Plan to slash 100 local councillor posts will 'weaken democracy in Central Bedfordshire'

That’s the view of Bedfordshire Association of Town & Parish Councils (BATPC) which says the plans would see residents served by almost 100 fewer local representatives.

This is despite no financial saving being made and a review of local governance being triggered due to Central Bedfordshire’s fast-growing population.

BATPC, which represents every town and parish council across Central Bedfordshire, has now submitted a strong and detailed response to the Stage 2 consultation of the Community Governance Review.

The association says many councils are concerned their views were overlooked during the first stage of the process, and that the proposed reductions in councillor numbers would have harmful effects for councils and for local democracy.

The proposed changes would cut the number of councillors at 35 of Central Bedfordshire’s 71 town and parish councils, leading to a dramatic reduction in the capacity of local councils to do what is necessary in their communities. You can view the proposals online here,

Local communities in Central Bedfordshire were previously represented by district and county councillors along with their town and parish members, until the abolition of Bedfordshire County Council in 2009.

They are now set to lose further representation, with 105 council seats to be slashed if the changes go ahead, and just 6 added.

BATPC warns these reductions would not save a penny of taxpayers’ money since Bedfordshire town and parish councillors receive no remuneration.

A spokesperson said: “However, the impact of the reductions would leave councils more thinly stretched, less resilient, and less able to provide local services communities rely on such as cemeteries, allotments, management of open spaces and much more.

“This impact would be felt most acutely at small parish councils (where the only employee is the Clerk) which cannot afford to lose the volunteer efforts of local councillors and their work to protect and improve their communities week in, week out.

BATPC County Committee Chairman, Cllr Madeline Russell, added: “Local councils know their communities best. Reducing councillor numbers against the wishes of local councils risks weakening representation, narrowing the range of views in local decision-making and diminishing councils’ capacity to deliver valued services.

“We strongly urge CBC to pay heed to town and parish councils themselves on this and other issues under review.”

A spokesperson for Central Beds Council, said: “The Community Governance Review is being undertaken for the whole of the council’s area for the purpose of making recommendations about several areas of governance but also the number councillors to be elected to town and parish councils across Central Bedfordshire.

"The statutory framework sets out the relevant criteria as being the requirement to ensure that community governance is reflective of the identities and interests of the community in that area; and that it is effective and convenient. These are the only grounds on which the council can recommend changes to the governance of town and parish councils following public consultation.

“In line with the required process, the council agreed its draft recommendations at the General Purposes Committee on 23 October 2025 at which the council set out specific reasons for recommending changes to any individual town and parish councils. These draft recommendations considered all the representations received as part of the stage 1 consultation.

“The council is due to further consider the outcomes of the stage 2 consultation, including the response that was received from BATPC in April 2026 before approving a set of final recommendations. These final recommendations will consider any representations received; expressions of local opinion and representation made by local people and other interested persons and will detail which of the town and parish councils in the area will be affected.”