New plan aims to improve Bedford council services and stabilise finances
Bedford Borough Council’s Executive has approved a wide-ranging plan aimed at overhauling how it operates as it struggles with growing financial pressures and a projected £59 million funding gap.
At a meeting of the council’s Executive on Wednesday (January 7), mayor Tom Wootton said the plan set out a “clear and ambitious framework” to stabilise the council’s finances while improving services for residents.
The improvement plan brings together earlier work under the council’s Stability Plan and recommendations from an external resilience review by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (Cipfa), alongside support from the Local Government Association (LGA).
Deputy mayor councillor Jim Weir said: “The plan is not only necessary but overdue, and one that gives us a credible structured route back to financial stability and organizational strength.”
A council report said the borough council faces significant pressures from demand-led services, particularly children’s services, adult social care and temporary accommodation, as well as rising costs linked to the use of agency staff.
Previous savings have not been sufficient to keep spending within sustainable limits, prompting the need for a longer-term reset.
The plan, which covers the period from 2025 to 2030, is built around four main aims: setting a clearer vision and organisational culture, reshaping the workforce to meet future needs, restoring financial sustainability, and strengthening governance and accountability.
“We now have one clear coherent plan with defined actions, timelines, and accountability,” the deputy mayor added.
“And that matters because our residents deserve a council that is focused, disciplined, and transparent about how it will live within its means.”
Portfolio holder for finance and corporate services, councillor Marc Frost, said: “This council has ticked along for many years, and it worked okay until we got the perfect storm.
“With cuts in funding, with service demands and pressures and overspends.
“We’re not set up to deal with that, and I think this improvement plan will drive complete transformation of the council.”
As part of the decision, the Executive also agreed to formalise an Independent Improvement and Assurance Panel made up of external experts, alongside a new board to oversee progress.
The plan will now be presented to Full Council next week (Wednesday, January 14).