Executive mayor elected by the people, elected legislative City council
55-653: 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. There has been a Bexley local authority since 1880 when
110-554: A vote of no confidence in the leader. In addition, the compliance of councillors with their code of conduct may be overseen by a standards committee, although since the coming into effect of the Localism Act 2011 this can be dispensed with and its functions can be delegated to a monitoring officer. The elected mayor and cabinet model was introduced by the Local Government Act 2000. Councils currently operating
165-471: A London average of 42.6% and 8.6%, respectively. Residents were predominantly owner-occupiers, with 31.7% owning their house outright, and a further 46.5% owning with a mortgage. Only 2.2% were in local authority housing , with a further 11.5% renting from a housing association , or other registered social landlord. The greater part of the population are nominal Anglicans , but there are a number of Roman Catholic churches and nonconformist congregations. In
220-549: A body formally called the "Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of the Borough of Bexley", but generally known as the corporation, borough council or town council. The much larger London Borough of Bexley 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 four outgoing authorities, being
275-453: A country house. In 1649, the house was sold to another wealthy City merchant, Sir Robert Austen (1587–1666), who added a second wing built of red bricks, doubling the size of the house. Currently, the building houses a museum of local artefacts, and a history and tourist information centre. In the gardens there is a topiary lawn, herb garden, tropical garden and long herbaceous cottage garden-styled borders. The former walled gardens include
330-579: A report from Transport for London, Bexley has the lowest overall active, efficient and sustainable mode shares of all the London Boroughs. The following Pie chart shows the religious affiliation of residents residing in Bexley. Religion in Bexley (2021 census) Buildings with Grade II listings (buildings of special interest warranting preservation) are marked with an asterisk * The London Borough of Bexley has three fire stations controlled by
385-421: A suburb of Sydney , Australia bears the name of Bexley and a suburb of Christchurch , New Zealand is also called Bexley . These places outside England are named after the ancient village of Bexley. 51°27′N 0°08′E / 51.450°N 0.133°E / 51.450; 0.133 ( L. Borough of Bexley ) Leader of the council Council - Manager Executive leader elected by
440-711: A terminus at Abbey Wood , the entrance to which is in Bexley (due to the borough boundary passing through the site, the station's platforms sit within the Royal Borough of Greenwich ). There are various proposals to extend either the DLR or London Overground to Thamesmead. There are currently no plans to extend the London Underground into the borough, with the nearest current station being in North Greenwich . There are three suburban railway lines crossing
495-475: A third option for an elected mayor and council manager, which was only adopted by one authority and was later withdrawn. Additionally, lower tier authorities with a population under 85,000 were allowed to continue to use a committee system. The leader and cabinet model was introduced under the Local Government Act 2000 . It consists of the leader and the cabinet itself, which is usually formed by
550-404: A tropical house housing plants and a large vegetable garden. Model gardens have been created to show visitors how to make use of space in small urban gardens. Hall Place also has three galleries inside the house, presenting art exhibitions and museum displays. In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 4,165. This rose slowly throughout the 19th century, as
605-483: A whole. These decisions are scrutinised by one or more "overview and scrutiny" committees, which may be dedicated to one or more service areas. The leader and cabinet are responsible for policies, plans, and strategies, which must be within the budget adopted by the full council. These will be reported to the overall "full" council, which is convened to bring together all elected members of the authority at regular meetings. One or more overview and scrutiny committees holds
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#1732801188695660-688: Is "The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Bexley". Prior to 2007 the council branded itself "Bexley Council", which name is still commonly used for it. 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
715-467: Is a London borough in south-east London , forming part of Outer London . It has a population of 248,287. The main settlements are Sidcup , Erith , Bexleyheath , Crayford , Welling and Old Bexley . The London Borough of Bexley is within the Thames Gateway , an area designated as a national priority for urban regeneration . The local authority is Bexley London Borough Council . Prior to
770-472: 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. The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2006. The first election to the council was held in 1964, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1965. Political control of
825-460: Is exercised, alongside full council, by a number of committees, made up of councillors in proportion to their parties' representation on the council. Such councils may choose to nominate a councillor as Leader of the Council for the purposes of representing the political leadership of the council, particularly in relations with external bodies. If no leader is nominated, as was the case prior to 2000,
