Most damaging budget in decades passed

Bedford Borough Council passed a Budget on 25th February. However, the vote was 16 – 11. Only the Conservative councillors, two Independents and the Mayor voted for it – barely a third of the Council’s 46 Councillors. Every other party abstained, except the Liberal Democrats. Liberal Democrats simply could not vote for such a damaging Budget. 

Not only does the borrowing in this Budget reach an eye-watering £227 million, but it kicks the can down the road, dodging obvious savings whilst making cuts to essential services. There are numerous examples of money that has been wasted – the £338,000 spent refurbishing the now closed Oasis pool, the £450,000 a year for the largely empty Debenhams building, and now because of Conservative failings, having to pay £3,400 a day for government inspectors.

Council Tax will rise by an average 4.99%, taking the increase to over 15% in just three years.

Car Park charges have soared with the particularly damaging new evening charges.

And the Conservatives still plan to make cuts to the following: 

• Family Hub services for children and families,
• Road maintenance,
• Rural and climate change grants, 
• The economic development team (just as Universal arrive), 
• Public toilets, 
• Streetlights, 
• Libraries,
• Grass cutting.

The Budget could only be set at all because the Mayor asked for a huge bailout loan (£55 million of Exceptional Financial Support over three years) from the Government. All the evidence is that this won’t even be enough.