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Bedford (borough)
Encyclopedia
Bedford is a unitary authority
with the status of a borough
in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire
, England
. Its council is based at Bedford, which is also the county town
of Bedfordshire. The borough contains a single urban area, the 69th largest in the United Kingdom that comprises Bedford and the adjacent town of Kempston
, surrounded by a rural area with many villages. The borough is also the location of the Wixams
new town
development, which received its first residents in 2009. Unlike most English districts, Bedford's council is led by a directly elected mayor of Bedford
, who has been Dave Hodgson
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 Kempston
urban district
and Bedford Rural District
. In 1975 the district was granted a royal charter
granting borough status as North Bedfordshire. The borough was renamed as Borough of Bedford in 1992. Over half of the former municipal borough
of Bedford is unparished
, 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 parished
.
The Department for Communities and Local Government
have reorganised Bedfordshire's administrative structure as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England
, meaning that Bedford Borough Council became a unitary authority
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.
The first elections for the new unitary Bedford Borough Council were held on 4 June 2009 when 36 councillors in addition to the mayor were elected. Since an electoral review which came in to effect for the local elections in 2011
, Bedford Borough has had 40 councillors in addition to the mayor.
Since the 2011 elections, Bedford Borough Council’s executive committee (cabinet) is headed by the mayor and includes 9 members from the Liberal Democrat
, Labour
, Conservative
and Independent
groups, only one Independent Member sits in opposition. From 2009 to 2011, Independents were included in the executive commitee, while Conservative members sat in opposition on the council.
The civil parishes in the rural part of the borough are as follows:
Unitary authority
A 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 borough
Borough status in the United Kingdom
Borough 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 Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, England
England
England 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, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Its council is based at Bedford, which is also the county town
County town
A county town is a county's administrative centre in the United Kingdom or Ireland. 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, the 69th largest in the United Kingdom that comprises Bedford and the adjacent town of Kempston
Kempston
Kempston is a town and civil parish located 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...
, surrounded by a rural area with many villages. The borough is also the location of the Wixams
Wixams
Wixams 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 British new towns...
new town
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, 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. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
development, which received its first residents in 2009. Unlike most English districts, Bedford's council is led by a directly elected mayor of Bedford
Directly elected mayor of Bedford
The directly elected mayor of Bedford is a directly elected mayor responsible for the executive function of Bedford Borough Council in Bedfordshire. The incumbent is Dave Hodgson of the Liberal Democrats...
, who has been Dave Hodgson
Dave Hodgson
Dave Hodgson is the directly elected mayor of the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England. Hodgson is 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 Kempston
Kempston
Kempston is a town and civil parish located 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...
urban district
Urban district
In the England, Wales and 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....
and Bedford Rural District
Bedford Rural District
Bedford 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 charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
granting borough status as North Bedfordshire. The borough was renamed as Borough of Bedford in 1992. Over half of the former municipal borough
Municipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district 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 unparished
Unparished area
In 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. Many towns and some cities in otherwise rural districts are also unparished areas and therefore no longer have a town council or city...
, 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 parished
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
.
The Department for Communities and Local Government
Department for Communities and Local Government
The Department for Communities and Local Government is the UK Government department for communities and local government in England. It was established in May 2006 and is the successor to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, established in 2001...
have reorganised Bedfordshire's administrative structure as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England
2009 structural changes to local government in England
Structural 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 authority
Unitary authority
A 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 electionsBedford local elections
Bedford Unitary Council in Bedfordshire, England is elected every four years. Before becoming a unitary authority in 2009 the council was elected by thirds...
The first elections for the new unitary Bedford Borough Council were held on 4 June 2009 when 36 councillors in addition to the mayor were elected. Since an electoral review which came in to effect for the local elections in 2011
United Kingdom local elections, 2011
The 2011 United Kingdom local elections were held on Thursday 5 May 2011. In England, direct elections were held in all 36 Metropolitan boroughs, 194 Second-tier district authorities, 49 unitary authorities and various mayoral posts, meaning local elections took place in all parts of England with...
