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{{Infobox subdivision type
{{Infobox subdivision type
| name= London borough
| name = London borough
| map= [[File:Greater London in England (wo City of London) (zoom).svg|Greater London within England|255px]]<br />The thirty-two London boroughs in [[England]]
| map = [[File:Greater London in England (wo City of London) (zoom).svg|Greater London within England|255px]]<br />The thirty-two London boroughs in [[England]]
| category= [[Districts of England|Local authority districts]]
| category = [[Districts of England|Local authority districts]]
| territory= [[Greater London]]
| territory = [[Greater London]]
| start_date= 1 April 1965
| start_date = 1 April 1965
| legislation_begin= ''[[London Government Act 1963]]''
| legislation_begin = ''[[London Government Act 1963]]''|legislation_begin
⚫
| current_number = 32
| legislation_begin
⚫
| number_date =
⚫
| current_number= 32
| type = [[Inner London]] (12)
⚫
| number_date= 2013
| type= [[Inner London]] (12)
| type1 = [[Outer London]] (20)
| type1= [[Outer London]] (20)
| status = [[City status in the United Kingdom|City]] (1)
⚫
| status1 = [[Royal borough]] (3)
| status= [[City status in the United Kingdom|City]] (1)
⚫
| population_range = 150,000–400,000
⚫
| status1= [[Royal borough]] (3)
⚫
| area_range = 12–150 km<sup>2</sup>
⚫
| population_range= 150,000–300,000
⚫
| government = London borough council
⚫
| area_range= 15–150 km<sup>2</sup>
⚫
| government= London borough council
}}
}}
{{Politics of England}}
The '''London boroughs''' are the current 32 [[districts of England|local authority districts]] that together with the [[City of London]] make up the administrative area of [[Greater London]], England; each is governed by a London borough council. The present London boroughs were all created at the same time as Greater London on 1 April 1965 by the [[London Government Act 1963]] (c. 33) and are a type of local government district. Twelve were designated as [[Inner London]] boroughs and twenty as [[Outer London]] boroughs. The [[City of London]], the historic centre, is a separate ceremonial county and {{Lang|la|[[sui generis]]}} local government district that functions quite differently from a London borough. However, the two counties together comprise the administrative area of [[Greater London]] as well as the London [[Regions of England|Region]], all of which is also governed by the [[Greater London Authority]], under the [[Mayor of London]].


The '''London boroughs''' are the 32 [[districts of England|local authority districts]] that make up the [[Ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]] of [[Greater London]]; each is governed by a London borough council. The present London boroughs were all created at the same time as Greater London on 1 April 1965 by the ''[[London Government Act 1963]]'' and are a type of local government district. Twelve were designated as [[Inner London]] boroughs and twenty as [[Outer London]] boroughs. The [[City of London]], the historic centre, is a separate ceremonial county and {{Lang|la|[[sui generis]]}} local government district that functions quite differently from a London borough. However, the two counties together comprise the administrative area of [[Greater London]] as well as the London [[regions of England|region of England]], all of which is also governed by the [[Greater London Authority]].
The London boroughs have populations of between 150,000 and 400,000. Inner London boroughs tend to be smaller, in both population and area, and more densely populated than Outer London boroughs. The London boroughs were created by combining groups of former local government units. A review undertaken between 1987 and 1992 led to a number of relatively small alterations in borough boundaries. London borough councils provide the majority of local government services (schools, waste management, social services, libraries), in contrast to the strategic [[Greater London Authority]], which has limited authority over all of Greater London.


⚫
The councils were first [[1964 London local elections|elected in 1964]], and acted as shadow authorities until 1 April 1965. Each borough is divided into [[List of electoral wards in Greater London|electoral wards]], subject to periodic review, for the purpose of electing councillors. Council elections take place every four years, with the [[2022 London local elections|most recent elections]] in 2022, and [[2026 London local elections|the next elections]] due in 2026. The [[political make-up of London borough councils]] is dominated by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]], [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] and [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] parties. Twenty-eight councils follow the [[leader and cabinet]] model of executive governance, while five have [[Directly elected mayors in England and Wales|directly elected mayors]] ([[Croydon]], [[Directly elected mayor of Hackney|Hackney]], [[Directly elected mayor of Lewisham|Lewisham]], [[Directly elected mayor of Newham|Newham]], and [[Directly elected mayor of Tower Hamlets|Tower Hamlets]]). The City of London is instead governed by the [[City of London Corporation]] (and the [[Inner Temple|Inner]] and [[Middle Temple|Middle]] Temples, which are not governed by the City of London Corporation).
The London boroughs have populations of around 150,000 to 300,000. Inner London boroughs tend to be smaller, in both population and area, and more densely populated than Outer London boroughs. The London boroughs were created by combining groups of former local government units. A review undertaken between 1987 and 1992 led to a number of relatively small alterations in borough boundaries. London borough councils provide the majority of local government services (schools, waste management, social services, libraries), in contrast to the strategic [[Greater London Authority]], which has limited authority over all of Greater London.

