Bedford Borough Council has approved the introduction of a small £4 per week charge for its Telecare service – a necessary and fair decision to safeguard the future of this vital lifeline for vulnerable residents across the Borough.

This decision was not taken lightly. Demand for Telecare has surged while costs have soared to a projected £448,000 this year, more than six times the allocated budget of just £72,000.

Without urgent action, the Council faced a £376,000 shortfall and coupled with the legacy of Lib Dem financial chaos uncovered by the CIPFA review – there was a very real danger Telecare could collapse under the weight of its own cost.

To safeguard this vital lifeline for the future, the Conservative Executive acted decisively by introducing a small but fair charge of just £4 per week (57p a day), significantly lower than most councils across the country, for example:

• Stockport charges up to £10.85 per week
• Milton Keynes charges up to £14.86 per week

By contrast, Bedford’s £4 charge is not only among the lowest, but it also comes with no installation fee, will never exceed the cost of delivering the service, and will not apply to anyone receiving Telecare as part of a care package.

This partial contribution will only apply to those most able to afford it, ensuring the service remains sustainable without burdening the most vulnerable.

Despite the clear need for these changes, the Liberal Democrats tried to block the charge - calling it in for scrutiny. But the Adult Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee voted to proceed, recognising the need to protect a service at risk of collapse if no action was taken.

Portfolio Holder for Adult Services, Councillor Robert Rigby commented,

“I want to thank the members of the Adult Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee who looked at the evidence and made a pragmatic decision based on facts, not politics. 

Make no mistake, this is not a step we wanted to take - but doing nothing was not an option. By introducing a small weekly charge, we are protecting a service that helps thousands of residents live safely and independently in their own homes.

Ensuring Telecare doesn’t just survive - but remains a strong service for the future.”

Conservative Group Leader and Councillor, Graeme Coombes commented,

“The Councillors on the Adult Services Scrutiny Committee rose above political convenience and backed a fair, evidence-led decision to safeguard Telecare with a small £4 contribution per week for those most able to afford it. 

This is a decision we have been forced to take due to the 14 years of Lib Dem financial chaos that slashed the Council workforce, salami sliced services and budgets, oversaw ballooning maintenance costs and left us with a funding black hole.

Despite their dismal track record, the Lib Dems ignored the evidence and were determined to block every responsible attempt to sustain the Telecare service - thankfully the Committee saw through their spin and their political posturing was rightly rejected. 

This is another example of the Conservative Executive making the responsible decisions needed to stabilise the Council’s finances and protect frontline services long into the future.”