3,850. He also received 200 hours unpaid work and 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement days. His actions were described as ‘despicable’ by the judge.

The case was referred to the Council’s Fraud Team after staff concerns were raised about Jolaosho’s activities whilst undertaking his job as a Senior Housing Officer, often dealing with vulnerable homeless people.

Investigators discovered that Jolaosho manipulated council systems and processes to undertake the frauds, which included diverting tenants’ rent payments that were due to be paid to the council, diverting tenants’ deposits and a fake landlord incentive payment.

The Council are also pursuing recovery action to reclaim the stolen funds. Affected tenants and landlords have not been left out of pocket, with swift action taken to replace any identified losses.

Following the investigation the Council has conducted a rigorous review of processes put in place to prevent fraud.

Cllr John Baker, Executive Member for Finance, said:

The Council takes any fraud extremely seriously. These offences represented a serious abuse of position and a breach of the trust placed in council staff. Importantly, swift action was taken to ensure no tenant or landlord was out of pocket and funds were repaid.

Young people help shape SEND services at pioneering new education centre

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:20:00 +0100

Our Youth Voice event, held at the purpose‑built ‘SENse the Safari’ facility, was the first of its kind at the centre and brought together pupils from Parkfields School, members of Biggleswade SEND Youth Club and youth support professionals, including from the Children’s Society, to share lived experience, ideas and insight.

The workshop focused on how services can better meet the needs of children and young people with SEND, including improvements to our SEND Local Offer. Young people shared what information matters most to them, how they want it presented, and what would make services easier to navigate.

The event also reflects our wider ambition to influence SEND inclusion beyond statutory partnerships, working with community organisations and local destinations to shape environments that are welcoming, accessible and responsive to SEND needs, while creating consistent opportunities for young people to influence decision‑making both within our services and across community settings, to help shape services that affect their lives.

The new SEND education centre at Woburn Safari Park provided an inclusive and supportive environment for the event. Designed specifically for children and young people with SEND, the facility includes sensory and decompression spaces and sensory resources contributed by us, adaptable work areas, accessible outdoor learning spaces and hands‑on activities linked to animal care and nature.

We supported the development of the centre through specialist input from the Early Years SEND team to support sensory resources, acknowledged within the building.

Our Executive Member for Children and Families, Councillor Gareth Mackey, said:

Listening to children and young people with SEND and acting on what they tell us is essential if we are to deliver services that genuinely work for families. This doesn’t stop at statutory services — it’s about influencing the places and experiences families access every day.

This event showed exactly how powerful youth voice can be, especially when it’s done in the right environment, and Woburn Safari Park’s ‘SENse the Safari’ facility is a wonderful new addition to the local area. We’re incredibly grateful to the young people who shared their views so honestly and to the colleagues and partners who made the day such a success.

The SEND education centre will be used by specialist schools, alternative provision settings and local authorities, supporting learning opportunities, short breaks and inclusive holiday activities.

More SEND Youth Voice events are planned, ensuring young people continue to have active, regular opportunities to influence service design and improvement across Central Bedfordshire.

New SEMH primary school giving pupils a place to ‘feel supported, understood and able to learn'

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:25:00 +0100

A ribbon‑cutting ceremony and tour took place to mark the opening and success of the Larwood School satellite site on Beech Road, Dunstable. It is an interim setting, while refurbishment works are carried out at the long-term home for the school, on the former Pulloxhill Lower School site, a council-owned asset well-suited to educational use.

The new school places are expected improve outcomes for children and families, while reducing transport costs and saving us between £1.24 million and £2.6 million annually, compared to the cost of independent placements.

Designed to meet pupils’ individual social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs, the school provides small class sizes, carefully planned spaces and a nurturing setting that helps children feel safe, understood and ready to learn. For many pupils, this means shorter journeys, greater routine, and being educated closer to their families and communities.

One pupil, Olivia, said:

This school is way better than my old school. It is fun and I have lots of friends.

While William said:

I am doing really well. I enjoy coming to school now.

Elijah added:

I am happy here because it is fun.

Nanku said:

I like the school, everything is good.

And Stanley added:

I like this school because every Friday we have activities.

