A Bedford Borough Council committee has expressed its concerns over the administration’s proposed budget.
The Budget and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee voted on Thursday (25 January) to share these concerns with the Full Council.
The committee chair, councillor Michael Headley (Lib Dem, Putnoe) said: “It’s about the cuts to the ward fund, it’s the cuts to the services, [and] it’s the highest council tax rise.
Councillor Christine McHugh (Lib Dem, Goldington) said: “I’m particularly concerned about the crisis welfare provision being cut.
“That’s the last stop for people who want some help or need to be signposted to the food bank or an emergency loan.
“And that’s despite the council tax rise being the maximum 4.99 per cent.
“It’s the maximum council tax rise that this borough has had as a unitary council, and yet we can’t help the people in their greatest need,” she said.
Councillor Headley said: “It’s very hypocritical that the Conservatives always talk about keeping council tax down when they’re in opposition but they really show their true colours when they’re in power again.
“No attempt to limit the rise and the impact on residents, [just] straight to the maximum.
“We want to make sure Full Council are [sic] aware of our concerns,” he said.
The members of the cross-party Budget and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee are Cllr Ben Foley (Green), Cllr John Gambold (Conservative), Cllr Christine McHugh (LibDems), Cllr Fouzia Zamir Atiq (Labour), Cllr Michael Headley (LibDems), Cllr Mohammed Masud (Labour) and Cllr Marc Frost (Conservative).
by John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
with additional reporting by Erica Roffe
