Bedford Borough Council is facing a shortfall of nearly £2 million in planned savings, with more than half of the projects behind schedule, a new report shows.
A report to the council’s Finance and Improvement Committee, which meets next week (Wednesday, 22 April), says the authority is aiming to deliver £18.6 million in savings in 2026/27.
However, the latest forecast puts delivery at £16.8 million, leaving a gap of £1.868 million.
Read: Services cuts still on the cards as Bedford Borough Council grapples with budget
The report also highlights delays across the programme, with 18 per cent of savings projects rated “red” and a further 42 per cent rated “amber”.
The report says a “significant” number of projects remain on track and are rated green, and “several” have not yet started.
This, it adds, shows that “a substantial amount” of improvement work remains to be done over the next year.
The council’s improvement plan, introduced to address weaknesses in governance, financial management and service performance, is regularly monitored, with underperforming areas escalated to senior leadership and the executive.
The meeting will hear that further work is ongoing to identify additional savings and close the remaining gap in the council’s budget.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
