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| transcription_name =
| transcription_name =
| legislature =
| legislature =
| coa_pic = Arms-sutton-lb.jpg
| coa_pic = Coat of arms of the London Borough of Sutton.svg
| coa_res = 100px
| coa_res = 100px
| logo_pic =
| coa_caption = Coat of arms
| logo_pic = Lb sutton logo.svg
| logo_res = 150px
| logo_res = 150px
| house_type = London borough council
| logo_caption = Council logo
| leader1_type = Mayor of Sutton
| house_type = London borough
| leader1 = Trish Fivey
| leader1_type = [[Mayors in England|Mayor]]
| party1 = <!-- Non-political civic role -->
| leader1 = Colin Stears
| election1 = 18 May 2020
| party1 = <br />[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]]
| election1 = 22 May 2023<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 22 May 2023 |url=https://moderngov.sutton.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=146&MId=5974 |website=Sutton Council |access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Council appoints Sutton's Mayor for 2024/25 at its annual meeting |url=https://www.sutton.gov.uk/w/council-appoints-sutton-s-mayor-for-2024/25-at-its-annual-meeting |website=Sutton Council |access-date=25 May 2024 |date=21 May 2024}}</ref>
| leader2_type = Leader of the Council
| leader2 = Ruth Dombey
| leader2_type = [[Leader of the council|Leader]]
| party2 = [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal&nbsp;Democrat]]
| leader2 = Barry Lewis
| election2 = 21 May 2012
| party2 = <br/>[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]]
| leader3_type = Chief executive
| election2 = 20 May 2024
| leader3_type = [[Chief Executive]]
| leader3 = Helen Bailey
| leader3 = Helen Bailey
| party3 = <!-- Non-political civic role -->
| party3 = <!-- Non-political role -->
| election3 = 2019<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kituno |first1=Nick |title=Sutton Council set to appoint Helen Bailey as new chief executive |url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/17433720.sutton-council-set-appoint-helen-bailey-new-chief-executive/ |access-date=27 April 2024 |work=Your Local Guardian |date=14 February 2019}}</ref>
| election3 = 25 February 2019
| seats = 54 councillors
| seats = 54 councillors
| structure1 = Sutton_Borough_council_2018.svg
| structure1 = sutton_london borough council_2022.svg
| structure1_alt = Sutton London Borough Council composition
| structure1_alt = Sutton London Borough Council composition
| structure1_res = 260px
| structure1_res = 260px
| political_groups1 =
| political_groups1 =
; Administration
; Administration
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] (33)}}
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] (29)}}
; Other parties
; Other parties
: {{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] (18)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] (20)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Independent (politician)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (3)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (3)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] (3)
| committees1 =
| committees1 =
| joint_committees =
| joint_committees =
| voting_system1 = [[Plurality voting system|First past the post]]
| voting_system1 = [[Plurality-at-large voting|Plurality-at-large]]
| voting_system2 =
| voting_system2 =
| last_election1 = [[2018 Sutton London Borough Council election|3 May 2018]]
| last_election1 = [[2022 Sutton London Borough Council election|5 May 2022]]
| next_election1 = [[2022 Sutton London Borough Council election|5 May 2022]]
| next_election1 = 7 May 2026
| session_room = Sutton, Surrey, Greater London - Civic Offices.jpg
| session_room = Civic Offices, Sutton - geograph.org.uk - 6139673.jpg
| session_res = 250
| session_res = 250
| meeting_place = [[Sutton Civic Offices]]
| meeting_place = [[Sutton Civic Offices|Civic Offices]], St Nicholas Way, Sutton, SM1{{nbsp}}1EA
| website = {{url|www.sutton.gov.uk/}}
| website = {{URL|www.sutton.gov.uk}}
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}
'''Sutton London Borough Council''' is the local authority for the [[London Borough of Sutton]] in [[Greater London]], England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of [[London]]. Sutton is divided into 18 wards, each electing three councillors. Following the May 2018 council election, Sutton London Borough Council comprises 33 Liberal Democrat councillors, 18 Conservative Party councillors, and 3 Independent councillors, a decrease of the Liberal Democrat majority.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sutton.moderngov.co.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=WARD&VW=LIST&PIC=0|title=Election Results May 2018|publisher=Sutton London Borough Council}}</ref> The council was created by the London Government Act 1963 and replaced three local authorities: [[Beddington and Wallington Borough Council]], [[Sutton and Cheam Borough Council]] and [[Carshalton Urban District Council]].
'''Sutton London Borough Council''', also known as '''Sutton Council''', is the local authority for the [[London Borough of Sutton]] in [[Greater London]], England. It is a [[London borough]] council, one of 32 in [[London]]. The council has been under [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] majority control since 1990. The council is based at the [[Sutton Civic Offices|Civic Offices]] in [[Sutton, London|Sutton]].