880-546: Is the result of the gradual extension of the London influence. Until the 19th century it was an area with a few isolated buildings such as the Georgian Danson House . With the coming of the railways building began apace, although the area is still composed of many disconnected settlements, interspersed with area of open ground and parks. A local government district called Bexley was created in 1880, covering
935-615: The 2022 election and a subsequent change of allegiance in April 2023, the composition of the council was: The next election is due in 2026. The council is based at the Civic Offices on Watling Street in Bexleyheath. The building was completed in 1989 as the headquarters of Woolwich Building Society . The council moved into the building in 2014. When the modern council was created in 1965, its functions had been divided between
990-702: The London Assembly , the borough forms part of the Bexley and Bromley constituency. Bexley, lying as it does on the outer fringe of London, has many relatively large areas of open space. The ridge of higher ground in South London crosses the Borough from its high point of Shooters Hill , on the boundary with the Royal Borough of Greenwich, to end above the River Thames at Belvedere , where
1045-620: The London Borough of Bromley ). The area was transferred from Kent to Greater London, to become one of the 32 London boroughs. The coat of arms of the borough depicts symbols for the main rivers in the area, the Bexley Charter Oak, the industry and the Kent boundary . The local authority is Bexley Council, which has its headquarters at the Bexley Civic Offices in Bexleyheath . Since 2000, for elections to
1100-502: The London Fire Brigade within its boundary: those at Erith, Sidcup and Bexley. Bexley fire station's ground is the largest of the three; covering 23.7 km . The Borough has several Non-League football clubs: Bexley RFC The town of Bexley, Ohio , a suburb of the state capital, Columbus , was named at the suggestion of an early resident, James Kilbourne, whose family's roots were in Bexley, England. In addition,
1155-522: The Royal Borough of Greenwich to the west; across the River Thames to the north it borders the London Borough of Havering and London Borough of Barking and Dagenham ; there is a short boundary with the unitary authority of Thurrock in Essex to the northeast. There are boundaries with the Borough of Dartford to the east and Sevenoaks district to the southeast, both in the county of Kent . Despite
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#17328011886951210-511: The borough councils of Bexley and Erith , and the urban district councils of Crayford and Chislehurst and Sidcup (the latter in respect of the Sidcup area only; the Chislehurst area went to the London Borough of Bromley ). The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the old districts and their councils were abolished. The council's full legal name
1265-658: The "new town" built on what was the Erith Marshes, extends into the Borough: both Thamesmead North and South are located here. Crayford was mentioned in the Domesday Book , and its parish later included the hamlets of North End and Slade Green . Other settlements include Welling , which has a higher population than Bexleyheath, a staging post on the Dover Road, which was at one time of less importance than
1320-483: The 19th century the area now forming the borough was sparsely populated: very few of the present settlements were mentioned in the Domesday Book , although the village of Bexley has a charter dated 814 AD . Erith was a port on the River Thames until the 17th century; the opening of the sewage works at nearby Crossness in the late 19th century turned it into an industrial town. Today's settlement pattern
1375-499: The 2001 Census, 22.7% of the area's population described themselves as non-religious or chose not to state their faith. Baptists , Plymouth Brethren , and Methodists are among the other congregations. In 2008 the former Crayford Methodist Church was purchased by the North West Kent Muslim Association to become a mosque serving Bexley and Dartford boroughs. In 2011, 58.1% of Bexley's population
1430-605: The Borough which converge at Dartford . The most northerly is the North Kent Line , then the Bexleyheath Line which runs through the centre of the borough and then finally the Dartford Loop Line which runs furthest south. Abbey Wood and Slade Green are also served by Thameslink trains. The National Rail stations are: In 2019, the mode share in Bexley was reported as follows According to
1485-619: The Borough: among them the Thames Path and the London Outer Orbital Path . Bexley Borough has joined with three other adjoining boroughs to for the South East London Green Chain linking green spaces. Bexley is not served by any London Underground , Tramlink , Docklands Light Railway or London Overground services. However, since 2022, Elizabeth line services have started to utilise
1540-569: The boroughs (including Bexley) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council Bexley 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. Since 2000 the Greater London Authority has taken some responsibility for highways and planning control from
1595-480: The buildings inherited from its predecessors at Erith Town Hall , Crayford Town Hall , Sidcup Place , and Oak House on Broadway in Bexleyheath. Oak House was subsequently demolished and a new building called Civic Offices was built on the site, opening in 1980. The Broadway building remained the council's headquarters until 2014, and has since been redeveloped. London Borough of Bexley The London Borough of Bexley ( / ˈ b ɛ k s l i / )
