Haringey London Borough Council

Last updated
Haringey London Borough Council
Coat of arms of the London Borough of Haringey.svg
Coat of arms
Haringey London Borough Council.svg
Council logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Sue Jameson, Labour
since 20 May 2024 [1]
Peray Ahmet, Labour
since 27 May 2021
Andy Donald
since February 2022 [2]
Structure
Seats57 councillors [3]
Haringey Council 2022.svg
Political groups
Administration (46)
  Labour (46)
Other parties (11)
  Liberal Democrat (7)
  Independent (4)
Elections
First past the post
Last election
 5 May 2022
Next election
7 May 2026
Meeting place
Haringey Civic Centre.JPG
Haringey Civic Centre
255 High Road, Wood Green, London
Website
www.haringey.gov.uk

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.

Contents

History

The London Borough of Haringey and its council were created under the London Government Act 1963, with the first election held in 1964. For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the area's three outgoing authorities, being the borough councils of Hornsey, Tottenham and Wood Green. The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the old boroughs and their councils were abolished. [4] [5] The council's full legal name is "The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Haringey". [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 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. [7]

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. [8]

For several years, Haringey Council was the subject of criticism over its handling of the welfare of young children, notably in connection with the murder of Victoria Climbié in 2000 and the killing of Peter Connelly ("Baby P") in 2007. [9] George Meehan, leader of the council at the time of both the Victoria Climbie inquiry and the death of Baby P, resigned after a "damning" examination of the council's social services functions following by the Baby P case. [10] In March 2009, Haringey Council's performance was placed by the Audit Commission in the bottom four of the country and the worst in London. [11] In December 2009, Haringey's performance was placed by Ofsted in the bottom nine in the country for children's services. [12] A later series of positive Ofsted inspections culminated in the service being taken out of 'special measures' by the government in February 2013. [13]

In 2017, the council proposed a partnership with Lendlease 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. [14]

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. [15] 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. [16]

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: [17]

Party in controlYears
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: [18] [19]

CouncillorPartyFromTo
John McIlwain Labour 19651967
Sheila Berkery-Smith Labour 19671968
Peter Rigby Conservative 19681971
Sheila Berkery-Smith Labour 19711973
Colin Ware Labour 19731980
Robin Young Labour 19801982
Angela Greatley Labour 19821983
George Meehan Labour 19831984
Bernie Grant Labour 19841987
Toby Harris Labour 19871999
George Meehan [20] Labour 19992004
Charles Adje Labour 200422 May 2006
George Meehan Labour 22 May 20062 Dec 2008
Claire Kober Labour 9 Dec 20086 May 2018
Joseph Ejiofor Labour 24 May 201827 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:

PartyCouncillors
Labour 46
Liberal Democrats 11
Independent 4
Total57

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. [21] The next election is due in May 2026.

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. [22]

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. [23] The building closed in 2020 after structural issues were identified. [24] Council meetings are temporarily being held at other venues, including Tottenham Town Hall and George Meehan House. [25] 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. [26]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hackney London Borough Council</span>

Hackney London Borough Council, also known as Hackney Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Hackney, in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2002. Since 2002 the council has been led by a directly elected mayor. The council meets at Hackney Town Hall and has its main offices in the adjoining Hackney Service Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waltham Forest London Borough Council</span>

Waltham Forest London Borough Council, also known as Waltham Forest Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Waltham Forest in 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 is based at Waltham Forest Town Hall in Walthamstow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redbridge London Borough Council</span> Local authority for the London Borough of Redbridge

Redbridge London Borough Council, also known as Redbridge Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Redbridge in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2014. The council meets at Redbridge Town Hall in Ilford and has its main offices nearby at Lynton House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islington London Borough Council</span> Government authority in England

Islington London Borough Council, also known as Islington Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Islington 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 Islington Town Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council</span> Local authority for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

Barking and Dagenham London Borough Council, also known as Barking and Dagenham Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London. It provides a broad range of local government services including Council Tax billing, libraries, social services, processing planning applications, waste collection and disposal, and it is a local education authority. The council has been under Labour majority control since its creation in 1965. The council was created by the London Government Act 1963 as the Barking London Borough Council and replaced two local authorities: Barking Borough Council and Dagenham Borough Council. The council was renamed on 1 January 1980. It is based at Barking Town Hall in the centre of Barking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sutton London Borough Council</span>

Sutton London Borough Council, also known as Sutton Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Sutton in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since 1990. The council is based at the Civic Offices in Sutton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hounslow London Borough Council</span>

Hounslow London Borough Council, also known as Hounslow Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Hounslow 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 is based at Hounslow House on Bath Road in Hounslow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merton London Borough Council</span> Local authority in England

Merton London Borough Council, which styles itself Merton Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Merton in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2014. The council is based at Merton Civic Centre in Morden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wandsworth London Borough Council</span> Local authority for the London Borough of Wandsworth in Greater London, England

