Commenting on this week's Local Government Finance Settlement, which confirmed the severe ongoing Government cuts for local services, Mayor Dave Hodgson said that contrary to the Prime Minister's claims, 'austerity is most definitely not over for local services.'

Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "Today's announcement confirms the brutal cut in funding for local services, with our main government grant falling from £30m in 2015 to under £6m next year.'

"The need for services, especially care for the elderly and vulnerable, is increasing and our funding is reducing.'

"Meanwhile, you only have to look at the financial collapse and sweeping emergency cuts at one of our neighbouring councils for an example of what we've averted through our rigorous financial management and commitment to saving services. The funding crisis for councils gets deeper and deeper, however. Today's announcement is further confirmation that despite what the Prime Minister has claimed, austerity is most definitely not over for local services."

In a huge boost for local schools, Mayor Dave Hodgson has announced a victory for the campaign against the shock government funding cut for Bedford Borough's schools. Extra funding has been secured from the Department for Education, which will maintain the per-pupil funding rate for Bedford Borough's Schools for 2019/20.

In a scathing report on the notorious May 2018 rail timetable changes which caused huge disruption to Bedford services, the House of Commons Transport Select Committee has called for commuters' to have their 2019 season tickets frozen at 2018 prices.

Mayor Dave Hodgson, who is campaigning for the Government to freeze fares for Bedford rail users due to the particular, ongoing upheaval they are suffering, welcomed the report, saying:

Mayor Dave Hodgson has welcome the announcement of £4.6m of one-off funding for Bedfordshire Police, but asserted that it does not change the force's ongoing, severe shortage of annual funding. Noting that the Chief Constable has stated that the funding will help the force to cover the costs of activity already carried out in tackling gang, gun and knife crime, Mayor Dave has also pointed out that the money will not fund much-needed extra policing.

Mayor Dave Hodgson has described the 3.1% average rail fares increase announced today as an 'outrage' from which Bedford rail users must be protected due to the unique array of failures and disruptions they have suffered. He also renewed his call on the government to freeze fares from Bedford

Mayor Dave said: "Bedford rail users have suffered a unique array of disruptions and failures, and another fares hike on top of the high prices they're already paying is an outrage. The case for them to be protected from yet another excessive rail fares rise is overwhelming.'

Mayor Dave Hodgson has announced that as part of comprehensive traffic decongestion plans a new footbridge will be installed over Manton Lane in Bedford. A previous footbridge was replaced over ten years ago with a pedestrian crossing in an infamous move by the former Conservative County Council, despite the fact that the location already suffered from severe traffic congestion on a daily basis.

Mayor Dave Hodgson has congratulated everyone involved following another successful SoupFest event to raise money in support of the homeless locally.

Mayor Dave visited the event, which took place on Tuesday 27th November, at lunchtime as large crowds enjoyed the soup and the entertainment on offer. He talked to volunteers and also spoke live on air with in2beats radio station, who were broadcasting live from Harpur Square. You can see a selection of photos he has posted on his Facebook page, where he commented:

Mayor Dave Hodgson has wished everyone a Happy Bedfordshire Day, and declared that he is 'proud of Bedfordshire and proud that Bedford is the county town.' The Bedfordshire flag has been flying from Borough Hall all day and, at Mayor Dave's suggestion, the staff canteen has been serving Bedfordshire Clangers and Chocolate Toothpaste!