{{Short description|Local authority in London}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Use British English|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox legislature | name = Southwark London Borough Council | native_name = | transcription_name = | legislature = | coa_pic = Coat of arms of the London Borough of Southwark.svg | coa_res = 100px | coa_caption = Coat of arms | logo_pic = Southwark London Borough Council.svg | logo_res = 220px | logo_caption = Council logo | house_type = London borough | body = | houses = | leader1_type = Mayor | leader1 = Claire Sheppard | party1 = <br/>Green | election1 = 28 May 2026<ref>{{cite news |title=Southwark Green Party and Southwark Liberal Democrats form Joint Administration |url= https://www.southwark.gov.uk/news/2026/southwark-green-party-and-southwark-liberal-democrats-form-joint-administration|access-date=28 May 2026 |date=28 May 2026}}</ref> | leader2_type = Leader | leader2 = James McAsh | party2 = <br/>Green | election2 = 28 May 2026 | leader3_type = Chief Executive | leader3 = Althea Loderick | party3 = <!-- Non-political role --> | election3 = May 2022<ref name=ceo/> | members = 63 councillors | structure1 = Southwark Borough Council 8 May 2026.svg | structure1_res = 250px | political_groups1 = ; Administration (34) : {{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}|border=darkgray}} Green (22) : {{nowrap|{{Color box|#ff6400|border=darkgray}} Liberal Democrat (12)}} ; Opposition (29) : {{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} Labour (29) | committees1 = | committees2 = | joint_committees = | voting_system1 = First past the post | last_election1 = 7 May 2026 | next_election1 = 2 May 2030 | session_room = Southwark Council Offices (geograph 2727779).jpg | session_res = 250 | meeting_place = 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1{{nbsp}}2QH | website = {{URL|www.southwark.gov.uk}} | footnotes = }} '''Southwark London Borough Council''', also known as '''Southwark Council''', is the local authority for the London Borough of Southwark in Greater London, England. The council has been under no overall control since May 2026, having previously been under Labour majority control since 2010.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ballinger |first1=Chris |title=Southwark election results as Green Party take huge number of seats off Labour |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/southwark-election-results-2026-full-33916610 |work=My London |date=8 May 2026 |language=en}}</ref> The council is based at 160 Tooley Street.
==History== Southwark itself had been an ancient borough from at least the 12th century until the 19th century. However, for most of its history it was a manorial property of the neighbouring City of London rather than being a self-governing borough with its own corporation.<ref>{{cite book |title=A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 4 |date=1912 |publisher=Victoria County History |location=London |pages=135–141 |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/surrey/vol4/pp135-141 |access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref>
From 1856 the area of the modern borough was governed by the Metropolitan Board of Works, which was established to provide services across the metropolis of London. In 1889 the Metropolitan Board of Works' area was made the County of London. From 1856 until 1900 the lower tier of local government within the metropolis comprised various parish vestries and district boards.<ref>Metropolis Management Act 1855 (18 & 19 Vict. c. 120)</ref> In 1900 the lower tier was reorganised into metropolitan boroughs, three of which were Bermondsey, Camberwell and Southwark, each with a borough council.<ref>London Government Act 1899 (62 & 63 Vict. c. 14)</ref>
The larger London Borough of Southwark 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 metropolitan borough councils of Southwark, Bermondsey and Camberwell. 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 Southwark", but it styles itself Southwark Council.<ref>{{cite web |title=Service Level Agreement |url=https://moderngov.harrow.gov.uk/documents/s168074/Appendix%203%20-%20Capital%20Letters%20Service%20Level%20Agreement.pdf |website=Harrow Council |access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref><ref name=ceo>{{cite web |title=Chief executive |url=https://www.southwark.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/how-we-work/chief-executive |website=Southwark 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 Southwark) responsible for "personal" services such as social care, libraries, cemeteries and refuse collection. 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> Southwark became a local education authority in 1990 when the Inner London Education Authority was dissolved.<ref>Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40)</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>
In 2003 and 2004 the Southwark Council threatened the small community of houseboat dwellers at Downings Roads Moorings with eviction, which was appealed and ultimately quashed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3522429.stm|title=Boat evictions inquiry adjourned|date=2 March 2004|publisher=BBC News|access-date=15 April 2013}}</ref>
From 2006, Southwark commenced implementation of a master data management system in conjunction with IBM UK Ltd., intending to rationalise "a number of disparate computerised systems" in use across the range of functions for which the Council was responsible. The project was abandoned after concerns that the recommended system adopted by Southwark was not satisfactory, but the Council was unsuccessful in its claim against IBM for breach of contract.<ref>Pinsent Masons LLP, [https://www.pinsentmasons.com/out-law/guides/the-mayor-and-burgesses-of-the-london-borough-of-southwark-v-ibm-uk-ltd- The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Southwark v IBM UK Ltd.], published 9 September 2011, accessed 5 November 2022</ref><ref>England and Wales High Court (Technology and Construction Court), [https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/TCC/2011/549.html London Borough of Southwark v IBM UK Ltd.], EWHC 549 (TCC), published 17 March 2011, accessed 5 November 2022</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|publisher=Mayor of London|access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref>
==Political control== The council was under Labour majority control from 2010 to 2026, when it returned to no overall control.