⚫
The councils were first [[1964 London local elections|elected in 1964]], and acted as shadow authorities until 1 April 1965. Each borough is divided into [[List of electoral wards in Greater London|electoral wards]], subject to periodic review, for the purpose of electing councillors. Council elections take place every four years, with the [[2018 London local elections|most recent elections]] in 2018, and [[2022 London local elections|the next elections]] due in 2022. The [[political make-up of London borough councils]] is dominated by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]], [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] and [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] parties. Twenty-eight councils follow the [[leader and cabinet]] model of executive governance, while four have [[Directly elected mayors in England and Wales|directly elected mayors]] ([[Directly elected mayor of Hackney|Hackney]], [[Directly elected mayor of Lewisham|Lewisham]], [[Directly elected mayor of Newham|Newham]], and [[Directly elected mayor of Tower Hamlets|Tower Hamlets]]). The City of London is instead governed by the [[City of London Corporation]] (and the [[Inner Temple|Inner]] and [[Middle Temple|Middle]] Temples, which are not governed by the City of London Corporation).


== List ==
== List ==
{{Main list|List of London boroughs}}
{{Main list|List of London boroughs}}


{| style="font-size:90%; width=100%;"
{| style="width=100%;"
| {{London boroughs imagemap}}
| {{London boroughs imagemap}}
| <ol>
| <ol>
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<li>[[London Borough of Lambeth|Lambeth]]</li>
<li>[[London Borough of Lambeth|Lambeth]]</li>



<li>[[London Borough of Southwark|Southwark]]</li>
<li>[[London Borough of Southwark|Southwark]]</li>
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|}
|}


There are four boroughs that do not have "London Borough" in their names: the [[city status in the United Kingdom|City]] of Westminster, and the [[List of UK place names with royal patronage|Royal Boroughs]] of Kingston upon Thames, Kensington and Chelsea, and Greenwich.
There are four boroughs that do not have "London Borough" in their official names: the [[city status in the United Kingdom|City]] of Westminster, and the [[List of UK place names with royal patronage|Royal Boroughs]] of Kingston upon Thames, Kensington and Chelsea, and Greenwich.


== History ==
== History ==
=== Creation ===
=== Creation ===
From the mid-1930zzz, the Greater London area comprised four types of local government authorities. There were [[county borough]]s, [[municipal borough]]s, [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban districts]] and [[Metropolitan boroughs of the County of London|metropolitan boroughs]]. The large county boroughs provided all local government services and held the powers usually invested in county councils. The municipal borough and urban district authorities had fewer powers. The situation was made more complex because county councils could delegate functions such as elementary education and library provision to the municipal borough and district councils, and this was implemented piecemeal. Reform of London local government sought to regularise this arrangement.
From the mid-1930s, the Greater London area comprised four types of local government authorities. There were [[county borough]]s, [[municipal borough]]s, [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban districts]] and [[Metropolitan boroughs of the County of London|metropolitan boroughs]]. The large county boroughs provided all local government services and held the powers usually invested in county councils. The municipal borough and urban district authorities had fewer powers. The situation was made more complex because county councils could delegate functions such as elementary education and library provision to the municipal borough and district councils, and this was implemented piecemeal. Reform of London local government sought to regularise this arrangement.


The [[Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London]] was established in 1957 (roblox is good) and the report was published on 19 October 1960. It proposed 52 "Greater London Boroughs" with a population range of 100,000 to 250,000.<ref>{{cite book |title = The Report of The Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London |year = 1961 |last = Sharpe |first = LJ }}</ref> This was made up of a mixture of whole existing units, mergers of two or three areas, and two boroughs formed as the result of a split. In December 1961 the government proposed that there would be 34 boroughs rather than 52, and detailed their boundaries. The proposed number was further reduced to 32 in 1962.
The [[Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London]] was established in 1957 and the report was published on 19 October 1960. It proposed 52 "Greater London Boroughs" with a population range of 100,000 to 250,000.<ref>{{cite book |title = The Report of The Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London |year = 1961 |last = Sharpe |first = LJ }}</ref> This was made up of a mixture of whole existing units, mergers of two or three areas, and two boroughs formed as the result of a split. In December 1961 the government proposed that there would be 34 boroughs rather than 52, and detailed their boundaries. The proposed number was further reduced to 32 in 1962.