The school has been created by repurposing a previously empty school building, allowing us to respond quickly to urgent demand for SEMH provision and ensure children were able to access specialist places without delay.

After cutting the ribbon at the new school, Councillor Gareth Mackey, our Executive Member for Families and Children, said:

What matters most is the difference this school is already making to pupils’ lives. Children now have a place where they feel supported, understood and able to learn in a way that works for them, which outlines our commitment to addressing quality local provision, closer to where people live.

By acting quickly and bringing an empty school building back into use, we’ve been able to create a high‑quality SEMH setting at pace and giving families reassurance that the right support is in place.

The school operates as a satellite of Larwood School and is run by Brighter Futures Educational Trust. It reflects our child‑first approach to SEND reform, expanding local provision so children can access high‑quality support close to home, improve their outcomes, and avoid unnecessary long journeys or placement away from their communities.

Pierre van der Merwe, Executive Headteacher at Brighter Futures Educational Trust, said:

We are incredibly proud of our staff and pupils, who together have created a positive, supportive and purposeful environment where children can have meaningful and successful experiences of education.

Our staff are dedicated, professional and unwavering in keeping pupils at the forefront of everything they do. As a Trust, we are delighted to be working in partnership with Central Bedfordshire Council and see this as the beginning of a strong and effective relationship. This partnership will create further opportunities to provide high-quality placements for pupils, meeting their needs and setting them up for future success.

We will continue to work with schools, trusts and families to ensure children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can access the right provision, in the right place, at the right time.

Archaeology discoveries older than first thought as Sutton to host landmark event

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:49:00 +0100

A remarkably well-preserved and substantial pottery kiln uncovered beneath Sutton Primary School, which was originally thought to date from the Tudor period, is now believed to have been in operation between the late 14th to the early 15th-century, during the late medieval era – more than a century before the Tudors came to power.

And now, residents are invited to a special one‑night event on Tuesday 12 May, from 6:30pm until 8pm, to celebrate one of Central Bedfordshire’s most significant archaeological finds, hear about the latest findings – and take home a piece of pottery.

The discovery was made in late 2024 during ground investigations ahead of the construction of a new multi‑use sports pitch at Sutton Primary School. As part of the planning process, our archaeology service, Albion Archaeology, carried out exploratory works. What the team found exceeded all expectations.

The kiln is believed to have supplied pots to Sutton and surrounding settlements and would once have been capped with a dome to retain heat and enable large‑scale pottery production.

During the excavation, more than 180 large buckets were filled with pottery and tile fragments, which meant over a tonne of material was found on site, amounting to more than 30,000 pieces once fully processed. While no complete pots were recovered, specialists believe this is because only broken or discarded items would have remained when the kiln was abandoned.

At the time of the dig, we committed to keeping the Sutton community closely involved in the next stages of the story. That promise will be fulfilled at the May event, where residents will be able to:

hear a talk from archaeologists about the excavation and what it has revealed
learn how the finds are reshaping understanding of local medieval industry
meet representatives from Potton History Society
view pottery from the site and receive a small fragment to take home as a memento

Councillor Tracey Wye, our Executive Member for Sustainability and Climate Resilience, said:

This discovery was already an important one, but to learn what was unearthed is a century older than first thought is remarkable and gives Sutton an extraordinary and very tangible link to its medieval past. What began as routine planning work, to provide Sutton Primary School with new sporting facilities, turned into a find of real national interest, and it’s vital that the community where it was uncovered remains at the heart of the story.

Events like this show how development, heritage and community can go hand in hand. We are proud of the work carried out by Albion Archaeology service and proud that Sutton residents will now be able to reconnect with this remarkable piece of local history.

The Sutton kiln has also contributed to a wider understanding of Bedfordshire’s historic pottery industry.

David Ingham, Albion Archaeology Project Manager, said:

This project has been a great opportunity for Sutton's villagers to see their heritage for themselves, and to give dozens of volunteers from across Bedfordshire some rare hands-on experience of archaeology as they helped to wash and process all the material from the dig.

We already knew that medieval pottery was made at Everton, but finding a large kiln producing similar pottery three miles away at Sutton suggests that this area of Central Bedfordshire played a much more significant part in the region's medieval pottery industry than we previously realised. The kiln was probably used at some point in the decades following the Black Death.

