CBC Press release: Caddington resident handed injuction

Man handed injuction following series of intimidating, drunken incidents

A man has been banned from part of Dunstable town centre following a number of intimidating drunken incidents.

Magill Price, 57, of Caddington, is now subject to a one-year injunction banning him from an area which includes The Quadrant shopping centre, Dunstable Library and Asda.

This follows numerous incidences of drunken behaviour where Price threatened, abused and terrified staff even though he had already been banned from a number of stores there.

Price was ordered to attend Luton County Court on 10 October where Central Bedfordshire Council, supported by Bedfordshire Police, successfully applied for the injunction.

It took effect for a year from that date and if Price enters the area from which he is banned then he will be taken back to county court and face further action. If he continues to breach the order he risks a custodial sentence.

Councillor Brian Spurr, Executive Member for Community Services, said: “This is an excellent example of partnership working and shows that by working together we can achieve an effective result in dealing with antisocial behaviour which we are determined to tackle head on.

“I would like to thank shop staff and library staff for being supportive and giving our antisocial behaviour officers the evidence we needed to progress this case.”

Anyone who is aware of Price breaching the injunction should call the council’s antisocial behaviour and statutory nuisance team on 0300 300 8302.

Bushwood - still alive with a very weak pulse

It is interesting to note that the grandiosely titled "Luton & Central Beds Economic Development Partnership" have finally got around to filing their Sep-15 accounts at Companies House (originally due 30-Jun-16, finally submitted 30-Sep-16).

Recent activity includes changing the company name, changing it again and then changing it once more back to what it was at the beginning.  Productive endeavours indeed.

What is interesting reading is the value of stock (or work-in-progress) on the balance sheet at over a million pounds; the accounting rationale here is that costs incurred thus far in exploring, developing and promoting the site are not so much 'spent' as 'invested' against a future sale at a profit.  The associated accounting policies also include the telling phrase "provision is made for any foreseeable losses where appropriate"; this is fairly normal accounting practise but underlines the point that if the sole remaining director accepted that Bushwood was a dead duck, then he wouldn't still be representing over a million pounds in spend as an investment that will be sold on at a profit in future.  Implicitly, he stands by that declaration not just at 30 September 2015 which the accounts reflect but also at 19 September 2016 when the accounts were legally signed.  I shall leave it to you to decide whether Mr Boyle knows something we don't or is simply delusional.

The Bushwood proposals were inappropriate and unsustainable when first introduced and they remain inappropriate and unsustainable now.

The more eagle-eyed may also notice that the valuation of stock has risen by only £6,450 during the year from Oct-14 to Sep-15, and the deficit on reserves rose by a meagre £721 in the same period.  Those that suspect this company is no longer the primary vehicle for Bushwood (although they stand by their £1M+ stock valuation) might wish to keep an eye on Abbey Land Developments Ltd [08853726], due to file their 31-Jan-16 accounts no later than the end of this month.

We will have to wait a while for the 2016/17 results to be made public but they will also be fun reading.  Common consensus is that Peter Village QC, currently arguing to convince an inspector of the merits of tacking the Bushwood proposals onto Luton's local plan, does not come cheap.

Development in neighbouring authorities

There is an interesting article on the front page of this week's Luton On Sunday, which also features prominently on their website.

Luton On Sunday 11-Sep-16

Cllr Shaw expresses his frustration that whilst development will all likelihood impact most heavily on the infrastructure in one authority area, the eventual Council Tax receipts will go to the authority on whose land the development actually sits.

These are very valid concerns; it is referenced that there needs to be meaningful dialogue between different areas when determining these "on the border" developments and the provision of school places, medical facilities and so on.  I do hope the same logic is applied to application 16/01146/FUL, which seeks to place in excess of 400 flats on land adjacent to Caddington Road & Newlands Road.

CBC press release: SEN advice & support sessions

Advice and support sessions for parents, carers and children with special educational needs

Central Bedfordshire’s support service for parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities is holding a range of drop-in sessions.

The sessions are being held across the region from September onwards and will offer free, impartial and confidential advice to visitors.

