Houghton Regis Town Council
Office Opening
Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
Your Town Council
Houghton Regis Town Council was established in 1980. There are 14 Town Councillors who are elected every four years. The last election was on held 5th May 2011.
Town councillors do not receive any payment and offer their time voluntarily for the benefit of the community. The Mayor is appointed at the Annual General Meeting in May and usually serves for a period of one year.
Councillors are also appointed to outside bodies such as South Beds Dial A Ride and Dunstable and Houghton Regis Youth Counselling Service (SORTED).
Over the years, the Town Council has increasingly become involved in providing more and more services. Today these services include maintenance of playing areas and cemeteries, promotion of Houghton Regis, supporting youth projects and youth development, community safety and town centre development.
Where the money comes from ………
The Town Council receives the majority of its funds from Central Bedfordshire Council Tax and for the financial year 2011/12 the council has set the precept for 2010/11 at £668,000. Although this represents a slight increase on last year (£6,800), the amount payable by local residents remains the same due to an increase in the number of properties in the town. For a Band D property, the Town Council's share of the Council Tax remains at £128.69 per year.
Other much minor sources of income for the council include hiring charges from letting the sports pitches and burial fees.
Where the money goes ………..
The majority of expenditure goes on maintenance and funding existing services at an appropriate level which includes many acres of land, recreational and sporting facilities and the Town Council Offices.
Since 2008 the Town Council has funded Operation Hana, an initiative run by Houghton Regis Police, to patrol the town. Funding has been provided for grants to several local voluntary organisations including Hospice at Home Volunteers, Bedfordshire Pathfinders Scouts and Dunstable and Houghton Regis Youth Counselling Service (SORTED).
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