From 27 April, some of the finds will also form part of a six‑month museum exhibition at The Higgins Bedford, exploring medieval and Roman kiln sites across the county.

The Sutton Village Hall event on 12 May is open to all residents, with no booking required.

Young musicians from Central Bedfordshire shine at Battle of the Bands

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:42:00 +0100

The event, organised by the BLMK Music Hub and held at The Stables in Milton Keynes, brought together bands from across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes following a series of local heats.

Representing Central Bedfordshire were Avenida from Queensbury Academy, Life Before Seatbelts from Harlington Upper School, and Dynasty from Vandyke Upper School.

The regional final gave students the opportunity to perform on a professional stage in front of a live audience, with access to industry-standard sound, lighting and production. Following a strong line-up of performances from across the region, the overall winners were Edith Dog from Bedford Modern School, with LYRA from Luton taking second place.

Councillor Gareth Mackey, our Executive Member for Children’s Services, said:

It’s great to see young people from Central Bedfordshire getting the chance to take part in something like this and perform on a bigger stage. Well done to all the students who took part. Taking part in events like this is an achievement in itself, and our bands did themselves and their schools proud. I was immensely proud of the bands representing Central Bedfordshire! I am sure we will see more of them in years to come and would encourage them to 'rock on’!

Music plays an important role in helping young people build confidence, express themselves and connect with others. Through Inspiring Music, we are committed to making sure young people continue to have access to opportunities like this, supporting them to develop their skills and progress as musicians.

Inspiring Music provides opportunities for young people across Central Bedfordshire to learn, perform and develop their musical skills, supporting their progression from local sessions to regional events such as Battle of the Bands and Beds Band Factory.

Most Central Bedfordshire children secure preferred primary school place on National Offer Day 2026

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:32:00 +0100

Today (Thursday 16 April) on National Primary Offer Day, 90% of children starting primary school in September have been offered their first choice of school.

Families applying for other school stages have also seen very positive outcomes. 88% of children applying for a middle school place were offered their first preference, while 100% of those applying for a junior school place received their preferred school.

Parents and carers who submitted their application by the national closing date of 15 January will receive confirmation of their offer by email on Thursday 16 April.

Our Executive Member for Children and Families, Councillor Gareth Mackey, said:

I am really pleased that so many families have been offered a place at their preferred school. Starting school is a hugely important milestone for children and their parents, and we know how important it is to have confidence in the place your child will attend.

These results reflect the hard work of our School Admissions Team and our continued planning with schools across Central Bedfordshire to ensure we can meet local demand and support children to get the best possible start to their education.

Find out more about school admissions, including what to do if you're not able to accept the offer or appeal an offer.

Woman prosecuted for illegally sub-letting social housing property

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:47:00 +0100

Rhona Fry, aged 28, previously of Marshalls Avenue, Shillington, held a tenancy at an Amplius Housing Association property. However, in February 2025, it was found that she had been illegally sub-letting the property for at least 12 months after leaving the Central Bedfordshire area completely.

She was invited to attend an interview under caution, but failed to do so.

At Luton Magistrates Court on Friday 13 March, Ms Fry was prosecuted in her absence. She was ordered to to pay a total of £14,470, comprising £1,070 in costs, an Unlawful Profit Order of £11,400, and a £2,000 victim surcharge.

The Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 makes it a criminal offence for Housing Association and Council Tenants to sublet their property.

Cllr Steven Watkins, Executive Member for Business, Housing and Public Assets from Central Bedfordshire Council, said:

It is completely unacceptable for anyone to misuse social housing by subletting a social housing property illegally. Social housing is a vital and limited resource that must be available to those who genuinely need it. Unlawfully subletting a social home is a criminal offence, and we will not hesitate to take action where we find that people are abusing the system.

We will continue to investigate suspected cases of housing fraud and take appropriate enforcement action to help make sure homes go to residents and families who are waiting for them and need them most.

Ms Fry's former property has since been returned to Amplius, so it can be allocated to someone on the housing waiting list.

Central Bedfordshire agrees refreshed SEND Strategy to improve support for children and young people

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:55:00 +0100

It sets out how the authority and local partners will work together over the next three years to improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND and their families.

