This page explains how your Council Tax will be used to help provide local services and it also explains how your Council Tax bill is calculated.
The Council Tax in Bedford Borough includes charges from:
- Bedford Borough Council
- The Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire
- Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority
- The Parish Council (in areas where there is a parish council).
Each charge is shown separately on the Council Tax bill.
Borough Council’s part of the Council Tax bill
The Government has established limits on the amount by which Council Tax bills may be increased without being approved through a public referendum. This means that councils with responsibilities for adult social care, including Bedford Borough Council, cannot increase their Council Tax for 2025/2026 by 5.0% or more (including an increase of up to 2.0% dedicated to spending on adult social care) unless the increase is approved through a public referendum. The final settlement granted additional council tax flexibility to six authorities to assist them in addressing their financial needs, but this does not apply to Bedford.
Bedford Borough Council is increasing Council Tax by 2.99% plus 2.0% for adult social care to contribute towards these essential services; these increases are therefore within the referendum limit. All funding raised through this additional 2.0% increase will be used for providing adult social care.
The Council set its Council Tax Requirement at a meeting of the Full Council on 5 February 2025. The increase in Council Tax for Bedford Borough Council, before adjustments for special area charges, is 4.99%.
Average Council Tax Increase - Bedford Borough Council
The table, as set out below, demonstrates the change in the average Council Tax charge for the Borough Council’s part of the Council Tax bill, in respect of a Band D property. Individual increases will vary slightly from the average rate due to changes in the special area charges that are specific to different parts of the Borough. Individual charges will be in relation to the property’s banding.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Total Council Tax charge 2024/2025 | 1,824.64 |
| (a) 2.99% - 2025/2026 Core Council Tax increase | 54.56 |
| (b) 2.00% - 2025/2026 Council Tax adult social care increase | 36.49 |
| Total Council Tax charge 2025/2026 | 1,915.69 |
| Percentage increase | 4.99% |
Bedford Borough Council adult social care charge
Since 2016/2017 councils responsible for providing adult social care have been allowed an additional increase in Council Tax but must spend the money raised on providing social care. The total cumulative adult social care charge included in the overall Council Tax bill for 2025/2026 is £304.73.
Bedford Borough Council special area charges
Each household’s Council Tax bill will vary based upon where you live in the Borough. Bedford Borough Council provides community centres and parks services in some parts of the Borough that are provided by Parish Councils in other areas. An adjustment is made to the average amount of Council Tax for the different areas to ensure that residents are not charged twice for these services.
The table below sets out the total adjustment for each part of the Borough for special area charges (please note the figures in the table are for Bedford Borough Council's part of the Council Tax only and do not include charges for other precepting bodies ie Parish Councils, Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire and Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority).
| Bedford Urban Area | Kempston Urban Area | Brickhill Parish | Other Parishes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Average Council Tax | 1,915.69 | 1,915.69 | 1,915.69 | 1,915.69 |
| Deduct Average of Special Area Amount | (23.88) | (23.88) | (23.88) | (23.88) |
| Add Special Area Charge | 48.23 | 28.56 | 31.68 | 3.91 |
| Band D Council Tax | 1,940.04 | 1,920.37 | 1,923.49 | 1,895.72 |
Parish Council costs
The Council Tax bill may also include a Parish Precept, which is the amount requested by the local Town or Parish Council for areas in which there is a town or parish council. On average the cost of the Parish Council adds £38.44 to a bill for a Band D property. This is an increase of £3.63 on last year equating to an increase of 10.4%.
Fire and Police costs
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire and the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority are responsible for setting their own level of Council Tax. Their Council Tax figures are then included in the overall Council Tax shown on the bill.
The following figures show where the money comes from to pay for the Borough Council’s net revenue expenditure plus the Band D Council Tax for the Police and Fire Authorities.
Council Tax and spending plans for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire
Council Tax and spending plans for the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority
How your Council Tax is calculated
The average Council Tax at Band D including the Parish Precept, Police and Fire Authorities in 2025/2026 is £2,350.94 (£2,237.26 in 2024/2025).
| 2024/2025 | 2025/2026 | Increase | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council Tax at Band D | Council Tax at Band D | ||||
| £m | £ | £m | £ | ||
| 170.2 | Bedford Borough Net Budget | 177.6 | |||
| Less: | |||||
| (7.4) | Government Grants | (7.8) | |||
| (45.5) | Retained Business Rates | (44.8) | |||
| (1.1) | Council Tax Surplus/Deficit | (1.0) | |||
| 116.2 | 1,824.64 | Bedford Borough Council Tax | 124.0 | 1,915.69 | 4.99% |
| 2.2 | 34.81 | Parish/Town Council | 2.5 | 38.44 | 10.43% |
| 118.4 | 1,859.45 | Council Tax including Parish/Town Councils | 126.5 | 1,954.13 | 5.09% |
| 2024/2025 | 2025/2026 | Increase | |||
| Council Tax at Band D | Council Tax at Band D | ||||
| £m | £ | £m | £ | ||
| 16.9 | 265.09 | Police & Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire | 18.1 | 279.09 | 5.28% |
| 7.2 | 112.72 | Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Authority | 7.6 | 117.72 | 4.44% |
| 142.5 | 2,237.26 | Total Council Tax | 152.2 | 2,350.94 | 5.08% |
*There may be rounding differences in this table
Bedford Borough Council's Budget
The 2025/2026 Budget includes additional investments of £7.771 million which cover a range of demand pressures that have been highlighted throughout the General Fund Revenue Budget 2025/2026 report. These investments include £1.400 million to deliver service priorities; these include the continuation of free town centre parking schemes, additional funding in road safety measures and securing ongoing funding for rural and climate change grants.
