Haringey London Borough Council | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Council logo | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Andy Donald since February 2022 [2] | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 57 councillors [3] |
 | |
Political groups |
|
| Elections | |
| First past the post | |
Last election | 5 May 2022 |
Next election | 7 May 2026 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Civic Centre, 255 High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8LE | |
| Website | |
|
www | |
Haringey London Borough Council, also known as Haringey Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Haringey in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 1971. The council is usually based at Haringey Civic Centre in Wood Green, although the building has been closed since 2020 pending refurbishment.
History
The borough was created in 1965 under the London Government Act 1963, covering the combined area of the former Municipal Borough of Hornsey, the Municipal Borough of Tottenham and the Municipal Borough of Wood Green. The area was transferred from Middlesex to Greater London to become one of the 32 London Boroughs. [4] The council's full legal name is "The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Haringey". [5]
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 (incluing Haringey) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council Haringey 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. [6]
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. [7]
In 2017, the council proposed a partnership with Lendlease Group for developing council-owned land known as the Haringey Development Vehicle, which was controversial locally. The subsequent political fall-out led to the resignation of council leader, Claire Kober. [8]
Governance
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. [9] 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. [10]
Political control
The council has been under Labour majority control since 1971.
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. Political control of the council since 1965 has been as follows: [11]
| Party in control | Years | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 1965–1968 | |
| Conservative | 1968–1971 | |
| Labour | 1971–present | |
Leadership
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Haringey. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1965 have been: [12] [13]
| Councillor | Party | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John McIlwain | Labour | 1965 | 1967 | |
| Sheila Berkery-Smith | Labour | 1967 | 1968 | |
| Peter Rigby | Conservative | 1968 | 1971 | |
| Sheila Berkery-Smith | Labour | 1971 | 1973 | |
| Colin Ware | Labour | 1973 | 1980 | |
| Robin Young | Labour | 1980 | 1982 | |
| Angela Greatley | Labour | 1982 | 1983 | |
| George Meehan | Labour | 1983 | 1984 | |
| Bernie Grant | Labour | 1984 | 1987 | |
| Toby Harris | Labour | 1987 | 1999 | |
| George Meehan [14] | Labour | 1999 | 2004 | |
| Charles Adje | Labour | 2004 | 22 May 2006 | |
| George Meehan | Labour | 22 May 2006 | 2 Dec 2008 | |
| Claire Kober | Labour | 9 Dec 2008 | 6 May 2018 | |
| Joseph Ejiofor | Labour | 24 May 2018 | 27 May 2021 | |
| Peray Ahmet | Labour | 27 May 2021 | ||
Composition
Following the 2023 election and subsequent changes of allegiance up to April 2024, the composition of the council was as follows:
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | 46 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 11 | |
| Independent | 4 | |
| Total | 57 | |
Of the four independent councillors (all of whom had been elected for Labour), three sit together as the 'Independent Socialist' group and the other does not belong to a group. [15] The next election is due in May 2026.
Premises
The council is usually based at Haringey Civic Centre on High Road in Wood Green, which had been completed in 1958 for the old Wood Green Borough Council. [16] The building closed in 2020 after structural issues were identified. [17] Council meetings are temporarily being held at other venues, including Tottenham Town Hall and George Meehan House. [18] The council has announced plans to refurbish the Civic Centre, with a view to it re-opening as the council's main offices and meeting place in 2026. [19]
Elections
Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 57 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. [20]
References
- ^ "Council minutes, 15 May 2023" (PDF). Haringey Council. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ Langlois, André (19 April 2022). "Haringey Council appoints new chief executive". Ham and High. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ "Your Councillors". www.haringey.gov.uk. 15 November 2021.
- ^ Youngs, Frederic (1979). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. Vol. I: Southern England. London: Royal Historical Society. ISBN 0-901050-67-9.
- ^ "Service Level Agreement" (PDF). Harrow Council. 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
- ^ "Local Government Act 1985", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1985 c. 51, retrieved 5 April 2024
- ^ Leach, Steve (1998). Local Government Reorganisation: The Review and its Aftermath. Routledge. p. 107. ISBN 978-0714648590.
- ^ "Haringey Council boss accused of running borough like her 'personal fiefdom' as she faces leadership challenge". Evening Standard. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ "Council Tax and Business Rates Billing Authorities". Council Tax Rates. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ "Local Plan Responses – within and outside London". Mayor of London. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
- ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
- ^ "Council minutes". Haringey Council. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ "London Boroughs Political Almanac". London Councils. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ "Memorial to the late Councillor George Meehan". Haringey Council. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ "Your Councillors by Party". Haringey Council. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "Haringey Civic Centre (Grade II) (1454719)". National Heritage List for England.
- ^ "Plans for long-awaited revamp of Haringey Civic Centre revealed". Haringey Community Press. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ "Browse Meetings: Full Council". Haringey Council. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ "Project Overview". Haringey Civic Centre. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
- ^ "The London Borough of Haringey (Electoral Changes) Order 2020", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2020/1110, retrieved 11 April 2024