==History==
==History==
The London Borough of Sutton and its council were created under the [[London Government Act 1963]], with the first election held [[1964 Sutton London Borough Council election|in 1964]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=London Government Act 1963|chapter=33|access-date=16 May 2024}}</ref> For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the area's three outgoing authorities, being the [[municipal borough]] councils of [[Municipal Borough of Sutton and Cheam|Sutton and Cheam]] and [[Municipal Borough of Beddington and Wallington|Beddington and Wallington]], and the [[Urban district (England and Wales)|urban district]] council of [[Carshalton Urban District|Carshalton]]. The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the old districts and their councils were abolished.<ref>{{cite book | first=Frederic |last=Youngs | title=Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England | volume=I: Southern England | year=1979 | publisher=Royal Historical Society | location=London | isbn=0901050679}}</ref>
[[File:Sutton London UK labelled ward map 2002.svg|thumb|A map showing the wards of Sutton since 2002]]
There have previously been a number of local authorities responsible for the Sutton area. The current local authority was first elected in 1964, a year before formally coming into its powers and prior to the creation of the [[London Borough of Sutton]] on 1 April 1965. Sutton replaced [[Beddington and Wallington Borough Council]], [[Sutton and Cheam Borough Council]] and [[Carshalton Urban District Council]].<ref>{{cite book | first=Frederic |last=Youngs | title=Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England | volume=I: Southern England | year=1979 | publisher=[[Royal Historical Society]] | location=London | isbn=0-901050-67-9}}</ref>


The council's full legal name is "The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Sutton".<ref>{{cite web |title=Baseline Agreement |url=https://www.kippabidltd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/BaselineAgreementKippa.pdf |website=Kippa Bid |access-date=28 April 2024}}</ref>
It was envisaged that through the [[London Government Act 1963]] Sutton as a London local authority would share power with 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 local authorities responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an [[outer London]] borough council it has been an [[Local education authority|education authority]] since 1965. This arrangement lasted until 1986 when Sutton London Borough Council gained responsibility for some services that had been provided by the Greater London Council, such as [[Waste disposal authorities in London|waste disposal]]. Since 2000 the [[Greater London Authority]] has taken some responsibility for highways and planning control from the council, but within the [[Local government in England|English local government system]] the council remains a "most purpose" authority in terms of the available range of powers and functions.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YX0nAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA107|title=Local Government Reorganisation: The Review and its Aftermath|first= Steve |last=Leach|page=107|publisher=Routledge|year=1998|isbn=978-0714648590}}</ref>

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 Sutton) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an [[outer London]] borough council Sutton 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.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1985|year=1985|chapter=51|access-date=5 April 2024}}</ref>

Since 2000 the [[Greater London Authority]] has taken some responsibility for highways and planning control from the council, but within the [[Local government in England|English local government system]] the council remains a "most purpose" authority in terms of the available range of powers and functions.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YX0nAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA107|title=Local Government Reorganisation: The Review and its Aftermath|first= Steve |last=Leach|page=107|publisher=Routledge|year=1998|isbn=978-0714648590}}</ref>


==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 authorities in England|billing authority]] also collects precepts for [[Greater London Authority]] functions and business rates.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://counciltaxrates.info/councils|title=Council Tax and Business Rates Billing Authorities|publisher=Council Tax Rates|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> 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 house|council housing]], social services, libraries, waste collection and disposal, traffic, and most roads and environmental health.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/who-we-work/local-plan-responses-within-and-outside-london|title=Local Plan Responses – within and outside London|publisher=Mayor of London|access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref>
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 authorities in England|billing authority]] also collects precepts for [[Greater London Authority]] functions and business rates.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://counciltaxrates.info/councils|title=Council Tax and Business Rates Billing Authorities|publisher=Council Tax Rates|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> 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 house|council housing]], social services, libraries, waste collection and disposal, traffic, and most roads and environmental health.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/who-we-work/local-plan-responses-within-and-outside-london|title=Local Plan Responses – within and outside London|publisher=Mayor of London|access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref>


