Alistair Strathern MP calls on Central Beds Council to speed up spending crucial infrastructure funds

PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP

THURSDAY 24th APRIL 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alistair Strathern, the MP for the Hitchin constituency, which includes much of Bedfordshire, has called on Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) to speed up investing available funds in much needed local infrastructure, following revelations CBC has one of the largest unspent funds in the country.

Speaking in Parliament, Strathern highlighted the fact that CBC has one of the highest unspent section 106 funds in the country. Section 106 money is to be spent on local infrastructure, given by developers, as housing increases demands on services in an area.

Bedfordshire has seen significant increases in town and village size in recent years, without the kind of GP surgeries, road upgrades, schools and pharmacies needed to keep up with growing demand on public services.

Strathern was speaking in a Westminster Hall debate on infrastructure and housing in Bedfordshire. You can see the clip here.

In regular meetings with CBC leadership and their planning team, speeches in Parliament and engagement with residents, Alistair has been campaigning for more infrastructure.

He will continue to push CBC hard to use up their section 106 fund.

Since he first ran to become an MP in 2023, Strathern has campaigned for new housing to always come with new infrastructure. He made this a key pledge during the general election last year.

Alistair Strathern MP said:

“New infrastructure must come with new homes. Both new and old residents in communities do not just deserve this, they are owed it.

“Local communities will be alarmed that in spite of the pressure on local infrastructure, CBC has one of the highest unspent infrastructure funds in the country. 

“I am calling on CBC to use more of their section 106 fund so residents can see the kind of public service improvements they are crying out for.

“I will be doing everything I can to support them in using this money as effectively as possible, and in Parliament pushing to reduce the barriers that impair their ability to make best use of this fund.”

Notes for Editors

You can see Strathern’s intervention where he calls for more action from CBC, here 

You can find out more about unspent section 106 monies, and see the councils alongside CBC with the highest unused funds, here