On 1 April 1965, the 32 London boroughs and [[Greater London]] were created by the ''[[London Government Act 1963]]''. Twelve boroughs in the former County of London area were designated [[Inner London]] boroughs and the 20 others were designated [[Outer London]] boroughs. Outer London borough councils were [[Local education authority|local education authorities]], but Inner London borough councils were so designated primarily to continue the existence of an [[Inner London Education Authority]], praised by official Opposition and government who further noted that unusually the former County of London's many small local authorities had no history of providing education. The [[City of London]] continued to be administered by the [[City of London Corporation]], and the [[Inner Temple|Inner]] and [[Middle Temple|Middle]] Temples continued to govern their own areas.{{NoteTag|Local government legislation makes special provision for the City of London Corporation, Inner Temple and Middle Temple to perform the functions of London borough councils in their areas.}}
On 1 April 1965, the 32 London boroughs and [[Greater London]] were created by the ''[[London Government Act 1963]]''. Twelve boroughs in the former County of London area were designated [[Inner London]] boroughs and the 20 others were designated [[Outer London]] boroughs. Outer London borough councils were [[Local education authority|local education authorities]], but Inner London borough councils were so designated primarily to continue the existence of an [[Inner London Education Authority]], praised by official Opposition and government who further noted that unusually the former County of London's many small local authorities had no history of providing education. The [[City of London]] continued to be administered by the [[City of London Corporation]], and the [[Inner Temple|Inner]] and [[Middle Temple|Middle]] Temples continued to govern their own areas.{{NoteTag|Local government legislation makes special provision for the City of London Corporation, Inner Temple and Middle Temple to perform the functions of London borough councils in their areas.}}
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]]
]]


{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:85%;"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
! London borough
! London borough
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|[[Municipal Borough of Acton|Acton]] (13b) || [[Municipal Borough of Ealing|Ealing]] (13a) || [[Municipal Borough of Southall|Southall]] (13c) || ||
|[[Municipal Borough of Acton|Acton]] (13b) || [[Municipal Borough of Ealing|Ealing]] (13a) || [[Municipal Borough of Southall|Southall]] (13c) || ||
|-
|-
|[[London Borough of Enfeild|Enfeild]]
|[[London Borough of Enfield|Enfield]]
| Outer
| Outer
|[[Municipal Borough of Edmonten|Edmonten]] (30c) || [[Municipal Borough of Enfeild|Enfield]] (30a) ||[[Municipal Borough of Southgate|Southgate]] (30b) || ||
|[[Municipal Borough of Edmonton|Edmonton]] (30c) || [[Municipal Borough of Enfield|Enfield]] (30a) ||[[Municipal Borough of Southgate|Southgate]] (30b) || ||
|-
|-
|[[London Borough of Haringey|Haringey]]
|[[London Borough of Haringey|Haringey]]
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The [[Local Government Boundary Commission for England]] was established by the Local Government Act 1972 to review periodically the boundaries of Greater London and the London boroughs. The first review of boundaries commenced on 1 April 1987 and reported in 1992.<ref>{{cite web |title = The Local Government Boundary Commission for England, The Boundaries of Greater London and The London Borough, Report 627 |date = 1992 |url = https://www.lgbce.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/11419/627-the-boundaries-of-greater-london-and-the-london-boroughs.pdf |website=Lgbce.org.uk |access-date=21 December 2017 }}</ref> Following the review a series of relatively minor adjustments were made to borough boundaries, for example uniting the whole of the [[Becontree]] estate in [[London Borough of Barking and Dagenham|Barking and Dagenham]]. The commission noted that many of its recommendations were strongly opposed and were not implemented. The boundary of the City of London with adjacent boroughs was adjusted to remove some anomalies.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1993/1445/made |title = The City and London Borough Boundaries Order 1993 |website = Legislation.gov.uk |access-date = 22 December 2017 }}</ref>
The [[Local Government Boundary Commission for England]] was established by the Local Government Act 1972 to review periodically the boundaries of Greater London and the London boroughs. The first review of boundaries commenced on 1 April 1987 and reported in 1992.<ref>{{cite web |title = The Local Government Boundary Commission for England, The Boundaries of Greater London and The London Borough, Report 627 |date = 1992 |url = https://www.lgbce.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/11419/627-the-boundaries-of-greater-london-and-the-london-boroughs.pdf |website=Lgbce.org.uk |access-date=21 December 2017 }}</ref> Following the review a series of relatively minor adjustments were made to borough boundaries, for example uniting the whole of the [[Becontree]] estate in [[London Borough of Barking and Dagenham|Barking and Dagenham]]. The commission noted that many of its recommendations were strongly opposed and were not implemented. The boundary of the City of London with adjacent boroughs was adjusted to remove some anomalies.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1993/1445/made |title = The City and London Borough Boundaries Order 1993 |website = Legislation.gov.uk |access-date = 22 December 2017 }}</ref>


