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| logo_res = 250px
| logo_res = 250px
| logo_caption = Council logo
| logo_caption = Council logo
| house_type = [[London borough]]
| house_type = [[London borough council]]
| leader1_type = Mayor of Richmond upon Thames
| leader1_type = [[Mayors in England|Mayor]]
| leader1 = Richard Pyne
| leader1 = Julia Cambridge<ref name="Mayor">{{Cite news |website= Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council|url=https://www.richmond.gov.uk/news/may_2022/new_mayor_to_raise_money_for_disabilities_charity|title=New Mayor to raise money for disabilities charity Ruils Independent Living |access-date=26 May 2022}}</ref>
| party1 =
| party1 = <br/>[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]]
| election1 = 14 May 2024<ref>{{cite web |title=New Mayor to raise money for Richmond Borough Mind and Home-Start RKH |url=https://www.richmond.gov.uk/news/news_may_2024/new_mayor_of_richmond_2024 |website=Richmond upon Thames Council |access-date=25 May 2024 |date=15 May 2024}}</ref>
| election1 = 24 May 2022
| leader2_type = Leader of the Council
| leader2_type = [[Leader of the council|Leader]]
| leader2 = Gareth Roberts
| leader2 = [[Gareth Roberts (politician)|Gareth Roberts]]
| party2 = [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]<ref name="True">{{cite web | url=https://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=12&RPID=504570723 | title=Local Election – Thursday, 3 May 2018 | work=2018 Council Election results | date=3 May 2018 | publisher=[[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]] | access-date=4 May 2018}}</ref>
| party2 = <br/>[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]]
| election2 = 22 May 2018<ref name="True">{{cite web | url=https://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=12&RPID=504570723 | title=Local Election – Thursday, 3 May 2018 | work=2018 Council Election results | date=3 May 2018 | publisher=[[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]] | access-date=4 May 2018}}</ref>
| election2 = May 2018
| leader3_type = [[Chief Executive]]
| leader3_type = Chief Executive
| leader3 = Mike Jackson
| leader3 = Mark Maidment
| party3 = <!-- Non-political role -->
| party3 =
| election3 = 2022<ref name=ceo/>
| election3 =
| seats = 54 councillors<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx |title=Your Councillors |publisher=[[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]|access-date=27 January 2018}}</ref>
| seats = 54 councillors<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx |title=Your Councillors |publisher=[[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]|access-date=27 January 2018}}</ref>
| structure1 = Richmond Upon Thames Borough Council 2018.svg
| structure1 = File:Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council.svg
| structure1_res = 260px
| structure1_res = 260px
| structure1_alt = Richmond Council composition
| structure1_alt = Richmond Council composition
| political_groups1 =
| political_groups1 =
; Administration (48)
; Administration (49)
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}| border=darkgray}} [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] (48)}}
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}| border=darkgray}} [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] (49)}}
; Other parties (6)
; Opposition (5)
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}| border=darkgray}} [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]] (5)}}
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}| border=darkgray}} [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]] (5)}}
: {{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}| border=darkgray}} [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] (1)
| committees1 =
| committees1 =
| joint_committees =
| joint_committees =
| voting_system1 = [[Plurality-at-large voting|Plurality-at-large]]
| voting_system1 = [[Plurality-at-large voting|Plurality-at-large]]
| last_election1 = [[2022 Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council election|5 May 2022]]
| last_election1 = [[2022 Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council election|5 May 2022]]
| next_election1 = 2026
| next_election1 = 7 May 2026
| session_room = York house, twickenham.jpg
| session_room = Twickenham, York House, front.jpg
| session_res = 250
| session_res = 250
| meeting_place = [[York House, Twickenham]]
| meeting_place = [[York House, Twickenham|York House]], Richmond Road, Twickenham, TW1{{nbsp}}3AA
| website = {{URL|richmond.gov.uk}}
| website = {{URL|www.richmond.gov.uk}}
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}
'''Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council''' is the [[Local government|local authority]] for the [[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]] in [[Greater London]], England. It is a [[London borough]] council, one of 32 in London, the United Kingdom capital. Richmond upon Thames is divided into 18 [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|wards]] and elections for all Council seats in the borough are held every four years.<ref name="LBRuTWardMap">{{cite web |title=Richmond upon Thames Ward Boundaries |url=https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?hl=en&mid=13YXVvLjOsWZ7Q0kxmPkTV5-cfgc |publisher=[[Google Maps]] |access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> The most recent election was in 2022 when the Liberal Democrats, led by Gareth Roberts, retained overall majority control of the council for a second consecutive term.<ref name="Blunden"/>
'''Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council''', also known as '''Richmond upon Thames Council''', '''LBRUT''' or '''Richmond Council''', is the local authority for the [[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]] in [[Greater London]], England. It is a [[London borough council]], one of 32 in [[London]]. The council has been under [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] majority control since 2018. Although the borough is named after [[Richmond, London|Richmond]], the council meets at [[York House, Twickenham|York House]] in [[Twickenham]], and has its main offices in the adjoining Civic Centre.


