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14 October 2026
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Council Finances

Mayor Tom Wootton holds up a cut out of the UK, showing Bedford as the the location of the proposed new Universal Studios Theme Park. Image: Bedford Independent

Monthly column: Looking back at 2025 and forward to 2026

Despite significant financial pressures, we made real progress on a major regeneration project. The Bedford River Valley Park was approved late in 2025 through a Collaboration Agreement...
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Stack of pound coins on financial graphs and figures balance sheet Image Brian A Jackson Shutterstock

More needs to be done to reverse potential impact of changes to local authority funding say councillors

Labour MPs in Central Bedfordshire constituencies are being urged to do more to reverse the potential £24m impact of proposed government changes to local authority funding...
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Stack of pound coins on financial graphs and figures balance sheet Image Brian A Jackson Shutterstock

Bedford Borough Council opens second phase of 2026/27 budget consultation

Bedford Borough Council has opened phase two of its 2026/27 budget consultation as it tackles a £32m shortfall. Residents, businesses and partners are urged to share their views by...
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Stack of pound coins on financial graphs and figures balance sheet Image Brian A Jackson Shutterstock

Monthly column: Labour leader calls for unity and tough choices as Bedford faces financial storm

Leadership means doing what’s right, not what’s popular, to protect vital services and the borough’s future. The past few months have been among the most challenging I have witnessed during my...
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Crowds at McFly at Bedford Summer Sessions. Image Rebecca Goacher

Bedford Ian writes…

24 October 2025: Positivity please, Homecoming King, Ticking boxes, Political pivot and Zero problem. Bedford Ian has been looking at recent goings on across Bedford Borough and tells us...
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Stack of pound coins on financial graphs and figures balance sheet Image Brian A Jackson Shutterstock

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...
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Calculator finance money budget Image: Bedford Independent

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...
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A woman wearing a blue and whit striped shirt filling up a glass with water from a tap over a sink Image Krakenimages.com Shutterstock

Bedford Borough Council has spent £14,000 on bottled water after “common” bacteria found in Borough Hall water system

Bedford Borough Council is providing bottled water at Borough Hall after commonly found bacteria were detected in the building’s water system earlier this year...
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A close up of a United Kingdom local authorities Council Tax bill with bank notes, Pound coin and bank cards.

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...
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Bedford Borough Hall Bedford Borough council signage and entrance

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...
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