In the London boroughs the legal entity is not the council as elsewhere in the country, but the inhabitants incorporated as a legal entity by [[royal charter]] (a process abolished elsewhere in England and Wales under the [[Local Government Act 1972]]). Thus, a London authority's official legal title is "The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of X" (or "The Lord Mayor and Citizens of the City of Westminster").
The London boroughs were incorporated using the provisions of the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1882]].<ref>{{cite web |title=London Government Act 1963 (as amended) |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1963/33 |website=legislation.gov.uk |access-date=15 February 2024 |quote=The Municipal Corporations Act 1882 shall apply to every London borough}}</ref> In the London boroughs the legal entity is not the council, as elsewhere in the country, but the inhabitants incorporated as a legal entity by [[royal charter]] (a process abolished elsewhere in England and Wales under the [[Local Government Act 1972]]). Thus, a London authority's official legal title is "The Mayor and [[Burgess (title)|Burgess]]es of the London Borough of X" (or "The Lord Mayor and Citizens of the City of Westminster").<ref>{{cite web |title=Local Government Act 1933 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1933/51/pdfs/ukpga_19330051_en.pdf |website=legislation.gov.uk |access-date=15 February 2024 |quote=The municipal corporation of a borough shall [...] (a) in the case of a borough being a city, the mayor of which is entitled to bear the title of lord mayor, bear the name of the lord mayor, aldermen and citizens of the city; (b) in the case of any other borough being a city, bear the name of the mayor, aldermen and citizens of the city; and (c) in the case of any other borough, bear the name of the mayor,' aldermen and burgesses of the borough.}}</ref>


=== Greater London Authority ===
=== Greater London Authority ===
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[[Shared services]] are borough council services shared between two or more boroughs. Shared services were previously resisted due to councils guarding their authority. However, as the need for budget cuts in the late 2000s became apparent some councils have sought service mergers.<ref>Jane Dudman (20 October 2010) [https://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/oct/20/public-service-cuts-back-office Public sector cuts will not hit 'back office' hardest], ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref> Westminster and Hammersmith & Fulham were due to merge their education services, including school admissions and transport, by 2011.<ref>Jaimie Kaffash (7 July 2010) [http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/07/london-boroughs-to-share-education-services/ London boroughs to share education services], Public Finance</ref> In October 2010, [[Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council|Hammersmith & Fulham]], [[Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council|Kensington & Chelsea]] and [[Westminster City Council|Westminster]] announced [[Tri-borough shared services|plans to merge all their services]] to create a "super-council". Each would retain its own political identity, leadership and councillors but staff and budgets would be combined for cost savings.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11603545 Pickles backs plan to merge Tory councils], BBC News, 22 October 2010</ref> Lambeth and Southwark likewise expressed an interest in sharing services.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/4456 |title=Lambeth and Southwark councils to merge some services under Labour plan |website=London-se1.co.uk |access-date=22 December 2017 }}</ref>
[[Shared services]] are borough council services shared between two or more boroughs. Shared services were previously resisted due to councils guarding their authority. However, as the need for budget cuts in the late 2000s became apparent some councils have sought service mergers.<ref>Jane Dudman (20 October 2010) [https://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/oct/20/public-service-cuts-back-office Public sector cuts will not hit 'back office' hardest], ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref> Westminster and Hammersmith & Fulham were due to merge their education services, including school admissions and transport, by 2011.<ref>Jaimie Kaffash (7 July 2010) [http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2010/07/london-boroughs-to-share-education-services/ London boroughs to share education services], Public Finance</ref> In October 2010, [[Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council|Hammersmith & Fulham]], [[Kensington and Chelsea London Borough Council|Kensington & Chelsea]] and [[Westminster City Council|Westminster]] announced [[Tri-borough shared services|plans to merge all their services]] to create a "super-council". Each would retain its own political identity, leadership and councillors but staff and budgets would be combined for cost savings.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11603545 Pickles backs plan to merge Tory councils], BBC News, 22 October 2010</ref> Lambeth and Southwark likewise expressed an interest in sharing services.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/4456 |title=Lambeth and Southwark councils to merge some services under Labour plan |website=London-se1.co.uk |access-date=22 December 2017 }}</ref>


