Bedford Borough Council could reduce some services to minimum legal levels and increase charges as part of an “emergency” plan to stabilise its finances.
The council’s Executive will be asked next week (Wednesday, 22 April) to approve a new set of strategic priorities, along with a “statement of intent” and operating principles.
A report to the meeting says the council’s financial outlook “demands emergency measures” and a new approach to service delivery.
This would include reviewing which services are statutory and which could be reduced, with senior officers tasked with identifying areas that could be cut back.
The council will also review fees and charges to ensure they cover the full cost of services, while new capital projects would only go ahead if they can fully cover borrowing and associated costs.
Read: £11.5m Bedford Borough Council savings plan includes cuts to staff, voluntary service and libraries
Plans also include removing vacant posts from the staffing structure, reviewing the use of agency staff and overtime, and increasing the council’s focus on commercial approaches to service delivery.
The report states that the measures are intended to support the council’s “journey to financial sustainability” and will underpin the development of the 2026/27 budget and wider improvement plan.
It adds that it is “imperative” that the council carefully considers how mitigation is implemented “to ensure statutory obligations are met” and its residents’ needs are also “appropriately met”.
If approved, the priorities will guide decision-making across all council services “until the financial outlook improves”.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