, Bedford Borough has had 40 councillors in addition to the mayor.
| Year | Conservative | Labour | Liberal Democrat | Independent | Other | Control | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 9 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 0 | No overall control 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... |
|
| 2011 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 4 | 0 | No overall control 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... |
|
Since the 2011 elections, Bedford Borough Council’s executive committee (cabinet) is headed by the mayor and includes 9 members from the Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
, Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
and Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
groups, only one Independent Member sits in opposition. From 2009 to 2011, Independents were included in the executive commitee, while Conservative members sat in opposition 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:- BrickhillBrickhillBrickhill 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...
- CastleCastle, BedfordCastle is an electoral ward and area of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Castle are approximately Bromham Road and Goldington Road to the north, Denmark Street and George Street to the east, Rope Walk to the south, with the Midland Main Line railway line and Ashburnam Road to the...
, Cauldwell - De ParysDe ParysDe Parys is an electoral ward and area within the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of De Parys are approximately Bedford Park and Stancliffe Road to the north, the Bedford campus of the University of Bedfordshire to the east, Goldington Road to the south, with De Parys Avenue...
- GoldingtonGoldingtonGoldington 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...
- HarpurHarpurHarpur 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 EastKempston EastKempston East is an electoral ward and area within Kempston, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Kempston East are approximately Bedford Road to the north, the Midland Main Line railway line to the east, with Elstow Road to south....
, Kempston NorthKempston NorthKempston North is an electoral ward and area within the town of Kempston, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Kempston North are approximately the River Great Ouse to the north west, with Kempston High Steet and Bedford Road to the south east....
, Kempston SouthKempston SouthKempston South is an electoral ward and area within the town of Kempston, Bedfordshire, England.The boundaries of Kempston South are approximately Kempston High Street and Elstow Road to the north, Ampthill Road to the east, with the A421 road to the south....
, KingsbrookKingsbrookKingsbrook 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 Redwood Grove and Willow Road to the west.The Fenlake and ... - Newnham
- PutnoePutnoePutnoe 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 and 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 ParkQueens Park, BedfordQueens Park is an electoral ward and area in Bedford, England. The areas borders are approximately Bromham Road and Beverley Crescent 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:
- BiddenhamBiddenhamBiddenham is a large village and a civil parish in Bedfordshire, England, located to the west of Bedford near the A428 road.The village largely 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...
, BletsoeBletsoeBletsoe is a 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, the former site of Bletsoe Castle and a church. Nearby places are Sharnbrook, Milton Ernest, Riseley, Thurleigh, Odell, Souldrop, and Swineshead...
, Bolnhurst and KeysoeBolnhurst 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 the villages of Bolnhurst and Keysoe, and the hamlet of Keysoe Row. The parish is located about eight miles north of...
, BromhamBromham, BedfordshireBromham 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:... - CardingtonCardington, BedfordshireCardington is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire, EnglandPart of the ancient hundred of Wixamtree, the settlement is best known in connection with the Cardington airship works founded by Short Brothers during World War I, which later became an RAF training station...
, Carlton and ChellingtonCarlton with 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, BedfordshireClapham is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England. It has a population of 3,643.-Facilities:Clapham has numerous public houses and several small shops; including a post office, Chinese and Indian takeaways, fish and chips, a florist, a hairdresser and a small...
, ColmworthColmworthColmworth is a village and civil parish in the north of the English county of Bedfordshire. It is situated around north-east of Bedford. The parish includes the hamlet of Duck's Cross. Other nearby places are Little Staughton, Wilden, Renhold, Staploe, Bolnhurst and Ravensden.The church is...
, CopleCopleCople is a village and civil parish in the English county of Bedfordshire. The name Cople is derived from the phrase Cock Pool, a place where chickens were kept, that was mentioned in the Domesday Book.- History :...
- Dean and SheltonDean and SheltonDean 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....
- EastcottsEastcottsEastcotts is a village and civil parish in the English county of Bedfordshire.-Population:There are two main centres of population in the parish...
