COUNCIL SAVINGS APPROVED FOLLOWING EXTENSIVE PUBLIC CONSULTATION

Bedford Borough Council's Modernisation programme, which includes a range of savings proposals to help tackle the Council's £36million funding gap over the next four years, has been formally approved by the Council Executive.

The Council was one of the first local authorities in the country to start a full and open consultation with local residents on the 206 proposals. As a result, the Council received more than 4,000 responses to the proposals which were included in the decision making process. As a result, a number of proposals were changed or amended, including:

• Retaining additional funding for youth services and services provided Home Start Charity
• Robinson Pool to retain its 6am opening
• Changes to discretionary rate relief changes to be phased in
• To exempt some rural bus routes to peak-time restriction on concessionary travel

Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: "The financial situation means we must identify £36million of savings in the next four years in order to achieve a balanced budget, and this involves facing up to some very difficult decisions. The Modernisation programme covers all service areas across the Council with some proposals saving a few thousand pounds and others much more.

"By consulting openly and early we have been able to face this challenge alongside local residents. We have listened to the views that have come through the consultation and this is reflected in the amendments made to a number of proposals.

"I would like to thank all those who responded to the consultation and everyone who has worked together in the tasks of identifying or improving these savings during this unprecedented financial climate we find ourselves in."