Best Value inspection tagged articles

Damning inspection reveals bullying and leadership collapse at Bedford Borough Council

The government is sending in commissioners to oversee Bedford Borough Council for up to three years after an inspection revealed severe leadership failures, misogyny and financial...

Letters: The mayor is asking the electorate to judge him on his record – he might as well just resign

In the Green Party, we were interested in the Mayor’s comments about the next election, that “the town should go Green”. Whether he was talking about Bedford or Kempston, he’s right...

Mayor says Bedford Borough Council has “real troubles” as new finance committee begins work

Bedford Borough Council has created a Finance and Improvement Committee to monitor its recovery plan and savings programme, as mayor Tom Wootton warned the authority faces...

Breaking news: Government confirms £80m emergency support for Bedford Borough Council

Bedford Borough Council has been granted £80 million in Exceptional Financial Support across two years, with £22m for 2025/26 and £58m for 2026/27, as government confirms emergency financial backing...

Budget changes approved as Bedford Borough Council drops savings plans and adds town centre funding

Bedford Borough Council has approved an amended 2026/27 budget, dropping proposed savings on councillor allowances and speed cameras while adding town centre cleaning funding and...

Breaking news: Bedford Borough councillors agree budget with almost 5% council tax rise

Bedford Borough Council has approved the 2026/27 budget, which includes an almost 5% rise in council tax. Council Tax will increase by 4.99% (2.99% core plus 2% Adult Social Care precept) to help...

Bedford Borough councillors launch two more petitions calling for mayor’s resignation

After Bedford's Liberal Democrats launched a petition on Friday (13 February) calling for the resignation of Bedford's elected mayor, Tom Wootton (Conservative), two further 'parallel'...

Letters: Every petty sniping councillor should be ashamed of helping to run this Borough’s affairs into the ground

Oh, the joy of reading Paul Hutchison's delicious take-down of Tom Wootton's pompous, disastrous tenure at the helm of our council. It's long overdue that someone should point out the emperor...

Opinion: Mr mayor, a Best Value inspection is embarrassing and the buck also stops with you

Bedford Borough Council faces a Best Value inspection and the Mayor says it's “welcome support”, calling for the chief executive to resign. Bedford needs less blame and more leadership...

What is a “best value” inspection – and why does it matter to Bedford?

A Best Value inspection is one of the most serious forms of government intervention in local government, and it's about to be carried out on Bedford Borough Council. Ordered by ministers under...

Best Value inspection

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