Wednesday, 29 February 2012

Council Tax 2012/2013 Band D Biggleswade

The details are published at:


According to my calculations this is the breakdown for Band D in Biggleswade:

BAND D2011/122012/13increase% increase
£
Central Beds Council1308.331308.3300.0
Beds Police Authority144.77150.49+5.724.0
Beds & Luton Fire Authority82.4484.09+1.652.0
Biggleswade TC104.51106.07+1.561.5
TOTAL1640.051648.98+8.930.5
Biggleswade Town Council Budget£607,124£631,348+£242244.0

Thursday, 23 February 2012

Be Scam Aware - potential loan scams.

Central
Bedfordshire
Scam Aware

Central Bedfordshire Council’s Trading Standards team is warning consumers to be aware of potential loan scams.

We have received information from a consumer who had recently received an unsolicited telephone call from an alleged loan company after entering their details onto a loan comparison website. The company in question was called Ucash and was using the following telephone number 0203 2390616. As a result of the claims made by the caller, the consumer applied for a loan with Ucash and has subsequently been asked to authorise five separate transactions totalling £470 in order to receive the loan amount. Unfortunately, the consumer is still yet to receive the agreed loan amount.

Based on the information provided we believe this has all the hallmarks of a scam and we would advise anyone to act with extreme caution when applying for loans.

Our advice to consumers is that a legitimate loan company would never request an advance payment (i.e. to act as an admin or release fee) prior to you receiving the loan amount. Never be intimidated into making a quick decision just because claims of prompt payment will speed up the transfer of the loan amount for example, and always take a moment to ask yourself why you are paying money upfront before you have even received the loan amount.

If you have any information about suspect rogue traders or would like to report a possible scam please initially contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06, in order so that all relevant regulatory authorities can be notified.

In the meantime, please visit our website www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/bescamaware for advice and guidance on how to spot a scam and how to avoid becoming a victim.

Kind regards
Trading Standards
(Community Safety and Public Protection)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central Bedfordshire Council Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5TQ
Telephone: 0300 300 8136 Email: trading.standards@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
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Thursday, 16 February 2012

Be Scam Aware - Sky TV Warranties

Central
Bedfordshire
Scam Aware

Central Bedfordshire Council’s Trading Standards team is warning consumers to be cautious when receiving a telephone call regarding Sky TV warranties.

A concerned consumer has contacted Trading Standards after receiving a telephone call, where the caller claimed to be representing "Sky Warranty". The caller was using a with-held telephone number and proceeded to inform the consumer that they had qualified for a reduction in their package payments. The consumer, not sure if they had a warranty or not, asked the caller further questions, it was then that the caller ended the call by hanging up. The consumer then contacted Sky directly and was informed it was not them that made the call and also confirmed that the consumer does not currently have a warranty.

Based on the information provided we believe that the call received by the consumer is a potential scam and we would advise anyone to act with extreme caution when receiving such calls.

Our advice to consumers is to never give your bank account details to anybody over the telephone unless you are absolutely certain of their intentions. Never be rushed into making a quick decision and always take a moment to ask yourself whether the offer sounds genuine. Also, take time to carry out checks to make sure the claims being made can be verified. If a caller claims to be representing another business, contact that business directly.

Remember, if you show any interest in an offer being made, you may be identified as a possible target for a future scam attempt. If, at any point, you are unsure as to whether the caller is genuine, do not be afraid to hang up the telephone.

If you have any information about suspect rogue traders or would like to report a possible scam please initially contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06, in order so that all relevant regulatory authorities can be notified.

In the meantime, please visit our website www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/bescamaware for advice and guidance on how to spot a scam and how to avoid becoming a victim.

Kind regards
Trading Standards
(Community Safety and Public Protection)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central Bedfordshire Council Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5TQ
Telephone: 0300 300 8136 Email: trading.standards@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, 15 February 2012

Biggleswade Town Council Meeting Dates for 2012/2013



Yesterday the "Annual Town Guide to Biggleswade 2012" dropped through the letter box.Included is a list of Biggleswade Town Council Meeting Dates for 2012/2013. The Council website only includes dates up to including 24 April 2012 from 10 May 2011 and was only published in April 2011.