, ElstowElstowElstow is a village and civil parish in the English county of Bedfordshire. John Bunyan, was born here - at Bunyan's End, which lay approximately halfway between the hamlet of Harrowden and Elstow's High Street.-History:... - FelmershamFelmershamFelmersham 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 BarfordGreat BarfordGreat 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 . It is twinned with Wöllstein, Germany...
, Great DenhamGreat DenhamGreat Denham is a village and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England, on the western outskirts of Bedford. The village is the location of Bedford Golf Course, as well as the new Biddenham Vale housing estate.-History:... - HarroldHarrold, BedfordshireHarrold is a civil parish and electoral ward in the Borough of Bedford within Bedfordshire, England, around nine miles north-west of Bedford. The village is on the north bank of the River Great Ouse, and is the site of an ancient bridge, linking the village with Carlton with Chellington on the...
- Kempston RuralKempston RuralKempston 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 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 BarfordLittle BarfordLittle 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 StaughtonLittle Staughton is a small village and civil parish located in the north of Bedfordshire. The parish is part of the Stodden Hundred... - Melchbourne and YieldenMelchbourne and YieldenMelchbourne 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. Until 1974 the parish formed part of Bedford rural district.-External links:*...
, Milton ErnestMilton ErnestMilton Ernest is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Bedford in Bedfordshire, England, and is about north of Bedford itself. It has a population of 754... - OakleyOakley, BedfordshireOakley is a village and civil parish located in northern Bedfordshire, England, about four miles north west of the county town of Bedford and lies by the River Great Ouse...
, OdellOdell, BedfordshireOdell 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:... - PavenhamPavenhamPavenham 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...
, PertenhallPertenhallPertenhall is a small village and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, close to the borders of Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Its parish council is a . It has recently published its Parish Plan which is available on the website...
, PodingtonPodingtonPodington 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 northwest of Bedford and is about east of the county border with Northamptonshire... - RavensdenRavensdenRavensden is a village and civil parish located in the Bedford Borough of Bedfordshire, England.The parish borders the town of Bedford, with Mowsbury Park and farmland acting as a buffer between the two settlements. The village hosts Ravensden Lower School, and a pub called The Horse and Jockey, as...
, RenholdRenholdRenhold 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, BedfordshireRiseley is a village and civil parish located in North Bedfordshire. The village name has had alternative spellings in the past such as Rislau, Riseleg, Riselai and Risely, however all these spellings are considered archaic...
, RoxtonRoxton, BedfordshireRoxton 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... - SharnbrookSharnbrookSharnbrook is a village and civil parish located in the Bedford Borough of Bedfordshire, England.The settlement 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...
, StagsdenStagsdenStagsden 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...
, StaploeStaploeStaploe 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...
, StevingtonStevingtonStevington 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. Nearby villages include Bromham, Oakley, Pavenham and Turvey...
, StewartbyStewartbyStewartby is a model village and civil parish in Bedfordshire, originally built for the workers of The London Brick Company. The village housing and town community centre was designed by the noted neo-Georgian architect Sir Albert Richardson a later and more modern development than such...
, SwinesheadSwineshead, BedfordshireSwineshead is a civil parish in the borough of Bedford in the county of Bedfordshire, England.-History:The parish of Swineshead is recorded as Suineshefet , Swynesheved , Swineshead . It was an exclave of the county of Huntingdonshire, and surrounded by Bedfordshire, until 1888 or 1896, when it was... - ThurleighThurleighThurleigh 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, the Monster Events site which serves the community with Monster Truck, Four-wheel drive & Quad Bike events, and the...
, Turvey - WildenWilden, BedfordshireWilden 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 which is currently...
, WillingtonWillington, BedfordshireWillington is a village and civil parish located in the English county of Bedfordshire. It is west of Moggerhanger on the road from Sandy to Bedford...
, Wilshamstead, WoottonWootton, BedfordshireWootton 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 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. These villages used to form part of the Roxton parish, but became independent in May...
, WymingtonWymingtonWymington 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 borders to the north...