Waltham Forest London Borough Council

The London Borough of Waltham Forest and its council were created under the London Government Act 1963, with the first election held in 1964.{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=London Government Act 1963|chapter=33|access-date=16 May 2024}} For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the area's three outgoing authorities, being the municipal borough councils of Chingford, Leyton and Walthamstow. The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the old districts and their councils were abolished.{{cite book | first=Frederic |last=Youngs | title=Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England | volume=I: Southern England | year=1979 | publisher=Royal Historical Society | location=London | isbn=0901050679}}

The council's full legal name is "The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Waltham Forest", but it styles itself Waltham Forest Council.{{cite web |title=Inter Authority Agreement for the Local London Partnership Programme |url=https://democracy.havering.gov.uk/documents/s69522/17.%20Appendix%20A%20-%20Local%20London%20Inter-Authority%20Agreement.pdf |website=Havering Council |access-date=9 April 2024 |date=2023}}

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 Waltham Forest) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council Waltham Forest 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.{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1985|year=1985|chapter=51|access-date=5 April 2024}}

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.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YX0nAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA107|title=Local Government Reorganisation: The Review and its Aftermath|first= Steve |last=Leach|page=107|publisher=Routledge|year=1998|isbn=978-0714648590}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://counciltaxrates.info/councils|title=Council Tax and Business Rates Billing Authorities|publisher=Council Tax Rates|access-date=8 April 2020}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/who-we-work/local-plan-responses-within-and-outside-london|title=Local Plan Responses – within and outside London|date=12 November 2015 |publisher=Mayor of London|access-date=9 April 2020}}

The council has been under Labour majority control since 2010.

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:{{cite web |title=Compositions calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |website=The Elections Centre | date=4 March 2016 |access-date=3 March 2023}}

The role of Mayor of Waltham Forest is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1965 have been:{{cite web |title=Council minutes |url=https://democracy.walthamforest.gov.uk/ieDocHome.aspx?Categories= |website=Waltham Forest Council |access-date=10 July 2022}}{{cite web |title=London Boroughs Political Almanac |url=https://boroughs50.londoncouncils.gov.uk/almanac/ |website=London Councils |access-date=10 July 2022}}

Following the 2022 election the composition of the council was:{{cite web|url=https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/council-and-elections/elections-and-voting/election-results/local-election-2022-results|title=Election Results 2022|publisher=Waltham Forest London Borough Council}}{{cite news |last1=Boothroyd |first1=David |title=Liverpool budget rebels depart |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/2022/04/liverpool-budget-rebels-depart/ |access-date=28 April 2024 |work=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |date=22 April 2022}}

The next election is due in 2026.

{{also|Waltham Forest London Borough Council elections}}

Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 60 councillors representing 22 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The London Borough of Waltham Forest (Electoral Changes) Order 2021|year=2021|number=615|access-date=28 April 2024}}

The council is based at Waltham Forest Town Hall, formerly Walthamstow Town Hall, which had been completed in 1942 for the old Walthamstow Borough Council.{{cite web |title=Contact Waltham Forest Council |url=https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/council-and-elections/about-us/contact-waltham-forest-council |website=Waltham Forest Council |access-date=28 April 2024}}{{NHLE|num=1190868|desc=Walthamstow Town Hall|grade=II|access-date=28 April 2024}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website}}

{{Local authorities in London}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Local authorities in London

Category:London borough councils

Category:Politics of the London Borough of Waltham Forest

Category:Leader and cabinet executives

Category:Local education authorities in England

Category:Billing authorities in England