Barnet London Borough Council

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.[2]

Barnet Council
Council logo
Type
Type
History
Founded1 April 1965
Leadership
Mayor of Barnet
Cllr Caroline Stock
since 21 May 2019
Leader of the Council
Cllr Daniel Thomas, Conservative
since 21 May 2019
Deputy Leader
Cllr David Longstaff, Conservative
Leader of the Opposition
Cllr Barry Rawlings, Labour
Chief executive
John Hooton
since 1 February 2017
Structure
Seats63 councillors[1]
Political groups
Administration (38)
  Conservative (38)
Other parties (25)
  Labour (24)
  Independent (1)
Length of term
4 years
Elections
First past the post
Last election
3 May 2018
Next election
May 2022
Meeting place
Hendon Town Hall
Website
www.barnet.gov.uk

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 most recent elections to the authority were in May 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.[3]

It was envisaged, in accordance with 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.[4]

In 2012 Barnet outsourced many functions to Capita under the controversial 'One Barnet' programme.[5]

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, and 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.[6]

Finances

Barnet London Borough Council is the billing authority for Council Tax, and collects 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.[7]

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.[8]

Summary results of elections
Main article: Barnet local elections

Base
North London Business Park (NLBP) in New Southgate, where LB Barnet has large offices.[9]

The recently-built complex at Bristol Avenue in Colindale houses many council services, with many other offices elsewhere having moved to this site. The Barnet House on Whetstone High Road continues to provide some council services, as does North London Business Park in New Southgate. Council meetings are held at Hendon Town Hall.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Find your councillors". Barnet Council.
  2. "Your Councillors - London Borough of Barnet". Archived from the original on 18 November 2011.
  3. Youngs, Frederic (1979). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. I: Southern England. London: Royal Historical Society. ISBN 0-901050-67-9.
  4. Leach, Steve (1998). Local Government Reorganisation: The Review and its Aftermath. Routledge. p. 107. ISBN 978-0714648590.
  5. "'easyCouncil' Barnet offloads services to Capita in £1bn deal". Evening Standard. 5 December 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  6. "Local Plan Responses – within and outside London". Mayor of London. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  7. "Council Tax and Business Rates Billing Authorities". Council Tax Rates. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  8. "Civic amenity and recycling centre - London Borough of Barnet". Archived from the original on 1 October 2012.
  9. "Contact details for customer-facing departments - London Borough of Barnet". Archived from the original on 11 February 2012.
  10. "Council buildings". Barnet Council.
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