This is the list:

8 May 2012 - Annual Statutory Meeting
22 May 2012 Town Annual Meeting
12 June 2012 - Planning
26 June 2012 - Council
10 July 2012 - Planning
24 July 2012 - Council
14 August 2012 - Planning
28 August 2012 Council
11 September 2012 - Planning
25 September 2012 - Council
9 October 2012 - Planning
23 October 2012 - Council
13 November 2012 - Planning & Finance and General Purpose
27th November 2012 - Council
11 December 2012 - Planning
8 January 2013 - Planning
22 January 2013 - Precept & Council
12 February 2013 - Planning
26 February 2013 - Council
12 March 2013 - Planning
26 March - Council
9 April 2013 - Planning
23 April 2013 - Council

All meetings start at 7.00pm apart from The Town Annual Meeting which starts at 7.30pm. All meetings are on a Tuesday.

Council issues warning over threatening fake bills

Resident’s have been asked to be alert to fake council tax bills apparently from Central Bedfordshire Council.

The warning came after a 17-year-old, who was not even registered as a council tax payer, was issued with a bill demanding over £350.

Councillor Maurice Jones, Executive Member for Corporate Resources said: "This fake could quite easily fool someone.

"However the forger clearly does not know we would never send a bill out with the wording 'Agent Visit'. They have also got our logo completely wrong and there are a number of other inaccuracies.

"Nevertheless, it is worrying and I urge anyone who thinks they have received a bogus bill to contact the Council’s Revenues and Benefits department.

"This is not a widespread problem, as we've only had one report to date but customers should be vigilant given we will be issuing our annual bills in March."

The letter contains a warning in bold letters of ‘Agent Visit’ in seven days - which never features in council tax bills and a rectangular logo, as opposed Central Bedfordshire Council’s official circular one.

To contact the Council’s Revenue and Benefits team call 0300 300 4154 and ask to speak to Julie Luckman and if you are concerned about scams in general visit the Central Bedfordshire website.

Council Tax is set to be frozen for a second succesive year

A second successive year of no council tax rises is set to become a reality after Central Bedfordshire Council’s Executive agreed the budget for 2012/2013 on Tuesday, 14 February.

The  decision marks the penultimate stage in setting the budget for 2012/13, as the Executive recommended the budget for approval by full council on Thursday, 23 February.

See the full press release entitled " Another big freeze on the way as council tax wish is granted" at:




Tuesday, 14 February 2012

Kitelands Recreation Ground Insurance - Freedom of Information Request

On the 12th January 2012, I asked Biggleswade Town Council:

Can I have a copy of the current insurance documents, either public liability and/or combined liability, including the terms and conditions, which cover Kitelands Recreation Ground?

The statutory 20 working days by which the information should be provided was up on Thursday 9th February 2012.

On the 13th February 2012, I asked Biggleswade Town Council:

Its now more than 20 working days since I submitted my request.

I shall be calling into to your offices on the morning of Tuesday 14th February 2012, to collect the Agenda for the Planning Meeting, so could you please ensure the documents are available then.

I called into the Town Council offices this morning for the Agenda for tonights meeting and was also given an envelope. This envelope contained two sheets of paper.



I have this afternoon gone back to the Council:

I have to say I cannot believe that you consider that the two pieces of paper I collected from your offices this morning go any to provide the information I requested on 12th January 2012.

For a start there is is no indication these “documents” even apply to Biggleswade Town Council. There are no terms and conditions (as requested), which if I had them, may explain what “Territorial Limits” are and Section 2(d)(ii).

If meaningful documents are not with me by the end of Friday (17th February 2012), I shall be complaining to the Information Commissioners Office over the weekend.

Monday, 13 February 2012

Full salting run tonight - Monday 13th February 2012



Rain is expected to ease this evening and clear overnight leaving a dry night with some clear spells. This will allow road surface temperatures to drop to around freezing.

There will be a full salting run from 1800 this evening.

Thanks!

Central Bedfordshire Council Updates

An Update ?? - Code of Recommended Practice for Local Authorities on Data Transparency

Reply from the Mayor:

You're right on all counts and I still cannot give you date.

_____________________________________________________________________

PREVIOUSLY

Saturday, 28 January 2012

Code of Recommended Practice for Local Authorities on Data Transparency

In October 2011, The Mayor told me that this document would be put forward to Council when it was appropriate. The Council were awaiting clarification on some points from the National Association of Local Councils and once they have that it will be brought to Council for consideration.
Since that time there were full Council meetings on 22nd November 2011 and 24th January 2012 which did not include this on the Agenda.


I have today asked the Mayor again, Can you tell me when it will be put before Council?

_______________________________________________________


On the 7th February 2011 a consultation document was issued on the above, with comments to be in by 17th March 2011..

This was discussed at the Biggleswade Town Council Planning Committee on 8th March 2011 and this is recorded in the minutes:

"that a letter be written to ask if this code of practice applies to Town Councils, as they are not mentioned in the list of definitions of "local authority", and also to say that the code of recommended practice is a repetition of Town Councils own working practices."

