Isn’t it fascinating how a local council shapes the very fabric of a community? Today we are standing before Southwark Council at 160 Tooley Street. It is the heart of local governance for this diverse and historic borough.
Southwark Council wasn’t always as we see it today. Its story is interwoven with the evolution of London itself. Imagine Southwark as an ancient borough dating back to the 12th century. For much of its early existence it was under the City of London’s wing. It wasn’t fully self-governing.
The winds of change swept through London in the 19th century. The Metropolitan Board of Works emerged in 1856. It aimed to provide consistent services across the growing metropolis. Then in 1889 the County of London was created. Local government was reorganized in 1900. Southwark was divided into three metropolitan boroughs. These were Bermondsey Camberwell and Southwark each with its own council.
But this wasn’t the end of the story. The London Government Act of 1963 brought another transformation. It created the larger London Borough of Southwark. The first election for the new council was in 1964. For a year the new council acted as a shadow authority. It worked alongside the outgoing councils of Bermondsey Camberwell and Southwark. On April 1 1965 the new council formally took power. The old boroughs and their councils were abolished. The council’s legal name is “Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Southwark”. But it goes by Southwark Council.
From 1965 to 1986 Southwark Council operated as a lower-tier authority. The Greater London Council handled wider services. These included fire ambulance and flood prevention. Southwark Council focused on social care libraries and refuse collection. In 1986 the Greater London Council was abolished. Its functions were transferred to the London boroughs. Southwark became a local education authority in 1990.
Since 2000 the Greater London Authority has taken on some responsibilities for highways and planning. Yet Southwark Council remains a “most purpose” authority. It has a wide range of powers and functions.
Southwark Council’s responsibilities are vast. They derive from the London Government Act 1963. The council sets council tax. It collects precepts for the Greater London Authority. It sets planning policies. It decides on most planning applications. It oversees council housing social services and waste collection. It also manages traffic and environmental health.
Politically Southwark Council has been under Labour majority control since 2010. Elections are held every four years. The council comprises 63 councillors. They represent 23 wards.
The council’s home at 160 Tooley Street is itself a piece of history. It incorporates converted Victorian warehouses. A modern six-storey office building was added in 2008. The council moved here in 2009. Before that it was based at Southwark Town Hall. The town hall was formerly Camberwell Town Hall. It had been completed in 1934.
Southwark Council continues to evolve. It faces modern challenges such as Universal Credit. A 2018 council report was critical of the program. The council plays a crucial role in shaping the lives of its residents. It strives to balance its rich history with the demands of a changing future. As we move on reflect on the layers of history and governance that shape this vibrant London borough.