Wandsworth London Borough Council, also known as Wandsworth Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Wandsworth in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2022. It is based at Wandsworth Town Hall in the centre of Wandsworth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bexley London Borough Council</span> Local authority in England

Bexley London Borough Council, also known as Bexley Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Bexley in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2006. It is based at Bexley Civic Offices in the Bexleyheath area of the borough.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent London Borough Council</span> The local authority for the London Borough of Brent in Greater London, England

Brent London Borough Council, also known as Brent Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Brent 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. It is based at Brent Civic Centre in Engineers Way, Wembley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bromley London Borough Council</span>

Bromley London Borough Council, also known as Bromley Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Bromley in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2001. It is based at the Civic Centre at Bromley Palace, but is in the process of moving to Churchill Court in the centre of Bromley, which is anticipated to open later in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croydon London Borough Council</span> Municipal body governing London Borough

Croydon London Borough Council, which styles itself Croydon Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Croydon in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. Croydon is divided into 28 wards, electing 70 councillors. Since 2022 the council has been led by a directly elected mayor. The council has been under no overall control since 2022, being run by a Conservative minority administration. The council meets at Croydon Town Hall and has its main offices in the adjoining Bernard Weatherill House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ealing London Borough Council</span>

Ealing London Borough Council, which styles itself Ealing Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Ealing 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 Ealing Town Hall and has its main offices in the adjoining Perceval House.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enfield London Borough Council</span>

Enfield London Borough Council, which styles itself Enfield Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Enfield 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. It is based at Enfield Civic Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council</span> Local authority in London, England

Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council, which styles itself Hammersmith and Fulham Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Labour majority control since 2014. The council's usual meeting place is at Hammersmith Town Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harrow London Borough Council</span> Local authority for the London Borough of Harrow in Greater London, England

Harrow London Borough Council, also known as Harrow Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Harrow in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2022. Full council meetings are held at the Harrow Arts Centre and the council's main offices are at the Council Hub in Wealdstone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hillingdon London Borough Council</span> Local authority in London

Hillingdon London Borough Council, which styles itself Hillingdon Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Hillingdon in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2006. The council is based at Hillingdon Civic Centre in Uxbridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingston upon Thames London Borough Council</span> London borough council

Kingston upon Thames London Borough Council, which styles itself Kingston Council, is the local authority for the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since 2018. It is based at Kingston upon Thames Guildhall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council</span> Local authority for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames

Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council, also known as Richmond upon Thames Council, LBRUT or Richmond Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since 2018. Although the borough is named after Richmond, the council meets at York House in Twickenham, and has its main offices in the adjoining Civic Centre.

References

  1. ↑ "Cllr Sue Jameson unveiled as the new Mayor of Haringey". Haringey Council. 20 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  2. ↑ Langlois, André (19 April 2022). "Haringey Council appoints new chief executive". Ham and High. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  3. ↑ "Your Councillors". www.haringey.gov.uk. 15 November 2021.
  4. ↑ "London Government Act 1963", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1978 c. 33, retrieved 16 May 2024
  5. ↑ Youngs, Frederic (1979). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. Vol. I: Southern England. London: Royal Historical Society. ISBN   0-901050-67-9.
  6. ↑ "Service Level Agreement" (PDF). Harrow Council. 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  7. ↑ "Local Government Act 1985", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 1985 c. 51, retrieved 5 April 2024
  8. ↑ Leach, Steve (1998). Local Government Reorganisation: The Review and its Aftermath. Routledge. p. 107. ISBN   978-0714648590.
  9. ↑ "The rotten borough of Haringey? | News". Thisislondon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 August 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  10. ↑ "Baby P: The Untold Story". BBC One . Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  11. ↑ "Borough at centre of Baby P row ranked the worst in London | News". Thisislondon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
  12. ↑ Evening Standard 9 December 2009
  13. ↑ "Facts concerning Haringey Council's Children's Services": Haringey Council. Haringey.gov.uk (3 May 2012). Retrieved on 2013-08-13.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. ↑ "Council Tax and Business Rates Billing Authorities". Council Tax Rates. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  16. ↑ "Local Plan Responses – within and outside London". Mayor of London. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  17. ↑ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  18. ↑ "Council minutes". Haringey Council. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  19. ↑ "London Boroughs Political Almanac". London Councils. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  20. ↑ "Memorial to the late Councillor George Meehan". Haringey Council. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  21. ↑ "Your Councillors by Party". Haringey Council. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  22. ↑ "The London Borough of Haringey (Electoral Changes) Order 2020", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2020/1110, retrieved 11 April 2024
  23. ↑ Historic England. "Haringey Civic Centre (Grade II) (1454719)". National Heritage List for England .
  24. ↑ "Plans for long-awaited revamp of Haringey Civic Centre revealed". Haringey Community Press. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  25. ↑ "Browse Meetings: Full Council". Haringey Council. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  26. ↑ "Project Overview". Haringey Civic Centre. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.