Barnet London Borough Council

Barnet London Borough Council
Whole council elected every four years
Coat of arms
Type
Type	London borough council of the London Borough of Barnet
History
Founded	1 April 1965
Leadership
Leader	Richard Cornelius
Mayor	Councillor Mark Shooter
Structure
Seats	63 councillors in 21 wards
Joint committees	London Councils North London Waste Authority
Conservatives	32 / 63
Labour	30 / 63
Lib Dems	1 / 63
Elections
Voting system	First past the post
Last election	22 May 2014
Next election	2018
Meeting place

Hendon Town Hall
Website
www.barnet.gov.uk

Barnet London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Barnet in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 within London. Barnet is divided into 21 wards, each electing three councillors.^[1]

The council was created by the London Government Act 1963 and replaced five local authorities: Barnet Urban District Council, East Barnet Urban District Council, Friern Barnet Urban District Council, Finchley Borough Council and Hendon Borough Council. The next election to the authority will be in 2018.

History

A map showing the wards of Barnet since 2002

There have previously been a number of local authorities responsible for the Barnet 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 Barnet on 1 April 1965. Barnet replaced Barnet Urban District Council, East Barnet Urban District Council, Friern Barnet Urban District Council, Finchley Borough Council and Hendon Borough Council.

It was envisaged through the London Government Act 1963 that Barnet 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 Barnet London Borough Council gained responsibility for some services that had been provided by the Greater London Council, such as waste disposal. 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. Barnet 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.

In 2012 Barnet outsourced many functions to Capita under the controversial 'One Barnet' programme.^[2]

Services

Electrical items larger than 51 cm x 52 cm can be recycled at the Civic Amenity and Recycling Centre, Summers Lane, North Finchley, London N12 0RF. They collect over 40 different household materials for recycling at the centre and recycle around 68 per cent of it. ^[3]

Finances

Barnet London Borough Council is the billing authority for Council Tax, and collects a precept 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.

Summary results of elections

Main article: Barnet local elections

North London Business Park (NLBP) in New Southgate, where LB Barnet has large offices.^[4]

References

Local authorities in London

Regional	Greater London Authority

City of London	Corporation of London Inner Temple Middle Temple

London borough councils	Barking and Dagenham Barnet Bexley Brent Bromley Camden Croydon Ealing Enfield Greenwich Hackney Hammersmith and Fulham Haringey Harrow Havering Hillingdon Hounslow Islington Kensington and Chelsea Kingston upon Thames Lambeth Lewisham Merton Newham Redbridge Richmond upon Thames Southwark Sutton Tower Hamlets Waltham Forest Wandsworth Westminster

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