Redbridge London Borough Council

History

The London Borough of Redbridge 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 outgoing authorities, being the municipal borough councils of Ilford, Wanstead and Woodford, and Dagenham (the latter in respect of the Hog Hill area only, the rest of that borough went to the London Borough of Barking) and the urban district council of Chigwell in respect of parts of the Hainault area. The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the three boroughs and their councils were abolished and the Chigwell Urban District was reduced to remove the Hainault parts.

The council's full legal name is "The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Redbridge", but it styles itself Redbridge Council.

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 Redbridge) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council Redbridge 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 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.

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 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.

Political control

The council has been under Labour majority control since 2014.

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:

Leadership

The role of Mayor of Redbridge is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1965 have been:

Elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2018 the council has comprised 63 councillors representing 22 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.

Following the 2022 election and by-elections and changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:

One of the independents is described as "Ilford Independents". The next election is due in May 2026.

Premises

The council meets at Redbridge Town Hall, formerly known as Ilford Town Hall, which had been completed in 1901 for the old Ilford Urban District Council, predecessor of Ilford Borough Council.

The council's main offices are at a nearby tower block called Lynton House at 255–259 High Road in Ilford, which was built in 1969.

Mayors

The Mayor of Redbridge is elected by the council annually. The mayor presides over meetings of the council and attends civic and ceremonial functions.

Notes

References

References

1. "Cllr Beverley Brewer, Mayor of Redbridge 2025/26 Municipal Year".
2. "Council meeting, 15 May 2025".
3. (19 November 2024). "Redbridge Council appoints fourth chief exec in four years". Ilford Recorder.
4. "Your Councillors by Party". Redbridge London Borough Council.
5. {{cite legislation UK
6. Youngs, Frederic. (1979). "Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England". Royal Historical Society.
7. Youngs, Frederic. (1979). "Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England". Royal Historical Society.
8. (2023). "Inter Authority Agreement for the Local London Partnership Programme".
9. {{cite legislation UK. (1985)
10. Leach, Steve. (1998). "Local Government Reorganisation: The Review and its Aftermath". Routledge.
11. "Council Tax and Business Rates Billing Authorities". Council Tax Rates.
12. (12 November 2015). "Local Plan Responses – within and outside London". Mayor of London.
13. "Compositions Calculator". University of Exeter.
14. "London Boroughs Political Almanac: London Borough of Redbridge".
15. (18 September 2022). "Muhammed Javed on 40 years as a Redbridge Labour councillor". Guardian Series.
16. "Council minutes, 23 May 2002".
17. (6 February 2003). "Borough mourns council leader". News Shopper.
18. "Council minutes, 20 March 2003".
19. "Council minutes, 20 May 2004".
20. "Council minutes, 25 May 2004".
21. (31 May 2004). "All change at Town Hall". Guardian Series.
22. "Council minutes, 15 July 2004".
23. (14 March 2006). "Cost of living on the up". Guardian Series.
24. "Council minutes, 25 May 2006".
25. (27 May 2009). "Redbridge: Deal to fix council crisis 'close'". Guardian Series.
26. "Council minutes, 28 May 2009".
27. (25 April 2014). "Local elections 2014: What has Redbridge Council done in the last four years?". Ilford Recorder.
28. "Council minutes, 12 June 2014".
29. (26 July 2024). "New leader of Redbridge Council". South Woodford Village Gazette.
30. "Council minutes, 25 July 2024".
31. {{cite legislation UK. (2017)
32. "Your Councillors by Party".
33. "Redbridge". Thorncliffe.
34. {{NHLE
35. "Contact us".
36. "Project: Lynton House, Ilford".
37. [https://www.redbridge.gov.uk/about-the-council/redbridge-constitution/ London Borough of Redbridge Constitution, 26 June 2017, p. 14]
38. (29 April 2021). "Redbridge elects its new Mayor". London Borough of Redbridge.
39. (5 December 2021). "Talking about an admirable lady, The Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Jyotsna Islam". CINEBUZZ TIMES.COM.
40. (1 June 2022). "Leader sets out a new vision for Redbridge as new council meets for first time". London Borough of Redbridge.
41. (29 April 2021). "Redbridge Mayor". London Borough of Redbridge.
42. (17 May 2024). "New Redbridge Mayor vows to 'raise borough's profile' over next year". Asian Standard.