Bedford Borough residents could soon be charged for green waste collections, as the council faces a projected £33 million funding gap over the next four years.
At a meeting of the council’s Executive this week (Tuesday), Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate Services, Cllr Marc Frost (Conservative, Wixams and Wilstead), confirmed that charging for non-statutory services like green waste collections and Telecare is now “under consideration” due to the borough’s serious financial position.
Opposition Liberal Democrat councillors have criticised the move, describing it as a “stealth tax” and accusing the Conservatives of financial mismanagement since taking control of the council in 2023.
Cllr Michael Headley (Liberal Democrat, Putnoe) said: “Residents will be dismayed at the prospect of charges being introduced for the green waste collections. This will be yet another stealth tax on top of the record council tax increases over the last two years.”
He added that the previous Liberal Democrat administration had “deliberately kept” green bin collections free and suggested that current financial pressures could have been avoided if money had not been spent on projects such as the refurbishment of the soon-to-be-closed Oasis pool and the purchase of a town centre building “with no business plan.”
Financial pressure
However, the Conservative leadership has hit back, pointing to a range of national and local pressures that have deepened the council’s financial challenges.
In a statement to the Bedford Independent, Cllr Frost said: “The financial position we inherited is not just difficult – it’s serious.
“We’re facing a £33 million funding gap over the next four years, driven by relentless pressures in adult social care, children’s services, and temporary accommodation, services we are legally obliged to provide.”
He said that inflation, rising pay demands, and a looming national Business Rates Reset, which is expected to cost Bedford around £10 million a year from 2026/27, were major external factors compounding the borough’s financial difficulties.
He added, “This isn’t about slash-and-burn cuts. It’s about delivering a Stability Plan that transforms how we operate, aligning resources to priorities, driving up productivity, and building a council that’s fit for the future.”
No final decision
While charging for green bins is under consideration, Cllr Frost stressed that no final decisions have been made, and that any changes to services would be subject to public consultation.
The council’s recently published Stability Plan and Medium Term Financial Strategy confirm the seriousness of the financial challenge.
They forecast a growing budget deficit caused by increased demand for statutory services, particularly adult and children’s social care, as well as national funding changes outside local control.
Both documents suggest that reviewing charges for non-statutory services, such as green waste collection, is one of several strategies under consideration to safeguard frontline services and stabilise council finances over the coming years.
Bedford Borough Council’s Conservative leadership has promised that any proposed changes will be handled with “consultation, care, and a firm commitment to protect our most vulnerable residents.”