The SEND Parent and Young Person Partnership Service is open to parents, carers, children and young people aged up to 25 who have, or may have special educational needs and /or a disability in an educational setting.

It is open to all Central Bedfordshire residents and there is no referral system.

The sessions, in Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Sandy and Shefford, can offer advice about a range of subjects including finding a school; classroom support; SEND support plans; behaviour issues; statements; education, health and care plans and exclusions.

Residents can just turn up on the day at the sessions, which will take place at:

Downside South Children’s Centre, The Annex, Downside Lower School, Oakwood Avenue, Dunstable, LU5 4AS (Wednesdays, 9.30am-11am)
14 September, 12 October, 9 November, 14 December

The Moorings Children’s Centre, Vandyke Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 3HS (Tuesdays, 9.30am-11am)
27 September, 29 November
Shefford Children’s Centre, Shefford Lower School, School Lane, Shefford, SG17 5XA (Wednesdays, 9.30am-11am)
28 September, 23 November

Sandy Community Children’s Centre, Laburnum Road, Sandy, SG19 1HQ (Thursdays, 9.30am-11am)
6 October, 3 November, 1 December

Councillor Carole Hegley, Executive Member for Social Care and Housing and lead member for Children’s Services, said: “As a parent or carer of a child with special educational needs, it can be difficult knowing who to talk to. These sessions offer a chance to get impartial information and advice in an informal setting, as well as a chance just to talk with other parents or volunteers who will be able to share what you are going through. So if you have any questions or concerns, I would encourage you to go along to one of the free sessions and find out more.”
No appointment is necessary at the drop-ins. If you are unable to make a session and want any advice, please call 0300 300 8088, email parent.partnership, visit the send-partnership/overview webpage or like and share CBCSENDPYPPS on Facebook.

Studham Common receives ninth green flag award

The text below is a press release issued by Central Bedfordshire yesterday.

My congratulations to the indomitable Cllr Geoff Shute and his hard-working team of volunteers in Studham; more information is available via their website.

Central Bedfordshire continues to fly the green flag

 

Nine open spaces in Central Bedfordshire have been recognised as some of the best community-run green spaces in the country in the National Green Flag Awards 2016.

Flitton Moor; Grove House Gardens; Linslade Woods; Millennium Country Park; Parson’s Close Rec; Priory Gardens; Stotfold Water Mill Local Nature Reserve; Studham Common and Tiddenfoot Water Park have all been awarded with the Community Award which acknowledges that the sites are well-managed and welcoming places, central to the local community and high-quality green spaces.

Meanwhile, the Forest of Marston Vale’s Millennium Country Park, in Marston Moretaine, is celebrating its tenth Green Flag award and Studham Common will receive its ninth award this year.

All nine areas are part of a record-breaking 1,686 parks and green spaces receiving the Green Flag Award this year, ensuring that even more residents now have access to well-managed, high-quality parks and green spaces.

The award, now celebrating its 20th year, recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country. A Green Flag flying overhead is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities.

Cllr Brian Spurr, Executive Member for Community Services for Central Bedfordshire Council, said: "It is tremendous news that nine public spaces in Central Bedfordshire have been nationally recognised in the Green Flags Award scheme. As a council, we aim to provide high quality green spaces for all residents and visitors to enjoy and it is great to see these awards acknowledge our welcoming and well-managed open spaces. I would encourage people to visit these wonderful areas over the summer.”

Central Bedfordshire Council works with Friends of Linslade Wood, Friends of Studham Common, Friends of Tiddenfoot Waterside Park, Friends of Flitton Moor and The Astwick and Stotfold Environmental Link (TEASEL) to ensure the green spaces are kept in fantastic condition.

Geoff Shute, chairman for Friends of Studham Common said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Award for the ninth year from Keep Britain Tidy.

“This award recognises and highlights that people in Studham and the surrounding villages are benefiting from a green space of the very highest quality.”

International Green Flag Award scheme manager, Paul Todd, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme, especially as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the awards.

“All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the thousands of men and women, both staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”