The management thinker and inventor of [[the Vanguard Method]], Professor [[John Seddon]], claims that shared service projects based on attempts to achieve [[economies of scale]] are a mix of a) the plausibly obvious and b) a little hard data{{clarify|date=May 2015}}, brought together to produce two broad assertions, for which there is little hard factual evidence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesystemsthinkingreview.co.uk/index.php?pg=18&utwkstoryid=266 |title=Archived copy |access-date=6 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008081545/http://www.thesystemsthinkingreview.co.uk/index.php?pg=18&utwkstoryid=266 |archive-date=8 October 2011 }}</ref> He argues that shared service projects fail (and often end up costing more than they hoped to save) because they cause a disruption to the service flow by moving the work to a central location, creating waste in hand-offs, rework and duplication, lengthening the time it takes to deliver a service and consequently creating [[failure demand]] (demand caused by a failure to do something or do something right for a customer).<ref>Systems Thinking in the Public Sector, John Seddon, Page 57.</ref> Seddon referred directly to the so-called [[tri-borough shared services]] in an article in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2012/07/shared-illusions/ |title=Archived copy |access-date = 13 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130421042212/http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2012/07/shared-illusions/ |archive-date = 21 April 2013 }}</ref>
The management thinker and inventor of [[the Vanguard Method]], Professor [[John Seddon]], claims that shared service projects based on attempts to achieve [[economies of scale]] are a mix of a) the plausibly obvious and b) a little hard data{{clarify|date=May 2015}}, brought together to produce two broad assertions, for which there is little hard factual evidence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesystemsthinkingreview.co.uk/index.php?pg=18&utwkstoryid=266 |title=Why do we believe in economy of scale? |access-date=6 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008081545/http://www.thesystemsthinkingreview.co.uk/index.php?pg=18&utwkstoryid=266 |archive-date=8 October 2011 }}</ref> He argues that shared service projects fail (and often end up costing more than they hoped to save) because they cause a disruption to the service flow by moving the work to a central location, creating waste in hand-offs, rework and duplication, lengthening the time it takes to deliver a service and consequently creating [[failure demand]] (demand caused by a failure to do something or do something right for a customer).<ref>Systems Thinking in the Public Sector, John Seddon, Page 57.</ref> Seddon referred directly to the so-called [[tri-borough shared services]] in an article in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2012/07/shared-illusions/ |title=Shared illusions &#124; Public Finance Opinion |access-date = 13 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130421042212/http://opinion.publicfinance.co.uk/2012/07/shared-illusions/ |archive-date = 21 April 2013 }}</ref>


== Gallery of London-wide election results ==
== Gallery of London-wide election results ==
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|Citywide ward results of the 2014 London local elections.svg|2014 results map
|Citywide ward results of the 2014 London local elections.svg|2014 results map
|Citywide ward results of the 2018 London local elections.svg|2018 results map
|Citywide ward results of the 2018 London local elections.svg|2018 results map
|Citywide ward results of the 2022 London local elections.svg|2022 results map
}}
}}


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== External links ==
== External links ==
* [https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/who-runs-london/essential-guide-london-local-government London Councils' page on the Boroughs]
* [http://londonboroughsmap.co.uk/ London Boroughs Map]
* [http://citymayors.com/local-government/london-boroughs.html Directory of current Borough Leaders and Mayors]


{{-}}
{{-}}
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{{Subdivisions of England}}
{{Subdivisions of England}}
{{Borough status in the United Kingdom}}
{{Borough status in the United Kingdom}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:London Borough}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:London Borough}}
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[[Category:Interested parties in planning in England]]
[[Category:Interested parties in planning in England]]
[[Category:Types of subdivision in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Types of subdivision in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Boroughs of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Boroughs in England|*]]

Latest revision as of 06:26, 7 December 2024

London borough
Greater London within England
The thirty-two London boroughs in England
CategoryLocal authority districts
LocationGreater London
Created byLondon Government Act 1963
Created
  • 1 April 1965
Number32
Possible types
Possible status
Populations150,000–400,000
Areas12–150 km2
Government
  • London borough council
This article is part of a series within the
Politics of the United Kingdom on the
Politics of England
The Crown
Governance
Legislative
Elections
UK General Elections in England
Judiciary
Regions
Administration

The London boroughs are the current 32 local authority districts that together with the City of London make up the administrative area of Greater London, England; each is governed by a London borough council. The present London boroughs were all created at the same time as Greater London on 1 April 1965 by the London Government Act 1963 (c. 33) and are a type of local government district. Twelve were designated as Inner London boroughs and twenty as Outer London boroughs. The City of London, the historic centre, is a separate ceremonial county and sui generis local government district that functions quite differently from a London borough. However, the two counties together comprise the administrative area of Greater London as well as the London Region, all of which is also governed by the Greater London Authority, under the Mayor of London.

