It’s just over two years since Dave Hodgson first became mayor of Bedford Borough.
Now in his second term, he talks to reporter ADAM THOMPSON about his hopes, frustrations, fears and passion for the job.
THE MAYOR of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, keeps an A4 black folder in a drawer containing letters and emails of support from residents and visitors to the borough.
He tells me that it is his ‘happy file’ and that he reads the kind words as a reminder of the people he stands for since he took up his role in October 2009.
When ‘Dave the Mayor’, as he likes to tweet under, took the job he cited education as a priority.
Then came the devastating news that the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) grant was to be pulled in what, he says, was to be one of his darkest days in the job as mayor.
“I remember when the news came through.” He tells me. “I remember thinking ‘what can we do and how can we do it? How can we move education forward?’” The decision by The Govern - ment to withdraw promised funding was to leave the borough shorn of £320 million that would have been pumped into the education system.
It was set to change Bedford’s three-tier structure to a uniform two-tier system for pupils.
“Our focus is standards not infrastructure,” said Mr Hodgson.“If we bring in jobs this will bring hope for school students.
If you have a situation where there’s a job and people feel they can get a job then they will think ‘what can I do to go out and get it.’” He remains positive, however, and he is keen to reel off a list of upcoming events happening in the borough.
Exciting as putting on something like the River Festival may be, when you mention the council the words ‘cuts’ and ‘axing of services’ is but a few syllables away. Mr Hodgson admits that the first six months of his second term are already tougher than his first 18 months spell.
“It is tough. I know that. I know that some of the decisions I make today won’t see a comeback for generations but they need to be done. You’ve only to look how things have moved on in Cambridge. For the first time in 800 years it’s becoming a success but I must say I want to see results far quicker than Cambridge.” I ask the mayor what frustrates him the most about the job. “I think people criticising me for decisions that aren’t under my control like business rates. We’re just collectors for Central Government – that gets to me a bit.” So what do the people of the borough moan at him about most? Without hesitation he answers: “Potholes. That along with litter and trees. It’s a very English way of thinking in Bedford, it is funny how things like that get people onto you.
“But it’s why we’ve invested so much into grit for the winter ahead, so much in fact it broke the doors of the depot. That’s what matters to a lot of people.” Leaning back in his chair and joking about how he spends weekend breaks from his job photographing street cleaners that look like ‘Henry Hoovers’, the Mayor reflects on some of the things that make him forget the brickbats. “The best thing about this job is sitting here with you now. Then it will be my next meeting. Then tomorrow it will be hearing school children sing at 9.30am.
“That’s the best thing about this job. I took the role to serve as a top ‘councillor’ but as the months went by I realised just how much this borough is proud of its history.
The ceremonial role was new to me but I love it.” He says the borough folk aren’t scared to voice their opinion on the town. We had one suggestion that was ambitious to say the least. It was to build a concert venue next to the river that would dwarf the Albert Hall and most other venues in the world. Yes it was eccentric, but I respect the ambitions of that person.” It’s two years since he was first voted in and I remind him it comes to an end some day and ask how he’d like to be remembered.
He smiles and says: “I’ll remind you that I’ve got three-and-a-half years left. But after my work is done, I’d like to be remembered as the approachable mayor.
“I get hundreds of emails. I’m telling my secretary not to make appointments just so I can answer people.
“Responding to my letters and email in itself is an eight hour job.
But it’s not just about sitting behind the desk and responding, I like getting out and seeing the people who I represent – or else you tend to forget who you work for.”
