Bedford is a
unitary authorityA unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
with the status of a
boroughBorough status in the United Kingdom is granted by royal charter to local government districts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The status is purely honorary, and does not give any additional powers to the council or inhabitants of the district...
in the ceremonial county of
BedfordshireBedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region....
,
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Its council is based at Bedford, which is also the
county townA county town is the 'capital' of a county in Republic of Ireland or the United Kingdom. County towns are usually the location of administrative or judicial functions, or established over time as the de facto main town of a county. The concept of a county town eventually became detached from its...
of Bedfordshire. The borough contains a single urban area that comprises Bedford and the adjacent town of
KempstonKempston is a town in Bedfordshire, England. Once known as the largest village in England, Kempston is now a town with its own town council. It has a population of about 20,000, and together with Bedford, it forms an urban area with around 100,000 inhabitants, which is the sole urban area in the...
, surrounded by a rural area with many villages. The borough is also the location of the
WixamsWixams is a new town in Bedfordshire, England, which has been under construction since early 2007. It is expected to become the third largest settlement in the Borough of Bedford after Bedford itself and Kempston, and one of the largest new settlements founded in England since the new towns...
new townA new town, planned community or planned city is a city, town, or community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion.Navi Mumbai, a planned city near Indian city...
development, which received its first residents in 2009. Unlike most English districts, Bedford's council is led by a
directly-elected mayorDirectly elected mayors are local government leaders elected by the general electorate, rather than by the local council. They were introduced into England and Wales in 2000.- London :...
, who has been
Dave HodgsonDave Hodgson is the directly-elected mayor of the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England. Hodgson is also the second elected mayor to represent the Liberal Democrats in the United Kingdom....
since October 16, 2009.
The
District of Bedford was formed on 1 April 1974 as a merger of the existing borough of Bedford, along with
KempstonKempston is a town in Bedfordshire, England. Once known as the largest village in England, Kempston is now a town with its own town council. It has a population of about 20,000, and together with Bedford, it forms an urban area with around 100,000 inhabitants, which is the sole urban area in the...
urban districtIn the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council.-England and Wales:In England...
and
Bedford Rural DistrictBedford was a rural district in Bedfordshire, England from 1894 to 1974. The district largely surrounded but did not include the municipal borough of Bedford....
. In 1975 the district was granted a
royal charterIn medieval Europe, royal charters were used to create cities . The date that such a charter was granted is considered to be when a city was "founded", regardless of when the locality originally began to be settled.At one time a royal charter was the only way in which an incorporated body could be...
granting borough status as
North Bedfordshire. The borough was renamed as
Borough of Bedford in 1992. Over half of the former
municipal boroughMunicipal boroughs were a type of local government which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...
of Bedford is
unparishedIn England, an unparished area is an area that is not covered by a civil parish. Most urbanised districts of England are either entirely or partly unparished. In some cases, a largely rural district will have one or two unparished areas in it...
, however Brickhill is a parish, and Queens Park as well as Cauldwell & Kingsbrook elect their own urban community councils who have similar functions to parish councils. The rest of the district including Kempston is
parishedIn England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and in some places the lowest tier of local government, below districts and counties. A civil parish can alternatively be known as a town, village, neighbourhood or community by resolution of its parish council; and in a limited number of...
.
The
Department for Communities and Local GovernmentThe Department for Communities and Local Government is the UK Government department for communities and local government in England, since May 2006...
have reorganised Bedfordshire's administrative structure as part of the
2009 structural changes to local government in EnglandStructural changes to local government in England were effected on 1 April 2009, whereby a number of new unitary authorities were created in parts of the country which previously operated a 'two-tier' system of counties and districts...
, meaning that Bedford Borough Council became a
unitary authorityA unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
in April 2009. This means Bedford Borough has assumed responsibility in areas such as education, social services and transport which were previously provided by Bedfordshire County Council.
Council and cabinet
See also: Bedford local electionsOne third of Bedford Council is elected each year, followed by one year without election.-Council Control:No overall control 1973 - 1976Conservative 1976 - 1986No overall control 1986 - present-Elected Mayor:Independent 2002 - 2009...
As of 2009 there are 36 councillors in addition to the mayor. Following the
June 2009 local electionsThe 2009 United Kingdom local elections were elections held to all 27 County Councils, three existing Unitary Authorities and five new Unitary Authorities, all in England, on 4 June 2009...