The SEND Strategy 2025–2028 has been shaped by engagement with children and young people, parent carers and partners across education, health and social care. It sets out a shared commitment to providing earlier help, clearer communication, more inclusive practice in mainstream settings and stronger accountability across the local SEND system.

The strategy recognises the increasing demand for SEND services and the growing complexity of need, and sets out a whole-system approach to making sure children and young people get the right support at the right time.

Over the next three years, the strategy will focus on improving early intervention, strengthening support in mainstream schools and settings, ensuring specialist provision is available where needed, supporting smoother transitions into adulthood, and using data and partnership working to drive continuous improvement.

A key theme from engagement with families was the need for services to be easier to navigate, better joined up and more responsive to children and young people’s individual needs. These priorities are reflected throughout the strategy and will help shape delivery over the coming years.

Significant work is already underway to improve support for children and young people with SEND. This includes strengthening support in mainstream schools through enhanced SEND advisory services, expanded access to speech and language support and the development of Team Around the School approaches that bring services together more effectively.

There is also a renewed emphasis on early identification and intervention, backed by training and support for school staff so they can meet a wider range of needs within their settings. This work is being supported by a refreshed, more action-focused governance structure, with SNAP Parent Carer Forum and partners across education, health and care playing a central role in driving improvement, strengthening oversight and ensuring accountability across the SEND system.

These early steps are making a difference. They are helping needs to be identified earlier, improving the coordination of support for children and families, and increasing schools’ confidence in meeting a wider range of needs. As a result, schools and settings are increasingly able to respond more quickly, helping to prevent needs from escalating and supporting more children to stay in their local school with the right support in place.

Our executive Member for Children and Families, Councillor Gareth Mackey, said:

Every child and young person deserves the chance to thrive and achieve their potential. This refreshed SEND Strategy sets out our shared commitment with partners to improve support for children and families across Central Bedfordshire.

We know families want services that are easier to understand, better connected and more responsive. This strategy is about working together across education, health and care to provide earlier support, improve communication and strengthen accountability so that children and young people with SEND can get the help they need to achieve their aspirations.

Council approves new support services for vulnerable children and families

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:48:00 +0100

The proposals for new contracts, which will come into effect in April 2027 for three years, with an option to extend for a further two years, will ensure continued investment in specialist education, safety support and stable care placements when they need them.

One of the largest parts of the programme will focus on young people who cannot currently access mainstream education because of illness, exclusion or additional needs. Specialist providers will offer tailored education programmes designed to help children regain confidence in learning and, where possible, return to school.

These placements might include small group teaching, vocational learning such as construction or mechanics, outdoor learning programmes or one-to-one support for pupils with complex needs.

Demand for this type of support has grown significantly in recent years across the country. In Central Bedfordshire the number of specialist providers working with the Council has increased from 23 to 49 since 2023, helping ensure more young people can access suitable education.

Councillor Gareth Mackey, our Executive Member for Children and Families, said the plans were designed to ensure children and families could access the right help at the right time.

We want every child in Central Bedfordshire to have the opportunity to thrive, but we know that some families need extra support along the way. These plans are about making sure that help is there when it’s needed.

The plans will also strengthen domestic abuse support services across Bedfordshire, delivered in partnership with neighbouring councils and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Support available to families includes safety planning, specialist advice, advocacy, counselling and therapy, as well as practical help such as finding safe accommodation and rebuilding independent lives. Children affected by domestic abuse will also be able to access play therapy and specialist support.

Around £400,000 of government funding is provided each year to support these services locally, alongside additional investment from the Council.

Another key part of the plans focuses on children in care who cannot live at home. While most children are supported through fostering or family arrangements, some young people need the specialist care and support provided in residential children’s homes.

Central Bedfordshire currently has 22 young people living in residential care. The Council is working with other local authorities across the eastern region increase number of local foster carers and improve access to high-quality homes and reduce the number of children who have to move long distances away from their communities.

Cllr Mackey added:

Where children cannot live with their families, it’s vital they receive the care and stability they need. By working with other Councils, we can improve the availability of good quality placements and make sure young people are supported as close to home as possible.

