Community Governance Review - Dunstable

Parish and ward information
Parish: Dunstable (Central Ward) Ward: Dunstable Central
Number of councillors 2
Electorate as of 1 May 2025 3,773
Forecast electorate for 2030 3,826
Current ratio of electors to councillors 1,887
Forecast ratio of electors to councillors 1,913
Variance from average across the council 440%
Parish and ward information
Parish: Dunstable (East Ward) Ward: Dunstable East
Number of councillors 5
Electorate as of 1 May 2025 7,767
Forecast electorate for 2030 8,058
Current ratio of electors to councillors 1,553
Forecast ratio of electors to councillors 1,612
Variance from average across the council 355%
Parish and ward information
Parish: Dunstable (North Ward) Ward: Dunstable North
Number of councillors 4
Electorate as of 1 May 2025 7,334
Forecast electorate for 2030 7,594
Current ratio of electors to councillors 1,834
Forecast ratio of electors to councillors 1,899
Variance from average across the council 436%
Parish and ward information
Parish: Dunstable (West Ward) Ward: Dunstable West
Number of councillors 5
Electorate as of 1 May 2025 7,324
Forecast electorate for 2030 7,331
Current ratio of electors to councillors 1,465
Forecast ratio of electors to councillors 1,466
Variance from average across the council 314%
Parish and ward information
Parish: Dunstable (South Ward) Ward: Dunstable South
Number of councillors 2
Electorate as of 1 May 2025 3,641
Forecast electorate for 2030 3,641
Current ratio of electors to councillors 1,821
Forecast ratio of electors to councillors 1,821
Variance from average across the council 414%

Dunstable parish has a town council. It is warded and has 18 seats on the council. The forecast development to March 2030 is estimated at a further 357 dwellings which will generate approximately an additional 611 residents over the next 5 years.

The parish boundary adjoins the neighbouring parishes of Caddington, Houghton Regis, Kensworth and Totternhoe. The parish wards are coterminous within the 5 district wards of the same names.

Seats and candidates

Dunstable Central Ward

Year Number of candidates
Number of seats2
20236
20196
20157
20117

Dunstable East Ward

Year Number of candidates
Number of seats5
202312
201911
201513
201111

Dunstable North Ward

Year Number of candidates
Number of seats4
202310
201910
201516
201116

Dunstable South Ward

Year Number of candidates
Number of seats2
20236
20196
20159
20119

Dunstable West Ward

Year Number of candidates
Number of seats5
202313
20198
201513
201113

As can be seen from the tables above there has been a contested election across all the wards since the creation of Central Bedfordshire.

Statutory changes since the 2017/18 review

The Central Bedfordshire Council (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2018 reduced the number of councillors for the parish of Dunstable from 21 to 18 (East (formerly Icknield) Ward from 5 to 4, North (formerly Northfields) Ward from 5 to 4 and West (formerly Watling) Ward from 5 to 4).

The Central Bedfordshire (Electoral Changes) Order 2021 amended the number of councillors for the parish wards of Dunstable (Central Ward from 3 to 2, East Ward from 4 to 5, South (formerly Manshead) Ward from 3 to 2, and West from 4 to 5).

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

No proposal received.