Local government in Bedfordshire was reorganised with effect from 1 April 2009.

The borough of Luton had already been made a unitary authority independent from the county council in 1997.

The changes in 2009 divided the rest of the county into two unitary authorities: Bedford and Central Bedfordshire.

An independent-led administration - the first in a unitary authority in English local government history - subsequently formed with independent councillor Adam Zerny being appointed leader of the council at the Annual Council and Extraordinary General Purposes Committee, held on 25 May 2023.

[15] Since the last boundary changes in 2023, the council comprises 63 councillors, elected from 31 wards.