Proposed Council Budget Puts People First
- Council Tax Freeze
- Services saved
- Investment in the future
Bedford Borough Council's proposed 2014/15 budget puts people first, saving valuable services, freezing Council Tax and protecting the most vulnerable.
The draft budget for 2014/15 will be considered by the Council's Executive on Wednesday 22nd January and 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.
Mayor of Bedford Borough, 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."
Lib Dem Cllr Michael Headley, 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."
Highlights of the draft 2014/15 budget:
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