Houghton Regis News Desk

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Council commits to adopting a care experienced young adult leavers covenant

At Thursday night’s full council meeting, councillors passed a motion agreeing to investigate the creation of a council covenant to support care leavers for whom the council, as a whole, has responsibility. In Central Bedfordshire, there are around 280 care experienced young adults aged 16 to 24. The Council wants the very best for our care leavers who are a uniquely vulnerable group and, who face specific challenges as they enter adult life and as their corporate parents, the council wants to work in a coordinated and effective way to give them the additional help they need. The move from being a looked after child to a young person leaving care is a uniquely critical time in a young person’s life and the council wants to make sure that they have all the support available to them that many of us take for granted. Cllr. Sue Clark, Executive Member for Families, Education & Children said, “For young people who have grown up in the care system, leaving care and taking their first

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In Stoptober Will You Ditch the Cigs for 28 Days?

- 23.9.21

Central Bedfordshire Council is encouraging residents to support their family, friends, and colleagues this Stoptober, to help them to ditch their cigarettes for 28 days (starting 1 October), to experience the physical and mental health benefits that quitting smoking brings. Smoking remains one of the nation’s leading causes of preventable illness and death in the UK, killing on average 78,000 people each year. The campaign to encourage people to support others during Stoptober comes following a recent survey of ‘The Stop Smoking Service’ users (in Central Bedfordshire, Bedford and Milton Keynes). It found that residents: Said the ‘human element’ in quitting is core and that the role of emotional support from others is very important Felt the positive effect of seeing others, like them, quitting successfully Were worried about their lack of willpower around friends and family who smoke Someone who quits smoking for the 28 days of Stoptober is five times more likely to stay smoke

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Over 150 people attend Council’s online exploitation conference

- 22.9.21

Over 150 people attended an online conference yesterday (21 September) to learn about the signs of different types of exploitation including cuckooing, child sexual exploitation (CSE) and forced labour. Organised by Central Bedfordshire Council’s Safer Communities & Partnership Team, attendees heard more about different types of exploitation and how different agencies help safeguard vulnerable people. Among the speakers were the St Giles Trust, who spoke about their SOS+ initiative in schools, to help prevent young people getting involved in gangs, crime and serious youth violence, and the National Crime Agency who spoke about her role in partnership working to support partners to tackle cuckooing and exploitation. The Council’s Adult Services team also attended and talked about how they work to safeguard some of the most vulnerable people in the community and prevent them from being exploited by criminals. Sergeant James West from Bedfordshire Police spoke at the event to highl

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Wildlife Trusts BCN in discussions to manage Houghton Regis Chalk Pit

- 21.9.21

All Saints Academy, centre, above the Marl Lake. High Street North, Dunstable top right. Photo: M Murphy Central Bedfordshire Council has been in discussions with the Wildlife Trusts Bedfordshire Cambridgeshire Northamptonshire (Wildlife Trusts BCN) regarding the management of Houghton Regis Chalk Pit. A Section 106 agreement is in place with developers at Bidwell West to provide capital funds to help manage the Chalk Pit. According to the July S106 Parish Report for Houghton Regis CBC is now holding over £820,000 for 'Quarry Maintenance' *. A council spokesperson said, “ Under the terms of the S106 agreement the former quarry will remain in private ownership, with the Council responsible for arranging use of the funds received from that agreement to manage the site. “ Officers have now undertaken a site visit with Wildlife Trusts BCN who was previously engaged to manage the site directly by the owner. Following this, we have started a discussion with the Trust on terms

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Garden Waste Collection to be done in October

- 17.9.21

Central Bedfordshire Council are pleased to confirm that they will be undertaking a garden waste collection during a two week period in October. This collection will clear the backlog of waste in resident’s garden waste bins before the winter period*. The Council’s contractor, FCC, have been unable to collect household garden waste since late July due to the national shortage of LGV drivers. The available drivers have been prioritising collecting black bins, recycling and food waste from 120,000 properties each week. Garden waste will be collected between 18th October and the 30th of October. To facilitate this, drivers are being redeployed from the usual food waste collections for two weeks. Food waste will not be collected during this time. During this two-week window, residents are asked to place their garden waste bin or their two council issued bags by their kerbside from 7am, on the day they normally have their recycling collected. To further help Central Bedford