Bedford Borough’s elected mayor, Tom Wootton, has blamed “systemic mismanagement” within Bedford Borough Council for the authority’s worsening financial position, as government inspectors prepare to step in.
In a strongly worded statement issued after ministers ordered a Best Value inspection, the Conservative mayor said he and his cabinet had been “horrified” by what they discovered on taking office and claimed senior officers had, at times, shown “indifference” and even “resistance” to reform.
The announcement comes just days after the council’s proposed budget was voted down at Full Council, leaving the administration scrambling to produce revised plans amid mounting financial pressures.
Mayor points to management failings
Welcoming the government’s intervention, mayor Wootton said: “While there are many hard-working officers, trying to do the best for the borough and its residents, it is clear there has been systemic mismanagement.”
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He described the inspection as “good news for the residents of Bedford borough who deserve best value services” and called it “a step forward on the long road to improvement”.
The mayor also revealed that he had taken advice and had been informed that he was unable to request the chief executive’s resignation until after the inspection had taken place.
However, in a statement, he seemed to call for her resignation. “I hope she will do the right thing for Bedford,” he added.
Bedford Borough Council declined to comment.
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Financial mess
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed it has been engaging with the authority since July 2025, following concerns raised in a financial resilience and governance review by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
The decision to launch a Best Value inspection follows a series of external warnings about the council’s governance and finances.
Among the factors cited by ministers were:
- Weaknesses identified by CIPFA in governance arrangements and financial management, including a projected overspend and a significant medium-term budget gap
- A Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge, which said good governance was being hindered by a lack of strategic clarity and leadership issues
- An Ofsted inspection in July 202,5 which downgraded children’s services to “Requires Improvement”
- An update report from external auditor KPMG to the council’s Audit Committee
The inspection will examine whether the council is meeting its statutory duty to secure continuous improvement in economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
What happens next
Paul Najsarek has been appointed as lead inspector, supported by Margaret Lee and Parveen Akhtar. They will assess governance, audit arrangements, organisational culture, service delivery and the council’s capacity to address previous recommendations.
The inspector has been directed to report to the Secretary of State by June 2026.
The government’s letter also makes clear that no documentation or records should be destroyed from the date of notification.
The intervention marks the latest development in a turbulent period for the authority, with political divisions deepening and financial scrutiny intensifying.
Reacting to the news of the Best Value Inspection, leader of Bedford Borough Liberal Democrats, Cllr Henry Vann (De Parys) said: “Sadly, this is not a surprise and reflects the state that the Council is now in.
“We have seen a £55 million bailout requested from government, a downgrading in the recent inspection of Children’s Services and a lack of progress in making improvements since the Government started engaging with the council in July last year.
“Inevitably, it will be residents who pay the price for these failings, but we hope that this intervention from the Government will mark the start of the changes that are needed to get the Council back on its feet.”
Additional reporting by John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
