Camden London Borough Council, also known as Camden Council, is the local authority for the
London Borough of Camden in
Greater London, England. It is a
London borough council, one of 32 in
London. The council has been under
Labour majority control since 2010. The council meets at
Camden Town Hall and has its main offices at 5 Pancras Square.
History
The London Borough of Camden and its council were created under the
London Government Act 1963, with the first election held
in 1964.[3] For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the area's three outgoing authorities, being the councils of the three
metropolitan boroughs of
Hampstead,
Holborn and
St Pancras.[4] The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the old boroughs and their councils were abolished.[5]
The council's full legal name is "The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Camden", but it styles itself Camden Council.[6]
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 Camden) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and
refuse collection. The Greater London Council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to the London Boroughs, with some services provided through joint committees.[7] Camden became a
local education authority in 1990 when the
Inner London Education Authority was dissolved.[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]
Powers and functions
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]
The council licenses street trading throughout the borough, including the following markets:[12]
The council has been under Labour majority control since 2010.
The first election to the council was held in 1964, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1965. Political control of the council since 1965 has been as follows:[13][14]
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Camden. Political leadership is instead provided by the
leader of the council. The leaders since 1965 have been:[15][16]
5 Pancras Square, London, N1C4AG: Council's main offices, completed 2014
The council meets at Camden Town Hall on Judd Street, which was completed in 1937 for the old St Pancras Borough Council, originally being known as St Pancras Town Hall.[20] The council's main offices are at 5 Pancras Square, which was purpose-built for the council as part of the regeneration of the
King's Cross area, being completed in 2014.[21]
Former Town Hall Annexe (now The Standard Hotel) at corner of Argyle Street and Euston Road: Council's main offices 1977–2014
Prior to 2014 the council's main offices were at the Town Hall Annexe, which had been completed in 1977 at the corner of Argyle Street and
Euston Road, immediately east of the Town Hall.[22] The Town Hall Annexe was subsequently converted into a hotel.[23]
Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 55
councillors representing 20
wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[24]
In 2012 it was reported that Camden Council was one of several local authorities to have been banned from accessing information from the
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. This information is normally made available to local authorities for purposes such as enforcing parking fines, but access can be withdrawn if they are found to be mis-using the service. The
Big Brother Watch organisation, which obtained the information about the ban under a
Freedom of Information request, claimed that "the public are right to be worried that their privacy is at risk across a range of government services."[26]
Local employment imbalance
Following Freedom of Information requests in 2020, it was discovered that only 16% of Camden's employees live within the borough,[27] and that many of its employees live as far afield as Scotland and Northern Ireland.[28]
It was also discovered that senior employees were more likely to live further away from Camden, with a spokesperson saying that finding employees with specialised skillsets near to the borough was 'almost impossible'. Camden stated in response that all their staff are provided with one day's extra leave for volunteering, with a 'focus on Camden'.[28]
Statistics also showed that only a single employee lived in Camden's three Central London wards, despite comprising almost a quarter of the borough's size and population.[27]
Notable councillors
Nasim Ali (
Labour,
Regents Park 2002–present), Leader of Camden London Borough Council 2010–12; Mayor of Camden 2003–04 and 2022–23; first Bangladeshi and first Muslim mayor.[29]
Raj Chada (Labour,
Gospel Oak 2002–06), Leader of Camden London Borough Council 2005–06.[42]
Pamela Chesters (Conservative, Frognal 1994–2001), Leader of the Opposition on Camden London Borough Council 1998–2000; Advisor for Health and Youth Opportunities to the
Mayor of London,
Boris Johnson 2009–12; Chair of Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust 2012–16; Chair of
Anchor Trust 2013–18.[43]
Millie Miller (Labour, Euston 1964–68; Alderman 1968–71; Grafton 1971–74), MP for
Ilford North 1974–77, Leader of Camden London Borough Council 1971–73 and the first woman to lead a
London Borough council.[74]
Flick Rea (
Alliance,
Fortune Green 1986–90; Liberal Democrats, Fortune Green 1990–2021), Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, former Chair of the
Local Government Association's Culture, Tourism and Sports Board and member of the London Arts Council[80]
Piers Wauchope (Conservative, Adelaide 1998–2002; Belsize 2002–06), Leader of the Opposition on Camden London Borough Council 2000–06, interim leader of the
UK Independence Party (UKIP) 2019.[92]
^Youngs, Frederic (1979). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. Vol. I: Southern England. London: Royal Historical Society.
ISBN0901050679.
^Youngs, Frederic (1979). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. Vol. I: Southern England. London: Royal Historical Society.
ISBN0901050679.
