Barking and Dagenham Council | |
---|---|
Type | |
Type | |
History | |
Founded | 1 April 1965 |
Leadership | |
Fiona Taylor since April 2022 [3] | |
Structure | |
Seats | 51 councillors |
Political groups |
|
Joint committees |
East London Waste Authority Thames Chase Joint Committee Thames Gateway London Partnership London Councils |
Elections | |
Plurality | |
Last election | 5 May 2022 |
Next election | 7 May 2026 |
Meeting place | |
Town Hall, 1 Town Square, Barking, IG11 7LU | |
Website | |
www | |
Constitution | |
The Council Constitution |
Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council, also known as Barking and Dagenham Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since its creation in 1965. It is based at Barking Town Hall in the centre of Barking.
The modern borough was created in 1965 under the London Government Act 1963, covering the combined area of the former Municipal Borough of Barking and the Municipal Borough of Dagenham, with the exceptions of a small area at Hog Hill from Dagenham which went to Redbridge, and the Gallions Reach area, being the part of Barking west of Barking Creek, which went to Newham. The new borough was initially just called Barking. The area was transferred from Essex to Greater London to become one of the 32 London Boroughs. [4]
The old borough of Barking had evolved from the Barking Town local government district, created in 1882. Such districts were reconstituted as urban districts under the Local Government Act 1894. The Barking Town Urban District was incorporated to become a municipal borough in 1931, at which point the name was changed from Barking Town to Barking. [5] Neighbouring Dagenham was a rural parish within the Romford Rural District until 1926 when it was made an urban district; it was made a municipal borough in 1938. [6] [7]
The London borough's name was changed from Barking to 'Barking and Dagenham' with effect from 1 January 1980. [8] Since then, the council's full legal name has been 'The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham'. [9]
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 Barking and Dagenham) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council Barking and Dagenham 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. [10]
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. [11]
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. [12] 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. [13]
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. Labour have held a majority of the seats on the council since its creation. [14] [15] [16] [17]
Party in control | Years | |
---|---|---|
Labour | 1965–present |
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Barking and Dagenham. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1965 have been: [18] [19]
Councillor | Party | From | To | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ted Ball | Labour | 1965 | 1972 | |
Joe Butler | Labour | 1972 | 1986 | |
George Brooker | Labour | 1986 | 1998 | |
Charles Fairbrass | Labour | 1998 | 13 May 2009 | |
Liam Smith | Labour | 13 May 2009 | 12 Jun 2014 | |
Darren Rodwell | Labour | 12 Jun 2014 |
Following the 2022 election and a subsequent change of allegiance in December 2022, the composition of the council was: [20] [21]
Party | Councillors | |
---|---|---|
Labour | 50 | |
Independent | 1 | |
Total | 51 |
The next election is due in 2026.
The council is based at Barking Town Hall in Town Square. [22] The building was purpose-built for the old Barking Borough Council and was completed in 1958. [23]
Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 51 councillors representing 19 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. [24]
Barking and Dagenham Council | |
---|---|
Type | |
Type | |
History | |
Founded | 1 April 1965 |
Leadership | |
Fiona Taylor since April 2022 [3] | |
Structure | |
Seats | 51 councillors |
Political groups |
|
Joint committees |
East London Waste Authority Thames Chase Joint Committee Thames Gateway London Partnership London Councils |
Elections | |
Plurality | |
Last election | 5 May 2022 |
Next election | 7 May 2026 |
Meeting place | |
Town Hall, 1 Town Square, Barking, IG11 7LU | |
Website | |
www | |
Constitution | |
The Council Constitution |
Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council, also known as Barking and Dagenham Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since its creation in 1965. It is based at Barking Town Hall in the centre of Barking.
The modern borough was created in 1965 under the London Government Act 1963, covering the combined area of the former Municipal Borough of Barking and the Municipal Borough of Dagenham, with the exceptions of a small area at Hog Hill from Dagenham which went to Redbridge, and the Gallions Reach area, being the part of Barking west of Barking Creek, which went to Newham. The new borough was initially just called Barking. The area was transferred from Essex to Greater London to become one of the 32 London Boroughs. [4]
The old borough of Barking had evolved from the Barking Town local government district, created in 1882. Such districts were reconstituted as urban districts under the Local Government Act 1894. The Barking Town Urban District was incorporated to become a municipal borough in 1931, at which point the name was changed from Barking Town to Barking. [5] Neighbouring Dagenham was a rural parish within the Romford Rural District until 1926 when it was made an urban district; it was made a municipal borough in 1938. [6] [7]
The London borough's name was changed from Barking to 'Barking and Dagenham' with effect from 1 January 1980. [8] Since then, the council's full legal name has been 'The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham'. [9]
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 Barking and Dagenham) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council Barking and Dagenham 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. [10]
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. [11]
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. [12] 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. [13]
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. Labour have held a majority of the seats on the council since its creation. [14] [15] [16] [17]
Party in control | Years | |
---|---|---|
Labour | 1965–present |
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Barking and Dagenham. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1965 have been: [18] [19]
Councillor | Party | From | To | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ted Ball | Labour | 1965 | 1972 | |
Joe Butler | Labour | 1972 | 1986 | |
George Brooker | Labour | 1986 | 1998 | |
Charles Fairbrass | Labour | 1998 | 13 May 2009 | |
Liam Smith | Labour | 13 May 2009 | 12 Jun 2014 | |
Darren Rodwell | Labour | 12 Jun 2014 |
Following the 2022 election and a subsequent change of allegiance in December 2022, the composition of the council was: [20] [21]
Party | Councillors | |
---|---|---|
Labour | 50 | |
Independent | 1 | |
Total | 51 |
The next election is due in 2026.
The council is based at Barking Town Hall in Town Square. [22] The building was purpose-built for the old Barking Borough Council and was completed in 1958. [23]
Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 51 councillors representing 19 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. [24]