{{Short description|Local authority for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames}} {{Use British English|date=June 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} {{Infobox legislature | name = Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council | legislature = | coa_pic = Coat of arms of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.svg | coa_res = 100px | coa_caption = Coat of arms | logo_pic = Lb richmond logo.svg | logo_res = 250px | logo_caption = Council logo | house_type = London borough council | leader1_type = Mayor | leader1 = Penelope Frost | party1 = <br/>Liberal Democrat | election1 = 13 May 2025<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 13 May 2025 |url=https://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=173&MId=500000335 |website=London Borough of Richmond upon Thames |access-date=25 May 2025}}</ref> | leader2_type = Leader | leader2 = Gareth Roberts | party2 = <br/>Liberal Democrat | election2 = 22 May 2018<ref name="True">{{cite web | url=https://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/mgElectionResults.aspx?ID=12&RPID=504570723 | title=Local Election – Thursday, 3 May 2018 | work=2018 Council Election results | date=3 May 2018 | publisher=London Borough of Richmond upon Thames | access-date=4 May 2018}}</ref> | leader3_type = Chief Executive (interim) | leader3 = Andrew Travers | party3 = <!-- Non-political role --> | election3 = 14 April 2025<ref>{{cite web |title=Richmond and Wandsworth councils appoint interim Chief Executive |url=https://www.richmond.gov.uk/news/news_february_2025/new_interim_chief_executive_appointed |website=London Borough of Richmond upon Thames |access-date=25 May 2025 |date=27 February 2025}}</ref> | seats = 54 councillors<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx |title=Your Councillors |publisher=London Borough of Richmond upon Thames|access-date=27 January 2018}}</ref> | structure1 = File:2026 Richmond upon Thames LBC election apportionment.svg | structure1_res = 260px | structure1_alt = Richmond Council composition | political_groups1 = ; Administration (54) : {{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK, 2025)}}| border=darkgray}} Liberal Democrat (54) | committees1 = | joint_committees = | voting_system1 = Block voting | last_election1 = 7 May 2026 | next_election1 = 2 May 2030 | session_room = Twickenham, York House, front.jpg | session_res = 250 | meeting_place = York House, Richmond Road, Twickenham, TW1{{nbsp}}3AA | website = {{URL|www.richmond.gov.uk}} | footnotes = }} '''Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council''', also known as '''Richmond upon Thames Council''', '''LBRUT''' or '''Richmond Council''', is the local authority for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in Greater London, England. The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since 2018. Although the borough is named after Richmond, the council meets at York House in Twickenham, and has its main offices in the adjoining Civic Centre.
==History== The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and its council were created under the London Government Act 1963, with the first election held 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 Barnes, Richmond, and Twickenham. The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the old boroughs 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>
The council's full legal name is the "Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames".<ref>{{cite web |title=Unilateral undertaking template |url=https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.richmond.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F20524%2Funilateral_undertaking_future_cpz_restriction.docx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK |website=Richmond Council |access-date=27 April 2024}}</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 Richmond upon Thames) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. As an outer London borough council Richmond upon Thames 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 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>
Since 2016 the council has shared a chief executive and other staff with neighbouring Wandsworth Council.<ref name=ceo>{{cite web |title=Wandsworth and Richmond Councils choose new Chief Executive |url=https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/2022-news/news-july-2022/wandsworth-and-richmond-councils-choose-new-chief-executive/ |website=Wandsworth Council |access-date=26 April 2024}}</ref>
==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.<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 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|date=12 November 2015 |publisher=Mayor of London|access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref>
==Political composition== The council has been under Liberal Democrat majority control since 2018.
