www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk Latest News

Used electricals range launches at Thorn Turn Reuse Shop

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0100

The new initiative gives unwanted electrical items a second life so that residents can access affordable household goods and reduce waste.

Available items will include a range of reused:

kitchen appliances
entertainment equipment e.g. televisions, radios, CD players, Hi‑Fi systems
DIY tools
garden equipment such as electric lawnmowers

The electrical items in working order are safety checked, ahead of resale.

Stock will vary regularly depending on donations received, meaning residents are encouraged to visit frequently to see what is available.

Councillor Tracey Wye said:

Many electrical items still have plenty of life left in them, and by reusing and reselling them through our Thorn Turn Reuse Shop, as part of our Waste Strategy, we’re helping residents pick up affordable items while preventing usable goods from going to waste. 

This is a great example of how small changes can make a big difference to reducing waste and supporting sustainability across Central Bedfordshire. 

We hope residents will support the scheme, whether that’s by donating suitable items at our recycling centres or by visiting the shop to see what bargains they can find.

The initiative forms part of our ongoing commitment to reduce waste, increase reuse and support more sustainable living across Central Bedfordshire.

Free parenting app now available for parents of 0-to-5-year-olds in Central Bedfordshire

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:23:00 +0100

Find out more about the app – EasyPeasy

The app is now available to parents, carers and early years practitioners across Central Bedfordshire, helping families with children aged 0 to 5 turn everyday parenting moments into playful learning opportunities.

EasyPeasy brings together the best ideas, advice, and inspiration from a diverse community of parents, experts, and brands supporting families with children aged 0 to 5 during the crucial early years.

Parents can access thousands of simple, fun, and educational parenting tips and activities, tailored to their child’s age and development stage, designed to use everyday materials that families already have access to at home.

The app includes information, activities, and tips on a range of topics including:

wellbeing
bedtime
nutrition
speech and language
mindfulness

The EasyPeasy app also allows parents and carers to create and share their own parenting tips and experiences, building peer-to-peer support systems in local communities.

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

Supporting children in their early years is one of the most important things we can do as a council, and we know that parents and carers play the biggest role in helping children learn and develop.

I am really excited to see an easy-to-use resource that takes the guesswork out of supporting young children’s learning and development. The EasyPeasy app gives families easy access to practical advice, activities and ideas they can use every day at home, helping to build confidence and make learning fun.

I would encourage parents and carers of young children across Central Bedfordshire to download the app and make the most of the free support available.

Residents can download the EasyPeasy app from Apple's App Store or the Google Play store on their mobile devices now.

Improvement plan for housing services

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:25:00 +0100

Listening to this feedback, we've developed a new Housing Regulatory Improvement Strategy and Development Plan, outlining how these changes will be delivered and services strengthened.

The plan focuses on key improvements, including:

improved repairs services
stronger health and safety standards in residents’ homes
improved communication and faster complaint handling
more opportunities for tenants to influence decisions
more accurate data to support better services

This work is being delivered through 10 priority areas, including improving governance, increasing tenant involvement, strengthening data and oversight, and enhancing the overall customer experience.

We've already made significant progress in improving its landlord services. This includes completing in-depth reviews to better understand the key issues and putting plans in place to address them.

A new Landlord Assurance Board has been established to strengthen oversight, alongside the introduction of a new housing management system to support more effective service delivery.

Improvements have also been made to how repairs, complaints and safety performance is monitored and reported. At the same time, the Council has created more opportunities for tenants to share their views and help shape how services are delivered.

Building on progress already made, further improvements are underway to address key issues and embed lasting, sustainable change by December 2027.

Councillor Steve Watkins, our Executive Member for Business, Housing and Public Assets, said:

We know how important it is for our tenants to have confidence in the homes and services we provide. This plan is about making real improvements that Council's tenants will see and feel through better services, safer homes and having a strong voice in influencing decision making.

We are committed to listening, improving and making sure our landlord services meet the high standards our tenants deserve.