, these are broken down as follows:
| Year |
Conservative |
Labour |
Liberal Democrat |
Independent |
Other |
Control |
| 2009 |
9 |
7 |
13 |
7 |
0 |
|
No overall control Within the context of local councils of the United Kingdom, the term No Overall Control refers to a situation in which no single party achieves a majority of seats and is analogous to a hung parliament...
|
Bedford Borough Council’s executive committee (cabinet) is headed by the mayor and includes 9 members from all of the political parties represented on the council.
Wards and civil parishes
The towns of Bedford and Kempston are divided into 13 wards, some of which are also civil parishes:
- Brickhill
Brickhill is a civil parish and electoral ward within northern Bedford in Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Brickhill are approximately Kimbolton Road to the east, Bedford Park and the old Bedford cemetery to the south, with Cemetery Hill and the Manton Heights Industrial Estate to the...
- Castle
Castle is an electoral ward and area of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Castle are approximately Bromham Road and Goldington Road to the north, Newnham Avenue to the east, the River Great Ouse to the south, with the Midland Main Line railway line and Ashburnam Road to the west.The...
, Cauldwell
- De Parys
De Parys is an electoral ward and area within the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of De Parys are approximately Polhill Avenue to the north and east, Goldington Road to the south, with De Parys Avenue to the west....
- Goldington
Goldington is an electoral ward and former village within the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Goldington are approximately Norse Road and Cemetery to the north and east, Goldington Road to the south, with Church Lane and Haylands Way to the west...
- Harpur
Harpur is an electoral ward and area within the town of Bedford, England.The boundaries of Harpur are approximately Manton Lane to the north, De Parys Avenue to the east, Bromham Road to the south, with the Midland Main Line railway line to the west....
- Kempston East
Kempston East is an electoral ward and area within Kempston, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Kempston East are Bedford Road to the north, the Midland Main Line railway line to the east, with Elstow Road to south....
, Kempston NorthKempston North is an electoral ward and area within the town of Kempston, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Kempston North are the River Great Ouse to the north west, with Kempston High Steet and Bedford Road to the south east....
, Kempston SouthKempston South is an electoral ward and area within the town of Kempston, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Kempston South are Kempston High Street and Elstow Road to the north, Ampthill Road to the east, with the A421 road to the south...
, KingsbrookKingsbrook is an electoral ward and area within the town of Bedford, England.The boundaries of Kingsbrook are approximately the River Great Ouse and Priory Country Park to the north, Cambridge Road and the A421 to the south and east, with St Mary's Street, Redwood Grove and Willow Road to the...
- Newnham
- Putnoe
Putnoe is an electoral ward and area on the northern side of the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Putnoe are approximately Mowsbury Park anf golf course to the north, Church Lane and Haylands Way to the east, Polhill Avenue to the south, with Kimbolton Road to the west...
- Queens Park
Queens Park is an electoral ward and area in Bedford, England. The areas borders are approximately Bromham Road and Pemberley Avenue to the north, the Midland Main Line railway line to the east, and the River Great Ouse to the south....
The civil parishes in the rural part of the borough are as follows:
- Biddenham
Biddenham is a large village and a civil parish in Bedfordshire, England. It is located to the west of Bedford near the A428. It serves as a dormitory settlement for Bedford, and also for commuters to London, being on the same side of the town centre as Bedford railway station...
, BletsoeBletsoe is a small village and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England. It is on the A6, and about eight miles north of Bedford. The village has a small park, and a church. Nearby places are Sharnbrook, Milton Ernest, Riseley, Thurleigh, Odell, Souldrop, and Swineshead...
, Bolnhurst and KeysoeBolnhurst and Keysoe is a civil parish in the Bedford borough of Bedfordshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 734. The parish includes Bolnhurst and Keysoe, which are located about eight miles north of Bedford....
, BromhamBromham is a village and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England, west of the town of Bedford. It is within commuting distance to London via Bedford railway station.-Notable features:...
- Cardington
Cardington is a village and civil parish in Bedfordshire in England, best known in connection with the Cardington airship works founded by Short Brothers during World War I, which later became an RAF base. However most of the former RAF base is actually in the parish of Eastcotts, as is the...
