Completed Consultations 2007/08

Below you will find information on the Consultations that have taken place so far this financial year 2007/08. Under each heading you will find the date that the consultation closed and further details.

Disabled People Survey - 2008
Consultation closed 29th April 2008

This consultation was for people that live, work or study in either Mid or South Bedfordshire and either have a disability, care for someone who is living with a disability or have an interest in issues affecting people living locally with a disability. We asked for thier views on public services and how well we serve people in the district who live with a disability. The consultation was due to close on 19th March 2008, but this was extended and eventually closed on 29th April 2008.

Transgender Consultation
Consultation Event February 2008

We have a legal duty to actively tackle discrimination and promote equality of opportunity for everyone in the community.
In order to meet this duty and ensure that services are appropriate, local public service providers in Bedfordshire joined together to organise an event where they could really begin to understand Transgender issues both as employers and service providers. The issues and actions discussed in this report are not necessarily specific to Bedfordshire and could be useful to other public service providers across the country. Please follow the link below  to download the report:

Aspley Guise Conservation Area Appraisal and Review
Consultation closed 9th February 2008

This consultation took place from 12th January until 9th February 2008 regarding a review of the Aspley Guise Conservation Area and the publication of the draft Aspley Guise Conservation Area Appraisal and Proposed Boundary Changes consultation draft.

Aspley Heath Conservation Area Appraisal and Review
Consultation closed 9th February 2008

This consultation took place from 12th January until 9th February 2008 regarding a review of the Aspley Heath Conservation Area, proposing that no changes be made to the existing boundaries, and the publication of the draft Aspley Heath Conservation Area Appraisal.

Woburn Conservation Area Consultation
Consultation closed 2nd February 2008

A review of the Woburn Conservation Area and the publication of the draft Woburn Conservation Area Appraisal and Proposed Boundary Changes consultation draft was launched on Saturday 5 January with a public exhibition held at the Woburn Village Hall, Crawley Road. The consultation period ran from 5th January 2008 for 4 weeks until 2nd February 2008. 

Budget Consultation
Consultation closed 7th January 2008

Budget Consultation for next year’s spending.
From November 2007 Mid Bedfordshire District Council (MBDC) consulted with people that live and work in Mid Bedfordshire to find out their opinion on what MBDC budget priorities should be. The consultation questionnaire was placed in Horizon magazine and was also available for completion on the Mid Beds website. Visitors to MBDC offices in Chicksands, Biggleswade and Ampthill were also given the opportunity to complete the form on the touch screen kiosks positioned in the reception area at each of these council office locations.

Clophill Conservation Area Consultation
Consultation closed 4th January 2008

Residents of Clophill were given the chance to have their say on the future of Conservation in the village following an exhibition in the village hall which took place on Saturday 24 November 2007. The exhibition marked the launch of a six week consultation (24 November 2007- 4 January 2008) on the  review of the Clophill Conservation Area and the publication of the Draft Clophill Conservation Area Appraisal. 

 Information on Clophill Conservation Area and details on how to make representations and comments were made available online. A printed questionnaire and pre-paid envelopes were also available from Mid Beds District Council’s Priory House offices.

Flitwick Leisure Facility
Consultation closed 14th December 2007

Mid Beds District Council and Flitwick Town Council are working together on a new multi-million pound leisure facility proposed for the centre of the town. This is needed because the current leisure centre is reaching the end of its anticipated life and is facing expensive refurbishment. This consultation closed on 29th November 2007 but was then re-opened and extended until 14th December 2007 when it came to light that a document had suggested a closing date of 14th December.

The consultation focused upon the proposed facilities for the new leisure centre and these results will be taken into account in the final specification for the new facility. Some respondants used the questionnaire as an opportunity to comment on the proposed relocation of the Leisure Centre to the Millennium Park. 

Flitwick Town Centre Redevelopment
Consultation closed 14th December 2007

Consultation on plans for the redevelopment of Flitwick Town Centre took place from November 2008 until Friday 14 December 2007. The full proposals were available on the Mid Beds website along with an on-line consultation.

