Wandsworth London Borough Council, also known as Wandsworth Council, is the local authority for the London Borough of Wandsworth in Greater London, England. The council is responsible for the provision of certain services in the borough. The council has been under no overall control since the 2026 election, being run by a Conservative minority administration. It is based at Wandsworth Town Hall in the centre of Wandsworth.
History Early history There has been a Wandsworth local authority since 1856 when the Wandsworth District was created, governed by an elected board. It was one of the lower tier authorities within the area of the Metropolitan Board of Works, which was established to provide services across the metropolis of London.Metropolis Management Act 1855 (18 & 19 Vict. c. 120) In 1889 the Metropolitan Board of Works' area was made the County of London. In 1900 the lower tier was reorganised into metropolitan boroughs, each with a borough council, two of which were called Wandsworth (corresponding to the former Wandsworth District) and Battersea.London Government Act 1899 (62 & 63 Vict. c. 14)
Creation and 20th century The London Borough of Wandsworth 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 outgoing authorities, being the councils of the two metropolitan boroughs of Battersea and Wandsworth. The new council formally came into its powers on 1 April 1965, at which point the old boroughs and their councils were abolished. The council's full legal name is "The Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Wandsworth", but it styles itself Wandsworth 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 Wandsworth) 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. Wandsworth became a local education authority in 1990 when the Inner London Education Authority was dissolved.Education Reform Act 1988 (c. 40)
21st century 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.
From 1992 to 2011, under the leadership of Conservative councillor Edward Lister, Wandsworth was an early adopter of Thatcherite policies of privatisation of street cleaning and refuse collection, and sale of council housing. Between 2007 and 2010 11% of the "affordable" homes built in Wandsworth were for social rent – the lowest in the whole of London. Many ex-council homes became owned by private landlords.
Since 2016 the council has shared a chief executive and other staff with neighbouring Richmond upon Thames Council.
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 sets planning policies which complement Greater London Authority and national policies, and decides on almost all planning applications accordingly. It is also the local education authority.
Political control At the 2026 election the council went under no overall control, with the Conservatives being the largest party but falling one seat short of a majority. They subsequently formed a minority administration to run the council with the support of the one independent councillor.
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 "Wandsworth" in search box to see specific results.)
Party in control Years 1965–1968 1968–1971 1971–1978 1978–2022 2022–2026 2026–present
Leadership The role of Mayor of Wandsworth is largely ceremonial. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1965 have been:
Councillor Party From To Sidney Wellbelove 1964 1966 Sidney Sporle 1966 1968 Ronald Ash 1968 1971 Ian McGarry 1971 May 1972 Frank Sims May 1972 Dec 1972 Ian McGarry Dec 1972 1976 John Tilley 1976 1978 Dennis Mallam 1978 1979 Christopher Chope 1979 1983 Paul Beresford 1983 1992 Edward Lister 1992 18 May 2011 Ravi Govindia 18 May 2011 25 May 2022 Simon Hogg 25 May 2022 May 2026 Aled Richards-Jones 27 May 2026 22 Jul 2026 Robert Morritt 22 Jul 2026
Composition Following the 2026 election, the composition of the council is:
Party Councillors 29 28 1Total58 The next election is due in 2030.
Elections
Since the last boundary changes in 2022 the council has comprised 58 councillors representing 22 wards, with each ward electing two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.
Wards The wards of Wandsworth and number of seats:
Balham (3) Battersea Park (3) East Putney (3) Falconbrook (2) Furzedown (3) Lavender (2) Nine Elms (2) Northcote (2) Roehampton (3) Shaftesbury & Queenstown (3) South Balham (2) Southfields (2) St Mary's (3) Thamesfield (3) Tooting Bec (3) Tooting Broadway (3) Trinity (2) Wandle (2) Wandsworth Common (3) Wandsworth Town (3) West Hill (3) West Putney (3)
Premises The council is based at Wandsworth Town Hall on Wandsworth High Street. The first town hall on the site was completed in 1882 for the old Wandsworth District Board of Works. A red-brick extension to the east was added in 1927, now known as the civic suite. It was followed by a much larger stone-fronted building further again to the east, on the corner with Fairfield Street, which was completed in 1937. The 1882 building was badly damaged during the Blitz and was eventually demolished to make way for a large modern office extension to the Town Hall complex, which was completed in 1975.
See also Wandsworth Plus Credit Union
References