==History==
==History==
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and its council were created under the [[London Government Act 1963]], with the first election held [[1964 Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council election|in 1964]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=London Government Act 1963|chapter=33|access-date=16 May 2024}}</ref> For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the area's three outgoing authorities, being the [[municipal borough]] councils of [[Municipal Borough of Barnes|Barnes]], [[Municipal Borough of Richmond (Surrey)|Richmond]], and [[Municipal Borough of Twickenham|Twickenham]]. The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the old boroughs and their councils were abolished.<ref>{{cite book | first=Frederic |last=Youngs | title=Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England | volume=I: Southern England | year=1979 | publisher=Royal Historical Society | location=London | isbn=0901050679}}</ref>
[[File:Richmond upon Thames London UK labelled ward map 2002.svg|thumb|265px|A map showing the wards of Richmond upon Thames since 2002]]
There have previously been a number of local authorities responsible for the Richmond upon Thames 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 Richmond upon Thames]] on 1 April 1965. Richmond upon Thames replaced the [[Municipal Borough of Twickenham]] in [[Middlesex]], the [[Municipal Borough of Richmond (Surrey)|Municipal Borough of Richmond]] and the [[Municipal Borough of Barnes]], both then in [[Surrey]].<ref>{{cite book | first=Frederic |last=Youngs | title=Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England | volume=I: Southern England | year=1979 | publisher=[[Royal Historical Society]] | location=London | isbn=0-901050-67-9}}</ref>


The council's full legal name is the "Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames".<ref>{{cite web |title=Unilateral undertaking template |url=https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.richmond.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F20524%2Funilateral_undertaking_future_cpz_restriction.docx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK |website=Richmond Council |access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref>
It was envisaged that through the [[London Government Act 1963]] Richmond upon Thames 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 [[Local education authority|education authority]] since 1965. This arrangement lasted until 1986 when Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council gained responsibility for some services that had been provided by the Greater London Council, such as [[Waste disposal authorities in London|waste disposal]]. Since 2000 the [[Greater London Authority]] has taken some responsibility for highways and planning control from the council, but within the [[Local government in England|English local government system]] the council remains a "most purpose" authority in terms of the available range of powers and functions.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YX0nAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA107|title=Local Government Reorganisation: The Review and its Aftermath|first= Steve |last=Leach|page=107|publisher=Routledge|year=1998|isbn=978-0714648590}}</ref>

From 1965 until 1986 the council was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by 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 boroughs (including Richmond upon Thames) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an [[outer London]] borough council Richmond upon Thames has been a [[local education authority]] since 1965. The Greater London Council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to the London Boroughs, with some services provided through joint committees.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1985|year=1985|chapter=51|access-date=5 April 2024}}</ref>

Since 2000 the [[Greater London Authority]] has taken some responsibility for highways and planning control from the council, but within the [[Local government in England|English local government system]] the council remains a "most purpose" authority in terms of the available range of powers and functions.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YX0nAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA107|title=Local Government Reorganisation: The Review and its Aftermath|first= Steve |last=Leach|page=107|publisher=Routledge|year=1998|isbn=978-0714648590}}</ref>

Since 2016 the council has shared a chief executive and other staff with neighbouring [[Wandsworth London Borough Council|Wandsworth Council]].<ref name=ceo>{{cite web |title=Wandsworth and Richmond Councils choose new Chief Executive |url=https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/2022-news/news-july-2022/wandsworth-and-richmond-councils-choose-new-chief-executive/ |website=Wandsworth Council |access-date=26 April 2024}}</ref>