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/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "Richmond upon Thames" in search box to see specific results.)</ref> {| class="wikitable" ! colspan=2|Party in control || Years |- | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1965–1982 |- | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1982–1983 |- | {{Party name with colour|SDP-Liberal Alliance}} || 1983–1988 |- | {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || 1988–2002 |- | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 2002–2006 |- | {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || 2006–2010 |- | {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 2010–2018 |- | {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || 2018–present |}
===Leadership=== The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Richmond. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1965 have been:<ref>{{cite web |title=London Boroughs Political Almanac: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames |url=https://boroughs50.londoncouncils.gov.uk/almanac/richmond/2018/ |website=London Councils |access-date=25 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123022756/https://boroughs50.londoncouncils.gov.uk/almanac/richmond/2018/ |archive-date=23 January 2021}}</ref>
{| class=wikitable ! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To |- | Harry Hall<ref name= "Baker"/> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|1965 || align=right|May 1978 |- | John Baker<ref name= "Baker">{{Cite news |date=8 May 2003 |title=25 years ago, May 12, 1978 |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/295989.25-years-ago-may-12-1978/ |access-date=11 January 2026 |work=Richmond and Twickenham Times}}</ref>|| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|8 May 1978 || align=right|1980 |- | Keith Morell || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|1980 || align=right|May 1983 |- | rowspan=2|David Williams<ref>{{cite news |title=Council leader steps down after 17 years |url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6425375.council-leader-steps-down-after-17-years/ |access-date=25 May 2025 |work=News Shopper |date=19 March 2001}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Liberal Party (UK)}} || align=right|May 1983 || align=right|3 March 1988 |- | {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|3 March 1988 || align=right|May 2001 |- | Serge Lourie<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 22 May 2001 |url=https://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/Data/Council/20010522/Minutes/Minutes_22May01.htm |website=London Borough of Richmond upon Thames |access-date=25 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Landslide win as Tories end 18 years of Lib Dem control |url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/6337141.landslide-win-as-tories-end-18-years-of-lib-dem-control/?ref=arc |access-date=25 May 2025 |work=News Shopper |date=3 May 2002}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|22 May 2001 || align=right|May 2002 |- | Tony Arbour<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 13 May 2002 |url=https://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=173&MId=607 |website=London Borough of Richmond upon Thames |access-date=25 May 2025}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|13 May 2002 || align=right|May 2006 |- | Serge Lourie<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 16 May 2006 |url=https://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=173&MId=1508 |website=London Borough of Richmond upon Thames |access-date=25 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wickham |first1=Chris |title=Ex-Richmond Council leader Serge Lourie loses seat after 28 years |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/8165211.ex-richmond-council-leader-serge-lourie-loses-seat-after-28-years/ |access-date=25 May 2025 |work=Richmond and Twickenham Times |date=14 May 2010}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|16 May 2006 || align=right|May 2010 |- | Nicholas True<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 25 May 2010 |url=https://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=173&MId=2216 |website=London Borough of Richmond upon Thames |access-date=25 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cllr Nicholas True, leader of Richmond Council, has announced he will step down |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/15367661.cllr-nicholas-true-leader-of-richmond-council-has-announced-he-will-step-down/ |access-date=25 May 2025 |work=Richmond and Twickenham Times |date=23 June 2017}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|25 May 2010 || align=right|4 Jul 2017 |- | Paul Hodgins<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 4 July 2017 |url=https://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=173&MId=4036 |website=London Borough of Richmond upon Thames |access-date=25 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Blunden |first1=Mark |title=Local election 2018 results: Liberal Democrats seize Richmond upon Thames from Conservatives |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/local-election-2018-liberal-democrats-seize-richmonduponthames-from-the-conservatives-a3830906.html |access-date=25 May 2025 |work=The Standard |date=4 May 2018}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|4 Jul 2017 || align=right|May 2018 |- | Gareth Roberts<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 22 May 2018 |url=https://cabnet.richmond.