Mayor's Cabinet Supports Proposed Council Budget Which Saves Services, Freezes Council Tax and Invests in Borough's Future

24 Jan 2014
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Bedford Borough Council's proposed 2014/15 budget saves key frontline services, freezes Council Tax and protects the most vulnerable, while delivering exciting investment in the Borough's future.

The Budget plans were approved by the Mayor's Cabinet this week, and will now go forward to Full Council next month.

The draft budget includes £13.8m of required savings in the face of unprecedented Government cuts and rising demand.

Once again, the budget freezes average Council Tax for households across the borough as well as directing savings away from front line services and supporting the most vulnerable people in the borough.

The budget also looks to the future and ensures Bedford can continue to thrive and buck the national economic trend by delivering major investment in Bedford town centre, including the bus station regeneration scheme, and the Mayor's Free Parking Deal. Works on the bus station itself begin on Monday.

Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "This draft budget reflects our ongoing efforts to save services and support vulnerable people, while keeping council tax down for hard-pressed local households.

"We have targeted savings in Borough Hall, not out in the community, allowing us to propose another Council tax freeze while also investing in the future and breathing new life into the heart of Bedford. This includes the bus station regeneration project and more support for a revitalised town centre."

Cllr Michael Headley, Liberal Democrat Portfolio Holder for Finance, added: "We are continuing to protect front line services in the face of extraordinary funding pressures. There have been no closures of libraries, leisure centres, children's centres and we have maintained weekly bin collections, school crossing patrols and a strong rural bus network.

"We are also ensuring we can continue to invest and improve the borough, including major investment in new school buildings as

well as key infrastructure such as the missing link of the Bedford Western Bypass."

The largest saving is within workforce (£2.8m) which includes a reduced senior management structure. There is also a £2m saving achieved by pushing down inflationary costs on many budget areas.

The Highlights of the Council's draft 2014/15 budget include the following:

Freezing council tax - 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

Town Centre Car Park charges frozen for the 4th year running

Protecting the most vulnerable

New Fostering fees and allowances, for those looking after children on behalf of us all

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 our staff

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