Bedford Borough Council
Bedford Borough Council | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Laura Church since October 2021 | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 46 councillors plus elected mayor |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | Executive mayor elected every four years Whole council elected every four years |
| Elections | |
| Plurality-at-large | |
| First-past-the-post | |
Last election | 4 May 2023 |
Next election | 6 May 2027 |
| Meeting place | |
| Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street, Bedford, MK42 9AP | |
| Website | |
| www | |
Bedford Borough Council is the local authority of the Borough of Bedford, a local government district in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, England.
The town of Bedford has been a borough since at least the 12th century. Until 1974, the borough's local authority was the borough corporation, which covered only the town and not its rural surroundings. Following nationwide local government restructuring in 1974, a new non-metropolitan district council was created to replace the existing local authorities in Bedford and two neighbouring areas. Initially named Bedford District Council, the council became North Bedfordshire Borough Council in 1975 and adopted its current name in 1992.
From 1889, local government in the area was part of a two-tier system, with county-level services provided by Bedfordshire County Council. Bedfordshire County Council was abolished in 2009, since when Bedford Borough Council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council.
The council has been under no overall control since 1986. Since 2002 the council has been led by the directly elected Mayor of Bedford. The current mayor, elected in 2023, is Tom Wootton, a Conservative. The council is based at Borough Hall, Bedford.