Council launches consultation on proposed fees and charges increase

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:05:00 +0100

Residents, businesses and service users are being invited to have their say as Central Bedfordshire Council launches a six-week consultation on proposed changes to some of its fees and charges.

The consultation will open on Wednesday, 8 April 2026 and run for six weeks, closing at midnight on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, giving people the opportunity to review the proposals and provide feedback before any final decisions are made.

Like many councils across the country, the authority is facing significant financial pressures. Changes to government funding mean the council expects to receive £17 million less than required for 2026/27, while the cost of delivering services continues to rise.

Although fees and charges are typically increased annually in line with inflation, most recently by 3.8% in April 2026, wider cost pressures have grown at a faster rate. Over the past five years, increases in wages, National Insurance contributions, pensions and service delivery costs have outpaced inflation-linked fee rises.

During this period:

fees and charges have increased by 25.3%
the Consumer Price Index has risen by 27.9%
average wages have increased by 31.9%

To help address the funding gap and to help maintain and support vital local services, the council is proposing a further 6.2% increase to some fees and charges from July 2026.

The proposed changes cover a wide range of council services. Examples include charges related to:

adult social care services
highways licences and permits
planning services
private hire and Hackney Cab operators and vehicle licences
animal and other licensing – including gambling and food premises, street trading
environmental services including pest control
room hire

Residents are encouraged to review the full list of proposed changes and complete the online survey to share their views.

Councillor John Baker, our Executive Member for Finance, said:

We know that any increase in fees and charges is not something people welcome, and we do not take these decisions lightly. However, the government's funding reduction of £40m against our budget over three years represents a significant risk to the council, and we must ensure that the cost of providing council services is covered or make significant cuts to our budget.

The proposals cover a broad range of services that residents and businesses use, which is why it’s so important that everyone has the opportunity to comment before any decisions are finalised, and I would strongly encourage everyone to take part.

The consultation will close after six weeks, and all responses will be carefully considered before recommendations are brought forward.

To take part and find out more, visit our consultations page or pick up a paper copy at a Central Bedfordshire library.

Six new family hubs approved across Central Bedfordshire as plan agreed to give children the best start in life

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:59:00 +0100

This follows approval of a new plan focused on improving support from pregnancy through to starting school.

The Best Start in Life programme will focus on identifying needs earlier until 2029, supporting families sooner and making services easier to access, helping more children start school ready to learn and thrive.

Aligning with the upcoming national SEND reforms, services will be brought together through a network of family hubs, offering practical support for parents including health advice, parenting groups, childcare guidance and early learning activities for young children.

The first of the new hubs will be based in Dunstable, with further locations planned for Houghton Regis, Leighton Buzzard, Flitwick, the Shefford/Stotfold/Arlesey area and Sandy/Biggleswade.

Alongside these hubs, support sessions will continue to be delivered in more than 100 community locations such as libraries, schools and parks so families can access help close to home.

Around 18,900 children aged under five live in Central Bedfordshire, and the Council says strengthening support in these early years can make a lasting difference to children’s future health, education and wellbeing.

Currently, 68.2 per cent of children locally reach a good level of development by the end of the reception year group in schools (4 to 5 year olds), which is in line with the national average, though the DfE has set a target of 75 per cent by 2028. However, the figure drops to 43 per cent for children receiving free school meals, highlighting the need for more targeted early support.

Cllr Gareth Mackey, our Executive Member for Children and Families, said:

The early years are incredibly important in shaping a child’s health, confidence and learning. This plan is about making it easier for families to find the right help at the right time, whether that’s advice for new parents, support with childcare, or activities that help young children develop and prepare for school.

By bringing services together through family hubs and community sessions, we want parents to feel supported and confident, and to make sure every child in Central Bedfordshire has the best possible start in life.

The hubs will offer a range of support for families with children aged 0-5, including antenatal advice, health visiting services, baby and toddler groups, speech and language support and guidance on accessing early education and childcare. Parenting programmes and online tools will also be available to help families support children’s development at home.

The Best Start in Life plan, which will be published by the end April, will also build on existing early years support already delivered through children’s centres, health services and community organisations. These include evidence-based parenting programmes, advice on home learning and activities designed to help children develop language, social skills and confidence before starting school.