Increased Central Beds Council funding revealed

Crucially, the Government has announced the funding for the next three-years, giving the Council financial certainty and stability they need to plan ahead, commission services more effectively, and invest in long-term improvements for residents.

This is the first time in more than a decade that the Council has received a multi-year funding settlement from any government, and is something that the former Conservative leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, James Jamieson, consistently argued for.

The settlement also marks a turning point in how local government funding is allocated. It uses the latest 2025 Indices of Deprivation so that funding better reflects local needs and the real cost of delivering services. While the changed formula increases Central Bedfordshire Council’s spending power, elsewhere in the UK, 35 councils see a decrease. Red tape is also being cut streamlining 36 different funding pots.

Alex Mayer MP said: “Councils are under real pressure, and this settlement recognises that reality. You can’t fix decades of underfunding overnight. But thanks to this Government, Central Bedfordshire now has a 16% increase in spending power. Plus, importantly, it is a multi-year funding deal. So the Council now has the tools it needs to plan ahead and protect essential services.

"However, there remains an elephant in the room. Until Central Bedfordshire stops being the blocker on regional devolution and embraces having a Mayor, the area will miss out on the additional funding, powers and long-term investment that come with it.”

Alongside core council funding, the Government is also increasing investment in schools and homelessness prevention, helping to address some of the fastest-growing pressures facing local government.