Consultation closed: Tuesday 9 June 2026
Consultation opened: Tuesday 12 May 2026
You may have some questions about some of the background to this community governance review. We have set out some information below.
Where does this relate to exactly?
Linmere is a significant, long-term urban extension to the north and east of Houghton Regis, planned to deliver approximately an additional 5,000 to 5,150 homes over a 15-to-20-year period, alongside schools, retail, community facilities and extensive green infrastructure. As development progresses, a growing population is already establishing itself, with hundreds of homes occupied and a steadily increasing number of residents forming a new community.
The map below shows the proposed new ward boundary for Linmere shaded in pink.
The map shows the proposed Linmere parish ward in north-east Houghton Regis, with boundaries highlighted and surrounding areas labelled including Houghton Park, Tithe Farm, Houghton Hall, Chalton and Chalgrave. The Linmere ward is proposed to incorporate the northern parts of Tithe Farm ward, and the eastern part of Parkside.
What is a community governance review?
A community governance review enables a principal council, such as us, to review and put in place or make changes to community governance systems and structures e.g. by creating, merging, abolishing or changing parish or town councils in the review area.
View guidance on community governance reviews.
What is community governance?
In essence, it is the way in which local communities are represented and governed at local authority level and through the involvement of other statutory and voluntary agencies and community groups and by the efforts of local people themselves. It is also about the way in which individuals and groups within the community are listened to and able to influence decisions that affect them.
Why do community governance reviews happen?
A community governance review can be a review of the whole or part of the council area to consider one or more of the following:
- the electoral arrangements for parishes (the ordinary year of election; council size; the number of councillors to be elected to the council and parish warding)
- creating, merging, altering or abolishing parishes
- the naming of parishes and the style of new parishes
What is our role in community governance reviews?
The 2007 Act requires us to take the following steps when a review is launched:
- publish a notice of the opening of the review
- invite comments from the local community and other relevant persons and organisations on the issues being covered
- consider those comments from the local community and prepare draft proposals for the review
- publish those draft proposals and invite comments from the local community
- finalise proposals after taking account of all representations received; and
- make an Order bringing the changes into effect
Our principal responsibility is to secure community governance arrangements which reflect the identities and interests of the community, and which are also effective and convenient.
Is there a difference between a town or parish council?
No, they both have the same statutory powers and can provide the same services. The only differences are that a town council has decided that it should be known as a town council instead of a parish council, and a town council usually has a mayor. Since 2007 the alternative terms community, neighbourhood or village council can also be adopted, but there is no difference in their powers.