Council Tax Freeze Confirmed as Council Budget Wins Unanimous Support

Bedford Borough households will once again see their Borough Council tax frozen after the Mayor's budget won unanimous support from all Councillors. The budget also continues Mayor Dave Hodgson's remarkable record of protecting front line services being lost elsewhere, such as Children's Centres, libraries, leisure centres and rural bus services, while investing in key projects such as the brand New Bedford Bus Station and the completion of the Western Bypass.

Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "As the unprecedented reductions to Council funding continue, this budget reflects our relentless effort to save services and support vulnerable people, while keeping council tax down for hard-pressed local households.

"In Bedford Borough we've said no to library closures, no to leisure centre closures, no to children's centre closures and no to fortnightly waste collections, while avoiding any increase in council tax for four successive years. Meanwhile, we are investing over £5 million more in children's social caregiver, and have introduced a new fostering fees system for those looking after children on behalf of us all.

This is also a budget which will deliver vital infrastructure for our future in the borough, with more funding for the ongoing bus station area regeneration and the construction of the crucial final section of the western bypass."

Highlights of the agreed 2014/15 budget, which was supported by every Councillor in a recorded vote (as required by new government regulations), include:

• Freezing average council tax, for the 4th year running

• Protecting services:

Leisure centres and swimming pools saved
All Children's Centres protected
No Library closures
Rural buses and evening urban and Sunday networks
Weekly bin collections maintained

• Investing for the Future:

Bunyan Centre saved and revamped
£5million to repair and maintain our roads and pavements
Substantial investment in our new and improved school buildings
Funding for missing link of the Bedford Western Bypass

• Breathing Life into the Heart of Bedford:

Mayor's Free Parking Deal offering 2 hours free parking every Saturday in Council-owned town centre car parks
New Bus Station and regeneration of the vicinity
Town Centre Car Park charges frozen for the 4th year running

• Protecting the Most Vulnerable:

New fostering fees system introduced
Increased funding for support for Looked after Children
More help for older people to support their quality of life outside of hospital, through the Better Care Fund
Paying the living wage to Council staff