Bedfordshire County Council was the county council of the non-metropolitan county of Bedfordshire in England. It was established on 24 January 1889 and was abolished on 1 April 2009. The county council was based in Bedford. In 1997 Luton Borough Council became a unitary authority and in 2009 the remaining county council was divided into two unitary authorities: Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council (formed from Mid Bedfordshire and South Bedfordshire District Councils). History Creation Events that took place were: The Local Government Act 1888 created County Councils to bring the delivery of local services under democratic control that were previously overseen by the Court of Quarter Sessions and bodies such as School Boards, Highways Boards and Poor Law Boards. The first elections for 64 members were held on 24 January 1889, with the first meeting held at Shire Hall (shared with the law courts), Bedford on 7 February 1889. 1888–1899 Events that took place were: Initial roles: Maintenance of 245 miles of main roads (except in towns) and the county bridges and, Responsibility for paying for (but not directly controlling) the Poor Law Unions, the police and the Three Counties Lunatic Asylum and nominated committee members to them. Powers followed over weights and measures, explosives, river pollution, food and drugs, contagious diseases (animals) and licensing houses for stage plays. Budget £30,000 1889–1902 Events that took place were: 1891: Technical Instruction Committee established. 1893: Appointment of part-time Medical Officer 1898: Records Committee formed 1902–1919 Events that took place were: 1902: Education Act gave control of all elementary schools (except in boroughs of Bedford and Luton) to the County Council May 1903: Education Committee formed. By 1903-4 there were 45 elementary evening schools leading to one school per year on average being built up to 1918. Council started assisting existing secondary schools and giving grants to and in exchange for a restricted number of free places. 1903: Motor Car Act enabled the Council to collect motor vehicle registration fees and issue drivers’ licences 1908: Licences for dogs and horse-drawn carriages introduced and administered by the council 1908: Smallholdings and Allotments Act gave the Council the duty to provide allotments if 6 or more people wanted them. By 1918 nearly 6,000 acres (approx. 2400 hectares) were farmed. 1913: GH Fowler established the County Record Office in Shire Hall (first county record office in England) 1914–18: Committees established for War Agriculture, War