Bexley London Borough Council


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.

History

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.
It was envisaged through the London Government Act 1963 that 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.

Powers and functions

The local authority derives its powers and functions from the London Government Act 1963 and subsequent legislation. Bexley 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, 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.

Finances

Bexley London Borough Council is the billing authority for Council Tax, and collects a 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.

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 controlYears
Labour1964 - 1968
Conservative1968 - 1971
Labour1971 - 1974
Conservative1974 - 1994
No overall control1994 - 1998
Conservative1998 - 2002
Labour2002 - 2006
Conservative2006–present

The May 2018 elections returned a council composition of 34 Conservative Party and 11 Labour Party.