Local and Parish Elections will be taking place this Thursday, 2 May. This is your chance to exercise your democratic right to vote for the candidate that you want to represent your community.

You may be wondering why you should bother voting in these elections. Local councillors can influence decisions made by the local authority on all manner of issues, not just the obvious ones like bins and potholes. They deal with a diverse range of issues, from transport to leisure, from waste to social care for the elderly, from benefits to business, to name but a few. These issues have an enormous impact on your community, which is why you’re being encouraged to put your cross next to the candidate that you believe will best serve you, your family and your community.

If you registered to vote by the deadline, you should have received your polling card.

If you didn’t register, then you will be unable to vote in this election. If you wish to vote in the upcoming European Election, then make sure that you register to vote at https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

The location of your polling station will be on the back of your polling card. If you don’t have your polling card you can find out here – simply enter your post code.

For more information about voting in the 2019 Local Elections go to www.yourvotematters.co.uk/ and the Central Bedfordshire Council website.

Posted 29.4.2019
Expires 2.5.2109

Do you know anyone who is searching for employment? Recommend they come to our Job Fair on Wednesday 27 February at 10.30am – 12.30pm at Methodist Church, Ashton Square, Dunstable, LU6 3SN for an opportunity to meet local employers.

Posted: 20.2..2019
Expires: 27.2.2019

Posted: 5.2.2019
Expires: 13.2.2019

All garden waste must be contained within either the wheelie bin or garden waste sacks we provide.

Any large branches, trunks and plants should be cut down to fit inside.

Please leave your bin out by 7 am on your collection day.

You can check your scheduled garden waste collection day on our website.

Alternatively, find out more about composting. If you fancy giving it a go, we offer subsidised compost bins and accessories to all residents.

Do you have excess garden waste?

Any excess garden waste can be taken to one of our Household Waste Recycling Centres in:

• Ampthill
• Biggleswade
• Dunstable
• Leighton Buzzard

All sites are open seven days a week from 9 am to 5 pm including Bank Holidays.

Please arrive at least 10 minutes before closing time to allow enough time to unload, no waste will be accepted after that time.

Posted: 22.2..2019
Expires: 4.3.2019

Consultation

We are consulting on proposed changes to school admissions arrangements for all Community and Voluntary Controlled (VC) schools in September 2020.

The admission policy for these schools sets out the criteria in which applications will be considered if the school is oversubscribed. 

The current oversubscription criteria for most Community and Voluntary Controlled (VC) schools in Central Bedfordshire prioritises certain children such as those who are in care and children who live in the catchment area with brothers of sisters already attending the school.

The consultation proposes to add the following to the oversubscription criteria:

• Children who appear to the Local Authority to have been in state care outside of England, but are now adopted.
• Children of staff at Greenleas School, Southcott Lower, Heathwood Lower, Dunstable Icknield Lower, Fairfield Park Lower, Thomas Johnson Lower and Shefford Lower.

There is also a proposal to reduce the published admission number at Linslade Lower from 45 to 30. This was put forward by the school’s governing body in order to better manage class sizes and staffing.

You can have your say online at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/consultations until 5pm on 29 January 2019.

Posted: 8.12.2018
Expires: 29.01.2019

The service will resume as normal on Monday, 4 March 2019.

Posted: 17.10.2018
Expires: 4.3.2019

The last batches of the vaccine were delivered to GPs and pharmacies across the country last week ahead of the flu season, which usually starts in December.

12,898 older people across Central Bedfordshire didn’t take up their jab last year, despite being most vulnerable to flu’s effects. Many of those will have caught the virus and needed NHS treatment as a result.

While flu is a common ailment and many people can get over it with rest and fluids, for some people in high-risk groups, such as the elderly and those with long-term conditions, it can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications, such as pneumonia or bronchitis.

Health chiefs believe that the new vaccine could reduce GP consultations due to flu by 30,000, hospitalisations by over 2,000 and prevent over 700 hospital deaths in England, alleviating some of the health burden that seasonal flu places on the population, workplaces and the NHS.

To find out if you’re one of the 22 million people who are eligible for vaccination head to www.nhs.uk/staywell

Posted: 10.12.2018
Expires: 31.3.2019

Apply online

If your child is due to start school in September 2019, or transfer to the middle, secondary or upper school, applications are now open.

Your child is entitled to a full-time place in the September following their fourth birthday if that is your wish; though your child does not have to attend school full-time until the term after their fifth birthday.

If you are applying for a place to start school or to join a middle school, you have until Tuesday 15 January 2019 to make an application.

However, if your child is transferring to a secondary or upper school in 2019 then the deadline for applications is Wednesday 31 October 2018.

Our dedicated school admission web pages contain a wealth of other information including school catchment areas, deferred entries, making an application on religious/faith grounds and how places are allocated.

Parents and carers can also complete a paper application form – these are available from the school admissions team. Call 0300 300 8037, email admissions@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk or write to School Admissions, Central Bedfordshire Council, Watling House, High Street North, Dunstable, LU6 1LF.

This information was received directly from Central Bedfordshire Council. on 4.9.2018

Expires: 15.1.2019

Posted: 13.12.2018
Expires: 5.1.2019