==Political control==
==Policies==
The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since 1990.
The council was a pilot authority for the [[Big Society]] programme.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11095|title=Sutton Council|work=sutton.gov.uk}}</ref>


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:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/?page_id=3825 |website=The Elections Centre |access-date=3 March 2023}}</ref>
==Summary results of elections==
{{main|Sutton local elections}}
Since 1964 political control of the council has been held by the following parties:


{| class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
!colspan="2"|Party in control
!Years
|-
|-
|{{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1965–1971
! colspan=2 | Party in control || Years
|-
! style="background:#0087dc;"|
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] || 1964–1986
|-
! style="background:black;"|
| [[No overall control]] || 1986–1990
|-
! style="background:#faa61a;"|
| [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] || 1990–present
|}
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|-
|-
|{{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1971–1974
!rowspan=2|Year
|width="60"|[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]
|width="60"|[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|width="60"|[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
|width="60"|[[Residents Association]]<br />/[[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|width=|Notes
|-
|-
|{{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1974–1986
!style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Residents Association}}; width: 3px;" |
|
|-
|-
|{{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1986–1990
| [[1964 Sutton London Borough Council election|1964]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/LBCE_1964-5-7.pdf|title=Election Results|date=7 May 1964|accessdate=26 April 2020}}</ref>
| 0
| 30
| 17
| 4
|
|-
|-
|{{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || 1990–present
| [[1968 Sutton London Borough Council election|1968]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/LBCE_1968-5-9.pdf|title=Election Results|date=9 May 1968|accessdate=26 April 2020}}</ref>
| 0
|}

| 41
===Leadership===
| 7
The role of Mayor of Sutton is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the [[leader of the council]]. The leaders since 1965 have been:<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes |url=https://moderngov.sutton.gov.uk/ieDocHome.aspx?bcr=1 |website=Sutton Council |access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=London Boroughs Political Almanac |url=https://boroughs50.londoncouncils.gov.uk/almanac/ |website=London Councils |access-date=5 July 2022}}</ref>
| 3

|
{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
|-
| [[Tag Taylor]] || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|1965 || align=right|1973
| [[1971 Sutton London Borough Council election|1971]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/LBCE_1971-5-13.pdf|title=Election Results|date=13 May 1971|accessdate=26 April 2020}}</ref>
| 0
| 25
| 21
| 5
|
|-
|-
| John Charles Cox || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|1973 || align=right|1976
| [[1974 Sutton London Borough Council election|1974]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/LBCE_1974-5-2.pdf|title=Election Results|date=2 May 1974|accessdate=26 April 2020}}</ref>
| 6
| 28
| 13
| 4
|
|-
|-
| [[Robin Squire]] || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|1976 || align=right|1980
| [[1978 Sutton London Borough Council election|1978]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/LBCE_1978-5-4.pdf|title=Election Results|date=4 May 1978|accessdate=26 April 2020}}</ref>
| 2
| 47
| 7
| 0
| Boundary changes increased number of seats by five
|-
|-
| David Trafford || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|1980 || align=right|1986
| [[1982 Sutton London Borough Council election|1982]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/LBCE_1982-5-6.pdf|title=Election Results|date=6 May 1982|accessdate=26 April 2020}}</ref>
| 3
| 46
| 7
| 0
|
|-
|-
| rowspan=2|[[Graham Tope, Baron Tope|Graham Tope]] || {{Party name with colour|Liberal Party (UK)}} || align=right|1986 || align=right|1988
| [[1986 Sutton London Borough Council election|1986]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/LBCE_1986-5-8.pdf|title=Election Results|date=8 May 1986|accessdate=26 April 2020}}</ref>
| 28
| 21
| 7
| 0
|
|-
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|1988 || align=right|1999
| [[1990 Sutton London Borough Council election|1990]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/LBCE_1990-5-3.pdf|title=Election Results|date=3 May 1990|accessdate=26 April 2020}}</ref>
| 32
| 18
| 6
| 0
|
|-
|-
| Mike Cooper || {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|1999 || align=right|16 Oct 2002
| [[1994 Sutton London Borough Council election|1994]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/LBCE_1994-5-5.pdf|title=Election Results|date=5 May 1994|accessdate=26 April 2020}}</ref>
| 47
| 4
| 5
| 0
|
|-
|-
| Sean Brennan || {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|18 Nov 2002 || align=right|21 May 2012
| [[1998 Sutton London Borough Council election|1998]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/LBCE_1998-5-7.pdf|title=Election Results|date=7 May 1998|accessdate=26 April 2020}}</ref>
| 46
| 5
| 5
| 0
|
|-
|-
| Ruth Dombey || {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|21 May 2012 || align=right|20 May 2024
| 2002<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/results/2002/31/|title=Local Elections Archive Project - 2002 - Sutton|website=www.andrewteale.me.uk}}</ref>
| 43
| 8
| 3
| 0
| Boundary changes reduced the number of seats by two
|-
|-
| Barry Lewis<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-20 |title=New Leader of Sutton Council chosen
| 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.andrewteale.me.uk/leap/results/2006/31/|title=Local Elections Archive Project - 2006 - Sutton|website=www.andrewteale.me.uk}}</ref>
|url=https://www.sutton.gov.uk/w/new-leader-of-sutton-council-chosen- |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=sutton.gov.uk|language=en}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|20 May 2024 || align=right|
| 32
| 22
|}