The 2025/2026 budget has been set against a context of reduced Government funding and increasing service/cost pressures, in particular in relation to Housing and Adult Social Care. It is anticipated that this context will grow over the medium term and as such, the Council will continue to face the challenge of providing key services to a greater number of people with a reduced level of funding.
In setting its budget the Council also has to allow for unavoidable spending pressures such as those arising from increases in external costs due to changes in government policy, inflation and additional demand. The 2025/2026 revenue budget includes additional net inflation costs of £10.291 million.
In light of the need to meet increased demand and limited resources, the Council has had to make difficult decisions in order to set a balanced budget whilst, as far as possible, protecting front line services. A total reduction of £10.499 million through savings and efficiencies has been included in the budget.
How Council Tax is spent on local services
Bedford Borough Council provides major services such as education, social care, highways, waste collection and disposal, housing benefits and economic development. A summary of the revenue budget approved by Bedford Borough Council is shown below:
|
Net Budget £ million |
|
|---|---|
| Adults Services | 71.2 |
| Children's Services | 47.2 |
| Chief Executive, Finance & Corporate Services | 23.5 |
| Environment | 40.1 |
| Sub Total | 182.0 |
| Financing | (4.4) |
| Total for 2025/2026 | 177.6 |
| Total for 2024/2025 | 170.2 |
* There may be rounding differences in the table
How the Council’s Budget has changed
The table below sets out the movements to the 2024/2025 revenue budget position to determine the 2025/2026 revenue budget:
|
Net Budget £ million |
|
|---|---|
| 2024/2025 Revenue Budget | 170.2 |
| Net Inflation / other base budget adjustments | 10.6 |
| Other Funding Adjustments | (2.2) |
| Investments | 7.8 |
| Efficiency savings | (10.5) |
| One-off adjustments | 1.8 |
| 2025/2026 Revenue Budget | 177.6 |
* There may be rounding differences in the table
Capital spending
In addition to the revenue budget, the Council has agreed a Capital Programme of £493.1 million for 2024/2025 and future years (this extends to a ten year programme) on new and existing schemes. A summary of capital expenditure is set out below:
| 2024/2025 | 2025/2026 | Future Years | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £m | £m | £m | £m | |
| Gross Directorate Budgets | ||||
| Children's | 51.5 | 25.6 | 17.5 | 94.6 |
| Environment | 72.2 | 87.5 | 97.0 | 256.7 |
| Corporate Services | 14.6 | 30.7 | 32.2 | 77.5 |
| Transformation | 2.4 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 7.1 |
| Strategies | 4.2 | 12.7 | 40.4 | 57.3 |
| Gross Total | 144.9 | 160.2 | 188.1 | 493.1 |
| Financed by | ||||
| Specific Financing | 110.4 | 74.3 | 94.6 | 279.3 |
| Capital Receipts: General | 3.0 | 24.0 | 92.3 | 119.3 |
| Unallocated CIL | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Borrowing Requirement (net of capital receipts) | 31.5 | 61.9 | (2.9) | 90.5 |
| Total Financing | 144.9 | 160.2 | 188.1 | 493.1 |
* Rounding differences may be present in this table.
The authority has agreed a gross capital programme of £493.1 million for the years 2024/2025 onwards. This includes investment in additional school and primary care provision, transport and highways maintenance schemes, investment in the town centre, support to temporary accommodation and Wixams Railway Station.
Capital expenditure is financed from grants, contributions, capital receipts, revenue, or borrowing. All capital projects are evaluated to ensure that any resulting ongoing revenue costs are affordable within current Council funding.
Further information
The detailed Revenue Budget and Capital Programme is included in the Council’s ‘Revenue Budget and Capital Programme.’
Corporate Plan
The Council is committed to spending every pound as efficiently as possible. The Corporate Plan sets out the priorities for the Council that informs the policy framework for achieving the required ongoing savings whilst meeting the Council’s strategic objectives and statutory obligations. The Corporate Plan is part of the Council’s adopted Policy Framework and articulates at a strategic high-level the Council’s goals and priorities over the medium term.
Our priorities are:
Supporting individuals and families
- We are dedicated to adopting a “family-friendly” approach involving them in crucial decision-making processes and across all services.
- We will focus on achievement and early intervention and support our vulnerable residents.
- We will enable people to participate in their community and celebrate our vibrant culture.
- We will support communities in helping one another to thrive and support people to fulfil their potential.
Protecting the environment
- We are committed to delivering a cleaner, greener and safer place for urban and rural communities.
- We will effectively manage the planning process, the delivery of infrastructure and work to mitigate climate change.
Stimulating economic growth in Bedford Borough
- We will create town centres that people are proud to live in and excited to visit.
- We will also encourage sustainable economic growth, attract high quality jobs, investment in skills and innovation in urban and rural areas.
- We will support educational attainment and skills development for all ages.
Promoting health and wellbeing
- We will help to build healthier communities by working with our partners to strengthen the foundations of physical and mental health (including good education, stable employment, strong community and good quality housing) and address health inequalities.
- We will ensure that residents of all ages are able to access services that support them to live healthier lives.