Hillingdon London Borough Council, commonly referred to as Hillingdon Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Hillingdon in Greater London, England. The council is responsible for the provision of a range of public services within the borough of Hillingdon. The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2006. The council is based at Hillingdon Civic Centre in Uxbridge.
History The London Borough of Hillingdon 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 four outgoing authorities, being the borough council of Uxbridge and the urban district councils of Hayes and Harlington, Ruislip-Northwood and Yiewsley and West Drayton. 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 is the "Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Hillingdon", although it styles itself Hillingdon 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 Hillingdon) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council Hillingdon 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 it also collects precepts for Greater London Authority functions and business rates. It is also the local education authority.
Political control The council has been under Conservative majority control since 2006.
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: (Put "Hillingdon" in search box to see specific results.)
Party in control Years 1964–1968 1968–1971 1971–1978 1978–1986 1986–1990 1990–1993 1993–1998 1998–2006 2006–present
Leadership The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Hillingdon. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1965 have been:
Councillor Party From To Alfred Beck 1965 1968 Darrell Charles 1968 1971 Alfred Beck 1971 1973 John Bartlett 1973 1978 John Watts 1978 1984 Norman Hawkins 1984 1986No leader 1986 1990 Andrew Boff 1990 1992 Richard Barnes 1992 Aug 1993 Steve Panayi Aug 1993 May 1994 Chris Rogers 8 May 1994 15 May 1997 Paul Harmsworth 15 May 1997 1998 Richard Barnes 1998 2000 Ray Puddifoot 2000 14 Jan 2021 Ian Edwards 14 Jan 2021 May 2026 Steve Tuckwell 14 May 2026
Composition Following the 2026 election, and subequent changes the composition of the council is as follows:
The next election is due in May 2030.
Wards The wards of Hillingdon and the number of seats:
Belmore (3) Charville (2) Colham & Cowley (3) Eastcote (3) Harefield Village (1) Hayes Town (3) Heathrow Villages (2) Hillingdon East (3) Hillingdon West (2) Ickenham & South Harefield (3) Northwood (2) Northwood Hills (2) Pinkwell (3) Ruislip (3) Ruislip Manor (2) South Ruislip (3) Uxbridge (3) West Drayton (3) Wood End (3) Yeading (2) Yiewsley (2)
Elections
Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 53 councillors representing 21 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.
Premises The council is based at Hillingdon Civic Centre on the High Street in Uxbridge. The building was purpose-built for the council in phases between 1973 and 1978, and also incorporates an earlier building of 1939 which had been shared by Middlesex County Council and Uxbridge Urban District Council.
References
External links London Borough of Hillingdon website