The improvement plan follows an inspection by the Regulator of Social Housing in early 2025, which identified areas where we needed to improve. Since then, officers have been working closely with the regulator, demonstrating clear progress and ongoing improvements.

Turning investment into impact: 3 years of exceptional delivery

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:37:00 +0100

Between April 2023 to end of March 2026, £6.1 million of government funding was invested locally. Independent evaluation showing this has delivered an estimated economic impact of £56.5 million equating to a return on investment of £9.22 for every £1 invested.

These results show how the right funding, delivered in the right way, can make a real difference to residents, businesses, and communities.

The business programme was significantly strengthened by the work of its four delivery partners; WENTA, Chamber of Commerce, Cranfield University, and the University of Bedfordshire. Their expertise, insight, and support were central to achieving strong outcomes for businesses and ensuring high‑quality delivery.

Other delivery partners, including our local training provider Bedfordshire Employment and Skills Academy (BESA), along with grant recipients that included town and parish councils and community groups, also played a vital role in delivering and promoting the programme, sharing success stories and raising its profile across the area.

Every pound of government funding was fully invested, reflecting a firm commitment to Central Bedfordshire, its businesses and communities. While the programme has come to an end, its legacy will continue to deliver benefits for years to come.

Many funded projects will continue to grow, with lasting benefits for residents, businesses, and communities. The partnerships built and insights gained will now help shape future investment and opportunities across the area.

Councillor Tracey Wye, Chair of the Partnership Board, said:

This is a real success story. The return on investment speaks for itself, but just as important are the partnerships, learning and lasting benefits it has created. I want to thank all the teams, delivery partners and stakeholders who worked so hard over the last three years in delivering an outstanding programme and leaving a legacy for our communities.

We're launching a consultation to transform Ivel Valley School

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 10:20:00 +0100

The consultation, which will begin on 22 June, will focus on proposals to deliver 20 new, purpose-built classrooms, the remodelling of 12 existing classrooms into 6 larger improved learning spaces, a hydrotherapy pool, enhanced therapeutic and sensory spaces, improved accessibility, and upgraded outdoor play areas.

This will all be designed to better support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The plan prioritises keeping the school community together on its current site, with phased construction to minimise disruption.

Families, staff and the local community will be invited to share their views on the proposed facilities, how the changes will support pupils, and the design priorities that matter most to them.

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

We want every child to have access to a learning environment that meets their needs and supports their growth.

Following recent positive discussions between school leaders, governors and Council officers, my deputy Councillor Liz Childs and I, we are pleased that a shared approach has now been agreed, which focuses on delivering high-quality facilities for children and young people while supporting the long-term future of the school.

We are keen to continue this positive work to improve the learning environment and experience for children along with giving the school’s staff a proper setting to deliver their work.

The proposed new facilities and specialist spaces are the most cost-effective solution and will be a significant step forward for Ivel Valley School, improving experiences for children and families. As we shape these plans together, the consultation will launch later this month when we will be keen to hear your views.

The statutory consultation will begin on 22 June 2026 and will run until 17 August, 2026. It will provide a formal opportunity for all stakeholders to comment before a final decision is made later this year. We will consider feedback to help refine the design and delivery of the new facilities at the school.

New Houghton Regis primary school plans move forward to support growing community

Wed, 27 May 2026 11:33:00 +0100

The proposed new school would open in September 2029 and support families living in Bidwell West, Linmere and neighbouring communities, helping ensure more children can attend a local school close to home as the area continues to grow.

The Bidwell West Primary School, Nursery and Additionally Resourced Provision, Houghton Regis report (PDF), published ahead of being presented to our Executive Committee on 2 June 2026, sets out the latest position and explains the school place planning that has determined the need for the additional places in the area.

As part of regular review of school place planning, we continually assess admissions and forecast data to understand local need. The latest information shows growing demand for primary school places in Houghton Regis and neighbouring communities, and the recommendation reflects that updated picture.

Our latest admissions data for September 2026 shows that all primary schools in Houghton Regis were full at the point of initial allocations in April this year. At the same time, thousands of new homes are still due to be completed across the wider area, adding further neeed to develop new school places.

The updated data, ongoing housing growth and changing pupil movement patterns across Central Bedfordshire, Luton and neighbouring communities have all contributed to the decision to progress plans for the new school.

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

Families rightly want confidence that there will be good quality local school places available for their children as communities grow.

We know how important the Bidwell West school is for local residents and we are pleased to be moving these plans forward.

Houghton Regis and the surrounding area continue to see significant housing growth and the latest admissions information shows that demand for places is increasing.

This proposed new school would not only help meet that demand, it would also create modern facilities for children and families and support the long-term future of education in the area.

We want to continue working closely with schools, local communities, ward councillors and stakeholders as the plans progress.

The report also explains that additional factors affecting demand include children being allocated places in Houghton Regis from neighbouring planning areas and outside Central Bedfordshire.

Housing Matters – May 2026

Tue, 26 May 2026 13:32:00 +0100

Landlord Assurance Board visits Oakley Green

Board members saw how work in Oakley Green is helping to improve shared spaces for residents.

Tenant members of our Landlord Assurance Board recently visited Oakley Green in Leighton Buzzard to see first-hand some of the work our Neighbourhood Operations team has been carrying out in the area.

During the visit, board members looked at the new bin stores and improved signage we have introduced to help residents recycle more easily and reduce fly-tipping. They also heard about new approaches to cleaning communal areas and saw improvements that have been made to outdoor spaces.

The visit also gave members the chance to hear more about the work we are doing to tackle dog fouling and encourage everyone to help keep shared areas clean and pleasant for all residents.

Our Landlord Assurance Board is made up of tenants, councillors and senior housing staff who work together to help improve our housing services. Board members review performance, ask questions and help make sure residents’ views are heard when decisions are made.

Visits like this help board members see our services in action and better understand the work taking place in neighbourhoods across Central Bedfordshire.

Watch the video above to find out more about the visit to Oakley Green.

What did the members of the Landlord Assurance Board think of the visit?

I've found it really ueful to be out and about learning more about the improvements the Council have made, and having that behind the scenes knowledge. It's been great to see the passion that the team has and how they're pushing for changes that will make a difference long term.

People don't believe that the Council improves the areas where they live, and from today I can see that they do... now I can tell people about these changes that have been made and the work that's been done, even though it might be a slow process. Meeting the team will help build a rapport and help us make change.

Find out more about the Landlord Assurance Board.

Enjoy summer safely in shared spaces

Please help keep communal areas safe this summer

As summer approaches, we know many children and families will be spending more time outdoors making the most of the warmer weather. However, it's really important that anything that is used during the day is cleared and safely put away at night.

Items left in communal indoor or outdoor areas may be removed. This includes paddling pools, swings, playhouses and trampolines, although this is not a full list.

Leaving play equipment or paddling pools in shared areas can create a safety risk for other residents, especially young children. Putting items away after use helps keep communal spaces safe for everyone.

Summer is also a great time for outdoor meals and barbecues. We are happy for residents to enjoy BBQs responsibly, but all items used for cooking or dining outside, including BBQs, tables and chairs, must be cleared away afterwards.

If you are using a disposable BBQ, please place it on bricks or paving slabs and never directly on grass, decking or outdoor furniture. Keep it well away from fences, sheds and anything that could catch fire.

Disposable BBQs can stay hot for a long time and may damage grass or surfaces underneath them. Please never leave a BBQ unattended, and make sure it is fully extinguished once cooking has finished and fully cooled before disposing of it safely.

Thank you for helping us keep our communities safe, tidy and enjoyable for everyone this summer.

Join us at our upcoming Community CleanUP Days

Help us keep our neighbourhoods clean, safe and welcoming for everyone

Following the success of our recent CleanUP Days in Spoondell and the Downside estate, our Neighbourhood Operations Team will soon be holding two more community clean-up events in Houghton Regis and Leighton Buzzard.

These events are part of our ongoing work to improve shared spaces around our homes and support you to feel proud of where you live. They also give you the chance to speak with our teams, raise concerns and work together to make a positive difference in their neighbourhoods.

