Residents, businesses and partners are invited to provide feedback on our budget proposals for 2026-2027.
The Council has ambitious plans for the future, with a range of strategic priorities aimed at enhancing the quality of life for all who live in or visit our borough.
Our goal is to maintain and improve essential services for our 190,000 residents, including waste and recycling collection, street cleaning, homelessness support, social care and community safety initiatives.
Why we are consulting
Like many local authorities, we continue to face significant financial pressures due to increasing demands for services and increasing costs, as well as the ongoing requirement to achieve budgetary savings. In addition, from April 2026, the Government is changing the way Councils are funded; this means we will have less money to spend providing services for our residents. Despite a strong track record of sound financial management, we are projecting a budget gap of £32 million next year. We will have difficult decisions to make as we develop the 2026-2027 budget.
These budget proposals are designed to maintain and improve the Council’s operations amid these financial challenges. Our focus remains on protecting services, raising quality, making our processes more efficient, prioritising resources, and delivering better customer service. Resources will be channelled towards services where they are most needed.
The budget also includes provisions for long-term capital investments within the Borough. In response to financial constraints, we have conducted a comprehensive review of our Capital Programme, resulting in the reduction or removal of certain projects. Investment in essential maintenance of highways and property assets and our town centres remain central to our strategy.
Budget proposal documents
- Budget Preparation Process: 2026/2027 – Savings Proposals for Public Consultation (PDF)
- Appendix A: Efficiency Plan – Service Policy Options: Revenue Budget 2026/2027 (PDF)
- 2025/2026 Revenue and Capital Trends report - see sections 5.25 to 5.35, and appendices E and F (PDF)
How to have your say
Residents, businesses and partners are invited to give their views during the public consultation. Your responses will help inform next year’s budget.
The budget consultation will run from midday on Monday 20 October to midday on Tuesday 18 November 2025.
Respond online
The quickest and easiest way to respond is via the online survey below.
By submitting your survey you agree to how we process your personal data.
Have your say on the Council’s 2026/27 budget proposals
Other ways to respond to the survey
You can request a hard copy of the survey from our libraries during staffed hours, or from the Bedford Borough Hub on Horne Lane, Bedford.
You can also ask for a hard copy by emailing consultingbedford@bedford.gov.uk or by writing to Consulting Bedford, Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford MK42 9AP.
Help with completing the survey
If you would like help to complete the survey online, digital assistance is available from the Bedford Borough Hub on Horne Lane, Bedford.
If you have difficulty hearing or speaking and you are a British Sign Language user, you can contact us using the SignLive BSL interpreting service.
What happens next
The findings from the consultation will be given to the Mayor and Councillors as part of the evidence they will use to help them come to a decision about the budget proposals.
Comments should be received by midday on Tuesday 18 November 2025 and may be published.