Executive mayor elected by the people, elected legislative City council
46-659: 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
92-622: 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 the council, but within the English local government system the council remains a "most purpose" authority in terms of
138-554: 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
184-458: A London average of 42.64% and 8.62%, respectively. Residents were predominantly owner-occupiers, with 32.53% owning their house outright, and a further 42.73% owning with a mortgage. Only 1.42% were in local authority housing , with a further 12.74% renting from a housing association , or other registered social landlord. A study in 2017 showed that Bromley had the second lowest poverty rate (15%) of any London borough. The following table shows
230-547: A body formally called the "Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of the Borough of Bromley", generally known as the corporation, borough council or town council. The much larger London Borough of Bromley 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 five outgoing authorities, being
276-424: A car or van, 1.5%. The Borough has several sporting clubs: The borough is also home to an extensive libraries service , containing 14 branches, currently operated by Greenwich Leisure Limited under their trademark Better on behalf of Bromley council. The Beckenham Comedy Cabaret, a monthly comedy cabaret event, hosted and run by Jody Kamali, has been running in the heart of Beckenham since 2015, usually on
322-524: A local government district in 1878. Such districts were reconstituted as urban districts under the Local Government Act 1894 . Other urban districts were subsequently created for Penge and Chislehurst in 1900, and Orpington in 1934. Bromley was incorporated to become a municipal borough in 1903, as was Beckenham in 1935. Chislehurst Urban District merged with the neighbouring Sidcup Urban District in 1934. The modern borough
368-404: A number of notable residents over the years have been lived have been recognised with blue plaques these residents include: 51°20′N 0°05′E / 51.333°N 0.083°E / 51.333; 0.083 Leader of the council Council - Manager Executive leader elected by the council from among themselves Elected mayor and cabinet Executive mayor elected by
414-465: A palace belonging to the Bishop of Rochester from Norman times. The current main house was built in 1775, replacing an earlier building of 1184. The council acquired the building in the early 1980s and built a large extension, moving into the enlarged complex in 1982. In 2023 the council bought Churchill Court on High Street near Bromley South railway station . Churchill Court had been built in 1988 as
460-404: 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
506-483: 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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#1732787680758552-777: Is "The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Bromley". 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 Bromley) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council Bromley has been
598-473: 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 2001. 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
644-470: Is also a high volume pump at the station. Beckenham, Bromley and Biggin Hill cover the rest of the borough with four pumping appliances and a hose layer. In 2006/2007 just under 4000 incidents were attended in the borough. Noticeably, compared to 2005/2006 there was an 11% decrease in special service calls (road traffic collisions, chemical incidents, flooding etc.). Bromley is twinned with: The locations
690-440: Is anticipated to open later in 2024. There has been a Bromley local authority since 1867 when the parish of Bromley was made a local government district , governed by an elected local board. Such districts were reconstituted as urban districts under the Local Government Act 1894 , which saw the board replaced by an urban district council. Bromley Urban District was incorporated to become a municipal borough in 1903, governed by
736-460: 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,
782-498: The 2022 election and subsequent by-elections and changes of allegiance up to May 2024, the composition of the council was: Of the independent councillors, two sit together as the "Biggin Hill Independents" group, the other one (elected as Conservative in 2022) does not belong to any group. The next election is due in 2026. The council is based at the Civic Centre at Bromley Palace on Stockwell Close. The site had been
828-497: The Tramlink network. Stations operated by London Overground (all are also served by Southern ): National Rail stations: Tramlink stops: In March 2011, the main forms of transport that residents used to travel to work were: driving a car or van, 27.4% of all residents aged 16–74; train, 5.1%; bus, minibus or coach, 5.1%; on foot, 4.3%; work mainly at or from home, 4.0%; underground, metro, light rail, tram, 2.3%; passenger in
874-524: The borough councils of Bromley and Beckenham and the urban district councils of Orpington , Penge and Chislehurst and Sidcup (the latter in respect of the Chislehurst area only; the Sidcup area went to the London Borough of Bexley ). 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
920-507: The highest point in London and Kent at an altitude of 804 feet (245 m), is on the southern boundary. The Prime Meridian passes through Bromley. About 30% of the land in Bromley is farmland, the highest figure of a London borough. A local government district called Bromley was created in 1867, covering the parish of Bromley . The neighbouring parish of Beckenham was also made
966-524: The Civic Centre at Bromley Palace . Since 2000, for elections to the London Assembly , the borough forms part of the Bexley and Bromley constituency. In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 8,944. This rose slowly throughout the nineteenth century, as the district became built up; reaching 17,192 in the middle of the century. When the railways arrived,