This is the parish of Biggleswade, and without a mayor we would have a parish council with a chairman, since we have a mayor we are called a town council, That's the only difference. The code applies to Biggleswade Town Council.

It has been brought to my attention that the final document was published on 29th September 2011 with a press release from Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, which included:

Ministers believe that data transparency should extend beyond local spending and that full disclosure should be every council's default position. Councils will now be expected to have regard to the Code in all their data publications. Subject to consultation, ministers are minded to make the Code a legally binding requirement to ensure authorities can be held fully accountable to the local people they serve.

The Code asks local authorities to follow the three principles of transparency when publishing data - Demand-led, Open and Timely. The Code also proposes the minimum datasets that should be released for reuse.

They are:
  • expenditure over £500, (including costs, supplier and transaction information)
  • senior employee salaries, names, budgets and responsibilities of staff paid over £58,200 - equivalent to the lowest Senior Civil Service pay band
  • an organisational chart
  • the 'pay multiple' - the ratio between the highest paid salary and the median average salary of the whole of the authority's workforce
  • councillor allowances and expenses
  • copies of contracts and tenders to businesses and to the voluntary community and social enterprise sector
  • grants to the voluntary community and social enterprise sector should be clearly itemised and listed
  • policies, performance, external audits and key inspections and key indicators on the authorities' fiscal and financial position
  • the location of public land and building assets and key attribute information that is normally recorded on asset registers
  • data of democratic running of the local authority including the constitution, election results, committee minutes, decision - making processes and records of decisions
I have asked Biggleswade Town Council if they will be complying with the Code.

link to the code:


_______________________________________________________________________

On the 4th October 2011, I asked Biggleswade Town Clerk (copy to Mayor):
The above code was published on 29th September 2011 by the Communities Secretary Eric Pickles .
Can you confirm that Biggleswade Town Council will be complying with the code?

The only response I had was on the 5th October 2011, from the Mayor. He said that they would be put before Council when appropriate, although there was no guarantee the Council would vote in favour of them. He went on to say that if the guidelines become law then the Council would implement them.

The next Council meeting is this evening (25th October 2011) and this is not included on the Agenda, so I asked the Mayor:


Can you tell me when it will be “appropriate” to be put before Council?

The response was that the Council are awaiting clarification on some points from the National Association of Local Councils and once they have that it will be brought to Council for consideration.

Friday, 10 February 2012

Be Scam Aware - electricty bill discount?

 
Central
Bedfordshire
Scam Aware

Central Bedfordshire Council’s Trading Standards team is warning consumers to be on their guard if they receive a telephone call where the caller offers a large discount off an electricity bill.

We have received a report from a concerned resident who has recently received a telephone call, where the caller claimed to be calling from the "Electricity Head Board". The caller, who was described as having an Asian Indian accent, then claimed that as previous electricity bills have been paid promptly and that the resident "qualified as a senior citizen" they could be "entitled to 40% off your electricity bills by fitting a meter" which would be sent by the caller.
 
Based on the information we have received we believe that this is most likely to be a scam and we would advise anyone to act with extreme caution when receiving such calls.
 
Our advice to consumers is to never give your personal or bank account details to anybody over the telephone unless you are absolutely certain of their intentions. Never be intimidated into making a quick decision, for example, because an offer is available for a limited period only. If you express any interest to the offer being made, you may be identified as a possible target for a future scam attempt. If you are ever unsure as to whether the offer being made or the call is genuine, do not be afraid to hang up the telephone.
 
If you have information about suspect rogue traders or would like to report a possible scam please initially contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06, in order so that all relevant regulatory authorities can be notified.

In the meantime, please visit our website www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/bescamaware for advice and guidance on how to spot a scam and how to avoid becoming a victim.

Kind regards
Trading Standards
(Community Safety and Public Protection)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central Bedfordshire Council Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5TQ
Telephone: 0300 300 8136 Email: trading.standards@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lincoln Crescent Biggleswade - vehicle

This is a Ringmaster message, from Bedfordshire Police. Please pass the details of this message onto friends and neighbours.

Bedfordshire Police ask residents to report any suspicious activity around parked vehicles after a theft took place in Lincoln Crescent, in Biggleswade.

The offence took place between 9:00 p.m. on the 8th and 7:00 a.m. on the 9th of February.

The vehicle was a White, 55 registered, Fiat.

The offender has gained access to the underside of the vehicle, removing the catalytic convertor.