==Powers and functions==
==Powers and functions==
Line 57: Line 61:


==Political composition==
==Political composition==
The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since 2018.
The borough council was controlled by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] from its inception to 1983 when the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberals]] and the [[Social Democratic Party (UK)|SDP]] won control in a [[by-election]]. The Council was then led by [[David Williams (Richmond upon Thames politician)|David Williams]] until he stood down in favour of [[Serge Lourie]] in 2001. Between 2002 and 2006 the council was controlled by the Conservatives under [[Greater London Assembly]] member [[Tony Arbour]]. Between 2006 and 2010 the council reverted to the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] under the leadership of [[Serge Lourie]]. From 2010 to 2018 it was run by the Conservative Party, initially under [[Lord True]] and then (from 2017) led by Paul Hodgins. The Liberal Democrats, led by Gareth Roberts, won control of the council at the 2018 election and retained control in the 2022 election.<ref name="Blunden">{{Cite news |last=Uyal |first=Berk |date=6 May 2022 |title=Richmond local election results 2022: Liberal Democrats hold |pages=1 |work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]] |location=London |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/20119078.richmond-local-election-results-2022-liberal-democrats-hold/ |access-date=8 May 2022}}</ref>

The first election was held in 1964, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1965. Political control of the council since 1965 has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |website=The Elections Centre | date=4 March 2016 |access-date=3 March 2023}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2|Party in control || Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1965–1982
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1982–1983
|-
| {{Party name with colour|SDP-Liberal Alliance}} || 1983–1988
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || 1988–2002
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 2002–2006
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || 2006–2010
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 2010–2018
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || 2018–present
|}

===Leadership===
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Richmond. Political leadership is instead provided by the [[leader of the council]]. The leaders since 1965 have been:<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes |url=https://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1 |website=Richmond upon Thames Council |access-date=6 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=London Boroughs Political Almanac |url=https://boroughs50.londoncouncils.gov.uk/almanac/ |website=London Councils |access-date=5 July 2022}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
| Harry Hall || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|1965 || align=right|1978
|-
| John Barker || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|1978 || align=right|1980
|-
| Keith Morell || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|1980 || align=right|1983
|-
| rowspan=2|[[David Williams (Richmond upon Thames politician)|David Williams]] || {{Party name with colour|Liberal Party (UK)}} || align=right|1983 || align=right|3 Mar 1988
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|3 Mar 1988 || align=right|22 May 2001
|-
| [[Serge Lourie]] || {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|22 May 2001 || align=right|13 May 2002
|-
| [[Tony Arbour]] || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|13 May 2002 || align=right|16 May 2006
|-
| [[Serge Lourie]] || {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|16 May 2006 || align=right|9 May 2010
|-
| [[Nicholas True, Baron True|Nicholas True]] || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|25 May 2010 || align=right|4 Jul 2017
|-
| Paul Hodgins || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|4 Jul 2017 || align=right|22 May 2018
|-
| [[Gareth Roberts (politician)|Gareth Roberts]]|| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
|| 22 May 2018
|}

===Composition===
Following the [[2022 Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council election|2022 election]] and by-elections in January 2024, the composition of the council was:<ref name="Blunden">{{Cite news |last=Uyal |first=Berk |date=6 May 2022 |title=Richmond local election results 2022: Liberal Democrats hold |pages=1 |work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]] |location=London |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/20119078.richmond-local-election-results-2022-liberal-democrats-hold/ |access-date=8 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Burford |first1=Rachael |title=London by-elections: Tories 'wiped out in their former heartlands' but Labour suffer blow in Hackney |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/conservatives-labour-richmond-hackney-wandsworth-london-by-elections-b1133491.html |access-date=27 April 2024 |work=The Standard |date=19 January 2024}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party !! Councillors
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=center|49
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}} || align=center|5
|-
! colspan=2| Total !! 54
|}
The next election is due in May 2026.

