Waltham Forest London Borough Council


Waltham Forest London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Waltham Forest in London, England which has existed since the London Government Act 1963 was commenced in 1965, replacing three local authorities: Chingford Borough Council, Leyton Borough Council and Walthamstow Borough Council. It is one of London's 32 borough councils, divided into 20 wards and elects 60 councillors.

History

There have previously been a number of local authorities responsible for the 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 Waltham Forest on 1 April 1965. Waltham Forest replaced Chingford Borough Council, Leyton Borough Council and Walthamstow Borough Council.
It was envisaged through the London Government Act 1963 that Waltham Forest 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 Waltham Forest 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. Waltham Forest 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

Waltham Forest 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:

Summary results of elections

Summary of the council composition after each council election, click on the year for full details of each election.
YearLabourConservativeLiberal DemocratsIndependentNotes
YearNotes
196433309
196844400
197139900
1974361200
1978362100Boundary changes increased the number of seats by 11.
1982262560
19863116100
19903016110
19942716140Boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same.
19983015120Boundary changes took place but the number of seats remained the same.
20022918130Boundary changes increased the number of seats by 3.
20062615190
2010361860
2014441600
2018461400

By-elections occur when seats become vacant between council elections. Below is a summary of recent by-elections.