Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) tagged articles

Bedford Borough Council faces fresh concerns over financial recovery programme

An independent improvement panel overseeing Bedford Borough Council’s recovery programme said some amber-rated actions “would be more accurately classified as red”...

Bedford Borough Council says £10m borrowing refinance not linked to financial support bid

Bedford Borough Council has clarified that £10m of borrowing refinanced into longer-term loans is routine treasury management and does not increase the authority’s debt...

Four in ten councils may need Government support like Bedford Borough within five years

Nearly four in ten councils across England expect they may need Exceptional Financial Support within five years, according to a new report, as ministers consider Bedford Borough...

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...

Bedford council tax rises approved with budget only balanced by Government support

Bedford Borough Council has approved a 4.99% council tax increase for 2026/27, raising £133.5m locally as the budget relies on Government Exceptional Financial Support...

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...

Bedford Borough Council’s overspend rises to £14 million as financial crisis deepens

Bedford Borough Council’s forecast overspend has risen to £14.3 million, as internal auditors warned that the forecast overspend exceeds available reserves. The figures were discussed...

Labour group rejects “fence sitting” accusation after abstaining from budget vote

Labour’s decision to abstain from a vote over Bedford Borough Council’s defeated budget has sparked a debate over whether it was ‘sitting on the fence’. The budget, proposed by the...

Borough Council executive forced back to drawing board after narrow vote rejects budget

Bedford Borough Council’s budget plans were defeated last night in an 18-16 vote, with 11 abstentions, forcing the administration back to the drawing board. Mayor Tom Wootton later warned...

Exceptional Financial Support (EFS)

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