, Carlton and ChellingtonCarlton with Chellington is a civil parish in the historical Hundred of Willey in Bedfordshire, England, and is within the Borough of Bedford. The parish is situated on the South bank of the River Great Ouse, from Harrold, and includes the villages of Carlton and Chellington.The two parishes of...
, ClaphamClapham is a village and civil parish in North East Bedfordshire, England.Clapham is semi-rural and lies on the outskirts of the town of Bedford on the banks of the River Great Ouse...
, ColmworthColmworth is a village and civil parish in the north of the English county of Bedfordshire. It is situated around north-east of Bedford. Other nearby places are Little Staughton, Wilden, Renhold, Staploe, Bolnhurst and Ravensden....
, CopleCople is a village and civil parish in the English county of Bedfordshire. Cople derived from the phrase Cock Pool which was a place where chickens were kept and was mentioned in the Domesday Book....
- Dean and Shelton
Dean and Shelton is a civil parish in the borough of Bedford in the county of Bedfordshire, England.The two parishes of Dean and Shelton were combined in 1934. Until 1974 the parish formed part of Bedford rural district....
- Eastcotts
Eastcotts is a village and civil parish in the English county of Bedfordshire. There are two main centres of population in the parish. The village of Eastcotts itself is in the southern part of the parish, but the majority of the population of the parish, which was 3,820 in 2005,lives in Shortstown...
, ElstowElstow is a village and civil parish in the English county of Bedfordshire. John Bunyan, was born in the hamlet of Harrowden which, although not in the parish of Elstow, stands just a mile east of the actual village.- History :...
- Felmersham
Felmersham is a village and civil parish in the Bedford district of Bedfordshire, England, on the River Great Ouse, about north west of Bedford. As a civil parish, it includes the hamlet of Radwell, and is sometimes known as Felmersham and Radwell, and has a population of about 800, and is...
- Great Barford
Great Barford is a village and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England, a few miles north-east of Bedford. It lies on the River Great Ouse at . The population was in excess of 1800 in the 2001 census. It is twinned with Wöllstein, Germany...
, Great DenhamGreat Denham is a village and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England. The village features a golf course and GP surgery.-History:The settlement of Great Denham is situated on the banks of River Great Ouse, in a loop which has been carved out by the river flow. Evidence of Neolithic human...
- Harrold
Harrold is a village, civil parish and electoral ward in the Borough of Bedford within Bedfordshire, England, around twelve miles north-west of Bedford...
- Kempston Rural
Kempston Rural is a civil parish in the Bedford district of Bedfordshire, England.Kempston Rural was formed in 1896 when the old parish of Kempston was split into two parts - Kempston urban district , and Kempston Rural parish....
, Knotting and SouldropKnotting and Souldrop is a civil parish in the borough of Bedford in the county of Bedfordshire, England.The two parishes of Knotting and Souldrop were combined in 1934. Until 1974 the parish formed part of Bedford rural district....
- Little Barford
Little Barford is a village and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England. It lies on the county boundary with Cambridgeshire, adjacent to the town of St Neots...
, Little StaughtonLittle Staughton is a small village in the north of Bedfordshire. The parish of Little Staughton is part of the Stodden Hundred...
- Melchbourne and Yielden
Melchbourne and Yielden is a civil parish in the borough of Bedford in the county of Bedfordshire, England.The two parishes of Melchbourne and Yielden were combined in 1934...
, Milton ErnestMilton Ernest is a village and civil parish in the Bedford district of Bedfordshire, England, and is about five miles north of Bedford itself. The village is situated on the east bank of the River Great Ouse, and is the site of Milton Ernest Hall, which was used as the US 8th air force's support...
- Oakley
Oakley is a village in northern Bedfordshire, England, about four miles north west of the county town of Bedford and lies by the River Great Ouse...
, OdellOdell is a village and civil parish in the north of the county of Bedfordshire in England that lies to the north-west of the county town of Bedford, near the villages of Harrold, Felmersham, Sharnbrook, and Carlton.-Roman and Saxon period:...
- Pavenham
Pavenham is a small village and civil parish on the River Great Ouse in the Bedford district of Bedfordshire, England, about north-west of Bedford. Village amenities consist of a pub, Village hall, tennis Club, and golf club...
