Bromley London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Bromley in Greater London, England. It is one of 32 London borough councils.
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.[3]
It was envisaged that through the London Government Act 1963, 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.[4]
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.[5]
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.[6] 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.[7]
Political control
The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2001.
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:[8]
Composition
Following the 2022 election and subsequent changes of allegiance up to July 2023, the composition of the council was:
Of the independent councillors, two sit together as the "Biggin Hill Independents" group, the other two (both elected as Conservatives in 2022) do not belong to any group.[9] The next election is due in 2026.
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