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=173&MId=4213 |website=London Borough of Richmond upon Thames |access-date=25 May 2025}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK, 2025)}} || align=right|22 May 2018 |}
===Composition=== Following the 2026 election, the composition of the council was:<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lillywhite |first1=Charlotte |title=London local elections: What were the results in Richmond? |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-local-election-results-richmond-upon-thames-b1281626.html |work=The Standard |date=8 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" ! colspan=2| Party !! Councillors |- | {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK, 2025)}} || align=center|54 |- ! colspan=2| Total !! 54 |}
The next election is due in May 2030.<ref>{{cite web |title=Richmond upon Thames |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=richmond_upon_thames |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=9 May 2026}}</ref>
== Wards == The wards of Richmond upon Thames and the number of councillors:<ref>{{cite web |date=5 November 2020 |title=The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (Electoral Changes) Order 2020 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1230/made |access-date=14 November 2021 |website=gov.uk}}</ref>
# Barnes (3) # East Sheen (3) # Fulwell & Hampton Hill (3) # Ham, Petersham & Richmond Riverside (3) # Hampton (3) # Hampton North (3) # Hampton Wick & South Teddington (3) # Heathfield (3) # Kew (3) # Mortlake & Barnes Common (3) # North Richmond (3) # South Richmond (3) # South Twickenham (3) # St Margarets & North Twickenham (3) # Teddington (3) # Twickenham Riverside (3) # West Twickenham (3) # Whitton (3)
==Elections== {{also|Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council elections}} Since the last boundary changes in 2022, the council has comprised 54 councillors representing 18 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held every four years.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (Electoral Changes) Order 2020|year=2020|number=1230|access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref>
==Premises== The council meets at York House, a large 17th century house in the centre of Twickenham.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=York House, garden walls wrought iron gates and boundary walls along Sion Road on the east side and Riverside on the south|num=1263365|grade=II*|access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref> The house had been bought in 1923 by the old Twickenham Urban District Council (predecessor of Twickenham Borough Council) and converted to become its headquarters.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The London Encyclopaedia |date=1993 |publisher=PaperMac |last1=Weinreb |first1=Ben |last2=Hibbert |first2=Christopher |isbn=0333576888 |location=London |oclc=28963301 |page=1004}}</ref> In 1990 the council moved its main offices to a new purpose-built Civic Centre at 44 York Street, immediately west of York House.<ref>{{cite news |title=Richmond Council office moves update |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=27 April 2024 |work=Richmond Informer |date=13 April 1990 |page=18}}</ref> The Civic Centre was partly built behind the retained Victorian façade of a parade of shops at the corner of York Street and Church Street.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bank backs civic centre: Work starts soon on council offices |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=27 April 2024 |work=Richmond Informer |date=18 June 1987 |page=1}}</ref>
