Community Governance Review - Houghton Conquest

Parish and ward information (Houghton Conquest)
Houghton Conquest parish topic Value
Number of councillors 10
Electorate as of 1 May 2025 2,920
Forecast electorate for 2030 5,739
Current ratio of electors to councillors 79
Forecast ratio of electors to councillors 361
Central Bedfordshire average ratio of electors to councillors 331

Houghton Conquest 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 1,658 dwellings which will generate approximately an additional 2,819 residents over the next 5 years.

The parish boundary adjoins the neighbouring parishes of Ampthill, Haynes, Maulden, Millbrook. The parish, together with the parish of Haynes are coterminous (i.e. they border each other in the same area) within the Central Bedfordshire ward of Houghton Conquest and Haynes.

Seats and candidates
Number of seats 10
Number of candidates in 2023 5
Number of candidates in 2019 10
Number of candidates in 2015 9
Number of candidates in 2011 6

As can be seen from the table above there has not been a contested election since the creation of Central Bedfordshire. The elections in 2011, 2015, 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.