Community Governance Review - Flitwick

Parish and ward information (Flitwick East Ward)
Parish: Flitwick (East Ward) Ward: Flitwick
Number of councillors 7
Electorate as of 1 May 2025 4,434
Forecast electorate for 2030 4,451
Current ratio of electors to councillors 633
Forecast ratio of electors to councillors 636
Variance from average across the council 80%
Parish and ward information (Flitwick West Ward)
Parish: Flitwick (West Ward) Ward: Flitwick
Number of councillors 10
Electorate as of 1 May 2025 6,080
Forecast electorate for 2030 6,396
Current ratio of electors to councillors 608
Forecast ratio of electors to councillors 639
Variance from average across the council 81%

Flitwick parish has a town council. It is warded and has 17 seats on the council. The forecast planned development to March 2030 is estimated at a further 196 dwellings which will generate approximately an additional 333 residents over the next 5 years.

The parish boundary adjoins the neighbouring parishes of Ampthill, Eversholt, Maulden, Flitton & Greenfield, Steppingley, Tingrith and Westoning. The parish, together with the parish of Steppingley are coterminous within the district ward of Flitwick.

Seats and candidates

Flitwick East Ward

Year Number of candidates
Number of seats 7
2023 6
2019 6
2015 11
2011 7

As can be seen from the table above there has only been one contested election in the East Ward 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.

Flitwick West Ward

Year Number of candidates
Number of seats 10
2023 8
2019 11
2015 10
2011 12

As can be seen from the table above there have been 3 contested elections in the Flitwick West Ward since the creation of Central Bedfordshire. The elections in 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

It was resolved to ask Central Bedfordshire Council to do the following as part of the governance review for Flitwick:

  • abolish the East and West Wards and instate one Flitwick Parish Ward for the town
  • reduce the number of council members from 17 to 15