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 "Southwark" in search box to see specific results.)</ref> {| class="wikitable" ! colspan=2|Party in control || Years |- | {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 1965–2002 |- | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2002–2010 |- | {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || 2010–2026 |- | {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2026-present |}
===Leadership=== The role of Mayor of Southwark is largely ceremonial. 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 Southwark |url=https://boroughs50.londoncouncils.gov.uk/almanac/southwark/2018/ |website=London Councils |access-date=25 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116213837/https://boroughs50.londoncouncils.gov.uk/almanac/southwark/2018/ |archive-date=16 January 2021}}</ref>
{| class=wikitable ! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To |- | Alfred John Kemp || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1965 || align=right|1968 |- | John O'Grady || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1968 || align=right|1982 |- | Alan Davis || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1982 || align=right|1984 |- | Tony Ritchie || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1984 || align=right|1986 |- | Annie Matthews || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1986 || align=right|1990 |- | Sally Keeble || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1990 || align=right|Sept 1993 |- | Jeremy Fraser || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|Sept 1993 || align=right|1997 |- | Niall Duffy || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1997 || align=right|2000 |- | Stephanie Elsy || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|2000 || align=right|2002 |- | Nick Stanton<ref>{{cite news |title=Election 2010: Riverside ward candidates |url=https://www.london-se1.co.uk/community/election2010/riverside_ward.html |access-date=25 May 2025 |work=London SE1 |date=6 May 2010}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=right|2002 || align=right|May 2010 |- | Peter John<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 19 May 2010 |url=https://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/documents/g2879/Printed%20minutes%20Wednesday%2019-May-2010%2019.00%20Council%20Assembly.pdf?T=1 |website=Southwark Council |access-date=25 May 2025}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} | align=right|19 May 2010 || align=right|16 Sep 2020 |- | Kieron Williams<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 16 September 2020 |url=https://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/documents/g6772/Printed%20minutes%20Wednesday%2016-Sep-2020%2019.00%20Council%20Assembly.pdf?T=1 |website=Southwark Council |access-date=25 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Leader resigns: Starting gun fired for top job for Southwark Council |url=https://southwarknews.co.uk/area/southwark/leader-resigns-starting-gun-fired-for-top-job-for-southwark-council/ |access-date=3 September 2025 |work=Southwark News |date=9 June 2025}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|16 Sep 2020 || align=right|9 Jul 2025 |- | Sarah King<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 9 July 2025 |url=https://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/documents/g8196/Printed%20minutes%20Wednesday%2009-Jul-2025%2019.00%20Council%20Assembly.pdf?T=1 |website=Southwark Council |access-date=29 August 2025}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|9 Jul 2025 || align=right|28 May 2026 |- | James McAsh<ref>{{cite web |title= Southwark Green Party and Southwark Liberal Democrats form Joint Administration |url=https://www.southwark.gov.uk/news/2026/southwark-green-party-and-southwark-liberal-democrats-form-joint-administration |website=Southwark Council |access-date=29 May 2026}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}} || align=right|28 May 2026 || |}
===Composition=== Following the 2022 election the composition of the council was:
{| class="wikitable" ! colspan=2| Party !! Councillors |- | {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=center|52 |- | {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=center|11 |- ! colspan=2| Total !! 63 |}
Subsequently councillor Kath Whittam joined the Green Party on 4 November 2025, councillor Sam Foster also joined on 5 December 2025, councillor Reginald Popoola left Labour for the Greens on 6 January 2026 and on 18 February 2026, James McAsh left Labour for the Greens after which the composition of the council was:
{| class="wikitable" ! colspan=2| Party !! Councillors |- | {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=center|46 |- |- | {{Party name with colour|Labour Party - Suspended}} || align=center|1 |- | {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=center|11 |- | {{Party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}} || align=center|4 |- |- | {{Party name with colour|Independent (politician)}} || align=center|1 |- ! colspan=2| Total !! 63 |}
Following the 2026 election the composition of the council is:
{| class="wikitable" ! colspan=2| Party !! Councillors |- | {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=center|29 |- | {{Party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}} || align=center|22 |- |- | {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=center|12 |- ! colspan=2| Total !! 63 |} The next election is due in May 2030.<ref>{{cite web |title=Southwark |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=southwark |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=9 May 2026}}</ref>