==Elections==
⚫
{{also|Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council elections}}
Since the last boundary changes in 2022, the council has comprised 54 [[councillor]]s representing 18 [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|wards]], with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held every four years.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (Electoral Changes) Order 2020|year=2020|number=1230|access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref>

==Premises==
The council meets at York House, a large 17th century house in the centre of Twickenham.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=York House, garden walls wrought iron gates and boundary walls along Sion Road on the east side and Riverside on the south|num=1263365|grade=II*|access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref> The house had been bought in 1923 by the old Twickenham Urban District Council (predecessor of Twickenham Borough Council) and converted to become its headquarters.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The London Encyclopaedia |date=1993 |publisher=PaperMac |last1=Weinreb |first1=Ben |last2=Hibbert |first2=Christopher |isbn=0333576888 |location=London |oclc=28963301 |page=1004}}</ref> In 1990 the council moved its main offices to a new purpose-built Civic Centre at 44 York Street, immediately west of York House.<ref>{{cite news |title=Richmond Council office moves update |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=27 April 2024 |work=Richmond Informer |date=13 April 1990 |page=18}}</ref> The Civic Centre was partly built behind the retained Victorian façade of a parade of shops at the corner of York Street and Church Street.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bank backs civic centre: Work starts soon on council offices |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=27 April 2024 |work=Richmond Informer |date=18 June 1987 |page=1}}</ref>


==Notable former councillors==
==Notable former councillors==
Line 74: Line 150:
*[[Nicholas True]], councillor for [[East Sheen]] ward 1986–2017 and Leader of the Council 2010–2017<ref name="Stepping down">{{Cite news |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/15367661.richmond-council-leader-lord-true-has-announced-he-will-step-down/ |title=Cllr Nicholas True, Leader of Richmond Council, has announced he will step down |date=23 June 2017 |work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]] |access-date=24 March 2019}}</ref>
*[[Nicholas True]], councillor for [[East Sheen]] ward 1986–2017 and Leader of the Council 2010–2017<ref name="Stepping down">{{Cite news |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/15367661.richmond-council-leader-lord-true-has-announced-he-will-step-down/ |title=Cllr Nicholas True, Leader of Richmond Council, has announced he will step down |date=23 June 2017 |work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]] |access-date=24 March 2019}}</ref>
* Sir [[David Williams (Richmond upon Thames politician)|David Williams]], councillor for Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside ward 1974–2014<ref name="Razzall">{{Cite book |title=Chance Encounters: Tales from a Varied Life |last=Razzall, Tim |author-link=Tim Razzall |publisher=[[Biteback Publishing]] |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-84954-820-5}}</ref> and Leader of the Council 1983–2001<ref name="Welch">{{Cite news |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/15133071.boroughs-longest-serving-council-leader-and-towering-figure-of-local-politics-to-be-awarded-freedom-of-richmond/ |title=Borough's longest-serving council leader and 'towering figure' of local politics to be awarded freedom of Richmond |last=Welch |first=Ben |date=3 March 2017 |work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]] |access-date=25 May 2019}}</ref>
* Sir [[David Williams (Richmond upon Thames politician)|David Williams]], councillor for Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside ward 1974–2014<ref name="Razzall">{{Cite book |title=Chance Encounters: Tales from a Varied Life |last=Razzall, Tim |author-link=Tim Razzall |publisher=[[Biteback Publishing]] |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-84954-820-5}}</ref> and Leader of the Council 1983–2001<ref name="Welch">{{Cite news |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/15133071.boroughs-longest-serving-council-leader-and-towering-figure-of-local-politics-to-be-awarded-freedom-of-richmond/ |title=Borough's longest-serving council leader and 'towering figure' of local politics to be awarded freedom of Richmond |last=Welch |first=Ben |date=3 March 2017 |work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]] |access-date=25 May 2019}}</ref>
* [[Gareth Roberts (politician)|Gareth Roberts]], Leader of the Council since 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-07-13 |title=Meet the Leader with Gareth Roberts |url=https://cratus.co.uk/meet-the-leader-with-cllr-gareth-roberts/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |work=Cratus Group |language=en-GB}}</ref>

* [[Aphra Brandreth]], former councillor for [[Barnes, London|Barnes]] ward 2018-2022, elected as MP for [[Chester South and Eddisbury]] in 2024<ref>{{cite news |title=Gyles Brandreth's daughter Aphra follows father's footsteps to represent Chester for Conservatives |url=https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2024-07-05/family-affair-giles-brandreths-daughter-follows-father-to-win-chester-seat |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=[[Granada Reports]] |agency=[[ITV News]] |date=5 July 2024}}</ref>
==See also==
⚫
*[[Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council elections]] <!-- this leads to further pages and should probably be expanded -->

