Mayor Tom Wootton tagged articles

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...

Monthly column: With unity and honesty, we can steer Bedford through these financial headwinds

Everyone is aware of the financial challenges faced by the current Government, and local authorities like Bedford Borough are no different. Our community is feeling...

Borough Council accepts grant to fund wardens to tackle town centre anti-social behaviour

Bedford Borough Council has approved the acceptance of an £86,130 grant from Bedfordshire Police and the Home Office to fund a new Town Centre Warden initiative. The decision, taken by Mayor...

Who’s on Bedford’s new Town Centre Advisory Board? Full list revealed as first meeting takes place

The Bedford Town Centre Advisory Board has held its first meeting, bringing together local business leaders, education representatives and councillors to help shape the future of the town centre...

Councillor questions council tax rises that could “subsidise free car parking” as poorer households face losing support

Plans to overhaul Bedford Borough Council’s council tax reduction scheme have come under fire for placing new financial burdens on the Borough’s poorest residents after a councillor...

‘Empty’ Debenhams costing Bedford taxpayers half a million pounds each year

Bedford Borough Council is spending nearly half a million pounds a year on the former Debenhams building – with councillors clashing over whether the costly problems…

Council scraps plans to buy former high street bank building

Plans to purchase the former Lloyds Bank building on Bedford High Street have been scrapped by Bedford Borough Council, amid ongoing financial pressure and questions over the future of...

Private security initiative extended for further month after “successful” opening weekend

Peter McCormack, who is leading on the private security initiative in Bedford Town centre, says the first weekend of the trial "worked as a deterrent" and has committed to a further month...

Letters: “We cannot pull together while hurling abuse at each other”

Along with my Green colleagues on the council, I am massively frustrated to see the war of words between the Conservatives and LibDems about council finances again...

Mayor Tom Wootton

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