The Sir Malcolm Stewart, Bart., General Charitable Trust manages the Sir Malcolm Stewart Homes in Stewartby. 

The Trust was set up by the original owners of the local brickworks to provide and manage the homes built for the brickworks workers in Stewartby.

By and large the Trust has adjusted well to the various changes in ownership of the brickworks to ensure its historical mission to ensure retired brickworks workers are well looked after. 

Unfortunately it is not doing so in one case I have. A resident of the Homes contacted me in February 2009 regarding the refusal of the Trust to their request for permission for them to have a multi-flame burner in their property. On examining the correspondence provided to me, I felt the resident has a good case for an appeal against the refusal. I immediately wrote to the Trust asking them to re-consider their refusal. 

What with the hectic three months of the election campaign and an extremely stressful time at work, I didn’t have time to look out for an early reply.  The resident recently contacted me to ask if I had received a reply. On checking my records, I was extremely disappointed to find I have not received one. With the winter months not that far away, the resident quite rightly wants to get this issue sorted out.

I have today written to the Trust asking for a prompt reply to my original letter and why it has taken so long to reply to it.

It seems I spoke too soon.

Yes, the Full Council will get the chance to have a vote if the Mayor’s Executive recommends a change to 2-Tier.

However, it became apparent at last nights Full Council meeting that the undemocratic nature of the processes of the directly-elected Mayor system will come into force, even though the Mayor wasn’t even sure last night what his own system means.

if the Full Council votes against the change, the Executive will then discuss the Council’s view. It can agree with the Council or as seems likely, it will send it back to the Council to vote again on the Executive’s view for a change to 2-Tier.

Now the undemocratic process really comes into play. Full Council has to vote by a 2/3rds majority to over-ride the Executive’s view !

I’m pleased to report that the motion was passed overwhelmingly with all the Liberal Democrat group supporting it, all the Tories supporting it and a couple of courageous Independents supporting it as well.

The Labour Group all abstained. This is better than voting against but it does betray the liberal instincts I know some of the Labour Councillors have.

What greatly dissapointed me was that the Mayor left before the debate even started. This is a shame as the motion calls upon him and his Executive to take some actions in support of the Council’s view if they so choose.

But then he copped out of attending 2-tier/3-tier school consultation meetings even though it’s him who’s pushing for the change.

The phrase “When the going gets tough, the tough get going” doesn’t come to mind.

There is a Full Council meeting of Bedford Borough Council tonight.

The last item on the Agenda is a motion I am proposing that calls on the Council to advise the Mayor’s Executive that it does not wish to take part in any trial on ID Cards if asked to do so by the Government.

I will be saying:
- The proposals are not just for a card. The card is the least of it…
- There is no evidence the system will produce the stated benefits.
- Less liberty does not imply greater security.
- The Card and Register will be using overcomplicated, unproven technology.
- Identity Cards will cost over £10m, money that could be better spent elsewhere.
- The proposals mean unchecked executive powers.
- The National Identity Register creates specific new threats to individuals.
- People should not have to justify their identity to the state when going about their business.

I am very pleased to report that the Borough Council has informed all Councillors that the Full Council will get the opportunity to vote on whether the school structure should be changed.

He told us yesterday by e-mail that:
“if the Executive, at its meeting on 16 September 2009, considers that the school structure should be changed it will need to make a recommendation to Full Council. Given the importance of the decision Group Leaders have agreed that a Special Full Council will be held on Thursday, 24 September 2009. For clarity, if the Executive decide that there should be no change to the school structure there will be no need for the Special Council meeting.”

This is a victory for democracy and accountability. It follows consistent calls from myself and other Liberal Democrat Councillors for teh decision to be made by the Full Council rather than the much smaller Mayor’s Executive.

I haven’t totally made up my mind which way I shall vote on this issue…..if I get the opportunity to do so!

I like the sound of the modular proposals coming out of Biddenham Upper.

Given a blank slate and a choice between 2-tier and 3-tier, I would probably prefer the 2-tier system.

But we’re not.

I believe the emphasis is on the 2-tier proponents to prove their case that the massive change is needed and that the advantages of the massive change will far outweigh the disadvantages the massive change will cause the pupils facing the disruption caused by it.

Only Chris Hilliard and Mike Berrill have given me cause to think the massive change will be worth it. The consultation meetings and the Mayor’s words elsewhere have singularly failed to do so.

I also think it is totally wrong that the Mayor has not been present at consultation meetings, meetings that affect the biggest decision this Borough faces for the foreseeable future.

The Borough also has to find a way to ensure that the whole Council votes on this issue rather than the Mayor and his smaller Executive. If it does, given a choice between 2-tier and 3-tier only, I currently intend to vote 3-tier.

Several residents of Keeley Lane, Wootton were in touch earlier this year about the blocked drainage pipe across the road. I immediately asked the County Council to take action.  

I have recently asked local residents to let me know if it is still blocked. 

Local residents have been in touch with me to advise it is indeed still blocked.

I have now directly contacted the Borough Council’s Director of Environment and Street Services asking him to take prompt action as this delay is simply not good enough.