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group="nb"}}


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 00:42, 20 September 2024

Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council
Coat of arms or logo
Coat of arms
Logo
Council logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Richard Pyne,
Liberal Democrat
since 14 May 2024[1]
Mike Jackson
since 2022[3]
Structure
Seats54 councillors[4]
Richmond Council composition
Political groups
Administration (49)
  Liberal Democrat (49)
Opposition (5)
  Green Party (5)
Elections
Plurality-at-large
Last election
5 May 2022
Next election
7 May 2026
Meeting place
York House, Richmond Road, Twickenham, TW1 3AA
Website
www.richmond.gov.uk

Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council, also known as Richmond upon Thames Council, LBRUT or Richmond Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since 2018. Although the borough is named after Richmond, the council meets at York House in Twickenham, and has its main offices in the adjoining Civic Centre.

History

[edit]

The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and its council were created under the London Government Act 1963, with the first election held in 1964.[5] For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the area's three outgoing authorities, being the municipal borough councils of Barnes, Richmond, and Twickenham. The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the old boroughs and their councils were abolished.[6]

The council's full legal name is the "Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames".[7]

From 1965 until 1986 the council was a lower-tier authority, with upper-tier functions provided by 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 boroughs (including Richmond upon Thames) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council Richmond upon Thames has been a local education authority since 1965. The Greater London Council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to the London Boroughs, with some services provided through joint committees.[8]

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.[9]

Since 2016 the council has shared a chief executive and other staff with neighbouring Wandsworth Council.[3]

Powers and functions

[edit]

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.[10] 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.[11]

Political composition

[edit]

The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since 2018.

The first election was held in 1964, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until it came into its powers on 1 April 1965. Political control of the council since 1965 has been as follows:[12]

Party in control Years
Conservative 1965–1982
No overall control 1982–1983
Alliance 1983–1988
Liberal Democrats 1988–2002
Conservative 2002–2006
Liberal Democrats 2006–2010
Conservative 2010–2018
Liberal Democrats 2018–present

Leadership

[edit]

The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Richmond. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1965 have been:[13][14]

Councillor Party From To
Harry Hall Conservative 1965 1978
John Barker Conservative 1978 1980
Keith Morell Conservative 1980 1983
David Williams Liberal 1983 3 Mar 1988
Liberal Democrats 3 Mar 1988 22 May 2001
Serge Lourie Liberal Democrats 22 May 2001 13 May 2002
Tony Arbour Conservative 13 May 2002 16 May 2006
Serge Lourie Liberal Democrats 16 May 2006 9 May 2010
Nicholas True Conservative 25 May 2010 4 Jul 2017
Paul Hodgins Conservative 4 Jul 2017 22 May 2018
Gareth Roberts Liberal Democrats 22 May 2018

Composition

[edit]

Following the 2022 election and by-elections in January 2024, the composition of the council was:[15][16]

Party Councillors
Liberal Democrats 49
Green 5
Total 54

The next election is due in May 2026.

Elections

[edit]
See also: Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2022, the council has comprised 54 councillors representing 18 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[17]

Premises

[edit]

The council meets at York House, a large 17th century house in the centre of Twickenham.[18] The house had been bought in 1923 by the old Twickenham Urban District Council (predecessor of Twickenham Borough Council) and converted to become its headquarters.[19] In 1990 the council moved its main offices to a new purpose-built Civic Centre at 44 York Street, immediately west of York House.[20] The Civic Centre was partly built behind the retained Victorian façade of a parade of shops at the corner of York Street and Church Street.[21]

Notable former councillors

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "New Mayor to raise money for Richmond Borough Mind and Home-Start RKH". Richmond upon Thames Council. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Local Election – Thursday, 3 May 2018". 2018 Council Election results. London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b "Wandsworth and Richmond Councils choose new Chief Executive". Wandsworth Council. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Your Councillors". London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  5. ^ "London Government Act 1963", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1978 c. 33, retrieved 16 May 2024
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