Gypsy and Traveller Development Plan - Second Issues and Options Consultation Document
Consultation closed 3rd December 2007

The Second Issues and Options document was available for consultation for a six week period, starting from Monday, 22 October 2007 and running until 5pm on Monday, 3 December 2007.

'Pride of Place' Consultation
Consultation closed 30 November 2007

An invitation was given to vote For Your Local Town Hot Spot or favourite place in Mid Bedfordshire.

The ‘Pride of Place’ poll took place on the Pride of Place website. The poll was part of a nation-wide initiative, and was available until 30 November 2007.

The Mid Bedfordshire Community Plan Refresh - Consultation
Consultation Closed 15th November 2007

The Mid Bedfordshire Community Plan was published in 2003.  Originally, the plan had a shelf life of 10 years taking us through to 2011, however in light of the growth pressures on the area, which are imposed on us and other key concerns including climate change, it is clear the Mid Beds Plan is out of date and a review and refresh of the Plan is needed. A working group produced a revised draft Sustainable Communities Plan. To develop the plan further feedback and input from our stakeholders, partners and community members was requested.
The comments received will be considered by the working group and wherever possible and applicable the Plan will be amended to reflect feedback.

Planning Obligations Strategy
Consultation Completed -17th August 2007

The Planning Obligations Strategy was under consultation from 6th July to 17th August 2007.  A Draft Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document and background papers were available to view on the Mid Beds website throughout the consultation period. Hard copies were available for viewing at  MBDC Reception, Citizone Points of Presence (PoPs) at Ampthill and Biggleswade and libraries. 

Residents Panel "BedsVoice" - Consultation
Consultation July 2007

In 2007 Mid Beds joined with South Bedfordshire District Council, Beds County Council, the Police Authority and the Fire and Rescue Service to form the Bedfordshire Consultation Group and establish “BedsVoice” a countywide residents panel. The first survey was sent out in July 2007.

Further information:

Residents Telephone (MORI) Survey
Consultation closed  June 2007

Ipsos MORI interviewed a representative sample of 1,000 residents (aged 18+) across the Mid Bedfordshire District Council area. Interviews were carried out by telephone  between 29 May and 3 June 2007 using a randomly-selected sample of telephone numbers in the district. Findings of the survey: 

Local Strategic partnership
Consultation closed 29th June 2007

The Mid Bedfordshire Community Plan was launched in 2003 to addresses local community concerns and issues. The plan required updating. A survey was available from 19 March until 29 June 2007 giving the opportunity for the public to comment and state their priorities.

Central Bedfordshire
Consultation closed 22nd June 2007

We sent out a survey to every household concerning our proposal to set up a unitary council - Central Bedfordshire. Information from the responses we received are detailed in our Central Bedfordshire press release.

For further information on Central Bedfordshire visit: www.centralbeds.gov.uk

M1 junction 10 to 13 widening
Consultation closed 2nd June 2007

The preferred option for the M1 junction widening scheme had been announced by the Highways Agency and they had public consultations at venues in Mid Bedfordshire -Flitwick Leisure Centre (18th & 19th May), and Harlington Village Hall (2nd June). The Draft Orders and Environmental Statement were available to view at the following locations: The Highways Agency in Bedford, MBDC, BCC and Flitwick Town Council.

Gender Equality
Consultation closed 1st June 2007

The new Gender Equality Duty became law on 6 April 2007 and local councils are developing Gender Equality Schemes to ensure that everyone has equal access to services across Bedfordshire. A Public Consultation took place from 23 April – 1 June 2007. For further information please follow the link below:

Plan this Place - Core Strategy questionnaireConsultation closed 7th May 2007

A questionnaire was sent to every household in the district asking views on a number of important issues for the future of the district. For further information please follow the link below:

"Your Council Tax" information leaflet questionnaire
Consultation closed 20th April 2007

In with their council tax bill for 2007/8 residents of Mid Bedfordshire recieved a leaflet - "Your Council Tax". This leaflet contains information about how Mid Beds District Council has used your council tax in the past year to provide you with a wide range of services and how we intend to use the money we collect in the upcoming year.
We wanted to know if residents found this information useful and if this is the best possible way to provide information. Also we wanted to know if residents thought we could give this information either in a clearer or a different way.