Community Governance Review - Clophill

Parish and ward information
Parish: Clophill Ward: Ampthill
Number of councillors 10
Electorate as of 1 May 2025 1,566
Forecast electorate for 2030 1,671
Current ratio of electors to councillors 157
Forecast ratio of electors to councillors 167
Variance from average across the council -53%

Clophill parish has a parish council. It is unwarded and has 10 seats on the council. The forecast planned development to March 2030 is estimated at a further 62 dwellings which will generate approximately an additional 105 residents over the next 5 years.

The parish boundary adjoins the neighbouring parishes of Campton & Chicksands, Gravenhurst, Haynes, Maulden and Silsoe. The parish, together with the parishes of Ampthill, Maulden and Millbrook are coterminous within the district ward of Ampthill.

Seats and candidates
Year Number of candidates
Number of seats 10
2023 9
2019 7
2015 13
2011 10

As can be seen from the table above there has only been one contested election since the creation of Central Bedfordshire. The elections in 2011, 2019 and 2023 had insufficient candidates and consequently the candidates were elected without contest. The vacant seats were authorised to be filled by co-option.

Parish/town council initial proposal for consideration for the 2025 review

No proposal received.

Review of property anomalies

The properties Orchard End and Willowstream are in the parish of Silsoe, but the remainder of area are in the parish of Clophill. Consideration should be given to rectify this anomaly.