==Notable former councillors== *Tony Arbour, councillor for Hampton Wick ward 1968–1986 and 1994–2018, and Leader of the Council 2002–2006 *David Blomfield, councillor for Kew ward 1971–1978 and 1979–1986.<ref name="Grossman">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/aug/22/david-blomfield-obituary |title=David Blomfield obituary |author= Grossman, Wendy |author-link= Wendy M. Grossman |work=The Guardian|date=22 August 2016 |access-date=16 July 2017}}</ref> As leader of the Liberal group he was Leader of the Opposition on the Council in 1978.<ref name="Tonge">{{Cite magazine |author=Tonge, Jenny |author-link=Jenny Tonge |date=Autumn 2016|access-date= 16 July 2017 |title=Tribute to David Blomfield MBE |url=http://kewsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Kew-Newsletter-Autumn-2016.pdf|magazine= The Kew Society Newsletter}}</ref> * Aphra Brandreth, councillor for Barnes ward 2018–2022<ref>{{cite news |title=Gyles Brandreth's daughter Aphra follows father's footsteps to represent Chester for Conservatives |url=https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2024-07-05/family-affair-giles-brandreths-daughter-follows-father-to-win-chester-seat |access-date=6 July 2024 |work=Granada Reports |agency=ITV News |date=5 July 2024}}</ref> *Ian Dalziel, councillor for Barnes ward 1978–1979 *Dee Doocey, councillor for Hampton ward<ref name="Fleming">{{Cite news |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/8781537.dee-doocey-formally-welcomed-into-house-of-lords/ |title=Former Hampton councillor Dee Doocey welcomed into House of Lords |last=Fleming |first=Christine |date=10 January 2011 |work=Richmond and Twickenham Times |access-date=24 March 2019}}</ref> 1986–1994 and chair of the council's Housing Committee<ref name="Doocey">{{Cite web |url=https://www.libdems.org.uk/dee_doocey |title=Dee Doocey |publisher=Liberal Democrats (UK) |access-date=24 May 2019}}</ref> *Sally Hamwee, councillor for Palewell ward 1978–1998<ref name="Hamwee">{{Cite web |url=https://www.libdems.org.uk/sally_hamwee |title=Sally Hamwee |publisher=Liberal Democrats (UK) |access-date=24 May 2019}}</ref> *Stephen Knight, councillor for Teddington ward 2006–2018 and Leader of the Opposition on the Council 2010–2015 *Serge Lourie, councillor for Kew ward 1982–2010; Leader of the Council 2001–2002 and 2006–2010<ref name="Wickham">{{Cite news |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/richmondnews/8165211.end-of-an-era-as-council-leader-loses-seat/ |title=Ex-Richmond Council leader Serge Lourie loses seat after 28 years |last=Wickham |first=Chris |date=14 May 2010 |work=Richmond and Twickenham Times |access-date=24 March 2019}}</ref> *Tania Mathias, councillor for Hampton Wick ward 2010–2015 *Bill Newton Dunn, councillor for South Richmond ward 2018–2022 and previously a Member of the European Parliament *Geoff Pope, councillor for South Twickenham ward, mayor 1989–1990 and chair of the Council's Social Services Committee *Tim Razzall, councillor for Mortlake ward 1974–1998. During that time he served as chair of the Council's Policy and Resources Committee for 13 years and as deputy leader 1983–1996. He was succeeded in both roles by Serge Lourie. *Jenny Tonge, councillor for Kew ward 1981–1990 and chair of the Council's Social Services Committee *Nicholas True, councillor for East Sheen ward 1986–2017 and Leader of the Council 2010–2017<ref name="Stepping down">{{Cite news |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/15367661.richmond-council-leader-lord-true-has-announced-he-will-step-down/ |title=Cllr Nicholas True, Leader of Richmond Council, has announced he will step down |date=23 June 2017 |work=Richmond and Twickenham Times |access-date=24 March 2019}}</ref> * Sir David Williams, councillor for Ham, Petersham and Richmond Riverside ward 1974–2014<ref name="Razzall">{{Cite book |title=Chance Encounters: Tales from a Varied Life |last=Razzall, Tim |author-link=Tim Razzall |publisher=Biteback Publishing |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-84954-820-5}}</ref> and Leader of the Council 1983–2001<ref name="Welch">{{Cite news |url=https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/15133071.boroughs-longest-serving-council-leader-and-towering-figure-of-local-politics-to-be-awarded-freedom-of-richmond/ |title=Borough's longest-serving council leader and 'towering figure' of local politics to be awarded freedom of Richmond |last=Welch |first=Ben |date=3 March 2017 |work=Richmond and Twickenham Times |access-date=25 May 2019}}</ref> * Gareth Roberts, Leader of the Council since 2018<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-07-13 |title=Meet the Leader with Gareth Roberts |url=https://cratus.co.uk/meet-the-leader-with-cllr-gareth-roberts/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |work=Cratus Group |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links == *[http://www.richmond.gov.uk/ Official website]
{{Local authorities in London}} {{LB Richmond}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Richmond upon Thames Borough Council}} Category:1965 establishments in England Category:Billing authorities in England Category:History of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Category:Leader and cabinet executives Category:Local authorities in London Category:Local education authorities in England Category:London borough councils Category:Politics of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames