Bromley London Borough Council
Bromley London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Bromley in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London.
Bromley London Borough Council | |
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Council logo | |
Type | |
Type | |
Leadership | |
Mayor of Bromley | Councillor Hannah Gray, Conservative since 13 May 2020 |
Leader of the Council | Cllr Colin Smith, Conservative since 26 September 2017 |
Leader of the Opposition | Cllr Angela Wilkins, Labour |
Chief Executive | Ade Adetosoye OBE since December 2018 |
Structure | |
Seats | 60 councillors |
Political groups |
|
Length of term | Whole council elected every four years |
Elections | |
First past the post | |
Last election | 3 May 2018 |
Next election | May 2022 |
Meeting place | |
Civic Centre, Bromley | |
Website | |
www |
History
There have previously been a number of local authorities responsible for the Bromley area. The current local authority was first elected in 1964, a year before formally coming into its powers and prior to the creation of the London Borough of Bromley on 1 April 1965. Bromley replaced the Municipal Borough of Bromley, the Municipal Borough of Beckenham, Penge Urban District, Orpington Urban District and the Chislehurst part of Chislehurst and Sidcup Urban District.[1]
It was envisaged, in accordance with the London Government Act 1963, that Bromley as a London local authority would share power with the Greater London Council. The split of powers and functions meant that the Greater London Council was responsible for "wide area" services such as fire, ambulance, flood prevention, and refuse disposal; with the local authorities responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council it has been an education authority since 1965. This arrangement lasted until 1986 when Bromley London Borough Council gained responsibility for some services that had been provided by the Greater London Council, such as waste disposal. Since 2000 the Greater London Authority has taken some responsibility for highways and planning control from the council, but within the English local government system the council remains a "most purpose" authority in terms of the available range of powers and functions.[2]
In August 2015 Bromley Council was criticised over a 40-foot "stinking pile of rubbish" abandoned next to people's homes. The rubbish had been there for four years but, according to the Telegraph, little progress had been made since the council became involved in March 2015.[3]
Powers and functions
The local authority derives its powers and functions from the London Government Act 1963 and subsequent legislation. Bromley has the powers and functions of a London borough council. It is a billing authority collecting Council Tax and business rates, it processes local planning applications, and it is responsible for housing, waste collection and environmental health. It is a local education authority, responsible for social services, libraries and waste disposal. The council shares responsibility with the Greater London Authority for strategic policies including housing, planning and the environment.[4]
Finances
Bromley London Borough Council is the billing authority for Council Tax, and collects precepts on behalf of the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority the Greater London Authority and Transport for London.[5]
Political control
Since the first election to the council in 1964 political control of the council has been held by the following parties:
Party in control | Years |
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Conservative | 1964 - 1998 |
No overall control | 1998 - 2001 |
Conservative | 2001–present |
See also
Notes
- Youngs, Frederic (1979). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. I: Southern England. London: Royal Historical Society. ISBN 0-901050-67-9.
- Leach, Steve (1998). Local Government Reorganisation: The Review and its Aftermath. Routledge. p. 107. ISBN 978-0714648590.
- Victoria Ward (17 August 2015). "Rat-infested rubbish mountain that towers over homes causes misery for families". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- "Local Plan Responses – within and outside London". Mayor of London. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
- "Council Tax and Business Rates Billing Authorities". Council Tax Rates. Retrieved 8 April 2020.