| 0
===Composition===
| 0
Following the [[2022 Sutton London Borough Council election|2022 election]], the composition of the council was:<ref>{{cite news |title=Elections 2022: Sutton election result |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2022/england/councils/E09000029 |access-date=28 April 2024 |work=BBC News}}</ref>
|

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party
! Councillors
|-
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=center|29
| [[2010 Sutton London Borough Council election|2010]]{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}
| 43
| 11
| 0
| 0
|
|-
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=center|20
| [[2014 Sutton London Borough Council election|2014]]<ref name="vote2014">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/councils/E09000005|title=Brent|publisher=[[BBC News Online]]|accessdate=19 February 2015}}</ref>
| 45
| 9
| 0
| 0
|
|-
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=center|3
| [[2018 Sutton London Borough Council election|2018]]<ref name=vote2014/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c82wmn28zx5t/sutton-london-borough-council|title=Sutton London Borough Council|work=BBC News}}</ref>
| 33
| 18
| 0
| 3
|
|-
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=center|3
!
|-
!style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}; width: 3px;" |
! colspan=2|Total
!style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}; width: 3px;" |
! align=center|55
!style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}; width: 3px;" |
!style="background-color: {{party color|Residents Association}}; width: 3px;" |
|
|}
|}
The next election is due in 2026.

==Elections==
{{also|Sutton London Borough Council elections}}
Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 55 [[councillor]]s representing 20 [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|wards]], with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The London Borough of Sutton (Electoral Changes) Order 2020|year=2020|number=1225|access-date=28 April 2024}}</ref>

==Premises==
The council is based at the Civic Offices on St Nicholas Way in the centre of Sutton. The building was purpose-built for the council in phases between 1972 and 1975. In 2022 the council announced plans to develop a new headquarters on part of the site of the St Nicholas Shopping Centre on the High Street.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=Tara |title=Sutton Council plans to sell offices and move to High Street |url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/23124007.sutton-council-plans-sell-offices-move-high-street/ |access-date=28 April 2024 |work=Your Local Guardian |date=16 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Sutton Civic and Town Centre Regeneration |url=https://suttontowncentre.sutton.gov.uk/projects/sutton-civic-and-town-centre-regeneration |website=Sutton Council}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 21:08, 29 May 2024

Sutton London Borough Council
Coat of arms or logo
Coat of arms
Logo
Council logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Colin Stears,
Liberal Democrat
since 22 May 2023[1][2]
Barry Lewis,
Liberal Democrat
since 20 May 2024
Helen Bailey
since 2019[3]
Structure
Seats54 councillors
Sutton London Borough Council composition
Political groups
Administration
  Liberal Democrat (29)
Other parties
  Conservative (20)
  Independent (3)
  Labour (3)
Elections
Plurality-at-large
Last election
5 May 2022
Next election
7 May 2026
Meeting place
Civic Offices, St Nicholas Way, Sutton, SM1 1EA
Website
www.sutton.gov.uk

Sutton London Borough Council, also known as Sutton Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Sutton in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in London. The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since 1990. The council is based at the Civic Offices in Sutton.

