Council Tax to be Frozen Again, as Frontline Services Protected
Bedford Borough Council's draft 2015/16 budget freezes council tax, saves valuable services and invests in the Borough's future. Mayor Dave Hodgson's Executive's proposals include a fifth straight council tax freeze, the protection of frontline services and investment in our communities, including an extra £1 million for pavement resurfacing. The budget includes £9.1m of required savings in the face of unprecedented Government cuts and rising demand.
The recent government funding settlement confirmed that the Council's main government grant has been cut by a third within just two years. However, the rigorous savings programme and business and housing growth reflecting a thriving borough has enabled a draft budget which not only proposes a fifth straight council tax freeze but continues the Council's record of protecting frontline services, with facilities and services which have been closed or cut elsewhere saved here in Bedford Borough, such as libraries, children's centres and weekly bin collections.
In addition, the budget includes extra investment in key areas, including more money for adaptations to enable disabled people to stay in their own homes and an additional £3 million investment in the Council's leisure facilities.
Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "These budget proposals are a result of our ongoing work to protect frontline services and keep council tax down for local households, with a fifth successive freeze. In the face of rising demands and a huge reduction in the Council's funding, there have been no closures of libraries, leisure centres or children's centres, while weekly bin collections, a strong rural bus network and other services being lost elsewhere continue to be supported.
"We are also investing in our local communities and in the Borough's future, with the extra money for pavement resurfacing and construction of the western bypass, for example."
Cllr Michael Headley, Portfolio Holder for Finance, added: "This budget includes a fifth straight council tax freeze, and also delivers major investment to enhance and improve local facilities and services. For example, not only have we safeguarded the future of leisure facilities, but we are implementing £3 million of improvements. We are also investing in our children's future, with the continuation of our ambitious programme to replace all temporary school classrooms with high quality permanent facilities."
The proposed budget will be considered by the Full Council at its meeting on the 4th February.
Highlights of the draft 2015/16 budget include:
Freezing council tax - 5th year running
Protecting services
All leisure centres and swimming pools saved
All children's centres protected
No library closures
Bus Services protected and improved
Investment in Adult Social Care
Weekly bin collections maintained
Investing for the Future
Continuing the £5million investment to repair and maintain our roads and pavements, plus an additional £1 million for pavements
£3m investment in our leisure sites
Increased disabled facilities grants for adaptations to help people live in their own home
Investment in the high street
Delivering the ambitious school investment plan, including the replacement of all temporary classrooms with high quality permanent buildings
Completing Construction of the final section the Bedford Western Bypass
Regenerating Bedford
Mayor's Free Parking Deal offering 2 hours free parking every Saturday in Council-owned town centre car parks
Completion of the redevelopment of the Bus Station Area
Town Centre Car Park charges frozen for the 5th year running
Looking After Your Money
Reduction in external borrowing - the Council inherited £90m from the former County Council in 2009, reducing to £84.8m by 31 March 2015 and £74.3m by 31 March 2018
Revenue Support Grant from government reduced by £7.9m contributing to a savings requirement of £9.1m, including £1.8m of business rates growth.
Cumulative savings of £81m achieved since April 2010
Large savings on the Council's senior management structure, which costs £2.9m less a year than in 2009