The European Regional Development Fund has allocated £5 million to the East of England in order to help the extension of fast broadband, especially in rural areas. This money is supplementary to that £50 million on offer from Broadband UK (BDUK) and to the commercial investment. Bids for the package have to be in soon [...]

A meeting of Luton Council’s Scrutiny Board convened to discuss the unloved Luton-Dunstable Busway was described by councillors present as a farce. Senior managers in charge of the £90M project attended to answer questions from councillors but almost no new information emerged. Fuming Liberal Democrat leader, councillor David Franks, said: “The 31st August meeting was [...]

Liberal Democrat councillors have persuaded Luton Council’s Scrutiny Board that the consequences for Luton taxpayers of the Luton – Dunstable Busway project costs running out of control are so serious that they should monitor its progress carefully. “Major capital projects at Luton Borough Council usually end up costing more than originally planned”, says Liberal Democrat [...]

On 22nd August Luton Council’s Labour Executive is due to take a decision “To Further Rationalise & Restructure Local Authority Elder Persons’ Homes” and Liberal Democrats asked at last Tuesday’s Council meeting for assurances this does not mean more closures of Council run residential homes. Despite repeated questioning from Liberal Democrat leader, Councillor David Franks, [...]

A report considered by the Labour executive committee of Luton Council on Monday 11th July has revealed that Central Bedfordshire Council is planning to set aside £250,000 a year in future budgets for maintenance of the Luton – Dunstable Busway. Luton’s Labour Council has already included £307,000 a year from 2013 onwards in its financial [...]