* The Foundation is the most recent version of what started as Ebenezer Howard s company to create the world s first garden city. * It was set up by an Act of Parliament in 1995 and is not a council, it is an Industrial and Provident Society with charitab

* The Foundation is the most recent version of what started as Ebenezer Howard's company to create the world's first garden city.

* It was set up by an Act of Parliament in 1995 and is not a council, it is an Industrial and Provident Society with charitable status.

* It does not take a share of Letchworth GC residents' council tax but instead makes its money through being a major landowner - it has assets in excess of £130 million.

* All profits from the estate have to be ploughed back into the town through the Foundation's six charitable objectives.

* Part of the Foundation's role under the Act of Parliament which set it up is to protect and improve the appearance of the town, which is why it often needs to give consent for work which affects the external appearance of houses.

* Its other roles include making numerous community grants and running the Broadway Cinema and the Ernest Gardiner Day Hospital plus many other facilities.