Council Agrees Draft Budget For Consultation

Dream Doors South Beds Dream Doors South Beds The Kitchen Makeover Company New Life For Old Kitchens - From a simple door replacement to a full refit, Dream Doors South Beds can transform your kitchen for a fraction of the cost in ...

Forever Bond Brickwork

Forever Bond Brickwork Forever Bond Brickwork We are a family run business trading since 2004 offering a reliable and trustworthy service. We carry out work throughout Dunstable and the surrounding area. We are focused on providing excellent service with the highest levels ...

Dormans Photo Imaging Ltd

Dormans Photo 13 Broadwalk, The Quadrant Centre, Dunstable. LU5 4RH Dormans Photo are a family run Photo Lab specialising in Digital and Film processing & printing, Poster prints up to A0 size, and stock a wide variety of frames and albums. We ...

Today (8th January) the Council’s Executive approved its draft budget for consultation and called on everyone who lives and works in Central Bedfordshire to have their say on proposals to invest some £196million on public services next year.

These services include those that are available to everyone, such as bin collections, leisure centres, libraries, parks and open spaces. More specialist services are also provided by the Council which include child protection and support for vulnerable adults.

Maintaining these services has been challenging, particularly as the demand is increasing and national funding has reduced with our Revenue Support Grant reducing from £43million to zero this year.

Despite this, Central Bedfordshire has managed to keep its community services running without closing facilities like libraries and leisure centres and also increasing investment in roads and other services.

In endorsing the budget at Executive today, Councillor Richard Wenham, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources said: “Value for money continues to be at the heart of our thinking at Central Bedfordshire. We have a strong track record in delivering savings and we suggest a range of proposals to make us ever more efficient in this budget”

“In total, the Council is looking to reduce its expenditure by £14.8million through measures such as reducing the number of buildings it works from, making more services available online and improving its procurement and commissioning of services from external companies.

“The budget also proposes a Council Tax increase of 1% which would mean a 29p weekly increase for an average household (Band D) in our area. This less than half the current rate of inflation.

“We’re asking the public their views on this and to indicate where they would like to see further investment with options including enhanced community resilience, recreational and social care services.

“We have a successful track record of delivering major investments like new roads, leisure centres and independent living schemes and the budget includes proposals for much more like the providing new school places, the new M1/A6 link road and improving the A421, road maintenance and integrated health and care hubs in Dunstable and Biggleswade.

“Last year we received more than 1,500 responses to our budget consultation. We listen carefully to what local people tell us about their priorities and I hope we can continue to encourage this feedback.”

CBC Spending In 2018

To have your say on the council’s spending plans, visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/budget2019, or pick up a paper copy of the consultation summary and questionnaire at council offices in Dunstable and Chicksands or one of our libraries.

The closing date is 5pm, 29th January 2019.

Councillors then consider all responses before the final budget is approved by Council at a meeting on 21st February 2019.

Read the latest issue of The Vine Magazine for your area HERE

Delivered to 30,000 homes in Herts, Beds & Bucks

FOR AFFORDABLE, EFFECTIVE, LOCAL ADVERTISING? GET IN TOUCH

Local News

Win Tickets To Ed Byrne At Grove Theatre
Win Tickets To The Festive Gift Fair 2023
Win New Years Eve 2023 Party Tickets
WIN TICKETS To The Festive Gift Fair 2022
WIN Tickets To Chilfest Music Festival
Win Tickets To Buzzstock Music Festival
Win Tickets To Peppa Pig Best Day Ever!
Win New Years Eve 2022 Party Tickets
Win Tickets To The Addams Family Musical
Win Tickets To Cinderella Panto At Aylesbury Waterside Theatre

Check out coming local events and attractions on our What’s On page

For regular local updates follow The Vine Magazine on Facebook & Twitter