A Lib Dem spokesman says: “Bedford Borough Council’s debt has been slashed by £30 million or around £2 million every year since Mayor Dave Hodgson was elected in 2009.
“When Bedford became a unitary authority, the Conservative-run County Council left around £90 million of debt to be paid back by Bedford Borough residents for years to come.
“With the debt now at a more manageable level and falling each year, around £1 million more can be spent on services each year rather than debt payments.
“The latest figures from Sky News show Bedford Borough Council spends a lower proportion of its budget on debt than all of its neighbours and at one of the lowest rates in the country.
“For comparison, Bedford Borough Council spends around 2.5% of its spending on servicing the debt, whereas Conservative-run Central Bedfordshire Council spends almost double that proportion – 4.85% on debt.
“Four out of the top five local authorities with the highest proportional spend on debt are controlled by Conservatives with the top two spending more on debt than they do on services.”
Finance Portfolio Holder Councillor Michael Headley said: “This data confirms what we already knew, Conservatives can’t be trusted with public finances. With a manifesto filled with uncosted promises, the Conservative Mayoral Candidate is no different.
“Whilst their party borrows excessively across the country, we have one of the lowest amounts of borrowing of all unitary councils, which means we spend less on interest payments, so there is more for services to residents.
“This is despite inheriting £90m of debt from the old Tory-run County Council, that we have managed to reduce to £60m. Because of our actions and strong financial management, we now have £1 million more for services rather than funding debt.”
Conservative Group Leader and Councillor, Graeme Coombes was quick to rubbish these claims: “It is incredibly disappointing the Mayor and Liberal Democrats continue believe their own propaganda as they cut services, hike Council Tax and misrepresent the facts.
“They seem to live in a dream world of things that never actually happened.
“Bedford Borough Council had the sixth largest increases in Council Tax last year for any Unitary Council Authority, piling pressure on already stretched households.
“Instead of helping Bedford residents, the Mayor dipped his hands into the public’s pockets yet again, with another big increase in Council Tax.
“He squeezed us once again, using our hard earned cash to pay for his annual programme of poor and shoddy services – meanwhile Central Bedfordshire Council have frozen their Council Tax meaning their residents won’t have to pay an extra penny.
“After wringing the Bedford Borough public dry, what have we got to show for it?
“Poorly maintained and pot-holed roads, a neglected and declining town centre, overpriced car parks with lifts and payment machines that don’t work – shockingly poor services and a Mayor who seems to be oblivious to all of this.
“The reality of life under the current Mayor is a world away from what he would have us believe.”
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