During the events, teams will be carrying out clean-up work across the estates, tackling issues such as fly-tipping, littering and dog fouling, while also sharing advice and support around waste disposal and looking after communal areas.

Upcoming CleanUP Days:

Wednesday 27 May 2026 from 10am to 1pm, Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, LU5 5RT
Friday 29 May 2026 from 10am to 1pm, Meadow Way, Leighton Buzzard, LU7

If you live nearby, please come along and get involved! Whether it’s taking part in litter picking, speaking with staff or simply finding out more about the work happening in the area, every little bit helps.

By working together, we can help create cleaner, greener and more welcoming neighbourhoods for everyone.

Your voice can make a difference

There are lots of ways to get involved and help shape our housing services and neighbourhoods

Earlier in this issue, we shared how members of our Landlord Assurance Board visited Oakley Green to see first-hand some of the work taking place in the neighbourhood. It’s just one example of how residents can help influence and improve our housing services.

Getting involved is a chance to have your say about the things that matter to you; from repairs and cleaning to neighbourhood improvements and the services we provide every day. The feedback, ideas and experiences shared by tenants and leaseholders help us understand what’s working well and where we can do better.

You do not need special experience or lots of spare time to get involved. Whether you can spare five minutes for a survey or would like to take part in regular meetings and groups, there are different ways to take part depending on what suits you.

You could:

complete surveys and share your views
join one-off workshops or focus groups
help review services and policies
take part in resident panels and meetings
join our Landlord Assurance Board

By getting involved, you can help shape decisions, improve services for residents and make sure tenants’ voices are heard.

We’ll provide support and guidance, and we want involvement to be open to everyone.

Find out more about how to become a more involved tenant.

Update on our Housing One portal

Our new online housing portal is coming soon and will make it easier to manage your tenancy online

We have been sharing plans for Housing One, our new online customer portal designed to make it quicker and easier for you to manage your tenancy and access housing services online.

Unfortunately, we are currently experiencing some delays to the launch while we continue testing final improvements to the system, to make sure everything works smoothly and reliably from day one. The supplier has been working to repair connectivity issues they have encountered. These are impacting the speed of pages refreshing. Following the supplier's repair, further end user testing will be required. The delayed launch is planned for 31 August 2026.

Although we know many residents are keen to start using Housing One, it is important that we take the time to make sure the system works well and provides the best possible experience for tenants from day one.

Once launched, Housing One will give you secure online access to a range of housing services 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This means you will be able to manage important tasks at a time that suits you, without needing to wait for office hours.

Using Housing One, you will be able to:

pay your rent online and keep track of payments
report and track repairs
report tenancy issues, including anti-social behaviour
access your tenancy information in one place

Housing One is a major improvement to our current system, which has been in place for around 10 years and does not offer the same self-service options for tenants. The new portal has been designed with the future in mind, so we can continue improving and adding services over time.

We will continue to keep residents updated ahead of the launch, including details about how to register and start using the portal.

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.

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

Tuesday 2 June from 11am to midday

Chatty Cafe at Tactic, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1EZ

Tuesday 2 June from 11am to midday

Coffee meeting at All Saints View, Sapphire Place, Houghton Regis, LU6 5LG

Wednesday 10 June from 2pm to 3pm

Coffee meeting at Furness Avenue, Communal Room, Dunstable, LU6 3BN

Tuesday 16 June from 3pm to 5pm

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

Thursday 24 June from midday to 2pm

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

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.

Bedfordshire Minerals and Waste Plan Review – update May 2026

Fri, 22 May 2026 15:54:00 +0100

Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton councils are currently preparing a new minerals and waste plan timetable that responds to the new regulations and associated guidance.

Each council also needs to agree to commencement of the initial stages. These include a consultation on the scope of the plan and a call for sites. We expect this agreement will be provided by Executive Committee during summer 2026. Once this approval has been made, a timetable will be published and the initial consultation can be conducted.

