Budget Approved with All Party Support

We were very pleased to receive all party support for on Wednesday for the Council budget, which is now approved and will see frontline services protected and even a small Council tax cut of 0.7 per cent. I want to thank all the Councillors who recognised that we have been ruthless in tackling waste and back office costs, focusing savings 'at home' in Borough Hall rather than out in the community where important services are provided. I also want to give special thanks to all the residents, staff and service users who took part in the consultation on our savings proposals in the autumn, when we published our plans early to enable an open and transparent dialogue on the fairest way to close the huge funding gap we faced, along with other Councils.

Our rigorous approach of making sure local taxpayers get full value from every penny has enabled us to avoid the widespread cuts seen elsewhere across the country, despite the fact that the vast cut in government funding and other factors meant we had to find £16 million of savings. We were also able to invest in residents' priorities, with a £41 million school improvement plan over four years, and continuing investment in our roads and pavements and the local economy. We have to invest in these areas to help Bedford Borough to thrive, now and in the future. We have to be ambitious for Bedford, whatever the economic climate. This budget is ambitious for Bedford, and I am grateful for the widespread support it has received.