Camden London Borough Council, also known as Camden Council, is the local authority for the
London Borough of Camden in
Greater London, England. It is a
London borough council, one of 32 in
London. The council has been under
Labour majority control since 2010. The council meets at
Camden Town Hall and has its main offices at 5 Pancras Square.
History
The London Borough of Camden and its council were created under the
London Government Act 1963, with the first election held
in 1964.[3] For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the area's three outgoing authorities, being the councils of the three
metropolitan boroughs of
Hampstead,
Holborn and
St Pancras.[4] The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the old boroughs and their councils were abolished.[5]
The council's full legal name is "The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Camden", but it styles itself Camden Council.[6]
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 Camden) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and
refuse collection. The Greater London Council was abolished in 1986 and its functions passed to the London Boroughs, with some services provided through joint committees.[7] Camden became a
local education authority in 1990 when the
Inner London Education Authority was dissolved.[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]
Powers and functions
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]
The council licenses street trading throughout the borough, including the following markets:[12]
The council has been under Labour majority control since 2010.
The first election to the council was held in 1964, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1965. Political control of the council since 1965 has been as follows:[13][14]
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Camden. Political leadership is instead provided by the
leader of the council. The leaders since 1965 have been:[15][16]
5 Pancras Square, London, N1C4AG: Council's main offices, completed 2014
The council meets at Camden Town Hall on Judd Street, which was completed in 1937 for the old St Pancras Borough Council, originally being known as St Pancras Town Hall.[20] The council's main offices are at 5 Pancras Square, which was purpose-built for the council as part of the regeneration of the
King's Cross area, being completed in 2014.[21]
Former Town Hall Annexe (now The Standard Hotel) at corner of Argyle Street and Euston Road: Council's main offices 1977–2014
Prior to 2014 the council's main offices were at the Town Hall Annexe, which had been completed in 1977 at the corner of Argyle Street and
Euston Road, immediately east of the Town Hall.[22] The Town Hall Annexe was subsequently converted into a hotel.[23]
Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 55
councillors representing 20
wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[24]
In 2012 it was reported that Camden Council was one of several local authorities to have been banned from accessing information from the
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. This information is normally made available to local authorities for purposes such as enforcing parking fines, but access can be withdrawn if they are found to be mis-using the service. The
Big Brother Watch organisation, which obtained the information about the ban under a
Freedom of Information request, claimed that "the public are right to be worried that their privacy is at risk across a range of government services."[26]
Local employment imbalance
Following Freedom of Information requests in 2020, it was discovered that only 16% of Camden's employees live within the borough,[27] and that many of its employees live as far afield as Scotland and Northern Ireland.[28]
It was also discovered that senior employees were more likely to live further away from Camden, with a spokesperson saying that finding employees with specialised skillsets near to the borough was 'almost impossible'. Camden stated in response that all their staff are provided with one day's extra leave for volunteering, with a 'focus on Camden'.[28]
Statistics also showed that only a single employee lived in Camden's three Central London wards, despite comprising almost a quarter of the borough's size and population.[27]
Notable councillors
Nasim Ali (
Labour,
Regents Park 2002–present), Leader of Camden London Borough Council 2010–12; Mayor of Camden 2003–04 and 2022–23; first Bangladeshi and first Muslim mayor.[29]
Raj Chada (Labour,
Gospel Oak 2002–06), Leader of Camden London Borough Council 2005–06.[42]
Pamela Chesters (Conservative, Frognal 1994–2001), Leader of the Opposition on Camden London Borough Council 1998–2000; Advisor for Health and Youth Opportunities to the
Mayor of London,
Boris Johnson 2009–12; Chair of Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust 2012–16; Chair of
Anchor Trust 2013–18.[43]
Millie Miller (Labour, Euston 1964–68; Alderman 1968–71; Grafton 1971–74), MP for
Ilford North 1974–77, Leader of Camden London Borough Council 1971–73 and the first woman to lead a
London Borough council.[74]
Flick Rea (
Alliance,
Fortune Green 1986–90; Liberal Democrats, Fortune Green 1990–2021), Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, former Chair of the
Local Government Association's Culture, Tourism and Sports Board and member of the London Arts Council[80]
Piers Wauchope (Conservative, Adelaide 1998–2002; Belsize 2002–06), Leader of the Opposition on Camden London Borough Council 2000–06, interim leader of the
UK Independence Party (UKIP) 2019.[92]
^Youngs, Frederic (1979). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. Vol. I: Southern England. London: Royal Historical Society.
ISBN0901050679.
^Youngs, Frederic (1979). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. Vol. I: Southern England. London: Royal Historical Society.
ISBN0901050679.