I am often asked what it is like being a Mayor after spending my whole working life as a farmer. The reality is simple: on a farm, when a job needs doing, you get on with it. that is the approach I have brought to this office.

Over the past three years, the serious financial pressures facing Bedford Borough Council have become increasingly clear. This situation did not arise overnight. It is the result of challenges building up over many years, and it has required my team, council officers and Cabinet members to work closely with Government to begin putting things right.

For those who want the full detail, I encourage you to read the CIPFA Resilience Review. In simple terms, it explains that the Council’s financial position has weakened because:

• Demand and costs for adult social care, children’s services and homelessness support have risen far faster than Council income.
• The Council has not been consistent in collecting income owed, leading to higher unpaid debt and weaker day-to-day finances.
• Past decisions not to increase Council Tax in line with rising costs reduced available funding year after year.
• Reserves were repeatedly used to plug budget gaps, leaving less protection for future emergencies.
• In some services, staffing was reduced despite sustained demand, increasing reliance on costly agency workers and adding further pressure to budgets.

None of this makes for easy reading. But what matters now is how we respond and how we turn around the difficult position we inherited, getting on with the job that needs doing.

How we are protecting residents and services

I won’t pretend the challenge is small. Council forecasts show a £59 million funding gap between 2025 and 2030 if no action is taken.

That is why we have introduced a clear Improvement Plan a practical roadmap to stabilise the Council’s finances while protecting the services residents rely on most.

The plan includes:

·       Reducing reliance on agency staff and improving efficiency, delivering £4.2 million a year in savings from April 2026.

·       Stronger day-to-day financial control, with clearer accountability, tighter spending oversight and consistent performance monitoring.

·       An investment of £300,000 in better data and reporting tools, allowing faster, evidence-based decision-making.

All of this is being delivered against a backdrop of continued reductions in Government support.

Government funding has been slashed

Like councils across the country, Bedford Borough faces rising demand for statutory services — particularly temporary accommodation, children’s services and adult social care. At the same time, costs have risen sharply, in some areas by around 25%.

Government funding has not kept pace. As previous Liberal Democrat and Labour administrations themselves acknowledged, the main Government grant fell from £30 million in 2015 to just £6 million by 2022.

The situation has since worsened. Once additional responsibilities placed on councils are taken into account, Bedford Borough is now more than £1 million worse off for day-to-day services, money that should be helping our most vulnerable residents.

Despite this, we remain firmly committed to protecting frontline services and supporting those who need us most.

Final words

My promise to residents is simple: just like on the farm, I will continue to focus on the job that needs doing. We will keep fixing the finances, improving services and investing in the Borough’s future.

There are tough choices ahead, but there are also clear improvements already being made. With focus, honesty and hard work, we will get this Council back on track.