Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA)

Bedford Borough Council faces £58.6m medium-term gap as borrowing rises and savings tighten

Bedford Borough Council remains solvent but faces rising borrowing, falling reserves and overspends driven by children’s services, adult care and temporary accommodation...

Public consultation now open on Bedford Borough Council’s budget proposals

Bedford Borough Council has launched a public consultation on its 2026/27 budget proposals, which include £11.5m of savings as part of wider plans to close a £32m funding gap...

Bedford Borough “no exception” as new report finds councils across England “on their knees”

A new Institute for Government report warns local councils face a “perpetual crisis” without major funding reform. Bedford Borough Council says it is “no exception” as it pursues £11.5m...

Bedford Borough Council breached four of its own Treasury Indicators as debt hit £130million

Bedford Borough Council’s borrowing peaked at £130 million last year, breaching four of its own Treasury indicators and prompting concerns over the level of debt, according...

£11.5m Bedford Borough Council savings plan includes cuts to staff, voluntary service and libraries

Bedford Borough Council has set out plans to save £11.5 million next year as part of a major budget consultation. The plan, agreed by the council’s executive last night (Wednesday, 15 October)...

Council confirms four-hour free parking to pause as Bedford Borough faces financial pressures

Bedford Borough Council will pause its four-hour free parking scheme from Sunday, 3 November, to save £150,000 amid financial pressures highlighted by a CIPFA report warning the council...

Bedford Ian writes…

10 October 2025: Wootton earth is going on?, Ego boost, Speed check and True Bedfordian. Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings on across Bedford Borough and tells us what he thinks...

Bedford Borough Council faces £13.6m overspend with £58.6m funding gap expected by 2030

Bedford Borough Council is facing what councillors have described as a “deepening financial emergency”, with reports presented this week revealing both a £13.6 million overspend this year...

Parking, green bins, library services and community grants among areas facing cuts in new council savings plan

Bedford Borough Council is preparing to launch a public consultation on proposals to save £11.5 million in 2026/27, as it faces what it calls “considerable financial challenges” in the years ahead...

Mayor pauses four-hour free parking scheme amid Bedford Borough Council financial pressures

The four-hour free parking scheme at two of Bedford town centre’s main multi-storey car parks will be suspended next month as Bedford Borough Council responds to rising costs and reduced government...

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