With a full council meeting taking place next week Bedford Borough Councillors have been getting their pitches in early for what looks like will be a ‘budget bust up’ on 5 February.
Bedford Borough Council’s Executive, made up of nine Conservative councillors (including the Mayor) and one Independent have already agreed to a 4.99 per cent increase in council tax.
But this still has to be approved by the Full Council and shots are already being fired with Bedford’s Liberal Democrats saying that despite proposing the maximum possible council tax increase for 2025/2026, the budget will still put the council at serious financial risk.
Council officers have called for a ‘resilience review’ to be carried out by external experts due to lower council reserves.
“In the event that budget pressures cannot be contained in 2024/2025 and 2025/26, it is likely that the financial position [of the Council] would be unsustainable.”
Cllr Michael Headley, Liberal Democrat Budget spokesperson said: “We have consistently warned the Mayor that reserves can only be spent once.
“This Conservative administration has reduced the amount of reserves that they inherited from us from £57m to £31m in just two years.
They have not made good use of taxpayers’ hard-earned money, buying up property they don’t need at more than the independent fair valuation and wasting money refurbishing Oasis just to close it.
“Alarm bells are now ringing as external experts are having to be brought in to assess the council’s financial health. The Mayor needs to think again about his approach to spending taxpayers’ money before it’s too late.”
But the Conservatives have hit back. Saying that it’s lack of council tax increases in the past that are to blame.
“Bedford Borough Council is currently facing significant financial pressures after years of minimal council tax increases and a reliance on balancing budgets through incremental cuts to services,” said portfolio holder for corporate services, cllr Marc Frost.
“While this approach aimed to avoid immediate financial strain, it has left key services, such as adult social care and children’s services, underfunded and unable to keep pace with increasing demand.
“The current Executive has inherited a challenging financial situation with reduced reserves and growing service pressures.
“Our focus is on addressing these challenges head-on, prioritising essential services, and ensuring that support is available for the most vulnerable members of our community.
“Transparency and accountability are central to our approach as we make the tough but necessary decisions to ensure long-term sustainability.”
Cllr Frost also welcomed scrutiny by external experts.
“The recommendation for a ‘Resilience Review’ by external experts is a step we fully support. Independent insights will help us ensure that our strategies are robust, sustainable, and aligned with best practices.
“This process will provide valuable guidance as we work to manage budget pressures effectively while safeguarding essential services for our residents.
“While the financial outlook presents challenges, it also presents an opportunity to innovate, modernise, and make the council more efficient and responsive.
“By taking decisive action now, we can secure a stable and sustainable financial future for Bedford Borough, ensuring that we continue to deliver the services that matter most to our community.
“This is a time for constructive solutions and collaboration to rebuild confidence and stability for all residents in Bedford Borough.
“We are committed to taking the steps needed to strengthen the council’s financial position while continuing to deliver the services our residents rely on.”
The council’s executive has been criticised in recent months for other financial decisions.
These include spending money on reopening Oasis Leisure Pool before deciding to close it, seeking to purchase the former Lloyds Bank building on Bedford High Street and selling properties without scrutiny.