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#17327876807581012-827: The Orpington Urban District. Knockholt railway station however remains in Orpington . The borough is partly urban and partly rural, the former to the north and very much part of the built-up area of suburban London. The principal parts of the northern section, from west to east, are Beckenham , which includes Eden Park and Elmers End ; Bromley with Bickley , Bromley Park and Bromley Common , Park Langley, Plaistow, Shortlands and Southborough; Chislehurst , with Elmstead and Sundridge . The built-up area around Orpington not only encompasses its direct outskirts of Chelsfield , Crofton, Derry Downs, Goddington , Kevingtown, and Petts Wood ; it also includes
1058-587: 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
1104-552: The borough, with an outlier at Biggin Hill in the far south. The borough shares borders with the London Boroughs of Lewisham and Greenwich to the north, Bexley to the north-east, Southwark and Lambeth to the north-west, and Croydon to the west. It also borders the Sevenoaks District of Kent to the east and south, and the Tandridge District of Surrey to the south-west. Westerham Heights ,
1150-466: The borough: Hayes and West Wickham . Biggin Hill , Downe and Keston with Leaves Green and Nash are separate, smaller, rural settlements. Local attractions include Down House (the home of Charles Darwin ), Chislehurst Caves , Holwood House (the home of William Pitt the Younger ), Crofton Roman Villa , and the site of The Crystal Palace . The local authority is Bromley Council, based at
1196-499: The boundaries of the London County Council and Metropolitan Board of Works , voting to leave in 1899 to become self-governing until 1965. The area was transferred from Kent to Greater London, to become one of the 32 London boroughs. In 1969, after a local campaign, the village of Knockholt was removed from the borough and transferred to the neighbouring Sevenoaks Rural District ; before 1965, it had been part of
1242-431: 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
1288-463: 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
1334-456: 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
1380-418: The council since 1965 has been as follows: The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Bromley. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council . The leaders since 1967 have been: Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 58 councillors representing 22 wards , with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years. Following
1426-473: 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
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1472-411: The erstwhile separate settlements of Farnborough , Green Street Green , Pratt's Bottom , St Mary Cray and St Paul's Cray . Other smaller suburban areas include Penge , Anerley , and parts of nearby Crystal Palace including its park . In addition, parts of Mottingham , Sydenham , Swanley and Ruxley lie within the borough boundaries. There are two main built-up areas in the southern part of
1518-484: The ethnic group of respondents in the 2001 and 2011 census in Bromley. The following shows the religious identity of residents residing in Bromley according to the 2001, 2011 and the 2021 censuses. Bromley is one of only six London Boroughs not to have at least one London Underground station within its boundaries. However, the borough has many railway stations served by London Overground , Thameslink , Southeastern and Southern . The borough also has several stops on
1564-512: 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
1610-410: The headquarters of Direct Line Group . The old Civic Centre will be sold, and the move to Churchill Court is due to be completed later in 2024. London Borough of Bromley The London Borough of Bromley ( / ˈ b r ɒ m l i / ) is a borough in London , England. It borders the county of Kent , of which it formed part until 1965. The borough's population in the 2021 census
1656-516: The land south of the A232-A21 route between West Wickham and Pratt's Bottom. Consequently, it is also perhaps the most rural borough and contains more of the North Downs than any other, as that escarpment is broad between Bromley and Banstead. This is also reflected in its population density, which is the lowest of the 32 London boroughs. Most of the population lives in the north and west of
1702-443: The last Friday evening of the month. The Bromley Times and Bromley News Shopper publish local news in the borough. London Fire Brigade has four fire stations within the London Borough of Bromley. The borough is the largest in the city: about 150 km . With just one pumping appliance, Orpington has one of the largest areas to cover in London, measuring 46.7 km . In 2006/2007, Orpington attended 1,308 incidents. There
1748-399: 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
1794-403: 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
1840-630: 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
1886-435: 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
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1932-424: 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 the council. In councils which use
1978-505: The rate of population growth increased. The population peaked in the 1970s, when industry began to relocate from London. The most recent 2021 United Kingdom census the borough showed a total population of 329,991, up from 309,392 in 2011 . All major religions are represented, but of those stating a choice, 48.3% described themselves as Christian down from 60.7% in 2011. In 2001, of the population, 43.47% were in full-time employment and 11.06% in part-time employment – compared to
2024-467: Was 329,991. It is named after Bromley , its principal district. Other districts are Penge , Hayes , West Wickham , Chislehurst , Beckenham and Orpington . The local authority is Bromley London Borough Council . The borough is the largest in Greater London by area and occupies 59 square miles (153 km ). The majority of the borough is Metropolitan Green Belt , including nearly all of
2070-544: Was created in 1965 under the London Government Act 1963 , covering the combined area of the former Municipal Borough of Bromley , Municipal Borough of Beckenham , Orpington Urban District , Penge Urban District and the Chislehurst area from the Chislehurst and Sidcup Urban District (the Sidcup area went to the London Borough of Bexley ). Penge Urban District was the only part of the new borough which had been within
2116-420: 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
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