This page explains how your ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ will be used to help provide local services and it also explains how your ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ bill is calculated.
The ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ 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 ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ bill.
Borough Council’s part of the ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ bill
The Government has established limits on the amount by which ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ 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 ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ for 2026/2027 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.
Bedford Borough Council is increasing ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ 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 ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ at a meeting of the Full Council on 25 February 2026. The increase in ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ for Bedford Borough Council, before adjustments for special area charges, is 4.99%.
| Charge | £ |
|---|---|
| Total ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ charge 2025/2026 | 1,915.69 |
| (a) 2.99% - 2026/2027 Core ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ increase | 57.28 |
| (b) 2.00% - 2026/2027 ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ adult social care increase | 38.31 |
| Total ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ charge 2026/2027 | 2,011.28 |
| Percentage increase | 4.99% |
The table, as set out above, demonstrates the change in the average ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ charge for the Borough Council’s part of the ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ 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.
Since 2016/2017 councils responsible for providing adult social care have been allowed an additional increase in ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ but must spend the money raised on providing social care. The total cumulative adult social care charge included in the overall ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ bill for 2026/2027 is £343.04.
Special Area Charges
A Special Area Charge is included within the Bedford Borough Council element of your ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ which is used to fund services that are provided to specific areas. These charges relate to the provision of community centres and parks.
The total budgeted expenditure for these services is deducted from the total Bedford Borough charge and added back as a Special Area Charge to those areas of the Borough to which the expenditure relates. Therefore the amount of ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ received by the Council in totality remains the same, with the total increase being 4.99% and is therefore within the permitted limits. The table below shows these adjustments:
| 2025/26 ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ (Band D) |
£ | Bedford £ | Kempston £ | Brickhill £ | Rural £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ | 1,915.69 | 1,915.69 | 1,915.69 | 1,915.69 | 1,915.69 |
| Reduction in Whole Borough | -23.88 | -23.88 | -23.88 | -23.88 | |
| Increase for Part Area | 48.23 | 28.56 | 31.68 | 3.91 | |
| Revised ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ before Parish Precepts | 1,915.69 | 1,940.04 | 1,920.37 | 1,923.49 | 1,895.72 |
| 2026/27 ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ (Band D) |
£ | Bedford £ | Kempston £ | Brickhill £ | Rural £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ | 2,011.28 | 2,011.28 | 2,011.28 | 2,011.28 | 2,011.28 |
| Reduction in Whole Borough | -23.24 | -23.24 | -23.24 | -23.24 | |
| Increase for Part Area | 39.31 | 22.50 | 27.14 | 11.17 | |
| Revised ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ before Parish Precepts | 2,011.28 | 2,027.35 | 2,010.54 | 2,015.18 | 1,999.21 |
| % Increase in ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ | 4.99% | 4.5% | 4.7% | 4.8% | 5.5% |
A review of special area charges took place ahead of setting the ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ for 2026/2027, which included a re-assessment of open space across the Borough.
Parish Council costs
The ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ 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 £40.15 to a bill for a Band D property. This is an increase of £1.71 on last year equating to an increase of 4.44%.
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 ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ. Their ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ figures are then included in the overall ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ shown on the bill.
How your ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ is calculated
The average ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ at Band D including the Parish Precept, Police and Fire Authorities in 2026/2027 is £2,471.74 (£2,350.94 in 2025/2026).
| 2026/2027 | 2025/2026 | Increase | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ at Band D | ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ at Band D | ||||
| £³¾ | £ | £³¾ | £ | ||
| 228.0 | Bedford Borough Net Budget | 177.6 | |||
| Less: | |||||
| (43.9) | Government Grants | (7.8) | |||
| (53.2) | Retained Business Rates | (44.8) | |||
| (0.1) | ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ Surplus/Deficit | (1.0) | |||
| 130.9 | 2,011.28 | Bedford Borough ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ | 124.0 | 1,915.69 | 4.99% |
| 2.6 | 40.15 | Parish/Town Council | 2.5 | 38.44 | 4.44% |
| 133.5 | 2,051.43 | ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ including Parish/Town Councils | 126.5 | 1,954.13 | 4.98% |
| 2026/2027 | 2025/2026 | Increase | |||
| ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ at Band D | ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ at Band D | ||||
| £³¾ | £ | £³¾ | £ | ||
| 19.4 | 297.59 | Police & Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire | 18.1 | 279.09 | 6.63% |
| 8.0 | 122.72 | Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Authority | 7.6 | 117.72 | 4.25% |
| 160.9 | 2,471.74 | Total ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ | 152.2 | 2,350.94 | 5.14% |
Bedford Borough Council's Budget
The 2026/2027 budget includes additional investments of £18.319 million which cover a range of demand pressures. The 2026/2027 budget has been set against a context of reduced government funding and increasing service/cost pressures, in particularly in relation to Children’s Services, ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ and Adult Social Care.
How ÀóÖ¦ÊÓƵ 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 |
% Spend | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults Services | 84.3 | 33% |
| Children's Services | 57.3 | 23% |
| Environment | 44.7 | 18% |
| Chief Executive / Resources | 23.7 | 9% |
| Financing | 43.1 | 17% |
| Sub Total | 253.0 | 100% |
| Exceptional Financial Support | (25.0) | |
| Total for 2026/2027 | 228.0 |
Capital spending
In addition to the revenue budget, the Council has agreed a Capital Programme 2025/2026 and future years (this extends to a ten-year programme) on new and existing schemes. A summary of capital expenditure is set out below:
| Gross Directorate Budgets |
2026/2027 £³¾ |
Total £³¾ |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive’s | 22.1 | 82.2 |
| Resources | 44.7 | 96.3 |
| Children’s Services | 18.4 | 39.7 |
| Environment | 40.5 | 157.0 |
| Gross Total | 125.7 | 375.2 |
Further information
The detailed Revenue Budget and Capital Programme is included in the Council’s ‘Revenue Budget and Capital Programme.’