1650-431: The cabinet to account for its decisions and is responsible that the democratic checks and balances are maintained. The principal executive decisions taken by the council as a whole are to appoint the leader, to approve the leader's budget, to adopt development plan documents, and to agree on the council's constitution. Beyond that, it may raise issues, urge the leader, cabinet, or cabinet members to take actions, or pass
1705-463: The chair of the council's main policy committee may be informally deemed to be the council's de facto leader. Some councils operate governance arrangements which have the characteristics of more than one formal governance option. For example, an authority operating under conventional executive arrangements but whose overview and scrutiny committees operate in a manner similar to those under the committee system (developing policy, taking an active part in
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1760-456: The committee system is used, executive power is exercised through various committees rather than being focussed on one person. Many councils which use the committee system still nominate one of the councillors to hold the title 'Leader of the Council', albeit without the same powers as a leader under the leader and cabinet model. From the establishment of elected local authorities in England in
1815-481: The council from among themselves Elected mayor and cabinet Executive mayor elected by the people Committee system Executive leader and executive committees elected by the council from among themselves In England, local authorities are required to adopt one of three types of executive arrangements , having an "elected mayor and cabinet ", a "leader and cabinet", or a "committee system". The type of arrangement used determines how decisions will be made within
1870-404: The council since 1965 has been as follows: Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council . The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Bexley. The leaders since 1965 have been: Since the last boundary changes in 2018 the council has comprised 45 councillors representing 17 wards , with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. Following
1925-761: 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. 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. It sets planning policies which complement Greater London Authority and national policies, and decides on almost all planning applications accordingly. It
1980-508: The council. In councils which use the elected mayor system, the mayor is directly elected by the electorate to provide political leadership for the council and has power to make executive decisions. In councils which use the leader and cabinet model (the most commonly used model), the elected councillors choose one of their number to be the Leader of the Council , and that person provides political leadership and can make executive decisions. Where
2035-439: The district became built up; reaching 10,963 in the middle of the century. When the railways arrived the rate of population growth increased. The population peaked in the 1970s, when industry began to relocate from London. In the 2001 census , the borough had a population of 218,307; of whom 105,148 were male, and 113,159 female. Of the population, 44.3% were in full-time employment and 11.6% in part-time employment – compared to
2090-709: The ethnic group of respondents in the 2001 and 2011 census in Bexley. The principal roads through the Borough include the A2 trunk road ; the A20 (Sidcup By-pass) which generally marks its southern boundary; the A207 , which is the route of the erstwhile Watling Street ; the A206 which takes traffic from Woolwich and Dartford ; and the latter's newer counterpart, the A2016 through Thamesmead . There are also some long-distance footpaths in
2145-512: The existence of a leader of the council, others did not. The role of Leader of the Council in that regard was similar to that of the British prime minister ; the post had not been explicitly created, but gradually emerged. The Local Government Act 2000 sought to strengthen public engagement with local democracy, and streamline the system of committees, introducing the models of directly elected mayors and cabinets, leaders and cabinets, as well as
2200-464: The land drops down to the old port of Erith . This high land, whose geology is the sand and pebbles of the Blackheath beds , and which results in heathland , provided a natural course for the old Roman road of Watling Street , which ran between Crayford and Welling . The land falls away to the north of the high ground, across the Erith Marshes to the River Thames , which here makes a loop to
2255-399: The leader of the controlling party as being the 'Leader of the Council'. It was also generally recognised that the most powerful political position on a council was the person who chaired the main policy-making committee, which in most councils was called the policy and resources committee. Usually, the leader of the largest party would chair that committee. Some councils explicitly acknowledged
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2310-403: The majority party in the local authority , where there is one, or by a coalition which comes together to elect a leader. The council elects the leader, and the leader appoints the other members of the cabinet. Each cabinet member holds a separate portfolio, such as housing, finance, economic development, or education. Decisions may be delegated to the individual members, or taken by the cabinet as
2365-630: The mayoral model include: The elected mayor and council manager option was also introduced by the Local Government Act 2000, but withdrawn by the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 . The only local authority to adopt the model was Stoke-on-Trent City Council , reverting to leader and cabinet in 2008. Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2000 allowed district councils in two tier areas, with populations under 85,000, to propose alternative executive arrangements. This
