Bedford Borough Council's Executive has declared its opposition to the merger of the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups. The position was agreed at a meeting at which Councillors expressed their fears over the implications of more remote, unresponsive decision-making, following a presentation on the project to merge the bodies responsible for planning and commissioning local healthcare services.

In an interview with the Bedford Independent Mayor Dave Hodgson outlined that we are expecting the results of the Public Health England and the Biosecurity Centre's 'deep dive' investigation in Bedford Borough's high Coronavirus infection rate on 6 July, although Mayor Dave is trying to pull that forward.

Mayor Dave and the local Liberal Democrats send a regular weekly email, you can sign up to receive these here.

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations on 26 June 1945, in San Francisco, at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organization.

The United Nations values are as important now as they were in 1945.

You can find out more about the UN Charter Day at https://www.un.org/pga/74/un-charter-day/

This summer, the existing spot speed cameras in Turvey will be removed and replaced by a new average speed camera system.

These cameras measure the average speed a vehicle travels over a length of road, rather than measuring it at a fixed point. This encourages people to maintain a safe speed rather than just slowing down for the camera.

Following the announcement from Central Government that lockdown measures are due be eased next month, Bedford Borough Council is urging residents to continue to stay home where possible and continue to follow current social distancing rules.

Rates of infection in Bedford Borough remain higher than anywhere else in the South of England. So the council is asking everyone to continue to follow these measures to reduce the rate of infection.

Today, June 23^rd is International Women in Engineering Day, an international awareness campaign intended to raise the profile of women in engineering and focus attention on career opportunities available to girls in the industry.

Bedford Borough Liberal Democrat Group Leader Councillor Christine McHugh is a scientist and studied engineering herself, and she's backing the campaign. Commenting, she said "Engineers are on the front line in tackling the key challenges in the world now and in the future. If you want to help tackle climate change, or the challenges in people's everyday lives around the world, why not look into engineering as a rewarding career in which you can really make a difference?"

With the infection rate remaining high in the Borough and residents advised to continue to stay home where possible, Bedford Borough Council is reminding everyone of the support and advice available to look after your mind and body.

In April, the council created a new webpage, www.bedford.gov.uk/wellbeing, offering advice to Bedford Borough residents on how to look after themselves whilst at home during the coronavirus outbreak and beyond.