History

[edit]

The London Borough of Sutton and its council were created under the London Government Act 1963, with the first election held in 1964.[4] For its first year the council acted as a shadow authority alongside the area's three outgoing authorities, being the municipal borough councils of Sutton and Cheam and Beddington and Wallington, and the urban district council of Carshalton. The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the old districts and their councils were abolished.[5]

The council's full legal name is "The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Sutton".[6]

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 Sutton) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council Sutton 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.[7]

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.[8]

Powers and functions

[edit]

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.[9] 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.[10]

Political control

[edit]

The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since 1990.

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:[11]

Party in control Years
Conservative 1965–1971
No overall control 1971–1974
Conservative 1974–1986
No overall control 1986–1990
Liberal Democrats 1990–present

Leadership

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The role of Mayor of Sutton is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1965 have been:[12][13]

Councillor Party From To
Tag Taylor Conservative 1965 1973
John Charles Cox Conservative 1973 1976
Robin Squire Conservative 1976 1980
David Trafford Conservative 1980 1986
Graham Tope Liberal 1986 1988
Liberal Democrats 1988 1999
Mike Cooper Liberal Democrats 1999 16 Oct 2002
Sean Brennan Liberal Democrats 18 Nov 2002 21 May 2012
Ruth Dombey Liberal Democrats 21 May 2012 20 May 2024
Barry Lewis[14] Liberal Democrats 20 May 2024

Composition

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Following the 2022 election, the composition of the council was:[15]

Party Councillors
Liberal Democrats 29
Conservative 20
Labour 3
Independent 3
Total 55

The next election is due in 2026.

Elections

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See also: Sutton London Borough Council elections

Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 55 councillors representing 20 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[16]

Premises

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The council is based at the Civic Offices on St Nicholas Way in the centre of Sutton. The building was purpose-built for the council in phases between 1972 and 1975. In 2022 the council announced plans to develop a new headquarters on part of the site of the St Nicholas Shopping Centre on the High Street.[17][18]

References

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  1. ^ "Council minutes, 22 May 2023". Sutton Council. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Council appoints Sutton's Mayor for 2024/25 at its annual meeting". Sutton Council. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  3. ^ Kituno, Nick (14 February 2019). "Sutton Council set to appoint Helen Bailey as new chief executive". Your Local Guardian. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  4. ^ "London Government Act 1963", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1978 c. 33, retrieved 16 May 2024
  5. ^ Youngs, Frederic (1979). Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. Vol. I: Southern England. London: Royal Historical Society. ISBN 0901050679.
  6. ^ "Baseline Agreement" (PDF). Kippa Bid. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Local Government Act 1985", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 1985 c. 51, retrieved 5 April 2024
  8. ^ Leach, Steve (1998). Local Government Reorganisation: The Review and its Aftermath. Routledge. p. 107. ISBN 978-0714648590.
  9. ^ "Council Tax and Business Rates Billing Authorities". Council Tax Rates. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Local Plan Responses – within and outside London". Mayor of London. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Compositions calculator". The Elections Centre. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Council minutes". Sutton Council. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  13. ^ "London Boroughs Political Almanac". London Councils. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  14. ^ "New Leader of Sutton Council chosen". sutton.gov.uk. 2024-05-20. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  15. ^ "Elections 2022: Sutton election result". BBC News. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  16. ^ "The London Borough of Sutton (Electoral Changes) Order 2020", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2020/1225, retrieved 28 April 2024
  17. ^ O'Connor, Tara (16 November 2022). "Sutton Council plans to sell offices and move to High Street". Your Local Guardian. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Sutton Civic and Town Centre Regeneration". Sutton Council.
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