The London boroughs have populations of between 150,000 and 400,000. Inner London boroughs tend to be smaller, in both population and area, and more densely populated than Outer London boroughs. The London boroughs were created by combining groups of former local government units. A review undertaken between 1987 and 1992 led to a number of relatively small alterations in borough boundaries. London borough councils provide the majority of local government services (schools, waste management, social services, libraries), in contrast to the strategic Greater London Authority, which has limited authority over all of Greater London.

The councils were first elected in 1964, and acted as shadow authorities until 1 April 1965. Each borough is divided into electoral wards, subject to periodic review, for the purpose of electing councillors. Council elections take place every four years, with the most recent elections in 2022, and the next elections due in 2026. The political make-up of London borough councils is dominated by the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties. Twenty-eight councils follow the leader and cabinet model of executive governance, while five have directly elected mayors (Croydon, Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, and Tower Hamlets). The City of London is instead governed by the City of London Corporation (and the Inner and Middle Temples, which are not governed by the City of London Corporation).

List

[edit]
For a more comprehensive list, see List of London boroughs.
City of LondonCity of WestminsterKensington and ChelseaHammersmith and FulhamWandsworthLambethSouthwarkTower HamletsHackneyIslingtonCamdenBrentEalingHounslowRichmond upon ThamesKingstonMertonSuttonCroydonBromleyLewishamGreenwichBexleyHaveringBarking and DagenhamRedbridgeNewhamWaltham ForestHaringeyEnfieldBarnetHarrowHillingdon
  1. City of London (not a London borough)
  2. City of Westminster
  3. Kensington and Chelsea
  4. Hammersmith and Fulham
  5. Wandsworth
  6. Lambeth
  7. Southwark
  8. Tower Hamlets
  9. Hackney
  10. Islington
  11. Camden
  12. Brent
  13. Ealing
  14. Hounslow
  15. Richmond upon Thames
  16. Kingston upon Thames
  17. Merton
  1. Sutton
  2. Croydon
  3. Bromley
  4. Lewisham
  5. Greenwich
  6. Bexley
  7. Havering
  8. Barking and Dagenham
  9. Redbridge
  10. Newham
  11. Waltham Forest
  12. Haringey
  13. Enfield
  14. Barnet
  15. Harrow
  16. Hillingdon

There are four boroughs that do not have "London Borough" in their official names: the City of Westminster, and the Royal Boroughs of Kingston upon Thames, Kensington and Chelsea, and Greenwich.

History

[edit]

Creation

[edit]

From the mid-1930s, the Greater London area comprised four types of local government authorities. There were county boroughs, municipal boroughs, urban districts and metropolitan boroughs. The large county boroughs provided all local government services and held the powers usually invested in county councils. The municipal borough and urban district authorities had fewer powers. The situation was made more complex because county councils could delegate functions such as elementary education and library provision to the municipal borough and district councils, and this was implemented piecemeal. Reform of London local government sought to regularise this arrangement.

The Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London was established in 1957 and the report was published on 19 October 1960. It proposed 52 "Greater London Boroughs" with a population range of 100,000 to 250,000.[1] This was made up of a mixture of whole existing units, mergers of two or three areas, and two boroughs formed as the result of a split. In December 1961 the government proposed that there would be 34 boroughs rather than 52, and detailed their boundaries. The proposed number was further reduced to 32 in 1962.

On 1 April 1965, the 32 London boroughs and Greater London were created by the London Government Act 1963. Twelve boroughs in the former County of London area were designated Inner London boroughs and the 20 others were designated Outer London boroughs. Outer London borough councils were local education authorities, but Inner London borough councils were so designated primarily to continue the existence of an Inner London Education Authority, praised by official Opposition and government who further noted that unusually the former County of London's many small local authorities had no history of providing education. The City of London continued to be administered by the City of London Corporation, and the Inner and Middle Temples continued to govern their own areas.[note 1]

Elections were held on 7 May 1964, with the new councils acting as shadow authorities before coming into their powers the following year.

Former authorities

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The boroughs were created as follows. Some relatively minor changes have been made to the boundaries of boroughs since 1965, and two have changed their names.

