Dunstable News Desk

Police Issue Advice Following A Spike In Vehicle Crime from Beds Alert Following a spike in vehicle crime, particularly car key burglaries, we are urging our residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity. Tackling vehicle crime is a priority and motorists are being reminded of the simple steps you can take to keep your vehicles and belongings safe, such as the importance of making sure your vehicle is securely locked, not leaving your car keys in sight of your front door and not keeping valuables in your car. Here are some simple steps you can take to minimise your chances of becoming a victim of car crime: • At home, don’t keep your car keys next to your front door or in an obvious place. • Always remember to LOCK your vehicle, so many thefts occur from unlocked motors and close the windows and sunroof. • At home, don’t keep your car keys next to your front door or in an obvious place. • Never leave tools in your van overnight, there are devices available

Domestic abuse can happen to anyone and can take many forms. That’s why we are asking as many people as possible to complete the survey – the feedback will help us think about how to improve services. The current UK Government defines domestic abuse as "any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can encompass but is not limited to psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional. The survey is completely anonymous and will take no more than ten minutes. So, if you’re aged 16 or over, have experienced domestic abuse or know someone that has; or if you’re concerned about your behaviour towards your partner – we want your views. Central Bedfordshire Council is asking people to share their experiences of domestic abuse through a short survey. You have until Friday, 31 May

Central Bedfordshire Council will seal their Council Tax rate for 2019/20 tonight at their full council meeting. The meeting will be shown live from Chicksands at 6.30pm tonight (21 February) . In Dunstable, the rate for a Band D property is likely to be set at £1980.50, with £98.45 going to Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority (2.99% rise), £179.32 going to the Dunstable Town Council *, £202.09 going to The Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire (£24 or 13.48% rise), £1,500.64 going to Central Bedfordshire Council (1% rise). *The increase in the average Band D Council Tax for Town and Parish Councils/Meetings is 2.79%.  Dunstable Town Council amount of the charge is up 2.35% from last year, but is the second highest Town or Parish rate in Bedfordshire, with only Ampthill's being higher. The meeting can be seen live here The single person discount is 25% off your total council tax bill. You can claim single person discount if you are the onl

Dunstable jobs fair coming up Come and meet local employers promoting their current vacancies and get support to find work at an upcoming jobs fair. Central Bedfordshire Council has organised the event, which is aimed at its housing tenants, but anybody who is interested in finding out about employment opportunities is welcome to attend. Local businesses will promote their vacancies at the event on 27 February 2019 from 10:30am to 12:30pm at the Methodist Church Halls, Ashton Square, Dunstable. Cllr Carole Hegley, Executive Member for Adults, Social Care & Housing Operations at the council, said: “We run these fairs throughout the year and local employers have told us they get quality recruits from them. So, if you can come along, it’s a fantastic opportunity to find out about local jobs, or access all sorts of support. If you can’t come to this one, there will also be another on the 13 March at the Downside Children’s Centre, Dunstable from 2:30pm to 3:30pm.” The foll

speaker:Andrew Selous : 3 votes =============================== Business of the House (Today) - UK's Withdrawal from the EU (14 Feb 2019) link Voted (no) against requiring by 27 February 2019 a Minister of the Crown either (a) to move another motion under Section 13(1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 or (b) to make a written statement declaring that there is no longer an agreement in principle in the negotiations with the European Union and to move no later than that date an amendable motion on how the Government proposes to proceed. (division #331; result was 306 aye, 322 no) Business of the House (Today) - UK's Withdrawal from the EU (14 Feb 2019) link Voted (no) against requiring that a Minister of the Crown immediately begin negotiations with the European Council to extend the period specified under Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union by no fewer than three months from 29 March 2019, and bring forward an appropriate amendment to section

Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (BCCG)  has been working with local GP surgeries, Central Bedfordshire Council and other partners on plans for an integrated health and care Hub in Dunstable town centre.  The Hub, which is proposed to be built on land behind GO Bowling, would provide extended care and support to the people of Dunstable and surrounding areas. As the demand for health and care services increases, it is important to plan to meet these demands now and for the future. Health and care services need to work together in partnership to meet the needs of local people, with a focus on helping people to access a wider range of services in their local communities to support their wellbeing. Some local GP surgeries, subject to an agreement, would relocate services to the proposed Hub.  BCCG will be writing to the households of patients registered with these practices. The proposal is to move the following three GP practices into a new Hub. • Dr Hassan an

Luton and Dunstable University Hospital (L&D) is gearing up to celebrate its 80th birthday on 14 February and the local community is invited to join in the preparations and celebrations. There will be lots happening on the day including live music, an exhibition tracing the hospital’s history, special guests, a service of celebration and an 80th birthday themed cake competition to be judged by a local celebrity! -------- Queen Mary officially opened the L&D  on 14 February 1939. -------- In the run up to 14 February, the hospital is keen to hear from patients who have used the hospital over the decades, maybe with generations of children who have been born here, or who have worked here, who would be willing to get involved and share their stories. The icing on the cake would be if we could find a local resident who was a patient at the L&D when the hospital first opened in 1939! Because the NHS wasn’t created until 1948, the hospital was built, equi

The BBC have rated Central Bedfordshire 4 out of 10 for the under 26's. Their survey list ranks 378 local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland from highest to lowest with an average score. Central Bedfordshire scores 4 out of ten. 4G coverage 9 Proportion of area with good 4G signal: 93% Bus services 2 Number of journeys per day: 608 Metres of bus routes per square km: 2,893 Going out 0 Number of bars, clubs and pubs: 189 Number of music events: 25 Employment 9 Number of young people claiming welfare benefits per 1,000: 14 Mental health care 10 Proportion of monthly NHS mental health therapy targets hit: 100% Wild land 1 Proportion of area that is natural land: 6% Rent 6 Average price per bedroom: £378 Sports facilities 1 Number of sports facilities: 214 Youth population 2 Percentage aged 16-25: 10% Number of young people moving out of area: 686 Source: BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-46815257 https://twitter.com/yokoono/status/10

Bedfordshire Police have joined other police forces nationwide. Now they will not accept reports of lost property, and they will accept only certain types of found item. The changes took place nationally at the start of  February after the Chief Constables’ Council agreed it as a way of reducing non-essential demand and the associated costs and bureaucracy generated for call centres and front counters. The police service has traditionally accepted the responsibility of recording lost and found property, despite there being no statutory duty to maintain a system of recording non-evidential property. Found items dealt with by police will reduce and a consistent approach will be adopted across the country. This will help reduce call volumes and remove an unnecessary burden on policing. Jay Khan, Bedfordshire Police's enquiry office manager, said: “As with any change to a long-standing convention, it will take time for people to get used to this new way of working. “Th