Greenwich London Borough Council

Greenwich London Borough Council
Type
Type	London borough council of the Royal Borough of Greenwich
Leadership
Mayor	Jim Gillman
Structure
Seats	51 councillors in 17 wards
Labour	43 / 51
Conservatives	8 / 51
Elections
Voting system	First past the post
Last election	22 May 2014
Next election	2018
Meeting place
Woolwich Town Hall
Website
www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk

Greenwich London Borough Council is the local authority for the Royal Borough of Greenwich in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London. Greenwich is divided into 17 wards, each electing three councillors.^[1] The council was created by the London Government Act 1963 and replaced two local authorities: Greenwich Metropolitan Borough Council and Woolwich Metropolitan Borough Council. The council meets in Woolwich Town Hall.

History

A map showing the wards of Greenwich since 2002

There have previously been a number of local authorities responsible for the Greenwich 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 Greenwich on 1 April 1965. Greenwich London Borough Council replaced Greenwich Metropolitan Borough Council and Woolwich Metropolitan Borough Council.

It was envisaged through the London Government Act 1963 that Greenwich 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. This arrangement lasted until 1986 when Greenwich London Borough Council gained responsibility for some services that had been provided by the Greater London Council, such as waste disposal. Greenwich became an education authority in 1990. 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.

Controversies

In May 2014 the Labour-run council refused to support the building of a memorial to Lee Rigby, whose murder by Islamists occurred in the borough, in spite of being "overwhelmed by interest in a local memorial". The authority previous faced criticism at the time of the killing, with the cabinet attending an away day immediately after the murder, therefore missing a visit by the Prime Minister.^[2] Following a campaign which saw 25,000 people sign a petition in support of the memorial the council dropped its opposition to the tribute.^[3]

Finances

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

Summary results of elections

Main article: Greenwich local elections

	Overall control	Labour	Conservative	Lib Dem	SDP
2010	Labour	40	11	-	-
2006	Labour	36	13	2	-
2002	Labour	38	9	4	-
1998	Labour	52	8	2	-
1994	Labour	47	8	3	4
1990	Labour	44	12	2	4
1986	Labour	44	12	2	4
1982	Labour	43	16	2	1
1978	Labour	45	17	-	-
1974	Labour	52	8	-	-
1971	Labour	55	5	-	-
1968	Conservative	22	38	-	-
1964	Labour	49	11	-	-

References

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Southend-on-Sea	LGC Council of the Year 2013	Succeeded by Durham

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

Royal Borough of Greenwich

Districts	Abbey Wood Avery Hill Blackheath Charlton Coldharbour Deptford Eltham Greenwich Greenwich Peninsula/North Greenwich Horn Park Kidbrooke Longlands Mottingham New Charlton New Eltham Plumstead Shooter's Hill Thamesmead Westcombe Park Woolwich

Attractions	The Bob Hope Theatre Charlton House Cutty Sark Eltham Palace Emirates cable car Fan Museum Royal Artillery Barracks The Royal Artillery Museum Greenwich Theatre National Maritime Museum The O2 arena (formerly the Millennium Dome) Old Royal Naval College Ranger's House Royal Observatory Severndroog Castle St Alfege Church Thames Barrier The Valley (Charlton Athletic Football Club) Woolwich Ferry

Street markets	Greenwich Market

Parks and open spaces	Avery Hill Park Bostall Heath and Woods Charlton cemetery Charlton Park East Greenwich Pleasaunce Eltham Common Eltham Park Greenwich Cemetery Greenwich Park Hornfair Park Maryon Park Maryon Wilson Park Oxleas Wood Plumstead Common Sutcliffe Park Woolwich cemetery Woolwich Common

Constituencies	Erith and Thamesmead Eltham Greenwich and Woolwich

Bridges and tunnels	Blackwall Tunnel Greenwich foot tunnel Woolwich foot tunnel

Rail stations	Abbey Wood Charlton Cutty Sark Deptford Bridge Eltham Elverson Road (in LB of Lewisham) Greenwich Kidbrooke Maze Hill Mottingham New Eltham North Greenwich Plumstead Westcombe Park Woolwich Arsenal Woolwich Dockyard

Other topics	Coat of arms Council Grade I and II* listed buildings People Public art Schools

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