Budget Proposals: Average Council Tax Frozen, Front line Services Saved and Investment in Borough’s Future

Last week's meeting of the Council Executive saw us approve the proposed budget for 2013/14, with the proposals underpinned by the three priorities of protecting front line services, keeping local tax bills down and investing in the Borough's future. That's why, subject to the approval of the Full Council, we will deliver a third straight average council tax freeze, major investment in schools and infrastructure and the protection of services being lost so commonly elsewhere such as weekly bin collections, libraries and rural bus services.

The fact that local government has been hit extremely hard via reduced funding from government has been well-reported, and recently-published figures have shown that Bedford Borough Council has suffered an even bigger cut in its spending power next year than the national average. There are more diffiult times ahead, but I am pleased that once again we have put front line services first, while also freezing average council tax for hard-pressed local households.

Here are some of the highlights amongst the budget proposals, which reflect our priorities in this process of saving key services, keeping council tax down and investing in the Borough's future:

Saving Key Front Line Services

• No closures of children centres or libraries.
• Weekly bin collections saved
• Over £5m a year for maintaining our roads and pavements
• Investment in providing placements for Looked After Children and introducing an Early Intervention Strategy to help children who may be at risk to prevent more serious outcomes later.

Keeping Bills Down for Hard-Pressed Local Households:

• Average council tax frozen for a third successive year
• Car park charges frozen for a third straight year in support of shoppers and traders, breaking the previous trend for inflation-busting rises.
• £9.9m of savings. Of the new savings identified in this year's consultation 46% are from better procurement and back office costs.
• The Council is not balancing the books on the backs of the poorest. Other neighbouring councils are freezing council tax for the majority but making the poorest start paying up to over £400 more (Band D)
• The budgest includes £3.5m for invest-to-save energy efficiency measures that will pay back many times over in their lifetime, saving taxpayers money.

Investing in the Borough's Future

• £8.8m investment in the Town Centre targeted towards the Bus Station regeneration
• Funds to deliver the final section of the crucial western bypass.
• £38m investment over four years in our local school buildings, providing new schools and extensions, as well as improvements to existing schools.