Former local authorities in the Greater London area * County boroughs * Metropolitan boroughs * Municipal boroughs * Urban districts
London borough Designation Former areas
Camden Inner Hampstead (11a) St Pancras (11b) Holborn (11c)
Greenwich Inner Greenwich (22a) Woolwich (part) (22b)
Hackney Inner Hackney (9a) Shoreditch (9b) Stoke Newington (9c)
Hammersmith[note 2] Inner Hammersmith (4a) Fulham (4b)
Islington Inner Islington (10a) Finsbury (10b)
Kensington and Chelsea Inner Kensington (3a) Chelsea (3b)
Lambeth Inner Lambeth (6a) Wandsworth (part) (6b)
Lewisham Inner Lewisham (21a) Deptford (21b)
Southwark Inner Bermondsey (7b) Camberwell (7c) Southwark (7a)
Tower Hamlets Inner Bethnal Green (8a) Poplar (8c) Stepney (8b)
Wandsworth Inner Battersea (5b) Wandsworth (part) (5a)
Westminster Inner Paddington (2c) St Marylebone (2b) Westminster (2a)
Barking[note 3] Outer Barking (part) (25a) Dagenham (part) (25b)
Barnet Outer Barnet (31a) East Barnet (31b) Finchley (31d) Hendon (31c) Friern Barnet (31e)
Bexley Outer Bexley (23b) Erith (23a) Crayford (23c) Chislehurst and Sidcup (part) (23d)
Brent Outer Wembley (12a) Willesden (12b)
Bromley Outer Bromley (20c) Beckenham (20b) Orpington (20e) Penge (20a) Chislehurst and Sidcup (part) (20d)
Croydon Outer Croydon (19a) Coulsdon and Purley (19b)
Ealing Outer Acton (13b) Ealing (13a) Southall (13c)
Enfield Outer Edmonton (30c) Enfield (30a) Southgate (30b)
Haringey Outer Hornsey (29b) Tottenham (29c) Wood Green (29a)
Harrow Outer Harrow (32)
Havering Outer Romford (24a) Hornchurch (24b)
Hillingdon Outer Hayes and Harlington (33c) Ruislip Northwood (33b) Uxbridge (33a) Yiewsley and West Drayton (33d)
Hounslow Outer Brentford and Chiswick (14c) Feltham (14a) Heston and Isleworth (14b)
Kingston upon Thames Outer Kingston upon Thames (16a) Malden and Coombe (16b) Surbiton (16c)
Merton Outer Mitcham (17c) Merton and Morden (17b) Wimbledon (17a)
Newham Outer West Ham (27a) East Ham (27b) Barking (part) (27c) Woolwich (part) (27d)
Redbridge Outer Ilford (26a) Wanstead and Woodford (26b) Dagenham (part) (26c) Chigwell (part) (26d)
Richmond upon Thames Outer Barnes (15a) Richmond (15b) Twickenham (15c)
Sutton Outer Beddington (18c) Carshalton (18b) Sutton and Cheam (18a)
Waltham Forest Outer Chingford (28a) Leyton (28c) Walthamstow (28b)

Greater London Council

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Between 1965 and 1986 the boroughs were part of a two-tier system of government and shared power with the Greater London Council (GLC). 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 London borough councils responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. Several London borough councils and the GLC were involved in the rate-capping rebellion of 1985. On 1 April 1986 the GLC was abolished and the borough councils gained responsibility for some services that had been provided by the Greater London Council, such as waste disposal. The Inner London Education Authority continued to exist as an ad hoc authority. In 1990 it was abolished and the Inner London borough councils also became local education authorities.

Name and boundary changes

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The Local Government Act 1972 provided a mechanism for the name of a London borough and its council to be changed. This was used by the London Borough of Hammersmith (changed to Hammersmith and Fulham) on 1 April 1979 and the London Borough of Barking (changed to Barking and Dagenham) on 1 January 1980. Borough names formed by combining two locality names had been discouraged when the boroughs were created.

The London boroughs were created by combining whole existing units of local government and it was realised that this might provide arbitrary boundaries in some places. The London Government Act 1963 provided a mechanism for communities on the edge of Greater London to petition for transfer from London boroughs to a neighbouring county district.[2] This was used in 1969 in the transfers of Knockholt in Bromley to Kent, and of Farleigh and Hooley in Croydon to Surrey. The Act also provided for transfers between London boroughs and neighbouring counties where there was consensus for the change between all the relevant local authorities. This provision was used to exchange two islands on the River Thames between Richmond upon Thames and Surrey. (See List of Greater London boundary changes.)

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England was established by the Local Government Act 1972 to review periodically the boundaries of Greater London and the London boroughs. The first review of boundaries commenced on 1 April 1987 and reported in 1992.[3] Following the review a series of relatively minor adjustments were made to borough boundaries, for example uniting the whole of the Becontree estate in Barking and Dagenham. The commission noted that many of its recommendations were strongly opposed and were not implemented. The boundary of the City of London with adjacent boroughs was adjusted to remove some anomalies.[4]

The London boroughs were incorporated using the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act 1882.[5] In the London boroughs the legal entity is not the council, as elsewhere in the country, but the inhabitants incorporated as a legal entity by royal charter (a process abolished elsewhere in England and Wales under the Local Government Act 1972). Thus, a London authority's official legal title is "The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of X" (or "The Lord Mayor and Citizens of the City of Westminster").[6]

Greater London Authority

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In 2000 the Greater London Authority was created, comprising the Mayor of London and the London Assembly. As a strategic authority, it absorbed only limited powers, such as major highways and planning strategy, from the borough councils.