==Elections== {{also|Southwark London Borough Council elections}} Since the last boundary changes in 2018 the council has comprised 63 councillors representing 23 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 Southwark (Electoral Changes) Order 2016|year=2016|number=1202|access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref>
== Wards == The wards of Southwark and number of seats:<ref>legislation.gov.uk - [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/1202/made The London Borough of Southwark (Electoral Changes) Order 2019]. Retrieved on 13 March 2019.</ref>
# Borough & Bankside (3) # Camberwell Green (3) # Champion Hill (2) # Chaucer (3) # Dulwich Hill (2) # Dulwich Village (2) # Dulwich Wood (2) # Faraday (3) # Goose Green (3) # London Bridge & West Bermondsey (3) # Newington (3) # North Bermondsey (3) # North Walworth (3) # Nunhead & Queen's Road (3) # Old Kent Road (3) # Peckham (3) # Peckham Rye (2) # Rotherhithe (3) # Rye Lane (3) # South Bermondsey (3) # St George's (2) # St Giles (3) # Surrey Docks (3)
==Premises== The council is based at 160 Tooley Street.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Southwark Council |url=https://www.southwark.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/about-southwark-council?chapter=2 |website=Southwark Council |access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref> The building comprises several converted Victorian warehouses facing the street, with a modern six-storey office building behind, which was completed in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.posttensioning.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/PTA_SF-Tooley-Street-Office-Buidling.pdf|title=Tooley Street|publisher=Post-Tensioning Association|accessdate=11 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ahmm.co.uk/assets/lib/2019/09/12/TooleyStreet_Info%20Pack_2011.pdf|title=160 Tooley Street: information pack|publisher=Allford Hall Monaghan Morris|accessdate=11 May 2020}}</ref> The council moved in during 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/3769|title=Southwark Council begins move to Tooley Street offices|date=2 March 2009|publisher=London SE1|accessdate=11 May 2020}}</ref> It initially rented the building, before purchasing it for £170{{nbsp}}million in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.propertyweek.com/london/london-council-buys-tooley-street-hq-for-170m/5047513.article|title=London council buys Tooley Street HQ for £170m|date=13 December 2012|publisher=Property Week|accessdate=11 May 2020}}</ref>
[[File:Southwark town hall 1.jpg|thumb|Southwark Town Hall, Camberwell: Council's headquarters until 2009]] Prior to 2009 the council was based at Southwark Town Hall, formerly called Camberwell Town Hall, at 31 Peckham Road in Camberwell, which had been completed in 1934 for the old Camberwell Borough Council.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jl-IAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT126|title=Camberwell Through Time|first=John D. |last=Beasley|publisher=Amberley Publishing|year=2010|isbn=978-1848685635}}</ref>
==Universal Credit trial== Southwark was one of the first areas where Universal Credit was fully introduced. The Council issued a report in 2018 which was strongly critical of Universal Credit.<ref name=cowburn>Cowburn, A., [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/universal-credit-report-benefits-rent-arrears-dwp-a8658846.html Universal credit is 'broken' says report highlighting alarming rent arrears], ''The Independent'', published 29 November 2018, accessed 5 November 2022</ref> Rent arrears among council tenants on Universal Credit are much higher than arrears among tenants on traditional benefits. Among two groups of council tenants investigated increase in arrears per claimant averaged between £586 and £309. The report disputed claims by ministers that rent arrears are temporary and notes that there are also arrears from tenants who have been on Universal Credit for over a year. Tenants who have been on Universal Credit for 15 months underpay rent by 7% on average. The report claims, "For now, the government must acknowledge that the current system is unworkable and broken. We strongly argue that the rollout of UC should be halted until radical steps are taken to fix the ongoing issues outlined in this research." Also use of food banks in Southwark has risen by 30% from 2017 to 2018 since Universal Credit was introduced there and 80% of the increase is attributed to Universal Credit. Victoria Mills of Southwark Council said, "Any delay to payments for those who are already under immense financial pressure will result in unrecoverable debt and unacceptable stress on people's lives. (...) A year on from our first research, the issues have simply got worse. We have to act on this evidence now and look at how we can support our residents and the pressure on our services. This situation is echoed across the country. The government needs to take rapid steps to fix universal credit or acknowledge that they have created a system that is unworkable and broken."<ref name=cowburn />
==See also== *London Mutual Credit Union
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links == *[http://www.southwark.gov.uk/ London Borough of Southwark website]
{{Local authorities in London}}
Category:Local authorities in London Category:London borough councils Category:Politics of the London Borough of Southwark Category:Leader and cabinet executives Category:Local education authorities in England Category:Billing authorities in England Category:1965 establishments in England