Olympic and Paralympic sporting stars to officially open new £33.9 million Leighton Leisure and Community Centre

Fri, 22 May 2026 11:31:00 +0100

The state-of-the-art facility, operated by Everyone Active on behalf of Central Bedfordshire Council, represents a £33.9 million investment in health, wellbeing and community facilities for Leighton Buzzard and the surrounding area.

To mark the opening, residents of all ages are invited to enjoy a packed programme of free activities, tours and family entertainment throughout the day. The celebrations will also include appearances from British Olympic athletics legend Colin Jackson CBE and Paralympic swimming champion Maisie Summers-Newton MBE, who will take part in the official opening and join visitors for activities and meet-and-greet opportunities.

The new centre replaces Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre and offers a wide range of modern fitness, leisure and community facilities, including:

an eight-lane, 25-metre swimming pool
a learner pool with movable floor and a dedicated splash pool
a 150-station gym with Technogym equipment
group exercise, cycling and Reformer studios
two squash courts
wellness facilities, including hydromassage beds
three treatment rooms available for hire
community rooms and meeting spaces
a public café
two fully-accessible Changing Places facilities

The centre has been designed to be inclusive, accessible and welcoming for everyone in the community.

Councillor Steven Watkins, our Executive Member for Assets, Business and Housing, said:

We are proud to be opening our fifth new leisure centre, demonstrating our long-term commitment to improving opportunity and quality of life across our communities.

This fantastic new facility is a major investment in residents’ health and wellbeing and will provide modern, accessible spaces for people of all ages to enjoy for many years to come.

We hope residents will come along to the Family Fun Day celebrations, explore the new centre and take advantage of everything this fantastic facility has to offer.

Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre will close at midday on Friday 26 June 2026, ahead of the transition to the new facility. Existing memberships will automatically transfer to Leighton Leisure and Community Centre, with opening times remaining unchanged.

Find out more on Everyone Active's website.

Central Bedfordshire Council Leader backs bid to expand Forest of Marston Vale

Thu, 21 May 2026 17:03:00 +0100

The government recently announced plans to create two new National Forests, backed by a £1 billion investment in tree planting and nature recovery.

In a letter of support, the Leader, Councillor Adam Zerny and Councillor Tracey Wye, Executive Member for Sustainability and Climate Resilience, have responded by championing the Forest of Marston Vale Trust and its potential to play a leading role in delivering the ambitions of the new programme.

The Forest of Marston Vale Trust has spearheaded one of the most remarkable landscape transformations in England. Once a heavily industrialised area scarred by clay extraction, brickmaking and landfill, the area has seen tree coverage rise from just 3% to 17% in 3 decades, delivering significant environmental and social benefits.

Despite being the smallest community forest in England at just 61 square miles between Bedford and Milton Keynes, the Forest of Marston Vale has had an outsized impact. By planting a staggering 2.75 million trees and shrubs, the project has created pockets of accessible woodland on people’s doorsteps. These spaces connect communities with nature, providing green areas to enjoy and safe havens for wildlife. They are also helping to increase local biodiversity and tackle the effects of climate change.

Councillor Adam Zerny said:

The Forest of Marston Vale is a powerful example of how long-term planning and joint-working, and community engagement can transform a landscape and bring about huge benefits for nature and wildlife.

Our letter emphasises the Forest of Marston Vale Trust’s proven expertise in integrating woodland creation with housing growth - a critical challenge in areas like Central Bedfordshire, where significant development is underway.

Councillor Tracey Wye added:

The Forest of Marston Vale Trust is a safe pair of hands when it comes to planting, growing and managing new woodland. The restoration of the former brickwork area around Stewartby to healthy forest is nothing short of remarkable.

And the work is not just about trees and wildlife; the positive impact on people’s lives is immense with greater access to nature and volunteering opportunities.

We strongly support the Forest of Marston Vale Trust’s bid to become a delivery partner for the New National Forest. We encourage the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to build on this success and replicate the environmental, economic and community benefits already being achieved locally on a much larger scale.

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 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.

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

Complaints

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.