2420-528: The nearby East Wickham (also an ancient village), was absorbed in Bexley UDC. Barnes Cray and North Cray were two hamlets in the Cray Valley; and Belvedere was the location of a medieval monastery. The map of Bexley shows that a large proportion of its area comprises suburbia . Some named places, like Albany Park and Barnehurst , are names given to developments engendered by the building of
2475-435: The nineteenth century until the Local Government Act 2000 , councils used a system of committees for decision making. There was no legislative requirement for any councillor to be declared the leader, with the principle being that all the elected councillors were equal in status. In practice, political groups had their own leaders, and when a council was under the control of a particular party, local media would commonly refer to
2530-670: The north at Crossness . There is a further ridge of less higher ground from the west terminating at Sidcup . Apart from the River Thames the other rivers within the Borough are the River Darent , which, with its tributary the River Cray and the smaller Stanham River , all form part of its north-eastern boundary; and the River Shuttle , a tributary of the Cray. The major centres of settlement can be considered in two parts:
2585-482: The older established erstwhile villages; and the infill areas of suburban houses and centres. Among the former are Erith , in the 17th century a port on the Thames, and an industrial town in the later 19th century; Bexleyheath , created at the same time on the London to Dover road. By the earlier 20th century, both were created Urban District Councils (UDC), as was Foots Cray (an ancient village site). Thamesmead ,
2640-457: The parish of Bexley , which included both Bexley village and Bexleyheath. Another local government district had been created covering the neighbouring parish of Erith in 1876. Such districts were converted into urban districts under the Local Government Act 1894 . Bexley Urban District absorbed the neighbouring parish of East Wickham in 1902; Welling had previously straddled the boundary between Bexley and East Wickham, but after 1902
2695-402: The parish of Bexley , which included both the village of Bexley and Bexley Heath, was made a local government district , governed by an elected local board. Such districts were converted into urban districts under the Local Government Act 1894 , which saw the board replaced by an urban district council. Bexley Urban District was incorporated to become a municipal borough in 1935, governed by
2750-401: The railways. Some came into being when large estates and farmland were broken up for the sole purpose of suburban building: these include Blackfen , Lamorbey and part of Falconwood . Others simply reflect the nature of area: Lessness Heath ; Longlands (part of Sidcup); Northumberland Heath and West Heath . The borough has boundaries with the London Borough of Bromley to the south and
2805-608: The suburbia mentioned above, there are still open spaces among the borough's streets and avenues. The Borough owns and maintains over one hundred parks and open spaces, large and small; and there is still a part of the Erith Marshes bordering the River Thames. The Crayford Marshes lie to the east of that river, as do Foots Cray Meadows further south. The largest of the open spaces are Foots Cray Meadows , Lesnes Abbey Woods , Danson Park and Hall Place Gardens. There are also many golf courses and sports fields, particularly to
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#17328011886952860-813: The west of Crayford. Hall Place is a former stately home, today a Grade I listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument, beside the River Cray on the outskirts of Crayford, south-east of Bexleyheath and north-east of Old Bexley. It is situated just off the A223, Bourne Road, south of Watling Street (A207) and north of the Black Prince interchange of the A2 Rochester Way with the A220. The house dates back to around 1540 when wealthy merchant Sir John Champneys , Lord Mayor of London in 1534, built himself
2915-513: Was between 20 and 64 years old, the lowest percentage in London. 16% of the population was over 65, the third highest behind Bromley and Havering . The average household size is 2.49, up from 2.43 in 2001. The number of households increased by 3.52% to 92,600 between 2001 and 2011, one of the lowest increases in the capital. In 2011, 62.5% of the borough's population identified themselves as Christian, with 24.1% having no religion. Both figures are above London's average. The following table shows
2970-420: Was superseded by the changes made by the Localism Act 2011 and the renewed availability of the committee system to all local authorities. Under the Localism Act 2011, principal authorities (such as unitary authorities, county councils, and district councils) were allowed to return to decision-making by committees, the method of local government administration for all councils prior to 2000. Under this model power
3025-515: Was therefore wholly in Bexley. Crayford was made an urban district in 1920. Bexley was made a municipal borough in 1935, as was Erith in 1938. The modern borough was created in 1965 under the London Government Act 1963 , covering the combined area of the former boroughs of Bexley and Erith , the Crayford Urban District and the Sidcup area from the Chislehurst and Sidcup Urban District (the Chislehurst area went to
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