London borough councils

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This article is part of a series within the
Politics of England on the
Politics of London
Greater London Authority
Mayor of London (list)

Sadiq Khan (L)

Statutory Deputy Mayor
Joanne McCartney (L/Co)

London Assembly

London Councils
City of London Corporation

Lord Mayor
Peter Estlin

London boroughs (list)
London and the United Kingdom
Minister for London

Vacant

The London boroughs are administered by London borough councils (sometimes abbreviated LBCs), which are elected every four years. They are the principal local authorities in London and are responsible for running most local services, such as schools, social services, waste collection and roads. Some London-wide services are run by the Greater London Authority, and some services and lobbying of government are pooled within London Councils. Some councils group together for services such as waste collection and disposal. The boroughs are local government districts and have similar functions to metropolitan boroughs. Each borough council is a local education authority.

Service Greater London Authority London borough councils
Education checkY
Housing checkY checkY
Planning applications checkY
Strategic planning checkY checkY
Transport planning checkY checkY
Passenger transport checkY
Highways checkY checkY
Police checkY
Fire checkY
Social services checkY
Libraries checkY
Leisure and recreation checkY
Waste collection checkY
Waste disposal checkY
Environmental health checkY
Revenue collection checkY

Shared services

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Shared services are borough council services shared between two or more boroughs. Shared services were previously resisted due to councils guarding their authority. However, as the need for budget cuts in the late 2000s became apparent some councils have sought service mergers.[7] Westminster and Hammersmith & Fulham were due to merge their education services, including school admissions and transport, by 2011.[8] In October 2010, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster announced plans to merge all their services to create a "super-council". Each would retain its own political identity, leadership and councillors but staff and budgets would be combined for cost savings.[9] Lambeth and Southwark likewise expressed an interest in sharing services.[10]

The management thinker and inventor of the Vanguard Method, Professor John Seddon, claims that shared service projects based on attempts to achieve economies of scale are a mix of a) the plausibly obvious and b) a little hard data[clarification needed], brought together to produce two broad assertions, for which there is little hard factual evidence.[11] He argues that shared service projects fail (and often end up costing more than they hoped to save) because they cause a disruption to the service flow by moving the work to a central location, creating waste in hand-offs, rework and duplication, lengthening the time it takes to deliver a service and consequently creating failure demand (demand caused by a failure to do something or do something right for a customer).[12] Seddon referred directly to the so-called tri-borough shared services in an article in 2012.[13]

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Results across Greater London Boroughs at ward level.
  • 2002 results map
    2002 results map
  • 2006 results map
    2006 results map
  • 2010 results map
    2010 results map
  • 2014 results map
    2014 results map
  • 2018 results map
    2018 results map
  • 2022 results map
    2022 results map

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Local government legislation makes special provision for the City of London Corporation, Inner Temple and Middle Temple to perform the functions of London borough councils in their areas.
  2. ^ Later renamed Hammersmith and Fulham.
  3. ^ Renamed Barking and Dagenham in 1980.

References

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  1. ^ Sharpe, LJ (1961). The Report of The Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London.
  2. ^ London Government Act 1963 Section 6 (4)
  3. ^ "The Local Government Boundary Commission for England, The Boundaries of Greater London and The London Borough, Report 627" (PDF). Lgbce.org.uk. 1992. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  4. ^ "The City and London Borough Boundaries Order 1993". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  5. ^ "London Government Act 1963 (as amended)". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2024. The Municipal Corporations Act 1882 shall apply to every London borough
  6. ^ "Local Government Act 1933" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2024. The municipal corporation of a borough shall [...] (a) in the case of a borough being a city, the mayor of which is entitled to bear the title of lord mayor, bear the name of the lord mayor, aldermen and citizens of the city; (b) in the case of any other borough being a city, bear the name of the mayor, aldermen and citizens of the city; and (c) in the case of any other borough, bear the name of the mayor,' aldermen and burgesses of the borough.
  7. ^ Jane Dudman (20 October 2010) Public sector cuts will not hit 'back office' hardest, The Guardian
  8. ^ Jaimie Kaffash (7 July 2010) London boroughs to share education services, Public Finance
  9. ^ Pickles backs plan to merge Tory councils, BBC News, 22 October 2010
  10. ^ "Lambeth and Southwark councils to merge some services under Labour plan". London-se1.co.uk. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  11. ^ "Why do we believe in economy of scale?". Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
  12. ^ Systems Thinking in the Public Sector, John Seddon, Page 57.
  13. ^ "Shared illusions | Public Finance Opinion". Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
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