The safest place to park your vehicle is in a garage, if you have a garage please use it.

Park your vehicle in a well lit area.

Always check that it is correctly locked, and all valuables are removed, before leaving the vehicle.

We are particularly keen to hear about suspicious persons seen under vehicles, or with containers and syphoning equipment.

If you have any information about this crime or other suspicious incidents, please call the Force Control Room on 1 0 1, and quote crime reference, J D / 4 7 7 2 / 2012.

Alternatively text your message to (07786) 200011

Email your message to chc@Bedfordshire.pnn.Police.uk

Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on
0 8 0 0 5 5 5 1 1 1.

Or online at http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/.

No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

Thank you for your support.

Thursday, 9 February 2012

Be Scam Aware - potential telephone scam

Central
Bedfordshire
Scam Aware

Central Bedfordshire Council’s Trading Standards team is warning consumers and small businesses of a potential telephone scam regarding the blocking of telesales calls.

We have had a report from a consumer who has received a telephone call whereby the caller claims the consumer has recently agreed to a service that blocks telesales calls to their number and the caller was calling to confirm payment / bank details. The consumer had not agreed to any such service. The caller was using a 'with-held' telephone number and therefore could not be traced.

Based on the information provided we believe that this call is a scam and we would advise anyone to act with extreme caution when receiving such calls.

Our advice to consumers and small businesses is that you should never give your personal or bank account details to anybody over the telephone unless you are absolutely certain of their intentions. Never be intimidated into making a decision to provide such details and led to think you have already entered an agreement. Always take a moment to ask yourself whether the call is genuine and request proof of such an agreement if you are unsure - a legitimate business will always be happy to meet such a request.

If, at any point, you are unsure as to whether the caller is genuine, do not be afraid to hang up the telephone. And remember, if you do show any interest or provide your details, you may be identified as a possible target for a future scam attempt.

If you have any information about suspect rogue traders or would like to report a possible scam please initially contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06, in order so that all relevant regulatory authorities can be notified.

In the meantime, please visit our website www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/bescamaware for advice and guidance on how to spot a scam and how to avoid becoming a victim.

Kind regards
Trading Standards
(Community Safety and Public Protection)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central Bedfordshire Council Priory House, Monks Walk, Chicksands, Shefford, Bedfordshire, SG17 5TQ
Telephone: 0300 300 8136 Email: trading.standards@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wounding with Intent Earns Five Years in Prison

A drinker, who left his victim scarred for life after hitting him with a glass in a Biggleswade pub, was jailed for 5 years on 7 February.

David Harrup, 48, of The Knolls, Beeston, Sandy, does not know why he attacked bricklayer Samuel Bartram near the pool table in The White Horse. He pleaded guilty to wounding with intent on the night of 29 January last year.

The first blow broke the beer glass and the second, delivered with the broken glass, caused a cut so deep that it passed through layers of his skin leaving his face permanently scarred and numb, Luton crown court heard.

Prosecutor, Timothy Naik, said: "The two men did not know each other. Mr Harrup said something to Mr Bartram, who replied: 'What did you say? I can't hear you.' He was struck by Mr Harrup with the glass."

Harrup was pulled off Mr Bartam and was put in a taxi. He later gave himself up to the police. Mr Naik said that the victim, who works as a bricklayer, had 12 days off work and is likely to be left with permanent scarring.

Stuart Sprawson, defending, said: "He has lived a hard-working, industrious life, supporting his family and people in the community."

Mr Sprawson said the father-of-two runs his own business and is of 'positive good character,' being involved in Biggleswade Football Club and Sandy Boxing Club.

On the night, he and a group of friends had been to a number of pubs in the area and had intended to go onto a curry house, but it was shut. As a result, he said they went into the White Horse pub, where he had not been before. He said there had been an incident in the pub earlier that did not involve Mr Harrup but he became involved with Mr Bartram, striking him twice.

"He has very little memory of what happened and doesn't know the motive. It was not planned. It was not spontaneous. He doesn't fully understand why he behaved in the way he did. He is remorseful,” said Mr Sprawson.

Jailing him, Judge Michael Kay QC said: "This case shows clearer than any case I have encountered the perils, some might say, evils of drinking to excess. It was down to alcohol - that is not mitigation, not an excuse. If anything it is an aggravating feature."

He told Harrup: "What occurred was sickening. Your victim is reminded of what happened every time he looks in the mirror. He wakes up and feels pain and suffers nightmares. It has been life-changing for him."

Please note – all court copies are provided by South Beds News Agency, who retain the copyright© for all articles published.