What is a Town/Parish Council?
Town/Parish Councils make up the first tier of local government in England and are the layer of local government closest to the communities they represent.  There are some 8,500 Councils at Parish level in England.  As a tier of local government they are elected bodies, with discretionary powers and rights laid down by Parliament to represent their communities and provide services for them.

What can they do?
A list of Town/Parish Council powers can be found HERE (this is not an exhaustive list)

What is our Council responsible for?
The Town Council currently has responsibility for:

Hitchin Road Recreation Ground                                          Riverside Playing Field
The Green                                                                          Millennium Green
Stotfold Cemetery                                                               Town Council owned street lighting
The Memorial Hall                                                               The Simpson Centre
Public Conveniences and Car Park – Brook Street

How are these things managed?
Stotfold Town Council has 15 Councillors who have been elected by the local community, to work for the local community.  Contact details for individual Councillors can be found here.

The Council has 6 Committees who have separate responsibilities, as follows: (Terms of Reference for each Committee can be found on the Committee pages of this site)

PLANNING COMMITTEE
As a consultee to Central Bedfordshire Council on planning applications relating to Stotfold.

RECREATION GROUNDS, PUBLIC LANDS AND LIGHTING COMMITTEE
Manages 196 streetlights, three recreation grounds, Millennium Green, Norton Road Allotments and the MUGA facility.

CEMETERY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE 
Maintains and manages Stotfold Cemetery.

BUILDINGS MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE 
Maintains and manages the Memorial Hall and Simpson Centre, making it available for residents and organisations to hire.

ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEE
Prepares Precept recommendation, staffing matters, Standing Orders, Financial Regulations, etc.

TOWN ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE
Prepares and considers proposals for long term strategic planning of Stotfold.

STOTFOLD TOWN COUNCIL
Also comments to the higher tier of Local Government, Central Bedfordshire Council, on matters such as education, long term planning for the town, etc.

The Town Council office is the place to raise matters such as defective streetlights, litter problems and highway issues i.e potholes.  Although not the direct responsibility of the Town Council, these issues can be forwarded to the relevant authorities for action.

If you feel strongly about any issues arising in the town, however large or small, the Town Council is happy to look into it for you.

With the help and support of local residents the Town Council will be able to ensure that Stotfold retains the community feel through the changes that will be seen in the next five to ten years.

How can I contact the Town Council offices?

Town Clerk:  Mrs Kate Elliott-Turner
Assistant Clerk:  Mrs Mandy Howard
Administration Assistant:  Mrs Julie Barrow

Town Council Offices
The Simpson Centre
Hitchin Road
Stotfold, Hitchin
Herts, SG5 4HP

Tel: 01462 730064
Fax: 01462 732620
Email: enquiries@stotfoldtowncouncil.gov.uk

Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9am - 12noon, Wednesday 3.30pm - 6.30pm
Answermachine, fax and email operate outside of office hours

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CENTRAL BEDFORDSHIRE COUNCIL

Who is the second tier of local government in Bedfordshire?
In Bedfordshire the second tier of local government is Central Bedfordshire Council which, in April 2009, replaced the former Mid Beds District and Bedfordshire County Councils.

What are they responsible for?
Central Bedfordshire Council is responsible for:

Highways                                                                     Footpaths
Schools and education                                                  Social Services
Dog Warden                                                                 Waste collection
Planning

How can I contact Central Bedfordshire Council?

Written correspondence can be sent to:

Central Bedfordshire Council
Priory House
Monks Walk
Chicksands, Shefford
Bedfordshire, SG17 5TQ

If you have internet access, their web address is http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/, and they can be contacted by email on info@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk

The main contact number is 0300 300 8000. 
An A-Z of Central Bedfordshire Council department contact numbers can be found HERE