Central Bedfordshire

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Central Bedfordshire
Unitary Authority
Official logo of Central Bedfordshire
logo
Shown within Bedfordshire
Shown within Bedfordshire
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Constituent country England
Region East of England
Ceremonial county Bedfordshire
Founded 1 April 2009
Admin. HQ Chicksands
Government
 • Type unitary authority
 • Leadership: Leader & Cabinet
 • Executive: Conservative
 • MPs: Alistair Burt (C)
Nadine Dorries (C)
Gavin Shuker (L)
Andrew Selous (C)
Area
 • Total 276.3 sq mi (715.7 km2)
Area rank 52nd
Population (mid-2014 est.)
 • Total 269,076
 • Rank Ranked 49th
 • Density 970/sq mi (380/km2)
Time zone Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0)
 • Summer (DST) British Summer Time (UTC+1)
ONS code 00KC (ONS)
E06000056 (GSS)
Ethnicity 97.3% White
Website centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

Central Bedfordshire is a unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England. It was created from the merger of Mid Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire District Councils on 1 April 2009.[1] With a budget of £500m the unitary council provides over a hundred services to a quarter of a million people, and is responsible for schools, social services, rubbish collection, roads, planning, leisure centres, libraries, care homes and more.[2][3]

Administrative history

Since 1974 Bedfordshire had been governed as a shire county, mostly under the control of Bedfordshire County Council. In 1997 it was divided into three local government districts, Bedford Borough, Mid Bedfordshire, and South Bedfordshire. Luton Borough became a unitary authority in 1997.

In 2006 the Department for Communities and Local Government considered reorganising Bedfordshire's administrative structure as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England. The four proposals considered were:

  • Proposal 1, Abolish the three districts within the county and create a Bedfordshire County unitary authority. (Luton would remain a separate unitary authority.)
  • Proposal 2, Create two unitary authorities: one based on Bedford Borough and one as Central Bedfordshire, combining Mid and South Bedfordshire Districts.
  • Proposal 3, Create two unitary authorities: one a combination of Bedford Borough and Mid Beds District and the other of Luton Borough and South Beds District.
  • Proposal 4, Form an "enhanced two-tier" authority, with the four local councils under the control of the county council, but with different responsibilities.[4][5]

On 6 March 2008 the DCLG, under Labour Party Secretary of State, Hazel Blears, decided to implement Proposal 2. This meant that from 1 April 2009 there would be three unitary authorities in Bedfordshire: Bedford, Luton and Central Bedfordshire. Bedfordshire County Council challenged this decision in the High Court but on 4 April 2008 it was announced the Judicial Review had failed and the County Council would not appeal.[6][7][8][9] Subsequently, a shadow council for Central Bedfordshire was formed from all the members of Mid and South Bedfordshire councils, as well as all Bedfordshire County Council members from the Central Bedfordshire area. The inaugural meeting of the shadow council was held on 10 April 2008. A shadow Executive for the council was formed consisting of four members of each council, led by the former leader of Mid Bedfordshire District Council.[10]

Elections

Central Bedfordshire Council is made up of 59 Councillors.

Year Conservative Labour Liberal Democrat Independent Control
2009[11][12] 54 0 11 1 Conservative
2011[13]

[14]

 49 1 5 4 Conservative
2015[15] 53 2 1 3 Conservative

Since 2011 the Council has been led by James Jamieson with a Cabinet of seven portfolio holders:

  • Corporate Services (finance)
  • Children's Services
  • Social Care, Health and Housing
  • Regeneration
  • Community Services
  • Partnerships
  • External affairs

Towns and villages

Unitary authorities in Bedfordshire. Central Bedfordshire is number 2

The Central Bedfordshire area is a mix of rural and small market towns and villages. It includes the following towns and villages. <templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>

See also

References

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External links

  1. ↑ http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/local-government-in-central-bedfordshire/statistics-and-census-information/about-central-bedfordshire-council.aspx
  2. ↑ http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/spending/annual-accounts-financial-information/default.aspx
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Bedfordshire County Council – The proposal
  5. ↑ Communities and Local Government – Proposals for future unitary structures: Stakeholder consultation
  6. ↑ Bedfordshire County Council: High Court backs two unitary authorities for Bedfordshire[dead link]
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Unitary solution confirmed for Bedfordshire – New flagship unitary councils approved for Cheshire – Corporate – Communities and Local Government[dead link]
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/bed-news/First-steps-towards-creating-Central.3968817.jp First steps towards creating Central Beds Council – Bedford Today (10/04/08)
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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