Central Bedfordshire Shadow Authority

The Minister has appointed a Shadow Authority, which comprises of the 53 Councillors of Mid Bedfordshire, the 50 Councillors of South Bedfordshire and the 33 Councillors of the County Council who represent the relevant electoral divisions.  The term for each Councillor will now be until the fourth day after the 2009 elections.  Of these Members 12 are 'twin-hatted' (they represent both the County Council and one of the District Councils) so the actual number of places on the Shadow Authority is 124.

Councillor David McVicar has been nominated to Chair the authority until the new Council is elected.

The Shadow Authority had its first meeting on 10 April 2008.  The duty of the Shadow Authority is to prepare and facilitate the creation of Central Bedfordshire between now and 31 March 2009.  On 1 2009 April Central Bedfordshire goes 'live' as the new unitary. 

Shadow Executive

The arrangements we have put in place enables most of the key functions to be delegated either to the Shadow Executive or to officers.

The Shadow Executive is made up of 12 Members (four from each of the three authorities) and has members from each of the three political parties.

Councillor Tricia Turner of Mid Bedfordshire will take the Chair of the Shadow Executive and Councillor Philip Penman will be Vice Chair.  The Leader of South Bedfordshire District Council, Councillor Norman Costin is also on the Shadow Executive along with Councillor Peter Rawcliffe and Councillor Peter Snelling.

Supporting the Shadow Executive and the Programme Board are Member and officer working groups covering the six key portfolio areas. In all of these
areas the lead roles are shared between the lead authorities as required by the order.

We have set up officer working groups:

  • Social care, health & housing – Tony Keaveney (Lead)
  • Children, young people & families – John Dean (Lead)
  • Sustainable development – Anne Brereton (Joint Lead)
  • Safer & stronger communities – Peter Jones (Supporting)
  • Customers & community engagement – Elaine Malarky (Supporting)
  • Corporate resources – Peter Stabb (Lead)
  • Finance – Nick Murley (Supporting)
  • Legal & Governance – Amerjit Kang (Supporting)
  • Assets – Arrangements to be finalised
  • ICT – Rob Wood (Lead)