London borough

Since 1965 Greater London, exclusive of the City of London, has been diviided into thirty-two London boroughs.

Formation

London boroughs were created by the London Government Act 1963, replacing the twenty-eight Metropolitan boroughs of the County of London and a number of county and municipal boroughs and urban districts in the surrounding counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Middlesex and Surrey.

Functions

London boroughs are are responsible for running most local services in their areas, such as schools, social services, waste collection and roads. Some London-wide services are run by the Greater London Authority. Some London borough councils also group together for such services as waste collection and disposal, e.g. the West London Waste Authority. Each London borough is a Local Education Authority. Until 1990 the twelve Inner London boroughs, covering the area of the former County of London, were not education authorities but were served by the Inner London Education Authority.

Governance

Each borough is governed by a London Borough Council. When created this consisted of elected councillors (with each borough divided into a number of wards returning three councillors each), aldermen (one for every six councillors, chosen by the council itself). The chairman of the council, chosen annually has the title of mayor. Elections of all councillors are held every four years, with casual vacancies filled by byelections.

In 1978 the office of alderman was abolished: although a council can confer the title of "honorary alderman" on a former member they do not form part of the council.

Under legislation introduced in 2000, boroughs may have a directly-elected mayor. This has been adopted in four boroughs: Hackney, Lewisham, Newham and Tower Hamlets. The chair of the council in these boroughs continues to perform the traditional ceremonial functions of a mayor, but with various titles.

Status

One borough: Westminster, has city status. This is a continuation of a status dating from 1540. Three of the boroughs are "royal boroughs": Kingston upon Thames (an ancient title confirmed in 1927), Kensington and Chelsea (originally granted to Kensington in 1901 as the birthplace of Queen Victoria) and Greenwich (granted to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2012). The chairman of Westminster City Council has the title of "Lord Mayor".

List of boroughs

Map of London boroughs

Inner London Boroughs

1. Westminster
2. Islington
3. Camden
4. Hackney
5. Tower Hamlets
6. Greenwich
7. Lewisham
8. Southwark
9. Lambeth
10. Wandsworth
11. Hammersmith and Fulham
12. Kensington and Chelsea

17. Newham

Outer London Boroughs

13. Waltham Forest
14. Redbridge
15. Havering
16. Barking and Dagenham
17. (see inner)
18. Bexley
19. Bromley
20. Croydon
21. Sutton
22. Merton
23. Kingston upon Thames
24. Richmond upon Thames
25. Hounslow
26. Hillingdon
27. Ealing
28. Brent
29. Harrow
30. Barnet
31. Haringey
32. Enfield