completed including sections of the Luton East Circular Road, Kempston Southern Bypass, Bromham Bypass and Ampthill Bypass 1983–1987: Council successfully lead campaign to prevent nuclear waste being dumped at Elstow Storage Depot 1988: Bedfordshire House opened in as headquarters for County Council services in the south of the county 1989 budget £337m. Main responsibilities: Education, Fire Service, Highways (inc.1,400 miles of road), Libraries, Planning, Police, Road Safety, Social Services, Trading Standards, Waste Disposal, Youth Employment. 1989–1999 Events that took place were: 1992: Stagsden bypass opened at cost of £3.7m 1996: Arlesey/Stotfold bypass opened at a cost of £12m 1997: As a result of the 1994 Local Government Review Luton became a unitary authority (on its pre1974 boundaries) on 1 April. The County Council's Partnership Programme led to the outsourcing of a wide range of services such as highways maintenance and property (buildings and farms etc.) following the central government requirement for local services to be opened to the private sector through Compulsory Competitive Tendering. Greater independence given to schools through Local Management of Schools 1999: Became the first county in the country to introduce the Leader and Cabinet system, overseen by an Executive Committee Bedfordshire County Council became a founding partner in the Marston Vale Community Forest (now Forest of Marston Vale) with Forest Centre and Millennium Country Park 1999–2009 Events that took place were: 2000: Long-standing leader, Cllr Phillip Hendry appointed a CBE for services to local government including instigating the business services outsourcing partnership with Hyder Business Services (HBS) signed in June 2001 (intended to last 12 years) requiring them to deliver a customer contact centre, investment in council buildings and ICT systems and support services to schools. 2002: National annual Comprehensive Performance Assessment (with star rating) introduced for councils to assess service delivery. Bedfordshire County Council initially rated ‘poor’ with zero stars. New style of leadership and management led to the introduction of the ‘Transforming Bedfordshire’ plan and greater consultation with the public regarding priorities. 2005: Following a review In August the Council terminated its contract with HBS and agreed a £7.7m pay-of which mainly covered the cost of works undertaken and products purchased for council services 2004–2007: County Council progressively moved up to 3 stars in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment being judged a ‘good’ council ‘improving strongly by the Audit Commission with progress during that time mentioned in parliament. The Times newspaper described the Count Council