, PertenhallPertenhall is a little village nestling on the borders of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Its parish council is a . It has recently published its Parish Plan which is available on the website...
, PodingtonPodington is a village and civil parish in northwest Bedfordshire in England, United Kingdom. The village is within the electoral ward of Harrold in the Borough of Bedford. Podington lies around 16 km northwest of Bedford and is about 2 km east of the county border with Northamptonshire...
- Ravensden
Ravensden is a village and civil parish located in the Bedford Borough of Bedfordshire, England.The parish borders the town of Bedford, with Mowsbury Park acting as a buffer between the two settlements. The village hosts Ravensden Lower School, and a pub called The Horse and Jockey, as well as All...
, RenholdRenhold is a village and civil parish located on the river Ouse, in the hundred of Barford, in the county of Bedfordshire, England. It is just to the north of Bedford...
, RiseleyRiseley is a village in north Bedfordshire. It has a population of around 2000, and is near the villages of Bletsoe, Sharnbrook, Swineshead, Pertenhall, Keysoe, Thurleigh and Melchbourne. The nearest town to Riseley is Rushden in the neighbouring county of Northamptonshire, approximately 8 miles...
, RoxtonRoxton is a small village and civil parish located in the Bedford Borough of Bedfordshire, England.The village has two churches, the Royal Oak public house and a garden centre. There is a post office to the rear of the public house...
- Sharnbrook
Sharnbrook is a village in Bedfordshire, England.It was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as a parish within the Hundred of Willey but was probably first developed in Saxon times. The oldest surviving building, St Peter's Church, is Norman...
, StagsdenStagsden is a small but historic village and civil parish located in northwest Bedfordshire, near the Buckinghamshire border. Situated on the main route between nearby Bedford and Milton Keynes, the village was bypassed by the A422 in April 1992, to allow the increasing amount of traffic to avoid...
, StaploeStaploe is a village and civil parish located in the Bedford Borough of Bedfordshire, England.Staploe was originally a hamlet of Eaton Socon. Under the Local Government Act 1958, Eaton Socon was merged with the neighbouring town of St Neots in Cambridgeshire...
, StevingtonStevington is a village in the Borough of Bedford in the northern part of Bedfordshire, England, and forms the civil parish of Stevington. It is on the River Ouse four to five miles north west of Bedford...
, StewartbyStewartby is a model village and civil parish in Bedfordshire, originally built for the workers of The London Brick Company. It was a later and more modern development than such better-known Victorian model villages as Saltaire....
, SwinesheadSwineshead is a civil parish in the borough of Bedford in the county of Bedfordshire, England.Until 1896 Swineshead was a detached part of the county of Huntingdonshire, when it was transferred to Bedfordshire...
- Thurleigh
Thurleigh is a village and civil parish in north Bedfordshire, England, about 6 miles north of Bedford. It is home to the Bedford Autodrome which also houses Thurleigh Museum....
, TurveyTurvey is a small English village, situated in Bedfordshire. It is about six miles west of Bedford on the River Great Ouse. It lies on the A428 between Bedford and Northampton, close to the border with Buckinghamshire.- History :...
- Wilden
Wilden is a village and civil parish located in the Bedford Borough of Bedfordshire, England.The village is the location of St Nicholas Church and Wilden Lower School, both of which are operated by the Church of England. There is also a pub in Wilden called the Victoria Arms.-External links:*...
, WillingtonWillington is a village in the English county of Bedfordshire. It is west of Moggerhanger on the road from Sandy to Bedford. The village is recorded in the Domesday Book as Welitone and as Wilitona in c. 1150, from Old English tun among the willows.Willington is home to 16th century Willington...
, Wilshamstead, Woottonhello.Wootton is a large village and civil parish located to the south-west of Bedford, in the north of Bedfordshire, England. The parish also includes the hamlets of Hall End, Keeley Green and Wootton Green....
, Wyboston, Chawston and ColesdenWyboston, Chawston and Colesden is a civil parish located in the Bedford Borough of Bedfordshire, in England.The parish includes the village of Wyboston, and the smaller settlements of Chawston and Colesden...
, WymingtonWymington is a village and civil parish in the Bedfordshire district of Bedford in England. It is in the north of Bedfordshire, near the county border with Northamptonshire, and the nearest town is Rushden in Northants, which it boarders to the north...
External links