Bexley London Borough Council
Coat of arms
Council logo
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 1965
Leadership
Ahmet Dourmoush,
Conservative
since 24 May 2023
Jackie Belton
since 17 April 2019
Structure
Seats45 councillors
Political groups
Administration
  Conservative (32)
Other parties
  Labour (12)
  Independent (1)
Length of term
4 years
Elections
Plurality-at-large
Last election
5 May 2022
Next election
7 May 2026
Meeting place
Civic Offices
2 Watling Street, Bexleyheath, DA6 7AT
Website
www.bexley.gov.uk

Bexley London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Bexley in the ceremonial county of Greater London, England. It is one of 32 London borough councils in the county. The council comprises 45 councillors.[1]

History

A map showing the wards of Bexley from 2002 to 2018

There have previously been a number of local authorities responsible for the Bexley 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 Bexley. Bexley replaced the Municipal Boroughs of Bexley and Erith, Crayford Urban District and part of Chislehurst and Sidcup Urban District.[2]

It was envisaged that through the London Government Act 1963, Bexley 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 Bexley 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.[3]

Powers and functions

The local authority derives its powers and functions from the London Government Act 1963 and subsequent legislation, and has the powers and functions of a London borough council. It sets council tax and as a billing authority also collects precepts for Greater London Authority functions and business rates.[4] It sets planning policies which complement Greater London Authority and national policies, and decides on almost all planning applications accordingly. It is a local education authority and is also responsible for council housing, social services, libraries, waste collection and disposal, traffic, and most roads and environmental health.[5]

Political control

The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2006.

The first election to the council was held in 1964, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1965. Political control of the council since 1965 has been as follows:[6]

Party in controlYears
Labour1965–1968
Conservative1968–1971
Labour1971–1974
Conservative1974–1994
No overall control1994–1998
Conservative1998–2002
Labour2002–2006
Conservative2006–present

Composition

Following the 2022 election and a subsequent change of allegiance in April 2023, the composition of the council was:[7][8]

Party Councillors
Conservative32
Labour12
Independent1
Total 45

The next election is due in 2026.

References

  1. ↑ "Your Councillors". democracy.bexley.gov.uk. 24 January 2019.
  2. ↑ Youngs, Frederic (1979). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. Vol. I: Southern England. London: Royal Historical Society. ISBN 0-901050-67-9.
  3. ↑ Leach, Steve (1998). Local Government Reorganisation: The Review and its Aftermath. Routledge. p. 107. ISBN 978-0714648590.
  4. ↑ "Council Tax and Business Rates Billing Authorities". Council Tax Rates. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  5. ↑ "Local Plan Responses – within and outside London". Mayor of London. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  6. ↑ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  7. ↑ "Bexley London Borough Council". BBC News.
  8. ↑ Boothroyd, David (28 April 2023). "The meanest cat from old Swansea town". Local Councils. Thorncliffe. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
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