The latest weekly Coronavirus statistics for Bedford Borough have been published. The figures show that in the seven days up to February 21st:

• 1,328 people have been tested (68 fewer than the previous week)
• There were 241 Covid-19 cases (71 fewer than the previous week)
• The weekly positive cases per 100,000 population was 139.1 (down from 180 in the previous week)

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats have today written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to call for the £20 Universal Credit uplift introduced last year to be made permanent, rather than removed in April as currently scheduled.

Currently the Government is scheduled to scrap the rise on 12th April, causing severe concern amongst those in receipt of Universal Credit. In advance of next week's Budget, the letter sent today from Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Christine McHugh insists that 'To lose that vital increase is utterly unthinkable for households across our communities'.

A number of local businesses are set to remain closed for the remainder of this financial year, following the Prime Minister's announcement earlier this week about the roadmap out of lockdown.

As a result, Bedford Borough Council is now able to automatically pay £2.7million in business support grant to these businesses. These payments are expected to be in business bank accounts early next week. These grants are set and funded by the Government at a national level and administered by the local council.

Garden waste collections restart in Bedford Borough on Monday 1 March, following the usual pause in this service over the winter.

Garden waste can go in the green-lidded bin. Please put this bin out alongside your orange recycling bin by 6am on your next recycling day, and it will be collected every other week.

Bedford Borough Council have reaffirmed the positive case for East West Rail and the importance of local residents' views in shaping the government project, via a vote at a Full Council meeting

The cross party vote, with support from Conservative, Green, Independent, Labour and Liberal Democrat Councillors, approved Councillor Michael Headley's motion which reiterated the Council's longstanding support for an East West Rail route serving Bedford. It also noted that the Government chose the preferred route over a year ago, following a public consultation which drew 7,000 responses.

We have elections in Bedfordshire for our new Police and Crime Commissioner on 6th May, we will still be subject to a number of Coronavirus restrictions at that time and a number of local residents have decided to vote by post in these elections.

Voting by post is easy, quick, and most importantly safe and residents can minimise interaction with other people and avoid travelling to a polling station.

£15,000 is available for a project to make a difference to serious violence in the Bedford and Kempston area.

Have you got ideas for a project but haven't got the money to get a project off the ground?

Bedfordshire Police are giving up to £15,000 to the community to decide how it is spent. The money is to be used to support local groups to assist in reducing and preventing the impact of serious violence. The community will decide who wins the bid.

The Prime Minister will address the nation this evening, but has already outlined the roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions in England to the House of Commons.

The roadmap has four steps with a minimum of five weeks between each step.

Step one is in two parts:

On 8 March

• All students return to schools and colleges, and school clubs can resume
• Secondary school students will be required to wear masks in class as well as communal areas
• People can meet one other person outside for recreation, not just exercise
• Care home residents allowed one regular named visitor
• Stay at home order remains in place