Havering London Borough Council


Havering London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Havering in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London. Havering is divided into 18 wards, each electing three councillors. Since May 2018, Havering London Borough Council has been in no overall control. It comprises 25 Conservative Party members, 23 Havering Residents Association members, 5 Labour Party members and 1 Independent member. The council was created by the London Government Act 1963 and replaced two local authorities: Hornchurch Urban District Council and Romford Borough Council.

History

There have previously been a number of local authorities responsible for the Havering 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 Havering on 1 April 1965. Havering replaced Hornchurch Urban District Council and Romford Borough Council. Romford was governed by Romford Urban District Council from 1894 to 1937 and it replaced Noak Hill Parish Council, Havering-atte-Bower Parish Council and Romford Rural District Council in 1934 when the urban district was expanded. Hornchurch Urban District Council was formed in 1926 and replaced Hornchurch Parish Council and Romford Rural District Council in the parish of Hornchurch. In 1934 the urban district was expanded and the council replaced Romford Rural District Council, Cranham Parish Council, Great Warley Parish Council, Rainham Parish Council, Upminster Parish Council and Wennington Parish Council.
It was envisaged through the London Government Act 1963 that Havering 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 Havering London Borough Council gained responsibility for some services that had been provided by the Greater London Council, such as waste disposal. From 1986 to 2000, the London Planning Advisory Committee was run from within the council. 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. Havering 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

Havering 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.

Elections

Electoral arrangements

Wards were established for Havering when it came into existence on 1 April 1965. The first elections of ward councillors took place in 1964. These boundaries were also used for the 1968, 1971 and 1974 elections. For the 1978 elections the ward boundaries were revised. These boundaries were then also used at the 1982, 1986 and 1990 elections.
For the May 1994 elections there were minor adjustments to London borough boundaries, which affected the area and population of some Havering wards. These boundaries were also used at the 1998 elections. The current ward boundaries came into effect at the May 2002 elections. They were also used at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 elections.

Summary results of elections

Since 1964 political control of the council has been held by the following parties:
Party in controlYears
No overall control1964–1968
Conservative1968–1971
Labour1971–1974
No overall control1974–1978
Conservative1978–1986
No overall control1986–2006
Conservative2006–2014
No overall control2014–2018
No overall control2018–present

Leadership

The London Borough of Havering is led by the Leader of the Council and an appointed cabinet formed from the party with majority control of the council. The leader is elected by fellow councillors once every four years following local elections. The current leader is Roger Ramsey who has held the position since 2014. The leadership of the council - once elected - can only subsequently be changed by a vote in favour of such change supported by two thirds of councillors.

Cabinet

The current composition of Havering Council's Cabinet is as follows.
Party keyConservative
Party keyEast Havering Residents

Mayor

The mayor for 2019/2020 municipal year is Michael Deon Burton.

List of leaders