Community Governance Review - Flitwick

Parish and ward information (Flitwick East Ward)
Flitwick (East Ward) parish topic Value
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
Central Bedfordshire average ratio of electors to councillors 331
Parish and ward information (Flitwick West Ward)
Flitwick (West Ward) parish topic Value
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
Central Bedfordshire average ratio of electors to councillors 331

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 and Greenfield, Steppingley, Tingrith and Westoning. The parish, together with the parish of Steppingley are coterminous (i.e. they border each other in the same area) within the Central Bedfordshire ward of Flitwick.

Seats and candidates – Flitwick East Ward
Number of seats 7
Number of candidates in 2023 6
Number of candidates in 2019 6
Number of candidates in 2015 11
Number of candidates in 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.

Seats and candidates – Flitwick West Ward
Number of seats 10
Number of candidates in 2023 8
Number of candidates in 2019 11
Number of candidates in 2015 10
Number of candidates in 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